Articles

"Money is like an iron ring we've put through our noses. We've forgotten that we designed it, and it's now leading us around. I think it's time to figure out where we want to go -- in my opinion toward sustainability and community -- and then design a money system that gets us there." - Bernard Lietaer –

In part one the three financial laws were given. To recap, the first law of money is multiplication. The second law of money is retention. The third law is diligence. In the parable of the talents (see Matthew 25:14-30) the two of three servants were faithful because they multiplied their seeds while retaining the original seed and then simultaneously multiplying the seeds again. This third stage is the stage of investment. Only by actively managing your personnel financial affairs successfully (active budgeting and expense tracking) can you be in a position to accomplish all three laws. However, because money no longer serves the purpose for which it was created, following financial laws alone would not be sufficient to survive the inevitable pending collapse of the money system. To explain, let us say two investors see the warning signs of the future collapse of the money system and decided to act upon these signs to preserve their so called wealth. The fact that both recognise the same warning signs is a good start. However how they prepare will differ greatly. Investor A decided to invest in capital assets that enable him to produce 80% of his basic needs such as food, water, and energy. Investor B decided to invest in real estate rental apartments and in paper assets such as stocks and bonds. When the money system collapses or there is hyperinflation, which investor do you think will weather the storm better?
Henry Kissinger once said: "Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world." Theodore Roosevelt once said: "Control of money was outsourced by almost all governments to private elite bankers. Issue of currency should be lodged with the government and be protected from domination by Wall Street. We are opposed to...provisions [which] would place our currency and credit system in private hands." But I think Napoleon Bonaparte said it best: "When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they [the bankers] and not the leaders of the government control the situation, since the hand that gives is above the hand that takes... Money has no motherland; financiers are without patriotism and without decency; their sole object is gain." – Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France, 1815 -
Money is being created out of thin air, being misallocated, being kept artificially scarce for many, and its creation [and redemption] bares no relationship with the amount of finite natural resources of the planet, the same resources that are needed to create material wealth in the first place. Interest in turn, which does not exist in the economy outright, is owed back to bankers who gave up nothing of their own to deserve it. This interest, because it does not exist in the economy outright as only the principle is created during the loan creation process, forces cancerous growth as new money must in turn be created out of thin air again to cover all the interest that is owed which again in turn repeats the cycle of money creation out of thin air. And if you have more money chasing the same amount of material wealth, the only result is higher prices.
"The existing private banking system imposes artificial scarcity on the public. Private banks do this by withholding loans to small businesses, moving money out of the communities that do business with the banks, and being beholden to shareholders rather than local customers. Monopolies of any resources create artificial scarcity. In the case of money, that scarcity results in inequality that hinders common folks' purchasing and investment power. Simply put, money is limited by bankers as if it were a precious metal, when it's more like a simple metric, like inches — something we can never run out of." - Artificial Scarcity and Public Banking, PBI Newsletter, April 2013 -
Right now people need to protect their wealth. Sadly if your wealth is money then you are in trouble. The value of money changes every day. Furthermore, money wealth can be wiped out depending on what so called legal institutions do and the unregulated Forex Market as mentioned in part 2. True wealth however cannot be wiped out so easily like money/financial wealth can. But what is wealth really? Wealth provides a type of safety net of protection against an unforeseen decline in one's living standard in the event of job loss. So in theory one can determine how wealthy they are by asking the following question: How long, in months, can I live on what I have put aside without having a job for income? A good rule of thumb is to take your assets value and divide by your average monthly expenses for maintaining your living standards. A huge caveat however is that depending on what your assets are their values can fluctuate upwards and downwards and also the cost of living. This in turn can affect the outcome of the formula and thus drastically change your wealth in months. This is why I like Adam Smith's concept of wealth.
Adam Smith, in his seminal work The Wealth of Nations, described wealth as "the annual produce of the land and labour of the society". This "produce" is, at its simplest, that which satisfies human needs and wants of utility. Wealth is the fundamental thing. Wealth is stuff we want: food, clothes, houses, cars, gadgets, travel to interesting places, and so on. You can have wealth without having money. If you had a magic machine that could on command make you a car or cook you dinner or do your laundry, or do anything else you wanted, you wouldn't need money. Whereas if you were in the middle of Antarctica, where there is nothing to buy, it wouldn't matter how much money you had. Wealth is what you want, not money. Adapted from: http://www.paulgraham.com/wealth.html
In closing, Money, in its current form as the medium of exchange, has not lived up to its potential as a liberator. Barter trade was alleviated by the use of an agreed upon medium – money-. But now money is getting in the way and it is now also considered cumbersome. "When the division of labor has been once thoroughly established, it is but a very small part of a man's wants which the produce of his own labor can supply.– Adam Smith, Wealth Of Nations, p. 29. "A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God - Ecclesiastes 2:24.

Emilio Kalmera

Dear Editor,

With great dissatisfaction we have been following the so-called "budget debate". During this farce we've seen and heard it all. We've seen valid points mixed with the efforts of being against things JUST for being against's sake, then seeing the same people who were against vote against their own point and in favor of what they were against!

We've seen the lack of testicular fortitude, the lack of any dualism and the so familiar dance of following party lines. All of a sudden motions were brought forward in this budget debate, which should have been brought forward to Parliament long time ago, so the people could have been able to give those newly added motions and topics the necessary attention separate from the dark cloud of the budget above their heads.

The social ills that our young country is facing are increasing and worsening rapidly. The people of young beautiful St. Maarten are dealing with the isolation of our elderly, youth unemployment, the destruction of our environment, crime, domestic violence, health issues and much more. Besides some welcomed initiatives from the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social affairs we didn't hear anything about parliament attacking these issues.

Witnessing the incompetence of our parliament makes one wonder if this country is really destined to be doomed? But look and behold! There is some light at the end of the tunnel! Lately, we have been seeing more and more social initiatives. Foundations and other NGO's, both local and abroad, are more and more presenting initiatives to tackle these social issues. Behind these foundations and other NGO's are people like you and us, common folk. Every day hundreds of volunteers get up with one mission on their mind: help the people of St. Maarten, the newly born, the youth, the elderly, the handicapped, the mentally ill and protecting the environment we all live in. After all this is Sint Maarten, this is Soualiga!

This young nation is blessed that we have so many people with compassion amongst ourselves! It is high time that our parliamentarians take a look at these volunteers, then take a look at their paychecks and benefits and then finally, a very long look in the mirror. They say 'there is strength in numbers, but parliamentarians need to realize the phrase is not talking about the numbers on their paycheck. We are more than numbers! #sxmmovement

Soualiga Social Movement

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks...will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.... The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs." – Thomas Jefferson in the debate over the Re-charter of the Bank Bill (1809).
Money, a temporary placeholder of value, sole purpose was to alleviate barter trading. This temporary placeholder can be anything based upon an agreement among the community. This agreed upon medium should enable the community to measure its value much like one can measure and convert between inches and feet, kilograms and pounds, etc. For example we know that 12 inches is equivalent to 1 foot. Before 1971 a similar yard stick of measuring was in place for the dollar. Thirty Five dollars ($35) was the equivalent to one (1) ounce of gold. Said in a different way the dollar was defined at 1/35 of a gold ounce. After 1971 this measurement was abandon and money became unmeasurable. Why unmeasurable? Because its value now fluctuates at the whim of speculators and the banking system. Take for example the foreign exchange market. There is an extremely good article titled "Why It's Important To Regulate Foreign Exchange" that you should read which can be found here: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-important-regulate-foreign-exchange-204500318.html
In this article it states: 'The foreign exchange (forex) market is the world's biggest financial market by far. According to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS)'s triennial survey, global Forex turnover in April 2010 averaged a staggering $4.0 trillion daily, an increase of 20 percent from $3.3 trillion three years earlier. In an increasingly globalized economy, the significance of the foreign exchange marketplace to the average consumer cannot be underestimated. The rate at which our domestic currency can be exchanged in the global forex market determines the price we pay for an increasing number of products, the price-tag for our vacations, the rate of return on our investments (ROI), and even the interest rate on our loans and deposits. And yet, despite the importance of this market, where currency gyrations can dictate the fortunes of everyone from the largest nation to the smallest consumer, foreign exchange remains a largely unregulated business. Although foreign exchange has traditionally been regarded as the exclusive domain of the biggest banks and corporations - recent trends have dispelled this notion, making it increasingly important for foreign exchange to come under the ambit of regulation.' The article goes on to mention the rampant speculation on this Forex market. It states: 'Transactions in the foreign exchange market can be broadly classified into two types – commercial and speculative. A commercial transaction is one that is backed by an underlying economic activity such as payment for an import or a loan to an overseas entity. A speculative transaction, on the other hand, is one that is undertaken purely to make a profit from currency moves. Speculative transactions greatly exceed commercial transactions in the realm of foreign exchange, and have been accounting for a greater share of forex trading volumes over the years. Also, currency trading volume in the 1970s was only about six times the value of global trade in goods and services, but by 1995, daily forex trading volume of $1.2 trillion was approximately 50 times this value.'
What is clear, if you have not already caught on, is that non-democratic institutions (not chosen or elected by the people) and speculators have in their power the ability to control, impoverish, etc the masses.
Workers around the world have vastly increased their productivity, yet their standard of living has fallen drastically. How many people work two jobs to pay back money created 'out of thin air' using their own personal credit? How many millions in countries die premature deaths because 'there's no money' for food and doctor's bills? How many people in the 'Third World' starve to death because their countries are burdened with enormous debts to international bankers? (In mid-2001, foreign debt owed to Western bankers was $3,000,000,000,000 - three trillion dollars!). Adapted from: http://www.federal-reserve.net/healthemoneysystem.htm. For people who can visualize one million dollars, the comparison made on CNN should give you an idea about a trillion – "if you start spending a million dollars every single day since Jesus was born, you still wouldn't have spend a trillion dollars". Another mathematician puts it like this: "1 million seconds is about 11.5 days, 1 billion seconds is about 32 years while a trillion seconds is equal to 32,000 years". This brings me to the debt situation which globally stands at over 50 trillion dollars and climbing exponentially. And mind you, this debt is supposed to be repaid by wages and salaries. Sadly however, wages and salaries are showing a decline so it will be very interesting to see mathematically how such exponential growing debt will ever be repaid by non-exponential growing wages and salaries that have to service the same debt. "Money is a new form of slavery, and distinguishable from the old simply by the fact that it is impersonal – that there is no human relation between master and slave." Leo Tolstoy, Russian writer.
In part 3, the final part I will wrap up and give my conclusion.

Emilio Kalmera

There are a number of things that our destination needs to carry out in order for tourism to continue to grow. Just to name a few: upgrading our current tourism infrastructure; sustainable tourism development; and the introduction of new tours in the area of cultural and heritage tourism. Country Sint Maarten must remain innovative and think outside the box.

2012 was a good year for Caribbean tourism as there was a 5.4 per cent increase in stay-over visitors. This rate of growth outpaced the rest of the world, which saw arrivals increase by four per cent. Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Beverly Nicholson-Doty, said 2012 was the best year for the region in five years. Visitor traffic to the region is expected to increase by another four to five per cent in 2013.

The region has as a whole regained ground lost from the global economic depression of 2008/2009. Last year the Caribbean welcomed nearly 25 million tourists.

Our national economic interest has been mainly focused on the North American and European markets with some attention to the Latin American market where it concerns attracting visitors to our destination from those areas. We now need to draft a strategy that will grow and diversify our tourism by looking to the East. China has a population of over 1.6 billion.

The 10 most ranked destinations for Chinese tourists according to the China National Tourism Administration are Hong Kong, Macao, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Russia, Singapore, Australia, the USA and Malaysia.

The groundwork is being laid to boost Chinese tourist arrivals to the region. Tourism cooperation is a top priority in China-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) dialogue. Caribbean countries that have established diplomatic relations with China have been listed as 'Approved Tourism Destinations' for Chinese citizens. This means that Caribbean tour companies can promote and market regional destinations to Chinese tour operators, who in turn can organize and advertise tours to islands in the region.

Even though China is far away, there are direct connections through major cities in the USA which makes it accessible for affluent Chinese travelers. For example, Sint Maarten could be promoted as an additional stop, inviting Chinese tourists to visit the destination for a few days as part of their vacation to the West (USA).

China's flag carrier "Air China," is increasing its flights to North American hubs, and developing partnerships with carriers that fly to the Caribbean. It is the best route according to the Vice President and General Manager of North America for Air China Dr. Zhihang Chi. Gateway cities such as Miami, Atlanta and New York City would work well for the Caribbean.

A Boston Consulting Group study forecast that 100 million Chinese will be traveling internationally by 2015, compared to 57 million in 2010, 65 million in 2011 and 83 million in 2012. Chinese tend to travel in groups and like to sight-see and visit multiple destinations. A typical Chinese tourist will spend up to US$6000 per trip.

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (WTO), Chinese tourists are outspending the Germans and US visitors. China's spending on outbound travel swelled to US$102 billion last year, a 40 per cent jump from 2011.

According to the WTO, the rise of the Chinese travel market has big implications for businesses, with everyone from airlines and hoteliers to luxury brands beginning to change their strategies to attract China's tourists.

Many Chinese tourists plan their travel specifically with shopping in mind, as taxes on luxury goods boost price tags by 30 to 50 per cent in China. A KPMG consulting firm survey of 1,200 Chinese shoppers said they bought watches in Hong Kong, Taiwan or Macau during the 12-month prior to August 2012, while only 31 per cent said they bought one within China's borders during that time.

The internet is the mode of communication for 457 million Chinese. There are more internet users in China than the U.S. has in total population – 311 million. Jamaica has courted Chinese tourism, and developed a website in Chinese that received more than two billion hits following a visit from Jamaica's Minister of Tourism.

Continue to grow our tourism oriented economy involves thinking outside the box. In order to maintain a vibrant sector, investments will have to continue to be made by public and private sectors. The traditional markets that we have grown accustomed too will continue to garner our attention and support, however we need now to think outside of the box and consider looking East when we take into consideration growth and opportunity for the people of our country in the 21st century.

Roddy Heyliger

I have to start by saying that I am by no means a financial expert but so many people can comment on the budget I thought I would put in my two cents. In the first place, the reason that this current government was having so much trouble with the budget is because the CFT demanded that 25 Million be cut from the budget. Understand that with a budget of just over 400 Million, this is a reduction of 6.25% which is no small amount.
The reason for the request from the CFT is due to past budgets being unrealistic and never balanced, yet people are actually trying to place the blame on this current government. I actually feel that this government and especially the Ministry of Finance is doing a good job with the budget all things considered. We must remember that SOAB once said that Government finances were in such a mess that they were unable to audit them. Who may I ask was in government then?
The SHTA and other had some criticism of the budget, which I think is a good thing. Posting the entire budget online for all to see was something courageous and a good example of good governance and transparency. Having said that though, I would need the SHTA to enlighten me on a few things. It is said that many of the major hotel properties on the island have tax exempt status (some for many years now) and yet with a reduction of the marketing budget for tourism, the SHTA complains. This confuses me because if I remember correctly, this tax exempt status is based on the hotels themselves using the money for promotion. Please correct me if I am wrong.
The SHTA and its members cannot have it both ways, you can't ask for tax exemptions and then expect government to foot the bill for everything. This also goes for other sectors of the economy. There was a report that indicated that we have a tax compliance of 30%, can you imagine if we bring that tax compliance up to 70 or 80%. We can lower taxes considerably and everyone can be happy. The business sector cannot expect government to rely on wage tax, which is paid by employees, to be the only thing government collects.
What the SHTA and other business entities should also concern themselves with is employee satisfaction. What I mean is, as a little boy I would see our local people in the stores on Front Street and the restaurants happy to do their jobs but they were mostly working on commission or for tips. Now the employers are actually keeping the tips and commission for sales is something of the past. It may be a god project for SHTA to advise their members to allow individuals to keep their tips and re-institute commission on sales, this may increase our level of service and in turn grow the economy. A happy worker is a good worker.
In addition, I personally favor a lowering of the wage and profit taxes, a simplification of the tax system and the implementation of a sales tax. The argument that this would hurt our economy does not hold water since several islands in the region have a sales or value added tax plus most of the countries that our visitors come from also have this. I can't see a tourist saying: " I not going to St. Maarten, because they have a sales tax'. It just won't happen. This tax should also help to increase compliance and lower tax burden on everyone.
There is some noise being made about dollarization again something that I am totally against and remain so. I have yet to hear a valid economic argument for dollarization. I hear things like, we are used to the dollar, it will increase investment, more tourist will come and we need to get away from Curacao. That last one was discussed by the SER and although they didn't back dollarization 100% they seemed to be leaning towards it. However in there review the argument was that Curacao being part of the Central Bank could harm St. Maarten economy. This may be true but we have been part of the central bank for 50 years now and to date the bank has done nothing to harm our economy.
If we as a country want to establish our own bank, let's just say so but to consider dollarization for this reason indicates to me that those supporting this option for this reason have no confidence in our ability to run a Central Bank. Lastly, the foreign exchange tax adds between 26 to 29 Million to the budget and nobody has convinced me that we can get these funds from somewhere else. That is 7.2% of the total budget. We have to be careful not to make decisions based on emotions and not fiscal sense.
So as not to disappoint calypsonian Fish De Mega Boss, let me take a few lines to answer Mr. Maurice Lake. On Friday I read your article, in fact I read it twice and it still didn't make any sense. Who are these elderly people that are complaining about the government? Did these elderly people also get the increase in the pension that was implemented by this government? I also would like to know, in the 10 to 12 years you were in this seat I now occupy, what exactly did you or the Government you support do for your elderly friends?
I am only asking you these questions because I find your last couple of articles repetitive and boring, so maybe if you answer these questions in some detail your article may be more interesting. In your articles you come with not one idea, suggestion or positive comment, yet you accuse the members of Parliament of doing the same.
I do agree with you that the level of discussion in Parliament needs to improve but this improvement has to start with your UP members. We can all expect politicians to be political but somewhere in there needs to be at the very least a question. Like you, I listened to the meetings and sometimes members of the UP would talk for an hour and ask not one question.
Your article on Monday was pretty much of the same, just more complaints. What I don't understand Mr. Lake is that you were in Government position for a long time, where were all these ideas then. You really think that St. Maarten people are fools. The majority of the mess we find ourselves in right now is because of the Government you support. Now you expect us to believe that you REALLY have our best interest at heart? I don't think so.
Your role here is to try to confuse the population into thinking that the UP could do a better job but you need to remember that you had your chance and just about a year ago, pressure from the population kicked the UP out of government. That decision was not only made by the Independent-3, it was due to pressure from the very population you are now trying to fool.
The public has to realize that when reading articles many have an agenda. I must admit that even my articles have an agenda but I do try to squeeze in an idea or suggestion here and there. It leads to better reading.

Kendall Dupersoy

It is as ridiculous for a nation to say to its citizens, "You must consume less because we are short of money," as it would be for an airline to say, "Our planes are flying, but we cannot take you because we are short of tickets." -- Sheldon Emry, Billions for The Bankers, Debts for the People –
In one of the 2012 editions of Occupy Money, Professor Margrit Kennedy writes that a stunning 35% to 40% of everything we buy goes to interest. This interest goes to bankers, financiers, and bondholders, who take a 35% to 40% cut of our GDP. That helps explain how wealth is systematically transferred from Main Street to Wall Street. The rich get progressively richer at the expense of the poor, not just because of "Wall Street greed" but because of the inexorable mathematics of our private banking system.
This hidden tribute to the banks will come as a surprise to most people, who think that if they pay their credit card bills on time and don't take out loans, they aren't paying interest. This, says Dr. Kennedy, is not true. Tradesmen, suppliers, wholesalers and retailers all along the chain of production rely on credit to pay their bills. They must pay for labor and materials before they have a product to sell and before the end buyer pays for the product 90 days later. Each supplier in the chain adds interest to its production costs, which are passed on to the ultimate consumer. Dr. Kennedy cites interest charges ranging from 12% for garbage collection, to 38% for drinking water to, 77% for rent in public housing in her native Germany. Source: http://www.globalresearch.ca/its-the-interest-stupid-why-bankers-rule-the-world/5311030
Money is a human creation that has evolved over centuries. Much of the present misery in the world derives from a general failure to understand the nature of money, banking, and credit. Compound interest causes debt to grow exponentially. That debt will grow at an accelerating rate over time. If one of your ancestors had borrowed $100 one hundred years ago at 10% interest, his estate would owe $1,378,065 today. Therefore the first law of money is multiplication.
The first law of money is described in detailed in the parable of the talent in scripture (see Matthew 25:14-30). The first law can also be seen in nature where one seed is able to grow a tree which in turn bares many fruits which also has seeds that is able to repeat or multiply the process many times. So it is not wrong to like nice things such as BMW for example. It is the way one goes about getting the BMW that can be the issue. As oppose to taking a loan to buy a BMW, I would first make an investment and leave the returns or profits from the investment pay for the BMW. The beauty of this approach is that once you spend the profits from the investment you will still have the money that you had initially used to make the investment so you can start the process again to buy other nice things. The only drawback to this approach is time.
In order to multiply seed or money you need to have it in the first place. This is where the second law of money comes in. The second law of money is retention. You cannot multiply seed or money if you cannot save some to multiply in the first place. So the more you can save the more one is able to multiply seed. The key to retention is not necessarily how much money you make but how much you keep (retain).
The third law of money is diligence. In order to multiply seed using the surplus/savings you have stored up, you would need to invest it wisely. One of the first rules I got in my investment class during my studies was that you should never put all your eggs in one basket. So diversification is the big word to describe just that. But I think scripture says it even better. Here is what Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 (New Living Translation) has to say: "The Uncertainties of Life – 11 Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you. 2 But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. 3 When clouds are heavy, the rains come down. Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls. 4 Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. 5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother's womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. 6 Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don't know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both."
Now why are these financial laws so important for one to abide by even more so today? Stay tuned for part two to find out.

Emilio Kalmera

Dear Editor,

Like many concerned citizens in our community, I too have been paying keen attention to the recent developments with Divi hotel erecting a closed gate and thereby blocking access to Fort Amsterdam.
No one, including me believes their excuse for the closed gate and a sign that reads: No Unauthorized Admittance, All visitors must request written permission from Little Bay Beach Hotel as a way to safeguard people's safety.
High winds and cliffs have been part of Fort Amsterdam for centuries. Fort Luis in Marigot has the same type of cliffs and visitors experience high winds at times, yet Fort Luis is open to the public every day for everyone to experience our history and the beautiful views.
With this most recent action from the Divi Hotel it proves that they are playing hard ball in trying to get what they want, and they are dead set on holding Fort Amsterdam hostage. Divi hotel is insulting and disrespecting St.Maarteners with their latest move.
If they were truly a hotel that cared about the people's heritage, their sign would read: " Welcome to Fort Amsterdam" "Tour this historical fort, all are welcome" a security guard could be placed at the entrance to stop motorized vehicles from entering, and the guard could welcome and guide visitors at the starting point. They could even charge a $2 fee per person, with monies going to keep the fort clean and maintained. Guided tours organized by their activities desk for $5. a person. This is how a friendly resort would promote one of our prime heritage sites on the island.
Fort Amsterdam is the sole zoned heritage site on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, and it appears that Divi Hotel is keen on making us all suffer because they would never be able to build hotel rooms and other facilities on this historically valuable location.
Yes, poor decisions were made in the past when Claude Wathey and others in government sold the fort back in the 1960's, the people mass rallied and held protests in the 1980's that forced government to seek ways and means to reverse a bad decision into trying to protect this fort.
Today we have a generation of people more informed and caring about their heritage. While Fort Amsterdam is known as a 17th. century fort, built by Europeans and slave labor, The fort played an important role in the 20th century as well. Miss Lori de Weever, lived on the fort with her 5 children, she hoisted the flags when the ships would enter the bay. During the 1970's the fort was also the location of what is now known as the radio station PJD2.
Instead of the Daily Herald editorial advocating an appeasement in allowing Divi Hotel a compromise to build, the media should really be looking into the public access road that once was there. What has happened to this access road? Did Divi include it in their property rights? Was this public access road part of the original deed of transfer? If so, who allowed this and who should be held responsible for this?
We have already lost so much history and nature in the past 45 years, that it becomes urgent to protect and respect the few and little we have remaining. Divi Hotel has to stop holding the fort hostage and penalizing Sint Maarteners for recognizing and appreciating our history.

Jadira Veen
President
St. Maarten Pride Foundation

WINAIR was stopped from flying critically ill patients from Saba and Statia to St. Maarten after 50 years of doing so successfully, professionally and with zero loss of life; young people under 18 years are not allowed to operate boats with even a 2HP out-board engine because the Coast Guard is going to "apply the law"; local fishermen can't go out at night to fish or early mornings to pull their pots, because they run the risk of being taken for drug dealers by the same Coast Guard; now DIVI LITTLE BAY decided that it is too dangerous to visit Fort Amsterdam and its surroundings, a favorite place of my childhood friends and I to roam in the fifties and sixties when I lived "Downstreet" at the "foot of town" in Philipsburg. I fully understand the fear of lawsuits that are so frivolously brought by especially US citizens against companies that do business in the USA and have either deep pockets and/or good insurance coverage, but the DIVI move to put up a fence and require all of us to get their permission to visit "our" fort again highlights how ulterior motives and the application of sometimes ridiculous, badly thought-out, good-for-big-country laws are quickly changing the "way of life" on little Sweet St. Maarten/St. Martin Land, the same "way of life" that probably drew DIVI and many others (who now profess to know so much more than us) to our shores. Here is what I suggest: When the government finds the millions of dollars to buy the Emilio Wilson Estate, hopefully they will find a few more so the most historic fort on Dutch St. Maarten can be bought back and opened with no restrictions to all of us again. In the mean time a request to Divi: TEAR DOWN THAT FENCE! (Ronald Reagan) and suffice with lots of signs, warning not-so-smart people that they roam the fort at their own responsibility!

MJF
Michael J. Ferrier

Indian Cardiologist Dr. Devi Shetty, the main partner behind the planned Health City Cayman Islands, last November offered 100 free heart surgeries to patients in the Cayman Islands, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Anyone who wants additional information about the heart surgery offer should call (345) 769-2273 (Cayman Islands) or check Health City Cayman Islands website at www.healthcitycaymanislands.com.

Dr. Shetty says one out of 140 children worldwide is born with heart defects. It is believed that 23,000 people in the Caribbean need to undergo heart surgery every year, but less than 1,000 actually undergo the operation.

The Health City Cayman Islands is approximately 10-months away from the first heart surgery. The first phase of the medical complex includes a 140-bed hospital which is scheduled to begin operation in early 2014.

Dr. Devi Shetty's offer of the free operations, to be carried out at his hospital in Bangalore, India, was open to mainly children, but also mothers of young children and the breadwinners in families.

The donation of the surgeries includes the operation, meals and accommodation for a patient and one relative. The offer does not include the cost of the flight to India. The patient and family member would be met at the India airport and assisted through the process leading up to the surgery, during and after the surgery.

Dr. Shetty announced the donations at a press conference on 30, November 2012 in the Cayman Islands, where he gave an update about the medical tourism project.

Some significant inroads are being made throughout the Caribbean. Besides the aforementioned free offer of heart surgeries and the potential for medical tourism which is becoming a reality throughout the Caribbean Basin, Trinidad and Tobago is currently the only Caribbean country that has the appropriate legislation that allows transplants to be performed and the only Caribbean country performing the same in a structured manner.

Trinidad & Tobago's National Organ Transplant Unit was established in January 2006 with a mandate to facilitate the safe and equitable transplantation of organs and tissue to patients living with organ failure in accordance with internationally acceptable standards.

Last month Cayman Islands legislators passed legislation legalizing kidney and other organ donations and transplants. The new law will, for the first time, allow the removal and implantation of organs and tissue from living or dead people to a patient in need of an organ or tissue.

In the Cayman Islands all patients waiting for a heart or kidney or liver transplant have to travel off island to have a transplant, even if the donor is a family member living on the island, and even if there is a surgeon willing to carry out the surgery, but the new law changes that.

The Trinidad & Tobago organ transplant unit/legislation and Cayman Island's recent passage of organ transplant legislation points out that parliaments within the region need to be pro-active with respect to legislation that will be needed to facilitate the quality of life in the interests of the people and the country that they serve.

Roddy Heyliger

Our country is at the moment at the cross roads of a dynamic process. The development of a National Development Plan (NDP) is as important as the Constitution of our Country. The goal of a Sint Maarten NDP is to guide the strategic development of the country within the medium to long term.

The next phase of our NDP process was a lecture by community activist and historian Daniella Jeffrey at USM on Monday. Jeffrey was to be joined by a rep from the United Nations Development Programme who discussed that agency's experience of engaging community in nation building.

The lecture will be followed up by an Open Forum for stakeholders (representatives from grass roots groups, private sector, academia and media) at Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort on Tuesday, April 9 at 6:30pm.

The forum will give attendees an opportunity to share their vision for the country and the way forward with the drafting of the NDP.

The NDP is about long term planning. It should be a plan that anticipates future challenges that country Sint Maarten will face and how these can be addressed early in our on-going national development.

An NDP should address the quality of life of a country's citizens. Sint Maarten has known more than 30-years of tourism economic development that has contributed positively in many areas, but has also left certain challenges on a number of fronts.

In the next phase of our country's national development, more emphasis needs to be placed in those areas that have been partly forgotten or still needs to be dealt with. We should strive for quality throughout all areas of national development. A quality living environment; quality society; quality work-life; quality education; quality health care; and quality security just to mention a few.

An NDP will be addressing anticipated challenges 10 (2023) to 20-years (2033) from now. The younger generations should not be burdened by lack of foresight. Solutions to problems must take into consideration the amount of time that would be needed to address the challenges. Infrastructure must be built a head of demand, therefore based on planning assumptions.

Two of the key factors are population growth and economic growth. Infrastructure needs of the nation must be based on those two key points, this way we will not be caught under-providing, as we are experiencing currently.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are currently being addressed by a United Nations (UN) workgroup to address environmental degradation that is threatening present and future generations. SDGs must go the extra mile to integrate environmental sustainability.

SDGs came out of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) conference of June 2012 where the conference document "The Future We Want," was the bed rock document for the process to establish SDGs. A proposed list is to be presented at the UN 68th General Assembly Session in September.

It has been said more than once by many around the world, that to safeguard the world we know today from climate change, nations around the globe will need to think about economic growth that won't be dependent on carbon-based energy systems.

The time tested survival mantra says, prepare for the worst, but hope for the best, should guide our process of national development. Forward thinking and planning will address the needs of our country for the 21st century. Achieving a sustainable future for country Sint Maarten, requires the input not just of Government but of business leaders, the grass roots, civil society organizations as well non-governmental organizations.

It is therefore very important to hear all voices within society in order to build a sound NDP from the ground-up that would advance economic, social, and environmental objectives in a balanced and integrated manner.

The NDP without a doubt is a process preparing the nation for 'The Future We Want' as Sint Maarteners.

Roddy Heyliger

Honorable Members of Parliament,

Today you will debate the budget as presented. In previous letters we have outlined our thoughts and concerns on the process and procedures followed to come to the draft budget 2013. Today a little bit about the economy, the taxpayers and why the only choice you have is to reject the budget.
We, the citizens and taxpayers, work either in the public or private sector, the private sector being the one that funds the public sector. If the private sector is not doing well/contracting, eventually the public sector will contract one way or another.

The GDP figures you use in your budget show at best a public sector growing at a considerably faster pace than the private sector. If we get away from your rosy predictions and base it on averages, last available figures and adjust for inflation, all off a sudden you have a rapidly expanding public sector needing increased funding from a rapidly diminishing private sector. How long do you think you can keep this up?

You are extrapolating on old data and making assumptions when it comes to GDP, Inflation, etc. You use figures that suit your cause. You say inflation will be 2% when the last three years have averaged over 4%, You say GDP will grow 1% per year when business sentiment is down and the last actual figures available are from 2009, 4 years old at this point. We had a census two years ago and yet you are using old figures.

You have a fiscal policy that BENEFITS companies not registered here and not paying taxes here, to the detriment of those that do! This damages our economy and any hope of investments, both foreign and local.

From our one and only pillar, tourism, you cut the promotional budget. You tax the liquor and cigarette business out of existence. What is next? Electronics? Jewelry? If people shop elsewhere you will get 40% tax on nothing. Hotels, restaurants, wholesalers and retailers will do less business. So will taxis, banks, accountants, lawyers, cleaners, GEBE, Telem, the harbor. So will your parents, your kids, cousins and friends and eventually, you, government will receive less also.

This strain on the private sector will affect your budget. If business is bad then tax revenue will be down. People will be laid off and unemployment will increase. This will wreak havoc on a social level, leading to less investment, less employment, higher crime etc. The logical end of this is that you will have a public sector and no private sector. You can raise taxes to 100% of everything, but 100% of zero is still 0. You have created and continue to promote a vicious cycle of economic contraction with an ever higher tax burden.

It is your duty to make sure that the taxpayer thrives. That is what we pay tax for! That is what you are elected to do and that is what you swore to uphold. Our Constitution has solidarity principles (Articles 18-22) they basically state that the following shall be of constant concern: (Article 18) Protection of children and the elderly, (Article 19) Certainty of existence, (Article 20), Promotion of employment, (Article 21) Promotion of public health, (Article 22) Protection of the environment and animal welfare.

It is impossible to do this if you have a contracting private sector that needs to fund this. Continuing this course will also lead to ever increasing taxation and loss of business. The next step will be an attack on our basic freedoms: (Article 2) Right to life, (Article 3) Prohibition of torture, (Article 4) Prohibition of slavery and forced labor, (Article 5) Respect for private life, (Article 06) Inviolability of the person, (Article 7) Right to a home, (Article 8) Confidentiality of post and telephone, (Article 9) Freedom of religion and personal convictions, (Article 10), Freedom of expression of opinions, (Article 11) Freedom of education, (Article 12) Freedom of association, (Article 13) Freedom of meeting and demonstration, (Article 14) Freedom of movement, (Article 15) Protection of property.

You will start taxing us out of our most basic rights and freedoms in your ever-increasing need for funding from a dwindling base. With the strong arm of the law you take from us what we have worked for and saved up through frugal spending. You will take from us what our parents have worked for. You take from our children that same bright future you promised us.

There are rules in the constitution when it comes to preparing the budget, there are 5 mentioned in Article 100: 1. The budget of the Country's income and expenditure shall be adopted under national ordinance. 2. The annual budget and the long-term budget shall be balanced. The provisions in the first sentence may be departed from if this is necessary in connection with the restoration of the damage caused by extraordinary events, including natural disaster, in accordance with rules issued under or by virtue of Kingdom law or national ordinance. 3. The government shall submit the budget to the Parliament in one or more drafts not later than on 1 September. 4. Reports on the Country's income and expenditure shall be submitted to the Parliament in accordance with the national ordinance. The accounts as investigated by the General Audit Chamber shall be submitted to the Parliament each year. 5. Rules in relation to the management of the Country's finances shall be specified by national ordinance.

Two were broken 2 already, that is barely a passing grade..

In the end it all boils down to biting the bullet in tough times and spending in a responsible and frugal way. Unfortunately right now there is no excess. This is a worldwide problem, but we need to deal with ours on a local level. That means stimulating the economy, stimulating the private sector and the effect of that will be increased government revenue with a LOWER tax burden and improvements in the standard of living for everyone in the private and public sector.

Our last point is the oath you swore upon entering office:

"I swear (declare) that I have neither given nor promised anything, nor shall I give or promise anything, howsoever described and under any pretext, to anyone whomsoever, either directly or indirectly, in connection with my election as a member of the Parliament. I swear (promise) that I shall not accept any promise or gift, from anyone at all, either directly or indirectly, in order to do or refrain from doing anything in the course of this appointment. I swear (promise) allegiance to the King and the Constitution of the Kingdom, that I shall always help to uphold the Constitution of Sint Maarten and that I shall champion the interests of Sint Maarten to the best of my ability.

You are now faced with a budget that was hastily prepared, late and not based on sound figures. A budget that was NOT developed according to the principles of good governance, is INCOMPATIBLE with the constitution, contains no clear policy outlines, and does not follow through on years of promises made to us, the population.

You are now being asked to quickly decide on it, because it is late. The ONLY choice open to you is to REJECT it and instruct the minister of finance to: 1. Get the books in order first and right now 2. Go back to the drawing board and come up with a budget that is economically viable, does not jeopardize the spirit of the constitution, follows proper procedures in decision-making, is well motivated and benefits the entire island in the long run.

Now please do your job, so we can do and keep on doing ours. #sxmmovement.

Soualiga Social Movement

The SHTA appreciates and applauds the first ever disclosure of the draft Budget prior to initiation of Parliamentary debate. As we presume this initiative is meant to increase transparency of government and inform the public about the process and the state of the country's financial affairs, we therefore on behalf of SHTA, including member associations and their members, request your attention to the following points.
The total proposed expenditures are stated to increase by over NAf. 25 million; total budget for the year 2012 was NAf. 432.6 million, while 2013 is set at NAf. 457.9 million; representing an increase of 5.85% . By contrast, the St. Maarten Gross Domestic Product (GDP), considered an indicator for the size of our economy, has been decreasing steadily over the last 5 years, without any thought to stimulus or cost controls to reverse the trend. General principles of sound financial management, regardless of whether private sector, government or household, require that operational expenditures remain in line with income. In other words, government should be set at a size that the economy and population can afford; one should not try to burden the backs of the people with an extensive, perhaps idealistic government that it cannot realistically afford. Therefore, NAf. 457.9 million in spending translates to roughly NAf. 7,650 per legal resident (regardless of age) per year, using a base of 60,000 residents. Furthermore, the income over the 2012 period fell short of the budget expenditures, by some NAf. 30 million.
The steady and significant increase in government expenditures over the recent years have been funded with increased taxes (most notably turnover tax) and other fees as well as the use of reserve funds government had available—creating an operational deficit. As a result of the higher taxes and fees, the cost of government expressed in a percentage of GDP has increased substantially. At the same time, doing business and the cost of living in St. Maarten have become more difficult, more cumbersome and more expensive. One of the big advantages promoted as an incentive for breaking up the Netherlands Antilles was to lower the cost of government and to increase government efficiency--thus far country St. Maarten has experienced neither. The lack of a cohesive and unified approach to stabilizing the economy and securing the overall well-being of the population directly contributes to the poor economic conditions.
Again, it proposed to fund the 2013 increase in spending by a TOT hike of 400% on the retail sales of tobacco and liquor, as well as an increase in the Property Transfer Tax and further attempts to improve tax compliance, which is currently estimated to be only between 40 -50 %, among other measures. While we certainly applaud any effort to level the playing field with regard to increasing compliance, we do question the achievability of the speculated income from this activity, especially given the planned reduction in personnel expense at the Inspectorate of Taxes and the decreased allotment for BAB assistance. Achievability is also in question with regard to additional revenue from the TOT increase, especially given the fact that the required legislation has not yet been presented to the Advisory Council and the first quarter is already closed. Increasing the transfer tax may likely result in a further tightening of the real estate market, resulting in even less property sales and further hindering of the construction sector, thereby limiting employment opportunities as well.
A TOT increase on certain alcohol and tobacco at the Retail level, eliminates St. Maarten's competitiveness on these products; effectively imposing a duty on products which are widely enjoyed by our tourism visitors in all three pillars: Stay over, Cruise and Yachting. The liquor sales category is also already highly competitive. If we can learn anything from prior mistakes we should not even consider this increase. Take a look back to the 1997 increase on fuel tax, which essentially caused a 50% decrease of the income of both private and public sector on fuel due to the opening of the market on the French side. With regard to liquor sales, there is already stiff competition from onboard the cruise ships, from offshore suppliers and of course, from the French side. A 400% increasing in taxation will, without a doubt, reduce local sales as well as impose a far more significant effect in reducing public revenues, increasing cost of living and eliminating jobs. In addition, we believe that it will hamper our reputation as a duty free port, when goods that are typically duty free are suddenly much more expensive.
With regard to employment and the upward spiraling of government expenditures, seemingly without consideration for the dire financial circumstances we are facing, the 2013 budget also contains increases in the number of employees for which the average expenses per employee have now risen to a staggering NAf. 100,543 per year. This is more than twice the average cost of a private sector employee, and includes such antiquated measures as the cost of living adjustment (COLA).
The budget also clearly indicates that there will be no efforts to stimulate the economy in order to grow the overall size of the proverbial pie of Country St. Maarten as cuts are planned in areas where it would seem most prudent to expand. Such as the proposed cuts to the Tourism Bureau and the Bureau of Statistics budgets which are projected to be NAf. 2.8 million in total. In our view, the faltering economy of St. Maarten is as much a result of the global financial crisis as it is a result of the lack of consistent destination marketing abroad. Further, the basis for successful marketing is sound statistical information. To say that we are dismayed with respect to these restrictive and demotivating measures would be an understatement. To emphasize this point we would like to mention Aruba which expects continued economic growth for 2013 of approximately 5%. Aruba has a functioning public/private partnership where it concerns destination marketing, social security and economic policy, just to name a few . Aruba's tourism statistics in the low season rival that of St. Maarten's in the high season. Continuing to allow our one economic export to stagnate is shortsighted and detrimental to all households of the island.
Instead of increasing the budget, the government should be focused on economic stimulus as well as austerity measures and reduce rather than increase its expenses and focus on improving the overall investment climate of St. Maarten. SHTA is of the opinion that, at the very least, Government should consider the following:

1. Place a cap on total salary and benefit expenditures;
2. Address the lack of productivity in the public sector as evidenced by the continued widening of the current-account deficit. The continued financing (in a roundabout way) of the public deficit through the Central Bank cannot continue indefinitely; especially if the causes are not being addressed structurally. Imports continue to exceed exports, most exports in our case being tourism, in other words our productivity is lagging behind. In the private sector – as much as our fairly rigid labor system allows – this is dealt with relatively quickly, although quicker reactions would be possible with more flexibilization;
3. Increase employees' share of medical insurance for civil servants, including FZOG premium;
4. Explore a true public/private sector partnership with respect to: (i) the development of a new tax system, (ii) the introduction of an affordable and socially responsible healthcare plan, (iii) the design of a manageable and affordable immigration/work permit system, (iv) Tourism Bureau, (v) development of fair and efficient labor laws
5. Occupy the new government building and reduce rent expenses;
6. Restore the Tourism Marketing budget to its original level;
7. Reduce taxes (for instance reduce wage-and income tax; immediately dial back the TOT % to no more than 3% in anticipation of a simplified tax system (please see the SHTA letter to Parliament of 04/04/2013 regarding the proposed TOT increases for a more comprehensive insight of the destructive nature of this particular tax );
8. Postpone NV GEBE concession fees and use the available funds for a reduction in electricity and water rates;
9. Implement a comprehensive multi-ministerial economic growth strategy, as soon as possible.

SHTA and its member associations insist that Government and Parliament take note of the above recommendations and seriously review the budget presented to Parliament and make the necessary adjustments to decrease the budget to a more affordable level. Failing to do so will result in a further slowdown of the economy, failing businesses, higher unemployment, more poverty and increased crime. Failing to act responsibly now will make the present Government and Parliament responsible for the resulting additional hardships put upon the people of Country St. Maarten.
As always, SHTA remains available for constructive efforts to improve the quality of living in St. Maarten but would like to stress that the realities of our situation must be taken into account starting immediately with this proposed budget.
At some point we should address the consequence of living beyond your means. In terms the average person can understand

Sincerely,

E. Lee on behalf of the SHTA Board

Dear Honorable Members of Parliament,

Again we are writing to you to point out some of our concerns related to the draft budget 2013. We are using our right to petition as stipulated in Article 24.1 of our Constitution and expect that the letters will be dealt with according Article 68 of our Constitution, the Explanatory Memorandum is very clear on these articles when it comes to dealing with petitions and we expect nothing else than that the right procedures will be followed.

It might have come to your attention that there is an increasing dissatisfaction among the people of Sint Maarten with the manner in which you and other parts of our government are dealing with The People's affairs. As stipulated in Article 44 of our Constitution; you are representing the entire population of Sint Maarten and your past and current actions do not show this. The will of The People is the foundation of your authority.

In prior elections all sorts of things were promised and manifestos appeared all over the place. While in opposition the greatest support is being shown when there is social unrest. During tenure "in power" promises are not being kept and the same support for issues plaguing The People is nowhere to be found. The same can be said for (lack of) measures when "in power" with bogus explanations.

To give you a short list of examples of promises made and misleading situations by our representatives:

The turnover tax was said to be temporary and later even got a "temporary" increase. In the 2013 draft budget there is another increase on alcohol and tobacco. We were led to believe that once we became country that we would have an abundance of money, because we didn't have to give up our generated turnover tax to the federal government of the Netherlands Antilles.

During the Pelican saga many of you showed support for the workers, but what has been done so far to prevent situations like these? It is not only about abolishing six months contracts, but also preventing workers from become victims of schemes by employers and loopholes in our laws when it comes to the sale of a company, bankruptcy of a company or continuation of business in another form.

When the Civil Servants and Teachers went on strike to demand their COLA pay out, many of you were standing in the midst of them and supporting them and now all of a sudden the COLA is a significant problem and solutions need to be found for it. We are not giving an opinion on the COLA itself, but are merely pointing out the grandstanding of many you.

The revamping of the tax system has been a topic of discussion for many years. The fact that this is hardly being dealt with even after obtaining country status shows great incompetence by itself, but what have you proposed on fiscal legislation? No answer needed, because we know.

There are many more examples to be given, but we hope that you get our point: You are not doing much to decrease the lack of trust that The People have in you, nor are you showing any competence in handling The People's affairs. The debate on the draft budget 2013 can be a start for making up on lost ground.

How is it possible that the Council of Advise and the Audit Chamber show a decrease in the budget for 2013? Not to mention that the costs for the Corporate Governance Council aren't even budgeted. These councils are of the utmost importance for the functioning and transparency of government. You should fight tooth and nail to protect The People's rights to good governance.

A budget is made for the period of a year and a governing accord for the entire period a coalition is in power. Where are the policies that outline and justify government spending for the year 2013? If there aren't any, why is this? Is it maybe because you didn't do your job as parliament to instruct your ministers to come up with solid policies that are in the best interest of The People and that can be logically explained?

We also agree with the Council of Advice that, according to the Computability Laws Articles 11 through 15, there is no solid base for the expenditures and that there aren't sufficient breakdowns of categorized expenditures. What is our tax money being spent on? Do you know? You don't because there are no audited accounts! Please explain the draft budget 2013 to us with sufficient breakdowns and policies justifying that spending.

If the proposed increases in taxes (taxes for casino's and lotteries, 5 cents increase on gasoline, 4 cents increase on diesel, 1% increase on fuel for GEBE, increase of transfer tax from 4% to 5% and the increase in turnover tax on alcohol and tobacco) are ratified by you then we hope that you understand that they won't become law as of January 01, 2013. This in turn will mean that the objective of generated income out of taxes for the year 2013 will not be met. At the same time we hope that you realize that certain taxes directly influence the cost of living. We also hope that you can guarantee that GEBE will not calculate their increase in costs through the fuel clause. This is indirect taxing of The People.

We sure hope that you will reject the 2013 draft budget as presented to you and that you will finally represent The People and their interests. Demand policies or propose them on your floor and demand breakdowns of expenditures. Regain the trust of The People. #sxmmovement.

Soualiga Social Movement

There have been some new trends of late where tourism is concerned. 'AirCruise' is the latest travel buzz to take off in the Caribbean. Mauiva AirCruise, an American travel company is promoting an island-hopping air tour.

The company organized for 20 tourists an 'AirCruise' out of the US a week-long holiday package with stops in the Bahamas, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. The concept is about making multi-destination travel simple.

Mauiva AirCruise hopes to establish a regular route in the Caribbean region. The aforementioned travel company says there is potential for flights to leave every other day from Florida for a Caribbean trip.

AirCruise is seen as a market with growth potential in the Caribbean, and the Cayman Islands due to its proximity to the US is seen as a strong destination for this type of tourism.

Perhaps this is something for local travel/tour operators to look into and consider. The potential should be fully explored; perhaps AirCruises out of Puerto Rico or Panama could be looked into by the local travel sector.

This could also be a new business venture for country Sint Maarten young graduates and budding entrepreneurs.

On another note, the 14th Annual Sustainable Tourism Conference will kick-off in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago from 15 to 18 April. It will bring together tourism experts and representatives from the sector to look at the issue of creating and managing sustainable tourism destinations.

The development and achievement of sustainable destinations is the key word. There is a growing segment of the market known as 'responsible' or 'sustainable travellers.'

These types of tourists often spend a lot more in the destination and they get to a level where they get involved in the community, and really want to experience a destination. Last month Minister of Culture Hon. Silveria Jacobs launched the Decade of Revitalization of our Cultural Heritage. The cultural awakening of the St. Maarten Culture is very important to the nation building process and sustainable development, especially from the perspective of tourism and making our visitors aware of the unique and powerful history of our country.

The sustainable traveller wants to experience local cuisine, culture and heritage. According to experts, these tourists don't want to remain at their hotel properties, but would like to engage with locals and meet people and learn more about the destination, what makes Sint Maarten 'Sint Maarten.'

They travel on their own and some in groups, and are at the higher end (financially) of the market. They are adventurous, and also want to contribute to the communities that they visit.

Another area that is a trend is sourcing sustainable food for restaurants. A Caribbean Basin strategy is being developed with respect to the region as a food tourism destination; also the development of health and wellness; and special interest tourism.

The aforementioned areas are food for thought and worth exploring by our local tourism industry. Sustainable development is the future and as a young country we need to make sure we are on-board.

Roddy Heyliger

Dear Honorable Members of Parliament,

Once again we thank you for allowing the public the opportunity to download the draft budget, which in turn has given the people the opportunity to criticize certain elements in the budget before it is approved. This is a step in a good direction in terms of transparency, we hope similar consideration is given to the people's comments on the draft.

A couple major concerns that are evident in the way Parliament would like to move forward is the lack of new effective constructive policies to justify the amounts of monies expected to be collected and the manner in which this budget has come to be.

We are 4 months into 2013 and the budget is still not approved! The budget of any year had to be approved since September of the previous year, that was 6 months ago. How can the ministries and other organizations that all depend on this budget for their progressive development possibly function properly while waiting 6 or 7 months to know what they can and cannot spend?

It seems to have become the norm in St. Maarten, to not follow due process when creating these budgets. In following the due process to create a new budget the audited accounts of the previous budget must be brought into consideration to make sound decisions. It has been years since the people have heard of an audit on government spending! The Honorable Minister of Finance knows this, he would not have allowed his stellar accounting firm to act in this way with their clients, so why with us? Why with our young nation?

Then it seems like much of the numbers have just been pulled out of the air. Any blind man can see that the amount of money expected to be collected from the road tax, is just not going to be attained. Again, where is the policy to justify that that amount of money will be collected? There is no way to easily identify a vehicle for which road tax has been paid for or not. The police are not excited about controlling so many vehicles this way, and a huge amount of people will just not comply. Come on, not even a sticker, a mini plate, not even a bright colored air freshener to hang from the rear view mirror to help the police enforce this tax! Or was parliament just going to trust the 'honesty' of the people to pay their road tax? Well honesty should start in Parliament.

It was mentioned that the amount of money for staffing in the tax department will be cut but at the same time, Parliament expects the Tax department to collect more money through higher compliance. WOW! So it is expected that less staff in the tax department will be able to do more work than they did last year. What is the secret to that? Truth is this is the type of policy that breeds later budget amendments, where again man power will then have to be flown in from Curacao to help out and we all know they are paid way higher than our civil servants.

And the Tourism promotional budget will also be cut. How do we expect to promote our tourism product better with these cuts? I guess that means we will be relying on Tempo Turns 8 'The Budget still late' for all our tourism promotional efforts this year. How will we even know if these efforts have worked when you also cut the budget of the department of Statistics? How can the ministry of health get a budget increase while the subsidy of SMMC is cut? Where do we go when we are sick, to the ministry or the hospital? Finally, how is it that with all the cuts, the budget still almost 10% higher.

In closing, why can't we get this budget right? This budget is the reason our economy is going south and our civil service hands are tied. How can we expect improvements in education, justice and the way we live in St. Maarten when you do not take the development of this budget seriously? You members of Parliament are the ones who get up and make promises to the people, so how could you possibly deliver when your budget is 6 months late with make believe numbers, no audited previous reports and no policies to see plans for improvement through? Or is there another budget coming after the CFT approves this one just because it balances... #sxmmovement

Soualiga Social Movement

Dear Editor,

In your publication I read that President of Parliament, Mr. Rudolph Samuel, will be traveling to Holland for the King's inauguration later this month.

My question is, how in his rightful mind can the President of Parliament decide to attend such a prestigious occasion when the Parliament he resides over has done NOTHING to date in relation to the Bada Bing scandal? Not one Parliamentarian (not even the opposition!) has asked for a parliamentary inquiry or formally requested MP Illidge to vacate his seat while the investigation is ongoing.

Mr. Rudolphe presides over a Parliament that has one convicted member (MP Laveist) for bribery, while another (MP Illidge) is the center of an investigation for similar alleged charges. For a new country barely 2.5 years old, this is not something to be very proud of.

A strong message would have been from the President of Parliament to decline the invitation on the grounds that St. Maarten needs to get her own house in order first before she can celebrate another being officially inaugurated. That would have earned him respect locally and abroad.

After Curacao, now it is St. Maarten that has become the black sheep in the Kingdom as our Parliament is not carrying out their duties (or simply inept) and thus is co-responsible for trampling on good governance.

To our leaders: the people of St. Maarten demand swift action, which is certainly not asking some foreign organization to carry out a 12-15 month study on integrity (= buying time to the next election).

We want and deserve swift and decisive action now to repair our tainted image as accessories in and facilitators of corruption.

Thank you.

Clyde Angust
Dutch Quarter

Dear Honorable Members of Parliament,

Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to view the budget before debating it. Via these means we would like to draw your attention to the following. We (Citizens, taxpayers, those that provide your salary here on the friendly island of St Maarten) hope that you will take the information and concerns provided by us to heart and use them to make the right decisions when it comes to the budgetary debate that starts on Monday April 8th 2013. You are our elected representatives, and we have some concerns. We turn to you to have these issues addressed in a diligent fashion.

The Dutch law mentions several principles of good governance. These originated from jurisprudence, to set forth a code of conduct for government when dealing with the citizens it serves. In 1994 these principles were codified in the "Algemene wet bestuursrecht and they can be divided into two groups, formal principles and material principles.

Formal principles refer to government's authority to make decisions; this includes the ministries and their departments. A few of these principles that we can mention are 'Legaliteitsbeginsel'. There is no authority without a foundation in the constitution. Parliament you are our guardians of the constitution, it is your duty to see to it that the constitution is upheld!

Another principle is Zorgvuldigheidsbeginsel (art. 3:2 Awb). It basically states that government needs to prepare decisions in a diligent manner. They must take into consideration the proper treatment of the citizens, meticulous research in the facts and interests, it must also follow proper procedure and make sound decisions. While reviewing the draft budget we do not feel that this principle has been met when it comes to the preparation of the budget, our main motivation for stating the above (but not the only one) is that NO accounts have been presented for the last couple of years!

There is Motiveringsbeginsel (art. 3:46 Awb), that states government must motivate her decisions well, facts must be clearly outlined and the motivation needs to be logical and understandable. We also do not feel that this principle has been met, throughout this budget it is clear that policy is lacking and we do not see that money is being wisely allocated. Please note that the Council of Advice shares some of our concerns when it comes to this point.

Rechtszekerheidsbeginsel states that government must formulate her decisions in such a way that citizens know exactly what to expect or what government desires from them. They also need to apply laws and rules in a proper and consistent way. Again we find the budget quite unclear on some of these points. We would like to see concrete plans with proper cost benefit analysis, so that we can plan for your and our children's future.

Also very important is Gelijkheidsbeginsel (art. 1 Grondwet) which clearly commands that Government needs to treat identical cases in an identical way. We feel that the current tax structure and this budget in particular places undue hardship on some segments of the taxpaying community more than others. We feel that there are instances in which this principle is not adhered to. Take for instance the current and future TOT legislation.

Verbod van détournement de pouvoir. (art. 3:3 Awb). A governing body may only use their authority for the purpose it was given for. You (Parliament) represent the people, that is the job you were elected to do. We have concerns, it is your duty to address them! Furthermore the budget and your spending is a tool for upholding the constitution, nothing less, nothing more. So do your job!

Fair-play-beginsel. (art. 2:4 Awb). Government needs to take a neutral position when making decisions and the required transparency and honesty needs to considered. Again we feel that certain segments of the taxpayers (certain businesses) are treated unfairly by our tax code and this budget in particular.

Verbod op détournement de procédure. It is not allowed to take an easier procedure ( a short cut) to a decision if there a procedure that provides more safeguards. We feel that this is the norm and standard in a lot of things done in Parliament and it is clear that this principle was ignored in preparing the draft budget, we expect that you not ignore it when judging the budget. One clear example is the license plate fiasco that will leave a significant dent on the monies expected to be collected.

Vertrouwensbeginsel. Those who have by their authority made a clear promise, that government will take a certain decision, have a right to that decision. We have been promised a lot by successive governments, it is time to make good on these promises, increased compliance, restructured tax system, spending that stimulates the economy. If you all can stand on a stage and make promises then you must be able to stand on that same stage and tell us why those promises never came through.

The material principles relate to the contents of the government. Specialiteitsbeginsel. (art. 3:4 lid 1 Awb) shows that a governing body may only look after those interests that find their respective basis in the law. You are the ones that swore to uphold the constitution, we suggest you do so!

Evenredigheidsbeginsel. (art. 3:4 lid 2 Awb) explains that government needs to make sure that the repercussions of their decisions do not do more harm to a citizens than the perceived benefit to the common good. This principle is plain out being neglected by your current fiscal policies. The policies in place are detrimental to taxpayers, the same taxpayers that provide gainful employment and pay for government including your salaries and benefits!

Vertrouwensbeginsel (materiele rechtszekerheid) shows that a citizen may, in certain circumstances, have faith in proclamations made by governing bodies where concessions are made, but that later cannot be not adhered to by the governing body. Again promises made, promises broken. We as taxpayers want to see results. Made a promise, then keep it, no more excuses, or you should be held liable.

We are sure that these principles are well known to you and that we are preaching to the proverbial choir. There are some serious socio-economic issues that face our young nation and these need to be dealt with post haste. We would like to see that big bright future we were promised on the eve of becoming country. Ahead of you is a difficult task, hopefully you will make the right decision to uphold our constitution for the betterment of all of us that share this island.
We feel that harm has been and is being done to our economy, our society, our credibility and the future for us and our children.
We will refrain right now from making allegations which would accuse you of laziness, grandstanding, lack of transparency, nepotism, conflict of interest, self-enrichment, corruption and general incompetence and are prepared, for now, to give you the benefit of the doubt and attribute all the failures of the last 30 months to growing pains.
From now on please do the right thing when taking action or making decisions, read the constitution as that is what you should be busy upholding and please represent us, that's what you were elected to do. #sxmmovement

Soualiga Social Movement

For the past few months the Soualiga Social Movement has encouraged its many participants and the general public to attend info sessions hosted by various government departments. These sessions are to inform the public about what is about to happen on their island and for the most part allows the public to participate at various stages of this development by asking questions and putting forth ideas and suggestions.

There have been several very important sessions held during the first quarter of this year already! The Ministry of VROMI held open sessions on the Hill Conservation Act (HCA) which showed building limitations along the hillsides, a new road network to zip us around this 16 square miles, the development of Emilio Wilson Park and to much dismay the proposed tunnels through our beautiful hills. VROMI also held several sessions showing the planned development of several districts, how they plan to build village centers at the heart of the community so that people and organizations can congregate more, kids can have somewhere to play, and local community based businesses can thrive. Some bad ideas or should we say not well thought out ideas were also presented and commented on but WHERE WERE YOU?

It is no secret that the people committed to living in Soualiga have been complaining that they are living under the stress of past bad decisions, that they had no say and no part to play in the development of their issues and its all governments fault. But when these sessions are put on for the people to 'have a say', to be informed, to pick up on possible bottlenecks that will help the development to go smoother nobody shows up!

These sessions are advertised in the newspaper and on the internet and though they are not displayed as colorful as the upcoming Damian Marley concert they are very important. How ironic it is that these meetings presenting FACTS are so poorly attended but every 4 years thousands of people gather at election rallies to hear (for the most part) FICTION?

We need to realize that playing a part in the way our community develops is the key to sustainability and the betterment of our lives in Soualiga. The Soualiga Social Movement's key words are awareness, inclusion and participation, and we encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities to do so. To do nothing and say nothing when given the opportunity to do so, totally forfeits your right to complain.

See you at the next session. #sxmmovement

Soualiga Social Movement

Jean-Marc Ayrault, Premier ministre, a appris avec une très grande émotion la mort au combat de l'un de nos soldats, lundi 29 avril 2013, au Mali.

Lors d'une opération dans le Nord-Est du Mali, un véhicule de la force Serval a été touché par une violente explosion. Le caporal-chef Stéphane Duval du 1er régiment de parachutistes d'infanterie de marine de Bayonne a été tué sur le coup ; deux autres soldats ont été blessés.

Le Premier ministre présente ses plus sincères condoléances à la famille du militaire tué et à ses proches. Il s'associe à leur peine ainsi qu'à celle de ses frères d'armes. Ses pensées vont aussi à ses deux compagnons blessés ; il leur exprime tout son soutien et leur adresse ses vœux de prompt rétablissement.

Dans ces circonstances particulièrement tragiques, le Premier ministre tient à rendre hommage au professionnalisme, à la détermination et à l'exceptionnel courage de nos militaires engagés au Mali.

Jean-Marc Ayrault, Premier ministre, se réjouit de la libération de la famille Moulin-Fournier, qui avait été enlevée le 19 février dernier au Cameroun. Elle est en bonne santé et devrait être de retour en France très rapidement.

Le Premier ministre réaffirme à cette occasion la détermination du Gouvernement pour œuvrer à la libération des huit autres otages français encore détenus au Sahel.

La Brigade de Prévention de la Délinquance Juvénile (BPDJ), organise une semaine d'information sur les différentes carrières en gendarmerie nationale.
Les candidats intéressés pourront se présenter dans les locaux de Pôle-Emploi, rue de Spring à Concordia, du lundi 29 avril au vendredi 03 mai 2013 (à l'exception du 1er mai) de 08 heures à 13 heures.

Conditions de recrutement:

• • être de nationalité française
• • être âgé de 17 ans à 35 ans
• • avoir effectué sa journée de défense et de citoyenneté
• • être apte physiquement
• • ne pas avoir d'antécédent judiciaire

Le Premier ministre a réuni jeudi 18 avril 2013 un séminaire gouvernemental consacré au suivi de la mise en œuvre du Pacte national pour la croissance, la compétitivité et l'emploi, qui a été présenté aux Français le 6 novembre 2012.

Le Pacte et ses 35 mesures visent à restaurer la compétitivité de l'économie française, qui s'est sensiblement dégradée au cours des dix dernières années, par une action sur l'ensemble des leviers de la compétitivité des entreprises. La mise en œuvre du Pacte s'inscrit dans une stratégie économique globale en faveur de la croissance et de l'emploi, incluant une exigence de redressement des comptes publiques. Cette stratégie a été rappelée mercredi 17 avril avec la présentation en Conseil des ministres du programme de stabilité et du programme national de réformes.

En amont de ce séminaire, le Premier ministre a échangé mercredi 17 avril avec les représentants des partenaires sociaux dans le cadre du Conseil national de l'Industrie à propos de la mise en œuvre du Pacte. Il a rappelé qu'elle nécessitait une mobilisation de l'ensemble des acteurs, y compris des entreprises et des salariés, et que la qualité du dialogue social constituait un facteur de compétitivité clef pour l'économie. C'est dans cet esprit que la loi sur la sécurisation de l'emploi, adoptée par l'Assemblée nationale et en cours de discussion au Sénat, prévoit la participation des salariés aux conseils d'administration avec voix délibératives.

Lors du séminaire, Louis Gallois, à qui le Premier ministre a confié la mission de suivre la mise en œuvre du Pacte, a présenté l'état d'avancement des 35 mesures. Son rapport souligne qu'elle se déroule de manière satisfaisante, avec deux tiers des décisions déjà engagées, grâce à une forte mobilisation de l'ensemble des ministères et des acteurs concernés. Il souligne également que l'effort de mobilisation et d'explication doit être renforcé afin d'accélérer la montée en puissance de l'impact des mesures sur le terrain.

Les membres du Gouvernement ont fait le point sur les premiers résultats concrets du Pacte. A titre d'exemple, les entreprises ont bénéficié de l'effet trésorerie apporté par le Crédit d'impôt compétitivité emploi à hauteur de 430 millions d'euros, grâce à la Banque publique d'investissement créée depuis le 1er janvier 2013. Cette dernière a également apporté, grâce à un nouveau produit de garantie de trésorerie, plus de 120 millions de trésorerie aux très petites entreprises et aux petites et moyennes entreprises. En matière d'innovation, le « Plan France Très Haut Débit » a été adopté et est en cours de déploiement dans plusieurs régions. S'agissant des filières, les 13 comités stratégiques de filières permettent de faire travailler ensemble, dans chaque domaine, grands groupes et petites entreprises. Enfin, en matière simplification, grâce au programme « dites-le nous une fois », déjà 250 000 entreprises bénéficient depuis mars 2013 du pré-remplissage de la contribution sociale de solidarité des sociétés.

Le Premier ministre, qui s'est félicité de ces premiers résultats, a souligné que le rétablissement de la compétitivité française constitue une œuvre de longue haleine, qui demande persévérance et constance dans l'application des mesures du Pacte. Pour autant, le Premier ministre a demandé aux membres du Gouvernement d'accélérer la mise en œuvre opérationnelle des 35 mesures, afin d'en intensifier l'impact.

De nouvelles décisions ont été prises, notamment :

• Pour répondre à une forte attente des petites entreprises, il est décidé d'alléger les obligations comptables des plus petites entreprises, alors que jusqu'à présent la France avait fait le choix d'imposer des obligations supérieures aux exigences du droit européen. Les très petites entreprises seront exonérées de l'obligation d'établir une annexe comptable et de publier leurs comptes. Les petites entreprises auront désormais la possibilité d'établir un bilan simplifié. Ces mesures concerneront près de 1,5 million d'entreprises. Au-delà, les consultations actuellement menées auprès des entreprises et des organisations professionnelles comme les propositions du rapport du député Thierry Mandon vont permettre de nourrir un programme ambitieux de simplification de l'environnement réglementaire, des démarches et des procédures des entreprises, qui sera présenté d'ici à l'été 2013. Le Premier ministre a annoncé que, pour aller plus vite, le volet législatif de ce programme sera mis en œuvre par ordonnances.
• L'augmentation des plafonds des livrets d'épargne réglementée mise en œuvre par le Gouvernement doit s'accompagner d'un investissement plus marqué de l'épargne populaire dans le financement des entreprises. La Banque publique d'investissement dispose d'ores et déjà d'une enveloppe de refinancement de 10 milliards d'euros sur le fonds d'épargne géré par la Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations. Afin de mobiliser encore davantage l'épargne populaire pour le financement des entreprises, le fonds d'épargne augmentera ses investissements en fonds propres dans les PME de près d'1,5 milliard d'euros en 5 ans : 1,25 milliards d'euros seront investis dans des PME non cotées et 200M€ seront investis dès 2013 dans les PME cotées.

Le Premier ministre a souligné la nécessité que les entreprises se saisissent pleinement de ces nouvelles opportunités. C'est en ce sens qu'il a écrit, le 12 février dernier, à l'ensemble des entreprises françaises. Le Premier Ministre a demandé aux ministres, comme il l'a entrepris lui-même ces dernières semaines, de se mobiliser en région pour mieux faire connaître aux entreprises, sur le terrain, l'ensemble des mesures du Pacte et les moyens de les utiliser. Il a annoncé qu'un prochain séminaire pour faire le bilan de la mise en œuvre du Pacte interviendrait avant la fin de l'année.

Dans un article paru, le 15 avril 2013, sur le site Internet du Daily Herald, le président de l'association haïtienne de Sint-Maarten déclare avoir été, à l'occasion d'un contrôle, « choqué et insulté par le traitement qu'il a reçu de la part des fonctionnaires de police du SPAF de Saint-Martin » et indique que ces derniers auraient tenu des propos outrageants à l'égard du gouvernement de Sint-Maarten.
S'il est incontestable que M. Jeston Guerrier, étranger en situation irrégulière, a fait l'objet d'un contrôle, le lundi 15 avril 2013, vers 13h45, sur le secteur de Bellevue, alors qu'il circulait à bord d'un bus immatriculé à Sint-Maarten, il ressort des différents rapports que les policiers du SPAF de Saint-Martin n'ont fait que leur travail en adoptant un comportement courtois et respectueux à l'égard de l'intéressé.
En outre, il convient d'apporter un démenti catégorique quant aux propos qui sont prêtés aux fonctionnaires à l'égard du gouvernement de Sint-Maarten, avec qui, en matière de coopération et dans le domaine de la lutte contre l'immigration irrégulière, le travail se fait en étroite collaboration et dans le cadre d'un partenariat efficace et respectueux.
Face à de telles allégations mensongères et pouvant porter atteinte aux bonnes relations entre la France et Sint-Maarten, le Préfet se réserve le droit de porter plainte pour diffamation.
C'est du fait qu'il était titulaire d'un passeport haïtien en cours de validité et d'un document valant autorisation de séjour à Sint-Maarten, que M. Guerrier s'est vu refuser, à juste titre, l'entrée sur le territoire français de Saint-Martin. Pour autant, aucune procédure n'a été engagée, à l'encontre de M. Guerrier, par les fonctionnaires de police, qui auraient pu le placer en rétention administrative en attendant que le Préfet prenne un arrêté portant obligation de quitter le territoire français (OQTF) ; procédure qui a été engagée, le même jour, pour trois autres personnes qui disposaient de documents analogues mais en cours de renouvellement et qui ont fait l'objet d'une OQTF, sur la base de l'article L511-I 1°) du code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile.
Ainsi, il convient de rappeler que, pour être admis à entrer sur le territoire des collectivités de Saint-Barthélemy et de Saint-Martin, tout étranger non bénéficiaire de la libre circulation en application des dispositions du code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile, doit être muni d'un document ou de documents de voyage en cours de validité et reconnus par la France, revêtus, le cas échéant et sauf exceptions prévues par les textes, d'un visa en cours de validité délivré par une autorité française (cf. arrêté du 18 avril 2012 relatif aux documents et visas exigés pour l'entrée des étrangers sur le territoire des collectivités de Saint-Barthélemy et de Saint-Martin).
C'est donc à bon droit que les policiers du SPAF ont refusé l'entrée sur le territoire français de Saint-Martin et c'est dans ce cadre, conformément aux instructions du gouvernement, que des actions quotidiennes seront poursuivies contre les ressortissants étrangers en situation irrégulière, tels que cette personne.

Le mardi 16 avril 2013, à 15h00, une opération d'envergure de la gendarmerie associant des éléments de l'EGM 24/3 d'Aunay-sur-Odon, du peloton de surveillance et intervention de la gendarmerie, de la brigade des recherches et de la communauté de brigades de Saint-Martin a été menée dans le quartier St James au niveau du squat insalubre situé rue de hollande. Cet endroit réputé pour être un haut lieu du trafic de stupéfiants générait depuis longtemps un fort sentiment d'insécurité dans la population locale et constituait donc une problématique majeure d'ordre public au sein de l'agglomération de Marigot. Cette opération qui a bénéficié de l'appui de la police territoriale pour la régulation de la circulation et de l'autorisation des propriétaires des lieux s'est déroulé en deux temps : premièrement , il a été procédé à une action en force sur le squat visant à la recherche de produits stupéfiants et au retrait de tous les deux roues non identifiables. Secondement, et avec le renfort d 'engins de chantiers mis à disposition par la collectivité, le squat a été totalement détruit en présence des propriétaires satisfaits.
Cette opération avait pour but de réaffirmer l'autorité de l'Etat et de mettre fin aux agissements délictueux empoisonnant la vie de nombreux riverains. Au final, cette action qui a permis de saisir à l'intérieur et aux abords du squat deux scooters, une moto et un quad ainsi que de l'herbe de cannabis et de la cocaine a été accueillie avec soulagement par de nombreux riverains et devrait enfin permettre aux légitimes propriétaires de recouvrer la jouissance de leur terrain.

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

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

Dans le cadre de la coopération l'Etablissement de l'Eau et de l'Assainissement de Saint Martin encadre une démarche d'échange de moyens s'agissant du traitement des eaux usées avec les services techniques de Sint-Maarten.
Une délégation composée du directeur des infrastructures et d'une technicienne spécialiste du traitement de l'eau de la partie hollandaise, du Président et du directeur de l'EEASM, et du nouveau directeur de la CGEG se sont rendu en métropole pour visiter des systèmes de station d'épuration susceptible d'être implanté des deux côtés de l'île.

Deux systèmes ont particulièrement attiré l'attention :

• Organica (Tours) : un système innovant et performant de traitement des eaux usées associe les derniers développements en matière d'ingénierie écologique et les technologies de traitement conventionnelles. Organica FBRTM s'appuie ainsi sur des traitements par boues activées dans différents bassins placés en dessous de la serre. Une vingtaine de projets de ce type sont actuellement en cours de réalisation en Métropole.
• Ecodisk (visite de l'usine de production à Aix-les-Bains), concept qui a été utilisé pour la réalisation de la station d'Oyster Pond, adapté pour les petites et moyennes collectivités, rurales et semi-urbaines, entre 100 et 10 000 équivalent-habitants (EH). Simple de fonctionnement, très fiable, et d'une implantation naturelle dans des sites protégés, Ecodisk répond aux exigences européennes de traitement - possibilité de traitement de l'azote et du phosphore - et correspond parfaitement aux demandes actuelles de nombreux organismes ou collectivités.

Délégation de Sint Maarten:

- Kurt Ruan directeur des infrastructures
- Olivia Lake charge de mission à l'eau et à l'assainissement.
Délégation de Saint Martin
- Louis Fleming Président de l'EEASM
- Patrick LENTZ directeur de l'EEASM
- Harry Placide directeur de la compagnie générale des eaux

Il est porté autorisation d'organiser une braderie commerciale le samedi 14 avril 2013, par l'Association des commerçants de Marigot, représentée par le son Président, Monsieur René Mathon, de 08h à 18h30.
Cette manifestation portera essentiellement sur la vente de vêtements, de chaussures, des accessoires d'habillements, etc, rue du Général de Gaulle.

Arrêté du Président portant autorisation de fermeture temporaire de la rue du Général de Gaulle, à Marigot

A titre exceptionnel, le stationnement sera INTERDIT rue du Général d Gaulle, le vendredi 13 avril 2013 à partir de 19h, afin de permettre aux organisateurs d'installer leurs équipements. Dès 23h50, cette rue sera fermée à la circulation automobile, et ce, jusqu'à la fin de la manifestation. Toute cette zone sera transformée en rue piétonne.
L'organisateur devra, en sa qualité de responsable-organisateur, veiller à ce que :

• Des panneaux de signalisation soient installés de part et d'autres dans cette portion de rue. Ces panneaux sont destinés aux riverains et au public en général sur l'interdiction de stationnement et de circulation dans cette voie ;
• Des moyens de communication directs et rapides en cas de besoin d'appel des services de secours, soient à disposition ;
• Des extincteurs soient tenus à disposition
• Des barrières de sécurité soient posées aux deux extrémités de la rue du Général de Gaulle ainsi que de la rue de l'Anguille. Cette rue devra être maintenue libre de tout encombrement et réservée aux services d'urgence.
• Un service de gardiennage en nombre suffisant soit mis en place sur les lieux à l'intérieur de la zone interdite à la circulation et au stationnement automobile, et aux abords ;
• La sécurité et la protection des personnes et des biens sur le site soient assurées ;
• Une permanence médicale soit à disposition sur place durant toute la manifestation. Le poste de secours doit être accessible aux services de secours ;
• Les lieux soient laissés propres et en l'état, à l'issue de la manifestation. A défaut, le nettoyage devra être effectué par l'organisateur.

Jean-Marc Ayrault, Premier ministre, a demandé à Frédéric Cuvillier, ministre délégué en charge des Transports, de recevoir aujourd'hui M. Claude Chéreau, Mme Claude Brévan et M. Rouchdy Kbaier, membres de la Commission du dialogue sur le futur Aéroport du Grand Ouest, pour la remise de leur rapport.

Plus tôt dans la journée, M. Stéphane Le Foll, ministre de l'agriculture et M. Christian Galliard de Lavernée, Préfet de la région Pays-de-la-Loire, Préfet de Loire-Atlantique, ont reçu respectivement le rapport de la mission agricole chargée d'évaluer les moyens de limiter l'impact du projet sur la consommation des terres agricoles et le rapport du comité d'expertise scientifique chargé d'évaluer la méthode de compensation environnementale mise en œuvre.

Les trois rapports sont disponibles sur le site: http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/C-comme-Concertation.html

Bertrand Fragonard, président du Haut conseil de la famille, a été saisi le 23 janvier 2013 par le Premier ministre d'une mission globale sur l'architecture, la pertinence du ciblage et l'efficience des dispositifs d'aides aux familles.

Bertrand Fragonard a remis au Premier ministre, son rapport définitif ainsi que l'avis adopté le 8 avril par les membres du Haut conseil de la famille. Le Premier ministre s'est félicité de la qualité remarquable de ce travail. Les propositions sont exhaustives s'agissant des différentes mesures envisageables, à la fois pour un meilleur ciblage de certaines prestations et le renforcement des aides au bénéfice des familles fragiles. Elles ne constituent pas un plan global et univoque, et ouvrent à ce titre une grande latitude de choix. Sur certains sujets, le rapport renvoie à des travaux complémentaires.

Le Premier ministre a demandé en conséquence à Mme Marisol Touraine, ministre des affaires sociales et de la santé, et Mme Dominique Bertinotti, ministre déléguée chargée de la famille, d'étudier de façon approfondie les propositions du rapport, en prenant en compte l'avis exprimé par le Haut conseil de la famille.

Le Premier ministre réunira le Haut conseil de la famille dans les semaines qui viennent, pour présenter les options de travail qui auront été retenues par le Gouvernement.

Philipsburg:--- Most of the ten participants including the reigning King Fish "the Mega Boss" took the Bada Bing alleged bribery investigation as their topic for the 2013 NAGICO Calypso Finals held Sunday night at the Festival Village. The idea seemed a bit too monotonous and it appeared as though calypsonians did not look very hard for more pressing issues that are affecting the community or the small man to use as inspiration to send their messages across to the persons they elected to office.

Roxxy (Roxanne Webster) hit home with her second song when she challenged the judges and those involved in the Calypso Finals to be fair when judging and to give the youths and upcoming singers a chance to move up the ladder. Roxxy brought on stage a number of youths to depict how much the youths of the island are left behind while winners are selected based on who they know or what connections they may have with the judges or those in charge of the show.

The ten participants including the reigning King who was defending his title all jumped on the Bada Bing scandal in one way or another. King Beau Beau depicted what was shown on tape involving Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge (Willy Bounce) when he brought a painted white man on stage on a desk with his laptop and gave the now embattled MP a number of fake hundred dollar bills. Even though King Beau placed a lot of effort in depicting corruption, he did not score enough to be one of the winners. He said Patrick Illidge (Willy Bounce) is his friend but he was there to tell the truth. Beau Beau said even though the Bada Bing recordings were done since 2012 it was kept in the dark just in time for carnival so he could sing about it since the I-3 Member of Parliament took the stage last year when he sang his song and vowed to make a change.

Another Member of Parliament that was mimicked Sunday night was MP Romain Laville who is accused of threatening MP Jules James with a gun. A strange performance during the 2013 Calypso Finals were a number of Police Officers (mostly Bavpolers) were used by the calypsonians to get their messages across. These officers were fully dressed in their uniforms.

At the end of the show which lasted until 3am, supporters and onlookers were judging among themselves as they waited for the judges' decision. It was clear that Roxxy's message created a stir among the crowd. Some people said she made their blood boil as she was singing. Her words were clear and the message was based on what has been taking place on St. Maarten for years. Among those that were discussing were veteran singers and culture icons who said that if the judges cheat or crowned someone else as the champion Sunday night it would show favoritism.

Just before 4am the judges delivered their scores and the thoughts of crowd became a reality when Roxxy was declared first runner up. The judges awarded Roxxy with 820 points for her overall performance. She was awarded with a check of $3,500 from the main sponsor NAGICO Insurances and a trophy. The Mighty Brat came in second with 807 points, he received a check of $1,500 and a trophy.

Fish the Mega Boss retained his title when he was declared the 2013 Calypso Monarch. He received a check of $10,000.00 from the main sponsors of the show and a trophy. Mega Boss in his first song said he was not singing for a crown, instead he was focusing on the issues affecting the people of St. Martin while the Government claimed they were going to work for the people. His second song "Don't Lock Them Up" focused on the Bada Bing scandal. This time he had a judge and two persons, one depicted Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams and the other Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin whom he said promised to work for the people and to make laws but thus far that has not yet been done. Instead of locking up the politicians Mega Boss said put them to work since they are already paid by the tax payers. Sarah was given a saw, while William was given a hammer and their job was to assemble a broken cabinet while Mega Boss sang his song. At the end of the song, the judge began dancing with Fish and as he opened his black robe for the crowd to see there were dollar bills clipped inside and "Bada Bing" written on his t-shirt. The judge ended off with dancing with Sarah before leaving the stage.

The SCDF also honored four persons during the Calypso finals for their contribution to carnival over the years, they were Don Hughes, Celeste Beauperthuy, Fernando Arrindell, and Rene Wilson Jr. (COTO). The awards were presented to the honorees by the reigning Junior and Senior Carnival Queens while President of the SCDF Micheal Granger looked on.

Click here to view more photos of the 2013 Calypso Finals held in Festival Village Sunday night.

Philipsburg:--- Traffic backed up on Bush Road and A.T. Illidge Road on Saturday evening as firefighters tried to access a bush fire in the hills of Saunders and A.T. Illidge Road. Firefighter Silvanico Pauletta told SMN News that someone shot a flare in the hills causing a bush fire which he said spread very quickly.

Some 14 firemen worked up until 2am Sunday morning to bring the fire under control. Pauletta said that two fire trucks were used to fight the fire. He explained that the firemen had to divert their attention at one point to secure three homes and a cabin when the fire got very close to those homes. Pauletta said the firemen managed to contain the fire and no homes were damaged. A third fire truck positioned itself on A.T. Illidge Road causing a diversion of traffic. Pauletta said that they had to dispatch a fire truck to A.T. Illidge road to monitor the fire in order to ensure that the bush fire did not spread and or damage homes on the A.T. Illidge Road hillside. The firefighter said that even though they brought the fire under control early Sunday morning the area was still being monitored on Sunday throughout the day because of the dry weather.

It is not clear if the Police Department is conducting an investigation to determine who shot the flare and what was the reason for the person's actions.

Philipsburg:--- As the 2013 carnival season is approaching its end which is scheduled for May 2nd, 2013, the SCDF is now faced with a possible court litigation which will be filed by TELEM Group of Companies with whom SCDF has signed a sponsorship agreement and has given the company certain exclusive rights.

TELEM through its lawyers sent SCDF a letter on April 17th, 2013 pointing out some of their concerns and the infringements on the part of SCDF which they claimed has tremendously affected their commercial department. TELEM also dispatched a letter to the Department of New Works which is headed by Kurt Ruan informing him that its tenant SCDF has breached its agreement by allowing Chippie to sell SIM cards, provide WIFI services, and to also run adverts beside the stage on April 22nd when they were promoting the launch of the BBZ10.

The letter that was sent to Ruan dated April 26th, 2013 states that SCDF has left them no choice but to take legal action. TELEM pointed out in its letter to Ruan that SCDF allows Chippie (UTS) to sell telecom services at booth 79 which also includes top-ups. The company asked Ruan to summon the President of SCDF Michael Granger to refrain from performing activities that would infringe on their rights and breach the SOG agreement TELEM entered in 2007 as a corporate investor and sponsor to the Festival Village. According to information provide to SMN News, TELEM has an agreement with New Works for the stage they built inside the Festival Village to the tune of $1.2 million United States Dollars. However, that agreement it is understood has affected Festival Village tremendously because other sponsors have refused to use the Festival Village while TELEM's banner is hanging on the stage. According to information provided to SMN News, anyone who desires to use the Festival Village and wants the TELEM banner down for a one night event has to pay the company $20,000.00 due to the fact that TELEM has an agreement to have its banner hanging on the stage at all times. SMN News tried contacting Ruan on Sunday for a comment but he could not be reached by telephone.

TELEM Group also dispatched a letter to the President of SCDF Michael Granger on April 26th, 2013 informing him of their dissatisfaction on the breach of their Sponsorship Agreement. The four page letter pointed out a number of areas of the agreement that SCDF breached. In that letter, TELEM claims that SCDF gave them exclusive rights for several events and or locations. They stated that SCDF neglected TELEM exclusive Telecom rights for services in the Festival Village.

TELEM further claims that SCDF infringed the sponsorship agreement with their direct competitor Chippie. Below this article the letters that were sent to Ruan and Granger are linked.

While TELEM claims that SCDF gave them exclusive rights for certain events and locations, on March 26th, 2013 Chippie issued a press release indicating that they have partnered with SCDF whom they dubbed as the largest contributor to carnival in recent years. The press release stated that Chippie contributed $50,000.00 to the 2013 carnival season. The grand parade to be held on April 30th is to be dubbed the Chippie Grand Carnival Parade. Below is the link with the press release that was published by SMN News on behalf of SCDF. President of the SCDF Michael Granger could not be reached for a comment on Sunday.

Click here to view the letters sent by TELEM to Kurt Ruan and SCDF President Michael Granger.

Click here to view the press release by Chippie on March 26, 2013.

Belvedere:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams welcomed the students and attendants at the opening of the King's Games soccer tournament celebrating the inauguration of King Willem Alexander at the Johan Cruyf Field in Belvedere on Friday. The Prime Minister addressed especially the young participants in the crowd and made them aware why the activity was such an important one: "I welcome the coaches, teachers, volunteers and especially our students at this important event here this morning. I would like to explain our youth that are here today that this is a very special event: you are joining millions of young people across the Kingdom in observing the inauguration of a new King for the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the 30th of April. Prince Willem Alexander will become King of the House of Orange and that is why we are sporting the orange color here today. On St. Maarten we have organized this soccer tournament as one of the events to show that St. Maarten too is celebrating the inauguration of a new king. So I wish you all good luck as we celebrate in our way," said the Prime Minister to the eager crowd.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams on Thursday evening attended the 7th annual St. Martin Believers' Connection Convention opening at the L.B Scott Sports Auditorium. The Convention is being presented by the Saint Martin United Ministerial Conference under the theme of Let the Stones Arise and Build. The Prime Minister stated that she felt honored as always to be able to join in the Celebrations with the faithful and wished the attendants a very successful convention.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group has kitted out carnival band 4M with their own t-shirts for the big carnival Grand Parade on Tuesday. The 4M band is TelEm Group's carnival band for this year and will be sporting the company's rebranded colour – Red. The t-shirts were presented to band member Stuart Johnson during a short ceremony at the TelEm Group building, Pond Island, Wednesday.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Culture Hon. Silveria Jacobs on Friday gave an opening speech at the King's Games at the Jose Lake Ball Park and kick-off at the Soccer Tournament in Belvedere. The activities have been organized to mark the succession to the throne of Prince of Orange Willem-Alexander on Tuesday, April 30 where he becomes King.

Philipsburg (DCOMM):--- The Department of Immigration and Naturalization Service personnel were awarded a certificate by Head of the Border & Mobile Control Geronimo Juliet for taking part in a course that dealt with document falsification provided by the Canadian Border Agency. The course is recognized internationally. Juliet said that the 11 participants have now updated their skill level to detect false documents.

List of participants in the course:

Monica Mathew
Leroy Brooks
Esther Christian (not in picture)
Albert Thomas
Chantal da Cunha
Bernice Richardson
Naomi Lammar
Rignalda Stefania
Loraine Brooks
Sharon Richinsin
Claudette Richards

Zagersgut:--- On Saturday April 20, the Community Police Officers District 5 that falls under the responsibility of Officer Arcella Lennard organized a clean-up campaign at Tassel Drive, Zagersgut where all the residents from the area came out to assist.

This was the first project that CPO District 5 embarked upon and we must say that it was a great success because of all the following entities that we would like to thank, which includes Heavenly Water, Caribbean Aggregates, Meadowlands, Firgos, Mr. Walton Holiday, Domino Pizza, Tassel Drive residents and last but not least Officer Arcella Lennard and the board and members of CPO District 5.

The above sponsors were all from District 5 which includes: Zagersgut, Cul-de-Sac, Mary's Fancy, Saunders, Illidge Road, Over the Pond, St. John's, and Betty's Estate. We are appealing that whenever we embark on another project that other businesses in the area would also join those that contributed in our first Project which was a success. Also take special note that our next project will be a Safety Plan Presentation which we are busy organizing. Date, time, and place would be announced in a subsequent broadcast. If there are any information you would like to be informed of you can give Officer Lennard a call on 588-4037.

Board and Members of CPO District 5

The Police Traffic Department and the Sint Maarten Harbor Group of Companies are making an appeal to all stakeholders and general public, that in connection with the arrival of the Causeway swing bridge due to arrive on May 2nd, to pay keen attention to all traffic diversions that will take place. On May 3rd between 1:30pm and 3:30pm the Simpson bay bridge will be opened to allow the cargo vessel carrying the swing bridge to come through the channel. Traffic coming from and going towards the airport will be diverted through the French side of the island. Everyone is asked to cooperate as much as possible with this temporary traffic diversion.

Jouvert Morning Jump-Up

From 03:00 a.m.: Nisbet rd. closed at Hensley Beaujon str. No traffic leading Salt Pickers roundabout.

From 03:00 a.m.: Suckergarden rd. closed at the Freedom Fighters roundabout. No traffic leading to the Nisbet rd.

From 03:00 a.m.: Soualiga blvd. closed at the Salt Rock Dr. No more traffic leading to the Salt Pickers roundabout.

From 03:00 a.m.: Peterson str. closed at the E.C.Richardson str. No traffic leading to the Salt Pickers roundabout.

From 03:30 a.m.: Buncamper rd. closed at the Freedom Fighters roundabout. No traffic leading to the Freedom Fighters roundabout.

From 04:00 a.m.: Suckergarden rd. closed at the Guana bay rd. No traffic leading to the Freedom Fighters roundabout.

From 04:00 a.m.: Suckergarden rd. closed at the Arch rd. No traffic leading to the Guana bay rd.

From 04:30 a.m.: Arch rd. closed at the Soualiga blvd. No traffic leading to the Suckergarden rd.

From 04:30 a.m.: Soualiga blvd. closed at the Pendant Cactus rd. No more traffic leading to the Arch rd.

From 05:00 a.m.: Arch rd. closed at the Guadeloupe rd. No traffic leading to the Sucker Garden rd.

From 05:30 a.m.: Arch rd. closed at the A. Th. Illidge rd. No traffic leading to the Sucker Garden rd.

From 06:00 a.m.: A. Th. Illidge rd. closed at the Sol gas station. No more traffic leading to the Zagersgut rd.

From 06:00 a.m.: A. Th. Illidge rd. closed at the Cottage roundabout (Eddie's Auto Supply). No more traffic leading to the Arch rd.

From 06:30 a.m.: Zagersgut rd. closed at the Cottage roundabout. No more traffic leading to the A.Th. Illidge rd.

From 06:30 a.m.: A. Th.Illidge rd. closed at the Prince Bernard Bridge. No more traffic direction Cottage roundabout.

From 07:30 a.m.: Longwall rd. at the Prince Bernard Bridge. No more traffic leading to the Nisbet rd.

From 07:30 am.: Bush rd. closed at the Prince Bernard Bridge. No more traffic leading to the Nisbet rd.

From 07:30 a.m.: Nisbet rd. closed at Percey Labega str. No more traffic direction Prins Bernard Bridge.

From 08:30 a.m.: Nisbet rd. closed at the Tamarind st. No more traffic towards Prince Bernard Bridge.

From 09:30 a.m.: Nisbet rd. closed at the Beaujon Hensley str. No more traffic direction Prince Bernard Bridge.

From 10:00 a.m.: Nisbet rd. closed at the Salt Pickers roundabout. No more traffic direction Prince Bernard Bridge.

From 10:00 a.m.: Soualiga blvd. closed at the Salt Rock Dr focus No more traffic direction Salt Pickers roundabout.

From 10:00 a.m.: Nisbet rd. at the Voges str. No more traffic direction Salt Pickers roundabout.

Grand parade Tuesday, April 30th 2013

From 09:00 a.m.: Intersection L.B. Scott road - Gladiola road. No more traffic in the direction St.Peters Intersection L.B.Scott road - Arbutus road. No more traffic towards Church Hill roundabout.

From 09:30 a.m.: Intersection Gladiola road - Coralita road. No more traffic in the direction of L.B.Scott road. L.B. Scott road at the Church Hill roundabout. No more traffic in the direction of St.Peters.

From 10:15 a.m.: Intersection AJCBrouwers road – Welgelegen road. No more traffic towards Church Hill roundabout. Intersection Bush road Zagersgut road. No more traffic toward Church Hill roundabout.

From 10:40 a.m.: Intersection Zagersgut road - Bush road. No more traffic towards Bush road. Prince Bernard Bridge closed. No more traffic toward Bush road.

From 11:20 a.m.: Intersection A.Th.Illidge road and the wall Long road closed at the Prince Bernard bridge. No more traffic towards W. A. Nisbeth road. Intersection W. A. Nisbeth road - W. Percy M. Labega street. No traffic more toward Prince Bernard Bridge.

From 12:00 p.m.: Intersection Longwall rd. - Percey Labega str. No more traffic direction Kerkhofsteeg.

From 12:00 p.m.: Intersection Cannegieter street - Manzanilla. No more traffic direction Percey Labega str.

From 12:00 p.m.: Little Bay rd. closed at the Fort William rd . No more traffic direction Kerkhofsteeg and Front Street.

From 12:00 p.m.: Intersection Back str. - Manzanilla steeg. No more traffic direction Kerkhofsteeg.

From 04:00 p.m.: Yuancho Yrausquin blvd closed at Prosperity bridge. No traffic direction Buncamper rd.

From 04:00 p.m.: Buncamper rd. - Freedom Fighters roundabout. No traffic direction Yuancho Yrausquin blvd.

From 04:20 p.m.: Suckergarden rd. - Freedom Fighters roundabout. No traffic direction Nisbet rd.

From 04:20 p.m.: Nisbet rd. closed at the Salt Pickers roundabout. No traffic direction Freedom Fighters roundabout.

From 04:20 p.m.: Soualiga blvd. closed at the Salt Rock Dr. No traffic direction Salt Pickers roundabout.

From 04:20 p.m.: Peterson str. closed at the Salt Pickers roundabout. No traffic direction Salt Pickers roundabout.

From 04:30 p.m.: Intersection Nisbet rd. - Codville Webster rd. No traffic direction Salt Pickers roundabout.

2nd day Junior & Grand Carnival Parade

From 06:00 a.m.: Front Street and all streets leading to Front Street will be closed.

From 10:00 a.m.: Nisbet rd. closed at Salt Pickers roundabout. No more traffic direction Prins Bernard Bridge.

From 10:00 a.m.: Soualiga blvd. closed at Rocksalt drive. No more traffic direction Salt Pickers roundabout.

From 10:00 a.m.: Nisbet rd. closed at Hensley Beaujon str. No more traffic direction Salt Pickers roundabout.

From 12:00 p.m.: Voges str. will be closed between Cannegieter str. and the Front str. for traffic and only open for emergency vehicles and pedestrians.

From 12:00 p.m.: Nisbet rd. closed at Percey Labega str. No more traffic direction Salt Pickers roundabout.

From 12:30 p.m.: Cannegieter street closed Manzanilla steeg. No more traffic direction Percey Labega street.

From 12:30 p.m.: Longwall rd. closed at Percey Labega str. No more traffic direction Kerkhof Steeg.

From 12:30 p.m.: Little Bay rd. closed at the Fort William rd. No more traffic direction Kerkhof Steeg and Front Street.

From 12:30 p.m.: Back str. closed at Manzanilla Steeg. No more traffic direction Kerkhof Steeg.

From 04.20 p.m.: Yuancho Yrausquin blvd closed at Welvaart brug. No more traffic direction Buncamper rd.

From 04.20 p.m.: Buncamper rd - Freedom Fighters roundabout. No traffic direction Yuancho Yrausquin blvd.

From 04.40 p.m.: Suckergarden rd. - Freedom Fighters roundabout. No traffic direction Nisbet rd.

From 04.40 p.m.: Nisbet rd. closed at the Salt Pickers roundabout. No more traffic direction Freedom Fighters roundabout.

From 04.40 p.m.: Soualiga blvd. closed at the Salt Rock Dr. No more traffic direction Salt Pickers roundabout.

From 04:40 p.m.: Peterson str. - Salt Pickers roundabout. No more traffic direction Salt Pickers roundabout.

From 04:40 p.m.: Intersection Nisbet rd - Codville Webster rd. No more traffic direction Salt Pickers roundabout.

In order to be proactive in the approach to addressing fish die off or hypoxic or events and in order to warn the community of the possibility of another fish die-off event such as the one that was experienced in March 2013, the Nature Foundation conducted water quality tests in order to determine quality levels in the Great Salt Pond. Based on the executed field tests there is an increased probability, close to 65%, of another fish die off occurring if water levels and oxygen levels do not change in the Great Salt Pond. This information will be forwarded to the necessary departments and consultations will be conducted.

There have already been fish reported as having died in the Great Salt Pond, especially on the 25th and 26th of April. Tilapia are an introduced species in St. Maarten, having established themselves over the last ten to fifteen years in the Great Salt and Fresh Ponds. The presence of Tilapia has to be closely studies for the effects on the Native Fish population, however the die-offs of a tolerant species such as Tilapia has to raise concerns about the water quality of St. Maarten.

Since January 2013 the island has been experiencing very little rainfall and hot and on occasion calm weather. This, together with land reclamation activities in the Great Salt and Fresh Ponds has resulted in poor water circulation and a drop in dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the ponds. The Drop in DO has resulted in oxygen depleted water (a DO level close to 1 part per million is essential oxygen depleted compared to a normal level of 7 ppm) which in turn results in fish die offs. The worry is that Tilapia will be the first species to die, followed by Tarpon, Mullets and other native fish species.

The Nature Foundation would like to echo Government's previous advice not to eat the fish; doing so might have some significant health consequences.

The Nature Foundation recommends that the levels of the ponds be continuously managed in order to reflect meteorological conditions in order to avoid further die offs.

The Nature Foundation will monitor the situation closely as it continues.

Esteemed Guests,

Good evening and welcome to this historic Queens Birthday celebration, so beautifully opened with the Wilhelmus and the Sint Maarten Song as rendered by the Majestic Voices of La Vaune Henry and Benjamin Bell. The celebration is historic because it comes on the eve of the abdication of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and the inauguration of His Majesty King Willem Alexander on April 30th, meaning that as of next year we will be celebrating King's Day and not Queens Birthday. As a result I have decided to dedicate this evening's celebration as a: Tribute to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix.
Our gathering tonight at Fort Amsterdam to celebrate the last Queens Birthday of the reign of Queen Beatrix is Symbolic, Significant and Historic. Symbolic because the abdication of Queen Beatrix and inauguration of King Willem Alexander on April 30th will take place in Amsterdam. Significant because this 17th century fort, named Fort Amsterdam, underscores the long standing bond between Sint Maarten and the Netherlands. And Historic because it is the last of Queen Beatrix's thirty three years reign and the last of 123 successive years of Queens Birthday Celebrations.
One year ago standing at this same location I stated and I quote: "This location has been chosen because of its beautiful scenic view, because of its historic significance and because of what it teaches us about the importance of Heritage Preservation, with a view of sharing with and passing on to future generations." As such what better place is there to gather for and celebrate this significant, historic and symbolic Queens Birthday than on this unique part of Sint Maarten's Historic Heritage, Fort Amsterdam.
The choice to celebrate here tonight is intended to pay a fitting tribute to her Majesty. We shall as a result focus on the bond with the royal family through Queen Beatrix

• by reflecting through images on her visits to Sint Maarten;
• by honoring her with an artistic expose of poetry, song and dance; and
• through the awarding of royal decorations to several of our residents.

Noteworthy is that tonight we stand at the eve of the birthday of our future King Willem Alexander. As such we have double reason to highlight the historic ties of our community with the Royal Family through the granting of Royal Decorations this evening.
Ladies and gentlemen, over the years several of our residents have been placed in the spotlight by bestowing on them the honor of a Royal Decoration in recognition of their outstanding service to our community. The persons selected to be awarded a Royal Decoration here this evening are part of the last group of persons to receive a Royal Decoration Decree signed by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix. This evening's ceremony will highlight the contributions and achievements of the nine (9) persons who will receive Royal Decorations and as such join the Order of Oranje Nassau name after the House of Oranje. What better time to do so than during this evening's event organized each year to Celebrate Queen's Birthday, a celebration which is held throughout the Kingdom of the Netherlands underscoring Her Majesty's status as the symbol and personification of unity within the Kingdom.
Of the nine (9) persons who have been awarded a Royal Decoration, three (3) Mrs. Drs. Angela Dekker, Ms. Mary Eileen Healy, and Mr. Clarence Dalyrimple Richardson were decorated as Knight in the Order of Oranje Nassau and six (6) Mr. Gabriel Felix Brown, Mrs. Nadia Irenia Brown-Satornilia, Mr Franklyn Gustavus Carty, Ms. Monique Muriel Gumbs, Mrs. Judith Mary Halley-Williams, and Mrs. Elvira Felecita Lewis were decorated as member in the Order of Oranje Nassau.
The nine (9) persons nominated have distinguished themselves in a variety of fields, namely:

• the spiritual development and wellbeing of our people;
• the educational and physical development of our youth;
• the care for our elderly;
• the care for our mentally challenged;
• the preservation of our traditions; and
• the fostering and improvement of industrial relations.

Within the variety of fields in which they standout they all have dedicated a significant part of their life and talents towards the improvement and development of the lives of others and our community. Such sustained commitment is commendable and serves as an example for all of us.
In a few minutes the nine (9) nominated persons will receive a Royal Decoration for their exemplary service to our community. It is an honor and special distinction to be awarded a Royal Decoration and I thus hereby, take this opportunity - to in advance - convey my congratulations to each of the honorees individually and to their family and friends.
Moreover in closing, I wish to express special words of appreciation to my staff for their tireless work to make this evening possible. And speaking about commitment I herewith extend a very special thanks to Ms. Clara Reyes and Ms. Nicole De Weever, and all those who will be performing under their direction, for their extraordinary efforts in putting the artistic part of this evening together in poetry, song and dance in Tribute to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix.
Thus as we Honor Queen Beatrix with this last Queen's Birthday Celebration, at least for some time to come, I extend a warm welcome to you and I wish you an enjoyable evening.

Thank you and God bless Sint Maarten.

Philipsburg:--- In an effort to increase condom use and ultimately reduce the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and unwanted pregnancies, Minister Cornelius de Weever and the HIV/AIDS Programme Management Team (PMT) in collaboration with Red Cross and the St. Maarten AIDS Foundation has developed a condom distribution plan for the Carnival Season. The distribution plan is targeted to the general population of St. Maarten and the strategy is to give the condoms out for free making it available to all and thus encouraging condom use.
The condoms will be packaged in a box which has a catchphrase that promotes safe sex and HIV testing at the St. Maarten AIDS Foundation in Cole Bay across from Tropicana. The boxes will help protect the condom from getting damaged when in a bag or a pocket and are sturdy enough to be reused. Printing of the design was done by TRAXX Designs and are being distributed by Red Cross volunteers at the Festival Village's evening events. Make sure to get yours in order to "Cum Safely" and enjoy Carnival 2013 "Fully Protected". The PMT along with Collective Preventive Services (CPS) are busy working on a more comprehensive distribution strategy that will launch by the end of this year.
Unfortunately, we would like to apologize for the typo on the condom box concerning the contact information for St. Maarten AIDS Foundation where anyone can call to schedule an appointment for HIV testing. The correct contact information is 553-2626/588-4636.

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined in the Walk-A-Thon and Bike-A-Thon celebrating the inauguration of Prince Willem Alexander as King of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Prime Minister, dressed in orange and customarily leading the group, encouraged the participants in a festive and celebratory manner as they were accompanied by a drum band. The group of some seventy attendants, including volunteers and school kids, ended in the Jose Lake Ball Field.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- With the abdication of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and the succession to the throne of His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange just days away, a number of activities have been organized.

Church bells throughout the country will toll at 8:00am on Tuesday, April 30.

A one-hour Special produced by the Department of Communication will be aired on April 30 on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm. It will show activities leading up to the inauguration of the King as well as welcome message from His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday and Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams.

The Special will also air interviews with Orange Bow Awardees and highlight other activities.

The Special can also be seen on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm on the same day and can also be seen on WTN Channel 10 (check channel for broadcast times).

For those using social media and would like to show solidarity and welcome the new King, you can add the "Flag for the King" to your Twitter or Facebook profile picture. Visit the official website below that is coordinating this activity: http://twibbon.com/support/vlaggen-voor-de-koning

For more information about the Royal Family, you can visit the Government website and download the inauguration booklet. The link is: www.sintmaartengov.org/government/specialcampaigns/pages/default.aspx

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- With the abdication of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and the succession to the throne of His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange approximately five days away, the Prince will have to resign from official positions.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange is resigning from his official positions, with due regard for the terms of office and procedures of the organizations concerned.

In the year ahead Her Majesty the Queen and the Prince of Orange will decide as to the continuation of their honorary posts and their patronage of organizations.

In principle Princess Maxima will continue as Queen to hold her current honorary and other posts.

The Prince has asked the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to immediately relieve of his duties as an IOC member in the Netherlands. Under the Olympic Charter, this means that the Prince's resignation must be approved at the IOC's next session in Buenos Aires in September 2013 and will take effect at the end of 2013.

His resignation as Chairman of the United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB) will take place in consultation with the Secretary-General. He will also be resigning as Chairperson of the Water Advisory Committee, in consultation with the Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment.

In the process of creating awareness about the role of members of the Royal Family, the Sint Maarten Organizing Committee Inauguration (OCI) has been highlighting the changes that will take place.

For more information about the Royal Family, you can visit the Government website and download the inauguration booklet. The link is: www.sintmaartengov.org/government/specialcampaigns/pages/default.aspx

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group is urging carnival revelers to have a safe and enjoyable Carnival 2013 and most of all – to drink plenty of water while winding along this year's carnival Grand Parade route.
To ensure revelers and members of the public take the necessary water breaks, the company has once again teamed up with local supplier, Heavenly water, to provide free TelEm Group-sponsored water along the route.

"It's very easy to become de-hydrated without realizing, so these water stops are very important to us to ensure people have an enjoyable, safe and fun carnival," said water stop coordinator, Marelva Felix-Jones.

Telem Press Release

Registrations keep rolling in as we get closer to SMART 2013. This year, the tradeshow will be held at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Spa, and promises to be an appointment filled one and a half days. We are counting 50 Travel Wholesalers from South America and Europe, tripling any other year.
The Welcome party is scheduled to be held on May 15 at 7:30pm at Sky Beach located in the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Spa vicinity. While, the Farewell party will be held at the 5-star resort, La Samanna, on May 16 at 7:30pm.
If you haven't registered, please contact the SHTA at 542-0108 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

POINT BLANCHE:--- St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies (SMHG) Management is advising all stakeholders including hotels, airlines, travelers, employees, car rentals, taxis and others, to take note of the extended bridge opening that will take place in connection with the arrival and transit through the bridge by the vessel carrying the Causeway Swing Bridge.

Tentatively either Thursday, May 2 from 11.30am to 1.30pm or Friday, May 3 from 1.30pm to 3.30pm, the Simpson Bay Bridge is expected to be open up to approximately two (2) hours.

The exact date and time of the arrival of the cargo vessel Marietje Andrea carrying the swing bridge, cannot be ascertained at this point in time due to the possible influence of the weather as it makes its way through the North Atlantic Ocean en-route to St. Maarten.

Prior to the transition of the longest vessel ever to enter the Simpson Bay Lagoon, the wind conditions at the Simpson Bay Bridge must also be at a certain level in order to have an incident free transit.

All stakeholders will be kept informed as the date's approach with respect to which day the actual operation will take place. The general public will be updated via the print, online and broadcast media.

The Management of the Harbour Group of Companies regrets any inconvenience that this extended bridge opening will cause and expresses its apologies.

Everything will be in place for a smooth transition of the vessel through the lagoon and provisions are also in place for emergency services.

The 126 meter long (413 feet) cargo transport vessel Marietje Andrea is 15 meters wide (49 feet) and has a gross tonnage of 5418. The longest vessel to ever enter the Simpson Bay Lagoon is the 96 meter (316 feet) mega yacht Limitless. The Andrea is almost 100 feet longer than the Limitless.

The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation, is a subsidiary of SMHG, and has an advisory role with respect to Simpson Bay and the Simpson Bay Lagoon.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The following information is for all vendors handling and selling food. The objective of Collective Prevention Services (CPS) and the Inspectorate is keeping food safe and protect the consumer against foodborne disease.

There are all kinds of risks when handling food. Whether you're selling food from permanent food premises (canteen or kiosk), or temporary or mobile premises (food van or stall), food must be prepared and stored properly in the interest of public health.

Food Safety - Health requirements

If you are ill or have an infection you can easily transfer harmful bacteria or viruses to food.

Do not handle food if:

• you are ill with vomiting, diarrhoea, fever or sore throat with fever; or
• your doctor has diagnosed that you have or carry a foodborne illness.

If you have volunteered for an event and then become ill with any of the above symptoms, let the event organiser know that you can no longer work. This is very important, no matter how short-staffed the event may be. Food handlers who are ill can easily make food unsafe. Not only is it against the law, it is not worth the risk. If you start to feel unwell while you are at an event, stop handling food and let the event organizer know immediately.

If you have:

• infected sores on your hands, arm or face; or
• any discharges from your ear, nose or eyes (such as a cold)

You can continue to handle food provided you take extra precautions to prevent food being contaminated. For example, cover the skin sore or take medication to dry up the discharge.

Hygiene requirements
General hygiene

Each food handler must take all precautions to ensure that food or surfaces that come in contact with food are not contaminated by his or her body or anything he or she is wearing. This includes hair, saliva, mucus, sweat, blood, fingernails, clothes, jewellery or bandages.

You are required to:

• avoid handling ready-to-eat food such as salads and cooked food use tongs or other implements instead;
• wear clean outer clothing;
• make sure bandages and dressings on exposed parts of your body (such as the hands, arms or face) are covered with waterproof coverings;
• not eat over uncovered food or equipment and utensils;
• not sneeze, blow or cough over uncovered food or equipment and utensils; and
• not spit, smoke or chew tobacco where food is handled.

Hand washing
The most important measure to protect food from contamination is proper hand washing because clean and dry hands limit the transfer of harmful organisms to food. The Food Safety Standards require food handlers to wash their hands whenever hands are likely to be a source of contamination of food, including. Avoid cross contamination of food e.g. using the same utensil to handle fish and chicken. Keep the preparation area and the respective surrounding clean and germ free.

There are five steps that should be followed when washing hands. These are:

• wet hands under warm running water;
• soap hands, lathering well;
• rub thoroughly, including the wrists and between the fingers;
• rinse in clean water; and
• dry thoroughly on paper towel, leaving no moisture on the hands.

Food Safety Workshop

It is recommended to follow the food safety workshop as to be certified as a food handler where you acquire information on food preparation and safety:

• before handling food;
• between handling raw food and food that is ready to eat, such as cooked food and salads;
• after using the toilet;
• after smoking, coughing, sneezing, blowing the nose, eating or drinking;
• after touching hair, scalp, mouth, nose or ear canal, and
• after handling rubbish and other waste.

Philipsburg:--- On Wednesday April 24th at approximately 3:15pm, a Police Bike Patrol was sent to the Walter Plantz Pier on the Boardwalk to investigate a Jet Ski accident. On the scene the investigating officers spoke to a witness who stated that a female Jet Ski rider collided into the Walter Plantz Pier at very high speed injuring herself. The victim with the initials A.K. from the Soviet Union (25) visiting the island on board of the cruise vessel Ruby Princess suffered a fractured left arm and right leg and bruises to her body. She was treated on the scene by paramedics and then transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further treatment.
The Jet Ski was totally destroyed and confiscated for further investigation by the Maritime Police.

KPSM Police Report

Pointe Blanche:--- On Monday April 22nd at approximately 7:00pm, members of the Police Bike Patrol were sent to the A.C. Wathey Cruise Facilities to investigate a report of a missing male tourist who came to the island on board of the cruise vessel "Explorer of the Seas". This ship which was in port was to depart the island that same evening at 9:00pm. On the scene the investigating officers learnt that an 82 year old American tourist with the initials L.J.R. who suffers from Alzheimer's disease had been missing since about 5:00pm that evening. A search of the area was done at that time, however he was not located. A second search was initiated by the Bike Patrol and shortly after the victim was found lying on the ground next to an excavator on an enclosed lot of land of the Cruise facilities. The victim was quite dehydrated and treated on the scene by medical personnel of the cruise line after boarding the ship.

KPSM Police Report

Philipsburg/Hague:--- The Minister of Interior and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk gave the Parliament of the Netherlands misleading information on the Tortola boat mishap that claimed the lives on nine people on December 6th, 2010. The ill-fated 26 feet boat left St. Maarten with over 20 Haitian nationals, nine of those persons perished in the accident which occurred somewhere in the vicinity of Parquita Bay, Tortola B.V.I.

The Haitian captain and one of his crew members were arrested and sentenced in Tortola while five people were also arrested and convicted for human smuggling and money laundering on St. Maarten.

The Attorney General of Countries St. Maarten, Curacao, and the BES islands Dick Piar already issued an advice to the Minister of Justice of St. Maarten and the Prosecutor's Office since the case was investigated by the Landsrecherche. SMN News learnt that the investigation showed that the Coast Guard did not act properly neither did they intercept the boat when it left St. Maarten. The Coast Guard monitored the boat and its occupants from the time they boarded the boat and left St. Maarten and while they had several opportunities to act and apprehend those on the boat which might have saved the lives of the nine people including three children they did not.

SMN News already submitted a request for the report that was submitted to St. Maarten's Minister of Justice but we were informed that the report is not yet finalized. The Attorney General sent an advice to the Minister of Justice with its findings so that the Minister and Prosecutor could react but that process has not yet been completed.

Philipsburg:--- The owner of Bada Bing strip club Jaap van den Heuvel was questioned by the detectives of the Landsrecherche on Thursday confirmed Attorney General Taco Stein. Stein said van den Heuvel was heard as a witness (suspect) and he was not detained by the detectives. Stein did not rule out the possibility that van den Heuvel will be arrested at a later date.

The strip club owner came under the radar when De Telegraaf of the Netherlands released a news article on March 7th, 2013 claiming that he (van den Heuvel) bribed Independent Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge which he recorded. The tape was subsequently released by a local newspaper showing van den Heuvel giving Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge $15,000.00. Later van den Heuvel told his lawyer Cor Merx via an email which was forwarded to Illidge that he was paying back a loan to Illidge which he borrowed during his divorce procedures in 2010. That email was made available to SMN News. Van den Heuvel also told Merx in the same email that the leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger asked him to tape Patrick Illidge whenever he was repaying him so that he (Heyliger) could use the tape as blackmail to break the current coalition government. While the tape and the news articles only surfaced in March 2013 at least one former Minister who was appointed by the United Peoples Party spoke about the tape late last year on a radio program. It is also alleged that other politicians including the Prime Minister knew of the tape prior to its release in the media.

So far the detectives have questioned a number of people including Minister of Justice Roland Duncan, Minister of TEATT Romeo Pantophlet, and former Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger.

SMN News also learned that Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge was also heard as a witness on Thursday, Stein at first confirmed Illidge was also heard as a witness but he quickly changed his statements and said that it was only van den Heuvel that was heard and not MP Illidge. SMN News managed to confirm that MP Patrick Illidge was also interrogated on Thursday in the ongoing ORCA investigation. While the main focus of the investigation is about the alleged bribe van den Heuvel paid MP Illidge for favors such as extending working permits for prostitutes and another business license, the illegal and unlicensed firearm that was found in the MPs house is also part of the investigation.
The investigators are also trying to obtain information as to who sold Illidge the firearm and how the illegal weapon was shipped from Miami to St. Maarten.

On Friday morning the Spokesman for the Attorney General Norman Serphos sent an email to the various media houses stating that:

"A press release was issued Thursday evening by the Public Prosecutor's Office Sint Maarten. Due to problems with the e-mail server this might have not reached you."

The content of the press release which was also sent by Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos on Friday morning reads:

JAAP VAN DEN HEUVEL QUESTIONED IN 'ORCA' INVESTIGATION

On Thursday, Bada Bing's Jaap van den Heuvel was questioned by the National Detective's Agency.
Van den Heuvel was questioned as a suspect in relation to the footage on which van den Heuvel was seen handing over money to member of Parliament Patrick Illidge.
Van den Heuvel was given the opportunity to give his side of the story. He was not arrested.
The investigation continues.

Press Release from Prosecutor's Office

Mos ended his email by saying that in the interest of the investigation no more information will be released at this time.

Prosecutor's Office issued second press release in the ORCA investigation. The press release which was issued by Prosecutor Gonda van der Wulp states that Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge was heard on Friday as a suspect in the ongoing investigation. The press release reads as follows:

MP PATRICK ILLIDGE QUESTIONED IN 'ORCA' INVESTIGATION.

On Friday, member of Parliament Patrick Illidge was questioned by the National Detective's Agency.
MP Illidge, like Jaap van den Heuvel yesterday, was questioned as a suspect in relation to the footage on which van den Heuvel was seen handing over money to him.
After van den Heuvel gave his statement on the facts that were visible on the video footage, today Patrick Illidge was given the opportunity to give his side of the story. Like van den Heuvel he was not arrested.
Both statements, after comparison, give sufficient grounds for further investigation.
The investigation continues.

Press Release from Prosecutor's Office

The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined fellow minister the Hon. Silveria Jacobs and the Hon. Cornelius De Weever and invited guests at a fundraising event for the Art Saves Lives and the Be the Change Foundations on Tuesday evening. Be The Change's mission is to encourage the St. Maarten community to actively contribute to various non-profit organizations and local causes through the igniting of a social philanthropic movement. The Art Saves Lives Program (ASLP) is a cross-cultural exchange between youth in need and experienced practicing artists who seek to use their talents for positive change. The collaborative project will select renowned artists from around the world who use the arts to introduce participants to global and local traditions and empower them with the life skills necessary to effectively deal with the demands and challenges of everyday life.

The Prime Minister stated in her brief remarks at the event how very proud she was of both Nicole De Weever and Erika Cannegieter of the Art Saves Lives and Be the Change Foundations Respectively. "I am so very proud of Nicole and Erika and I know that Minister Jacobs and Minister de Weever share that sentiment for what you have done in the past and for what you have been doing right now. I told these two ladies when they were in my office recently that I know that they would be able to accomplish what they are aiming for. There simply cannot be this much passion and compassion in two young ladies without something not coming out of it. And so tonight I would like to thank everyone for their support and the motivation for these ladies to do what they have set out to do. To Nicole and Erika I say that I support and encourage you in whichever way. There are so many wonderful persons that do great work representing great foundations that work tirelessly for their causes. So as Prime Minister of St. Maarten I would like to also extend my thanks to those organizations in making St. Maarten a better place. I remain committed to the belief that young people with drive will make a huge difference in the community. One person can make a difference but many people together can be the change," commented Prime Minister Wescot-Williams.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Windward Islands Bank Ltd. (WIB) is ready to keep the Carnival festivities going with WIB's Block Party on April 26th from 5:30PM until 12AM. Join us for live entertainment, food, drinks, and lots of FUN! Get into the groove with music provided by two bands, including a DJ. District Band and Heartbeat Band will be bringing energy and talent to WIB's Block Party event. Cool down or warm up with soup, snacks, hot or cold beverages, and much more.

The WIB staff will all be sporting one of three colorful flavors: lime green, daisy, and heliconia for WIB's Block Party. The Carnival themed t-shirts highlight WIB's Easy Charge (cellphone - SMS recharge) and Online Banking products on the front and back. Recharge your cell today with WIB's Easy Charge. It's the way to recharge your cellphone today and bank online from anywhere at anytime, it's banking made easy.

So come on down to the WIB branch on the Pondfill and celebrate with us. WIB invites the community of St. Maarten to have a good time at WIB's Block Party on April 26th from 5:30PM until 12AM. We look forward to seeing you there.

It's always more fun with your partner in progress.

WIB Press Release

POINT BLANCHE:--- St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies (SMHG) Commercial Department representatives were present at the Christian Hillside School on Wednesday to receive from the General Director of the Foundation for Protestant Christian Education Asha Stevens-Mohabier a Certificate of Appreciation from the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School in recognition of the invaluable contribution and participation in the leadership walk 2013 under the theme "I walk for education."

French Quarter:--- The Gendarmes arrested several persons on Tuesday and Wednesday that are currently in garde à vue, confirmed Captain of the Gendarmerie Sylvain Jouault on Wednesday. Jouault said he could not release any information on the investigation which started on Tuesday. Up to late Wednesday evening, several witnesses and the owners of the home where the shooting took place were being heard by the gendarmes.

SMN News learnt that someone went into a yard opposite the Miracle Revival Church in French Quarter and began spraying bullets on a red car that was parked in the yard. Christophe Mac Quilkin told SMN News that shortly before 9am on Wednesday morning he was riding a motorcycle on French Quarter main road (RN7) when two men, one of them looking like a "Rasta", in blue or grayish Nissan blocked him on the road. Mac Quilkin said that when the car stopped the person sitting in the passenger side of vehicle opened the vehicle door and pointed a gun at him. "When I saw that I rode away at high speed to save my life. I kept riding straight along the main road as I tried to escape the attackers who were closely behind me. I then turned into a dirt road next to the Barry's residence as I ran for my life."

The owner of the home said they were at home when they heard several gunshots, she said when she heard the shots she did not know it was gunshots, she thought it was something happened to Mac Quilkin who is always in her yard fixing motorcycles with her son. The home owner said she was inside her kitchen when she heard the noise so she decided to go outside to inquire. "When I looked outside I saw a Rasta looking man with a shotgun in his hand and he had already fired a number of shots at my son's car, a red Getz that was parked inside the yard. I heard him saying something that the person/persons thought they would get away. I was so confused because I did not know what was going on and why this person chose to fire shots at my son's car. At the time my son was still sleeping," the woman explained. At the time of the shooting, there was also an elderly woman who lives in one of the homes nearby washing clothes in the back of the yard. The elderly woman told SMN News that she did not even know what was going on in front of her yard, she said she could have been shot by stray bullets but luckily no one in her family was injured.
Several gendarmes and officers from the forensic department visited the scene to investigate what appeared to be a continuation of a shooting that took place Monday night leaving two persons injured. "It appears as though relatives of the two injured persons are taking revenge," said one resident.

SMN News reported on Tuesday that two persons, a male and female, were shot inside their apartment by a lone gunman. The two injured persons were air evacuated to Martinique for further medical treatment. Residents of French Quarter who spoke to SMN News reporter on the condition of anonymity said that the shooting sparked from a drug deal that did not end well. However, law enforcement has refused to comment on the case. After the shooting Monday night, someone followed the attacker who they believe shot the couple and he too got injured while his vehicle was set alight.

On Wednesday evening, residents in French Quarter said that some people living "Around the Pond" attacked a young man known in the area as "Six" and the attacker shot him in his leg and then they burnt his car which is a red Toyota Corolla.

Philipsburg:--- The Minister of General Affairs and Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams announced on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers' weekly press briefing that the placement of civil servants has been finalized. Wescot Williams said 102 persons had contested their placement and they were each heard. Wescot Williams said the government of St. Maarten received the final report on the placements which was reviewed by the committee that was installed to review the complaints that were filed. Wescot Williams said of the 102 cases only three of the objections were sustained. The Minister responsible for General Affairs said the process took some time but now it has been finalized.

Discussions to start on COLA Payments and Solutions.

Wescot Williams said now that the 2013 budget has been approved she will resume discussions with the GOA on the Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) that is still outstanding. Wescot Williams said that for the year 2011, government has to index the civil servants salaries by 4.6% but government only budgeted half of that which will be paid out this year. Instead of the 4.6%, government will be paying 2.3% but that will be done after negotiations are completed with the GOA. Wescot Williams said the 2.3% will be paid as a lump sum payment. She said she intends to send a letter to the GOA to inform them of the first trajectory and then they will discuss the second trajectory which is to find a better solution on the indexation of salaries because the government of St. Maarten simply cannot afford to maintain the current procedure that is being used to calculate the COLA.

When SMN News asked the Prime Minister if she has been making inconsistent statements regarding St. Maarten's financial status, Wescot Williams said she does not know what statement the WICLU Vice President was referring to. Regarding the letter sent by the unions and the ultimatum on the payment, Wescot Williams said that government has to restructure the indexation because some years they are not able to make the payments.

Philipsburg:--- Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams announced on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers' weekly press briefing that authorities on the Dutch side will be seeking further information on what is required by French authorities for Dutch citizens/residents to circulate on the French side.

Wescot Williams said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed by the leaders of both sides stipulates that three levels of government would have met to further discuss matters relating to cooperation. The three parties that had to meet were representatives from the Collectivity of St. Martin, the Prefect Delegue, and the Council of Ministers from the Dutch side. Wescot Williams said while the work group consisting of technicians has been meeting, the meeting involving elected officials and the representative of the State is yet to take place.

Wescot Williams said the last meeting which was held on April 10th, 2013 involved several persons. She said there were representatives from the department of foreign relations, representatives from the secretariat of the Council of Ministers, and the Ministry of Justice while the French side had representatives from the COM and a representative of the State who were all part of the meeting. The Prime Minister said that during these meetings police and other justice related matters are being discussed. She said after taking note of the incident that took place that involved someone that resides on the Dutch side and was circulating on the French side, she would need to further look into the matter in order to get more information and clarity. The Prime Minister said she is threading carefully on what she is saying because she did not have all the information as to what the person had on them when it comes to legal documents. The Prime Minister said that the Director of the Immigration Services (IND) intends to seek further clarification on the issue which will also be discussed by the technocrats that have been meeting constantly to work on cooperation.

She said recently discussions were held about the cooperation between the two sides as to the operations at the Princess Juliana International Airport, especially regarding documents for entry into St. Maarten. One of the things the Dutch side Immigration officials will be looking to verify is whether or not the French side Identification cards are now accepted as a travel document to enter St. Maarten. Another issue that has to be further discussed is the Oyster Pond border, the police treaty, the points of entry such as the Sandy Ground Bridge, and how authorities will deal with criminals that flee from one side to the other when they commit crimes. The Prime Minister said while those matters were discussed on a technical level the Dutch side will have to get a clear picture (understanding) as to what is required of the Dutch side for its people to circulate on the French side. "Maybe this is a storm in a teacup because I really don't have all the details on what exactly took place. I don't know what the person had in their possession and we would like to know what exactly the requirements are, this will be discussed among the technocrats and only if necessary then the matter will be discussed among government (elected officials and the State)." Wescot Williams also confirmed that the Franco Dutch Treaty is now being implemented at the PJIAE when she was asked by SMN News reporter.

Philipsburg:--- At least two former Ministers from the United People's Party would have to give an explanation to investigators that are currently busy with the ORCA (Bada Bing) alleged bribery investigation that involves Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge. SMN News has been reliably informed that when investigators searched the home of Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge on Saturday March 9th, 2013 while the MP was in the Netherlands they found an un-licensed and unregistered firearm in the former Minister who is now a Member of Parliament's house.

The brand new firearm and its bullets were confiscated and to date investigators have not returned the firearm to the MP. SMN News learnt that when Illidge bought the firearm he was not given a receipt, therefore investigators have to conduct the necessary tracing to find out the origin, who bought the firearm, and how it reached St. Maarten. It should be noted that Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge has the right to carry a firearm since he was a Minister in the former Netherlands Antilles, that right extends up to four years after the Minister's term ended but in the case of Illidge he did not own or carry a firearm while he was a Minister in the Netherlands Antilles. According to reliable sources, Illidge secured a firearm when he declared himself an Independent Member of Parliament to support the United People's Party. "Two of the UP Ministers, bought the firearm for Patrick Illidge who later tried to register the firearm but that too was never done." SMN News learnt that the person that is heading the Narcotics and Firearms Department at KPSM never responded to MP Illidge's request to register the firearm.

SMN News learnt from well placed sources that MP Illidge claims to have purchased the weapon from a former UP Minister whom he said brought in weapons from Miami. The source said that the two UP Ministers also bought firearms for themselves and placed them on containers that brought in goods to the island. According to one source, the firearms owned by the former Ministers were not registered even though that is required.

Attorney General of St. Maarten Taco Stein confirmed to SMN News on Wednesday that a firearm was found in MP Illidge's home and that the investigators are also investigating the origin of the firearm. Stein said the investigators are busy with the ORCA investigation but right now there is no new development that would interest the media. When SMN News reporter asked Stein if the person (former Minister) who allegedly sold MP Illidge the firearm had a license to import and sell firearms, Stein said he could not comment further but rest assure all aspects of the case are being investigated. Stein said everyone that is involved in the case will be questioned and the necessary actions will be taken when that time comes.

While the community of St. Maarten was shocked when they saw the Bada Bing alleged bribery tape, it appears that there are more crimes that were being committed by persons that held public office than meets the eye of the ordinary man on the street.

Grand Case:--- A male tourist lost his life Tuesday evening in Grand Case. According to information provided to SMN News by an eyewitness, the male tourist was snorkeling in Grand Case and at some point he died. The eyewitness said persons in the immediate area who witnessed the death of the visitor believed that he must have hit his head. However, Captain of the Gendarmerie Sylvain Jouault said that the doctor who pronounced the man dead on the scene said the victim was ill. Jouault said that the victim took ill while he was in the water.

Several Gendarmes reported to the scene to investigate how the man died. At the time, the male tourist was in the area with his wife who also witnessed her husband's demise.

St. Peters:--- The Sint Peters Basketball Court which for some time was painted with all type of negative graffiti and without lights that were functioning has been repainted and the lights have been repaired. The CPO for the Sint Peters area Major Felix Richards got together with youngsters of the community and painted the court after receiving the paint as a donation from Kooyman N.V. Richards also got in contact with the "Samenwerkingsfonds" and requested assistance in having the lights of the basketball court repaired. The request was approved and the lights for the court were ordered through the electrical company "Electec". The labor to have the lights repaired was donated by Payless. Words of appreciation on behalf of the CPO Richards go out to all the organizations that have contributed in having the Sint Peters Basketball Court completely functional once again.

KPSM Police Report

Philipsburg:--- The Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU) along with the tripartite committee has decided to recognize three persons within the community for their contributions towards labour related matters or affairs on Labour Day. Vice President of the WICLU Claire Elshot told reporters on Tuesday at WICLU's weekly press briefing that the three persons that were selected will be honored. Those that were selected to receive their awards are the relatives of the late Alred Peters, a former Taxi Driver who headed the Taxis Union in Cole Bay. Elshot said that Peters is no longer alive but his contributions to unionism could never be forgotten. She said Peters started off the Taxis Union under the tamarind tree in Cole Bay where the Ace Mega Store is located. Elshot further explained that Peters was nominated as historic member of the unions. The second person that will be recognized for his years of contribution and dedication to unionism is Willy Haize, the former President and now advisor of the UFA. Elshot said Haize made a huge impact on labor since he was very dynamic and outspoken when he was the President of the UFA. She said even though Haize is no longer the President of UFA he still remains active in unionism by being the advisor to the UFA. "Because of this, the tripartite had to be honest in recognizing Haize for the contributions he made to unionism. Haize was also a member of the SER where his voice was always heard. I think the voice of Mr. Haize really made an impact both in the former Netherlands Antilles and St. Maarten." The third person that will be honored for her contributions to unionism is Sonia Tondu, Tondu is a civil servant and member of the GOA who works behind the scenes to ensure that workers rights within the civil core as well as those that are working in the private sector are not violated since she was also a member of the WICSU/PSU. Elshot said Tondu has been working for years on the rights of workers and she is already available when she is called upon.

Elshot said the day's activities will kick off with a church service which will be held at the Philipsburg Methodist Church. The venue for the awards ceremony and official speeches is yet to be announced. However, on May 1st, the second day of the Carnival parade, workers on St. Maarten including the various unions will be leading the parade with a troupe depicting the importance of workers.

Prime Minister and Finance Minister are making conflicting statements --- Elshot.

The President of the WITU also told members of the media that to date they have not received any response from government regarding the ultimatum that was sent to them on the payment of the Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA). She said on April 30th, 2013 if government does not react the unions are prepared to take the necessary actions to ensure that workers get what is due to them. Besides that, Elshot said that the Minister of Finance in his statements said that the country's finances are in good shape while the Prime Minister (Minister of General Affairs) said otherwise in a statement she made.

Elshot also made clear that she will be leaving the island to attend a conference in Jamaica but she will be back on St. Maarten for April 30th to see what government has to say or will do on that day regarding the COLA payments.

Unemployment Rate Rising --- Unions Concerned.

Elshot also told reporters on Tuesday that the unemployment rate on St. Maarten is escalating and something has to be done to curb the situation. She said in the early 1980's St. Maarten was the only island within the Netherlands Antilles who could have boasted of a 0% unemployment rate but today there is a 26% youth unemployment rate while there is between 8% to 13% unemployment rate among persons ranging from 35 years to 50 years.

French Quarter:--- A young couple was transported to Martinique for treatment after they sustained serious injuries from gunshots Monday night. SMN News learnt from residents of French Quarter that the couple was attacked at their home by a lone gun man who fired several shots at them. One of the residents said the female victim was shot in her forehead while the male victim received gunshot wounds in the chest area. SMN News learnt that relatives of the male victim retaliated and they injured the attacker and also burnt the vehicle that was used by the gunman. The badly damaged vehicle was also recovered somewhere in French Quarter Monday night. It appears as though the car was burnt to elude law enforcement officers from finding traces or evidence that would incriminate the gunman and the victims.

SMN News learnt that the couple allegedly took a quantity of marijuana from the gunman to resell and they did not pay the drug dealer for the drugs they took from him.

SMN News made several attempts to obtain a comment from the Commandant or Captain of the Gendarmerie but they refused to take the phone calls claiming they are very busy. SMN News also tried to obtain a comment from Prosecutor Flavien Noailles but he also could not be reached by telephone for comment.

Marigot:--- St. Martin's Deputy and Territorial Councilor Daniel Gibbs that is sitting on the opposition benches told reporters on Tuesday at a press conference that he met with the newly elected President of the Collectivity, Aline Hanson and she has renewed her promise to work closely with the opposition.

Gibbs said that even though the RRR majority was given the mandate to make a change in the management of the peoples affairs, the newly elected President told him that the change the people are looking for will begin with her.

Gibbs also updated reporters on a number of projects he defended on the state level on behalf of St. Martin and St. Barths. He said another project he will begin discussing on May 6th, 2013 is the status that St. Martin should choose. Gibbs said very soon St. Martin would have to decide whether or not they will change their status from the UPT to OCT. However, before that is done he believes that the people of St. Martin should engage in a discussion which would take place on May 6th, 2013 at the Chamber of Commerce.

Oyster Pond:--- William Warno, popularly known as "Willy the Iguana Man", passed away in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday. SMN News learnt that Warno was not feeling well and he went to the Dominican Republic for medical treatment where he died early Tuesday morning.

Willy was well known for cattle farming and raising cocks and other animals in Oyster Pond. His open farm attracted tourists on a daily basis because he reared iguana on his farm. SMN News visited Willy the Iguana Man on several occasions to see how his iguanas would respond to his whistle when he would call them. Willy used to feed his iguanas bread, corn, and other fruits that he gathered from supermarkets around the island. Several members of the St. Maarten Pride Foundation also took students and trainees to Willy's farm to experience his charm with the iguanas he raised in the same pond with ducks and other poultry.

PM: "Administrative Professionals essential to the proper functioning and working of various departments and ministries."

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten announced yesterday that based on her recommendations the Council of Ministers has decided to grant all Administrative Professionals in the Civil Service a half day off in observance of Administrative Professionals day. Administrative Professionals' Day (also known as Secretaries Day or Admin Day) is an unofficial secular holiday observed in several countries to recognize the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support professionals. In North America and including on St. Maarten, it is celebrated on the Wednesday of the last full week of April (April 24 in 2013).

Over the years, Administrative Professionals Week has become one of the largest workplace observances. The event is celebrated worldwide through community events, social gatherings and individual corporate activities recognizing support staff with gifts.

"It is important that we acknowledge the importance that Administrative Professionals have in our professional workforce. These professionals are essential to the proper functioning and working of various departments and ministries and therefore it was decided that we would acknowledge the importance of our Administrative Pool and grant a half work day in order to show our gratitude," commented the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

BAIE-MAHAULT, Guadeloupe:--- Haitian-American author Edwige Danticat was honoured by fellow writers for her book "Create Dangerously" published by Editions Grasset.

The pan-Caribbean awards panel, convened at the third International Congress of Caribbean Writers held in French-speaking Guadeloupe earlier this month, awarded Danticat its literary prize.

The literary luminaries on the panel included Roger Toumson, President of the Association of Caribbean Writers, and Ernest Pépin both of Guadeloupe; Alexandre Alaric of Martinique, Elisabeth Wilson of Jamaica, Chiqui Vicioso of the Dominican Republic, Dominique Battraville of Haiti, and Emilio Jorge Rodriguez of Cuba.

According to Toumson, chair of the panel, "Create Dangerously" is an extraordinary book that confirms the quality of the novelist: "The art of the description, the narrative that she displays in her work provides a sublime report of her journey back to her native land that has suffered from a terrible earthquake, which has marked her deeply."

She not only expresses her emotions and thoughts that she witnessed, he added, but she also questions her responsibilities as a writer and artist.

"At the same time, she has been able to describe the enigmatic beauty of Haitian paintings, which according to her, contain the secrets of a capacity to rebound in life, to resist misfortunes," he observed.

Toumson added that Haitian literature makes an important contribution to the wealth of world heritage and provided hope to all people.

Special mentions were also extended to two authors for their work written in English and Spanish respectively: "Light Falling on Bamboo" by Lawrence Scott of Trinidad and Tobago, and "Nécropolis" by Santiago Gamboa of Colombia.

The Regional Council of Guadeloupe expressed gratitude to all participants and supporters of the congress which has become an important event on the region's cultural calendar.

Philipsburg:--- A delegation from the St. Maarten Lions Club met with the Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams at her Cabinet on Monday. During the meeting Lions District Governor Claudius Anthony "Toontje" Buncamper gave an update on the activities of the Lions Club on St. Maarten and the PM thanked the group for their contributions to the country. Mr. Buncamper is the District Governor for area 60B and is responsible for the activities of the Lions Club in the Caribbean Region from the Cayman Islands to St. Lucia.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Cay Hill:--- On Friday April 19, 2013, a training session took place at MHF for Saba, St. Eustatius and psychiatrists and psychologists of St. Maarten who also work on Saba and Statia.
SQlapius is an agenda and care plan all-in-one linking patient's appointments to their dossier. This is a digitalized system that gives all involved insight in the progress of the patient but also flags the insurance and referral expiration dates.

The great advantage of this system is, the patient is informed on time when to renew his/her insurance card or referral. The multidisciplinary care team has insight in the agreements made with the patient by other disciplines, psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, case manager or group leader. All have access with their own password and cannot change colleagues notes, they can only enter their own notes.

The system saves lots of paper, walking up and down for information and has proven to MHF to be very efficient and patients satisfactory. MHF has been working with the system for one year now and since last year Bonaire and now Saba and Statia will also implement it.

Participants in the session were; Caros Zacharias of MHF, Dr. Jurgensen en Dr. Ferero psychiatrists, Joep Goringsen and Joyce Korsten, Social Psychiatric Nurses of Saba and Statia, Miranda Obispa-Roosberg also a nurse from Statia and Carmencita Chemont visiting psychologist for Saba and Statia.
Presenters of the session were Kenny Patterson and Twan Vermetten of SQlapius.

Cay Hill:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams took time out of her busy schedule to pay a surprise visit to the Grade Two of the Learning Unlimited Preparatory School on Monday. The PM's visit was part of the class' special project on Caribbean Leaders. Students were given the opportunity to ask the PM questions on her function, how her daily life looks like, on how she handles a busy lifestyle and how she is still able to spend time with her family. Before she left many of the students overcame their shyness and gave the PM words of encouragement and wished her luck in her job. "We are oftentimes so busy that it is difficult for us to take a minute and listen to the thoughts and wishes of even our youngest St. Maarteners. It was therefore heartening to see and hear the students and their questions and wishes expressed in this setting. It was a pleasure to have been there," commented the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Feedback from the Community Essential for the Development of the NDP

Great Bay:--- In an effort to bring the process of the development of the National development Plan (NDP) for St. Maarten closer to the community, the NDP Team over the weekend urged the public of St. Maarten to like its Facebook/ National Development Plan page and to email their comments and wishes regarding the NDP to the dedicated email address at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. More information about the presentations, frequently asked questions, etc, are available on www.sintmaartengov.org/specialcampaigns/NDP. "The participation of the community is a central component of the development of the National Development Plan for Country St. Maarten and we would like to urge the community to be as involved in the process as possible.

The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams has remarked earlier that the development of the Plan is essential in charting as new course and direction St. Maarten is about to embark on. "We are momentarily at a crossroads of a strengthened nation. It is through this process that we will define collectively our common vision of what kind of St. Maarten we want for our children, grandchildren and future generations. We need to define what kinds of rights and obligations would bind our citizens and indeed what kind of relationships and responsibility Government should have towards the citizens," emphasized the PM.

In the coming weeks the NDP Working Group will be formed with members from the private sector, civil society organizations and government. The NDP Coordinating Team and the Working Group will focus on collating and compiling a report on the information session, lecture and open forum and Stakeholder meetings which were held during the last few months, taking into considerations the feedback, comments and ideas of the community expressed during the events. "The next step with regards to the NDP will be to distribute a preliminary report to all stakeholders on the feedback that we have received from the community which we will use to move forward in developing the NDP vision and later on the draft NDP," read a Working Group statement.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Dutch Quarter:--- On Saturday April 20, 2013, The Rotary club of St. Martin Sunrise with a team of over a hundred and fifteen (115) volunteers from different groups from St. Maarten and Anguilla came together in Dutch Quarter to give the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School a much needed facelift, which consisted of the painting of all buildings located on the premises.
The volunteers who assisted the members of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise with the execution of the painting of the entire school included: the Rotary Club of Anguilla, UTS, AUC School of Medicine, the Youth Parliamentarians, the Interactors from St. Dominic High, Learning Unlimited, and St. Maarten Academy Academic schools, the members and parents of the P.T.A of the school, and some teachers of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School. The painting which started at 7:30am on Saturday ended approximately 3pm in the afternoon.
Since 2012, the club has completed various projects at the school in collaboration with our main sponsor UTS, including the cleanup and beautification of the premises, donation of 300 school bags at the beginning of the school and the community center nearby, and initiating a breakfast program where students are served breakfast every morning.
A similar project was done with the Rotary Club of Anguilla and the Interact Club of Anguilla, where the Sunrise Rotary Club travelled to Anguilla in August 2012 to assist in the painting of the Valley Primary School and the Buffong Dental Clinic.
The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise would like to thank the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Ms. Silveria Jacobs for her presence and all volunteers who came out to donate their time, A & A Supply, and the professional painter Mr. Brown, who oversaw the painting.
Our club is committed in improving the lives of our children in the community and would like to do similar projects at other schools on the island. Businesses interested in becoming a sponsor or to make a donation can contact our President Marcellia Henry at # 553.1912 or Secretary Angela Gordon at # 520.0432.
The club meets at Air Lekkerbek Restaurant every Tuesday mornings at 7:00am for fellowship and breakfast. For more information on the club visit us at sxmsunrise.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., we are also on Facebook: Rotary Club of Saint Martin Sunrise.

Philipsburg:--- His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday received Lions District Governor for area 60B Claudius Buncamper MJF with his delegation on Tuesday, April 16th, 2013. The District Governor began his official tour of Sint Maarten over the weekend that ended with the Sint Maarten Lions Club audit last Tuesday evening. Governor Holiday was updated on what the various Lions Clubs are doing locally as well as regionally.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Foundation Catholic Education St. Maarten is currently in Holland to recruit teachers for the upcoming school year 2013/2014.

These teachers will form part of the schools with Dutch as the language of instruction. A total of 12 teachers are needed.

Some of the new teachers have already signed their contracts at the St. Maarten's House in The Hague last week Friday.

The delegation of the School Board also visited several schools in Holland to get acquainted with the new innovations in education.

One very intriguing school was Wittering.nl which carries the motto "Onderwijs Gewoon Doen!". The representatives experienced firsthand the quality of education and the benefits for all involved of a fully implemented and successful Foundation Based Education (FBE).

The representatives of the Catholic School Board are very happy that the concept of F.B.E. has been introduced in St. Maarten and that all parties involved are working towards the improvement of quality education for the students of St. Maarten.

Simpson Bay:--- The staff of the Dutch Caribbean Coastguard on St. Maarten accepted with great enthusiasm and pride the second Boston Whaler Justice 20 last Friday. The Hr. Ms. Pelikaan, delivered the vessel on the Coastguard station in Simpson Bay. With this additional vessel, the Coastguard fulfills the express request of the Judicial authorities for more recognizable and locally deployable units in St. Maarten.

The Boston Whaler Justice 20 has a length of 20 feet (6.25 meters) and a depth of 38 cm. The Justice 20 has an outboard motor of 150 hp.

These vessels are used primarily in the bays and have a more friendly public appearance than the heavily armed super-RHIBs. St. Maarten had a need for such a vessel for a long time in Simpson Bay. With this second boat, the Coastguard can patrol more frequently and also carry out more controls.

Philipsburg:--- Prior to the official launching of BBZ10 on St. Maarten which began one minute after midnight on Monday, officials of TELEM group of companies told reporters that the latest BlackBerry device comes with all the added applications. The device's keyboard is far more sensitive that the regular Blackberries and it also adapts to the users style of writing and way of typing. Owners of the new BBZ10 would have to deal with two or three weeks inconvenience as they try to learn all the added features of the BBZ10. However, by that time the mobile device will also fully recognize its owners and the services that are offered with BBZ10 will be far more technological since the new phone also has video services added to the BBM chat.

The device which has a very sensitive touch screen has the same copyright issues when it comes to downloading music and videos. Roberto Beretto channel manager of BBM RIM told reporters that the company is still negotiating with the copyright owners to see if it will be possible for BBZ10 users to download their favorite music and or video via their mobile device in the future. Baretto introduced reporters to some of the added features the latest BlackBerry smart phone has, he said it can do almost anything including video chat via the BBM chat service. Another cool service with BBZ10 is that BBM contacts can see what their friend or business partner has on their screen without having to download a file.

TELEM Group of Companies is urging BBM users to use their services for the BBZ10 because according to Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Brian Mingo the device works better with 3G which only available at TELEM. Persons that are interested in postpaid services can obtain a BBZ10 free of cost and get six months of 3G data service free if they sign a two year contract while prepaid users would have to pay $649.00 for the device plus but two months of 3G data service and they will obtain one month free data service.

At the press conference held at Festival Village on Monday afternoon, TELEM raffled one of the BBZ10 among media workers. The lucky winner of device was Pearl Radio. TELEM will make three BBZ10 available to media workers for a three day period so that reporters could experience the tools available with the BBZ10 then they would have to return the telephone to TELEM. The idea behind lending the new device to media workers is for media workers to further promote the sale of BBZ10 at TELEM.

Network Manager of TELEM Julian Lake said that TELEM has added more cell sites to their network to ensure that their customers get island wide services. Lake did not say how many more sites were added but he assured reporters that smart phone users will get better service.

Emile van der Weerd said that right now because of the free chatting on BBM, TELEM has 40% of its customers that are using the BlackBerry services. He explained that TELEM finds this to be profitable since Blackberry was only launched in 2009 on St. Maarten.

Gives Explanation on Motions and Financial Considerations

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams explained the Budget Process, the submitting of motions and the next steps with regards to the Budget on her weekly radio program One on One with the Prime Minister on Friday. "Considering that the Budget has now been approved and there is mention in the media concerning Motions I thought it important to highlight this and to explain what is happening so that the Community can have a better grasp on the process," commented the Prime Minister while live on air.

"I look back the Budget Debate feeling confident that it was handled correctly. I would also like to mention that the Parliament of St. Maarten has had a considerable amount of time to examine and discuss the Budget. Despite the fact that Government submitted a draft budget on October 2012, I believe that Parliament has had a sufficient amount of time this year to carry the Budget through the approval process. Budget approval is one of the most important tasks of parliament and is one of the basic and principle rights of Parliament as the representative of the people, especially considering that on of the central mandates of Parliament is to approve and pass the Budget. This, in addition to the right of initiative, or the right to propose a draft law is what is referred to as a constitutional right of parliament. Many also feel that the right to legislate is also one of those rights enshrined in constitutional law, however, when it comes to national ordinances Parliament has a shared responsibility with Government in that regard. Both need to go through a particular process that goes through the Council of Advice, if needed the Social Economic Council, and the handling by Parliament so for this reason legislation is looked at as a shared responsibility," disclosed the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also clarified the Motions which were submitted by the various factions during the Plenary Session of Parliament discussing the Budget: "Members of Parliament can submit a Motion which is an expression or statement that is expressed and which is subsequently put into what is called a motion, which is another constitutional term.

"A motion is an expression or a wish or a feeling or a standpoint so to speak which one or more MP's can submit. The expression is then supported and carried either with a majority or unanimously if that motion is to be passed. Members of Parliament can submit motions on any topic which they deem important. Usually motions are drafted starting with considerations and an elucidation and then are subsequently carried in a motion. Motions can be carried in Parliament at anytime and need not necessarily need to occur during Budget Deliberations as was the case recently. The Prime Minister stated that there were sixteen motions submitted last week. Most of the motions were passed and accepted while some were rejected," commented the Prime Minister.

The PM further highlighted that the Budget, as approved by Parliament, now needs to go to the CFT to ascertain whether it still complies with the requirements of the laws that Governs Financial Supervision: "This is important because, as I mentioned earlier, Parliament has the Budget right and could have amended the Budget or could have changed it as such. The Budget will now go to CFT to look if Parliament stayed within the context of the law and also to see if any decisions taken by Parliament are contradictory to having a balanced budget. I was indicating that to parliament taking this into consideration. Going back to the Motions issue I have expressed the hope that the passed Motions that have a financial nature are not seen as changes to the Budget, which would have as a result the Budget being delayed. This is extremely important; if the CFT would now look at the Budget and see that changes were made which would have an effect we would have to go through the whole process once again. Right now I am keeping my fingers crossed that we do not get that recommendation from the CFT."

The Prime Minister concluded by stating that Government and Parliament will be cooperating closely to ensure that the necessary steps are taken in order to ensure that the motions are carried out while still operating within the 2012 Budget as submitted by Parliament.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- The United Telecommunication Services (UTS) is launching its BBZ10 at 12:01am Tuesday morning at Festival Village since St. Maarten can only begin selling the new mobile devices on April 23rd, 2013. Chief Commercial Officer Christina Sprock told SMN News on Monday that UTS wants to make sure that its customers get professional guidance in using the newest smart phone, therefore Chippie staff and BB RIM Channel Manager Roberto Baretto will be in the Chippie booth to assist customers by teaching them how to use the new device on the spot in Festival Village when the sale of the BBZ10 is launched. Sprock told SMN News that persons looking for the newest Blackberry phones can check with the Chippie booth inside Festival Village just one minute after midnight Monday. Persons interested in the prepaid services can buy their BBZ10 for $645.00 while postpaid customers will be dealt with depending on various packages that are offered by UTS Chippeland which also includes a $0 package. The BBZ10 that are sold at UTS (Chippie) will function without roaming charges due to the Chippieland services that are offered by UTS islandwide.
Chief Operations Officer, Leonardo Juan Pedro said UTS is busy installing 17 additional cell sites to accommodate its customers and to provide better data services, increasing coverage and capacity for the BBZ10 and other smart phone users.
Already additional cell sites were installed in the Belvedere area, Sucker Garden, and Dutch Quarter while technicians working for UTS are still busy installing more cell sites around the island.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- With the abdication of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and the succession to the throne of His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange less than two weeks away, changes will also be made to the Presidency of the Council of State and the Royal Household.

In the process of creating awareness about the role of members of the Royal Family, the Sint Maarten Organizing Committee Inauguration (OCI) says that the abdication of Her Majesty (HM) Queen Beatrix will have changes for the presidency of the Council of State.

The presidency will automatically pass from HM Queen Beatrix to His Majesty the King, who is President of the Council under article 74 of the Dutch Constitution.

On reaching the age of majority the Prince of Orange was automatically granted a seat in the Advisory Division of the Council of State. Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands was granted a seat in the Advisory Division of the Council of State on 1, October, 2004. Princess Catharina-Amalia, the eldest daughter of Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima will be granted her seat in the Advisory Division of the Council of State when she reaches the age of 18.

When a new monarch ascends to the throne, it is customary for certain Officers of the Royal Household to resign their posts, to enable the new monarch to exercise his constitutional right to organize his Household, taking due account of the public interest.

The Officers in question include the Grand Master of the Royal Household, the Chief of the Military Household, the Principal Secretary to the Queen, the Treasurer, the Master of Ceremonies, the Marshal of the Court, the Comptroller of the Royal Palaces, the Crown Equerry, and Director of the Royal Archives and the Director of Human Resources.

For more information about the Royal Family, you can visit the Government website and download the inauguration booklet. The link is: www.sintmaartengov.org/government/specialcampaigns/pages/default.aspx

Zagersgut:--- In celebration of World Earth Day, the Rotaract Club of St. Marten Sunrise conducted a cleanup around the Fresh Water Pond in Zagersgut on Saturday 20th April 2013. The cleanup started at 6:00am and ending at 8:00am with over 30 garbage bags filled with trash lying around the shores of the fresh water pond collected. World Earth Day is April 22nd 2013 and this initiative was done through the advice and recommendation of the St. Maarten Pride Foundation who encouraged Rotaractors we pay close attention to the ponds around the island and not just the beaches.

After visiting the Fresh Water Pond prior to the cleanup, members of Rotaract Sunrise were astonished by the amount of garbage that has been washed ashore. Trash such as, bottles, shopping carts, steering wheels, food containers, household fans and car tire caps were among the rubbish collected at Saturday's cleanup. Rotaract Sunrise would like to remind everyone that Earth Day was created to remind us that we all share the same planet. Sharing Earth means taking responsibility for what we use and how we use it. It is a day to think of the environmental challenges we face and how to solve them. President of Rotaract Sunrise Elisia Lake stated that "people have to become more aware of the role that the environment plays in helping sustain life in this fragile world of ours and that we need to take an active role in protecting the Earth and not polluting it".

The Rotaract Club of St. Maarten Sunrise urges the citizens of St. Maarten to celebrate Earth Day and conserve natural resources for future use. Earth supports life, and we should be happy about it. In addition, the members of Rotaract would like to encourage the general public to dispose their garbage in the right way and to make use of the various garbage bins that are placed around the island because protecting Earth is every person's and every country's responsibility.

Member of Parliament George Pantophlet would like to know if anyone is paying attention to the Dutch Budget of 2013 and their economy. He has learnt that they have a deficit of some 16.7 billion euros or some 2.7% of their Gross Domestic Product. The European Union members have agreed to 3%. It is believed however that it is more like 4.5% and if no new policies are implemented this deficit can grow more in 2014 and 2015 for that matter. The following is a quote: "The Dutch Financial sector has worsened since 2007" end of quote. But fortunately for them they are allowed to have a deficit while St. Maarten is not allowed to have a deficit. And this is the per capita the 5th richest country in Europe. With regards to our Budget he knows we signed an agreement to have the Kingdom Law for Financial Supervision established (afspraak is afspraak). And article 100.2 of our constitution states; "The annual Budget and the long-term budget shall be balanced". And goes on to explain when departure from such might be necessary. On the matter of the Dutch's deficit I will not be able to say whether they are including investments overseas and assets they have in many countries around the world. He would not be surprised if some of the monies not circulating are somewhere in a safe haven where many other vibrant millionaires hide their money from which no taxes have been paid. But what's new. According to reports 30 to 40% of the world's money is in these accounts. Maybe if some of the millionaires in the Netherlands would bring these monies back and pay their fare share of taxes it would turn the deficit into a surplus. Let us look at the issue of many homeowners in the Netherlands and the value of their homes. According to The Central Bureau for Statistics of the Netherlands, in 2011 a quarter of the homes were worth less than their mortgage, approximately 1 million homes. The report continues to mention that since 2008 a share of these households with a lower value than their mortgage have doubled from 13 to 25 percent. It is an average of 13 thousand euro's per household. This amount differs tremendously per age category. Almost 60% of these persons are younger than 40. And the homeowners of whom the breadwinner is between the ages of 25 to 30, it stands at three quarter or 75% of the ones who's mortgages are worth more than their homes. Those who entered during the peak of the market, not only are most of their homes undervalued but on average they suffer the most, almost 30 thousand euro's. So he understands why some Dutch politicians are taking the focus from what is happening in the Netherlands and placing it on St. Maarten. In other words take the heat off them. They as their people are saying have mismanaged their funds. Pensioners have lost part of their pension because of bad investments. With the ongoing negative developments the Dutch are looking at a 10% decrease in purchasing power. That should make a good front page story on St. Maarten? Please don't blame me for this quote it is from Mandela's Book "Long walk to freedom". I am sure there are many who will not like it but he was writing about his experience in South Africa during the Apartheid Regime period so I don't know who had access to the written media at that time but here goes and I quote:"Although I read a variety of newspapers from around the country, newspapers are only a poor shadow of reality; their information is important to a freedom fighter not because it reveals the truth, but because it discloses the biases and perceptions of both those who produce the paper and those who read it" end of quote.

Member of Parliament, George Pantophlet

Philipsburg:--- The Windward Islands Bank Ltd. (WIB) was very pleased to provide a donation to assist the Sint Maarten Little League Association. These funds will be used to help host the Latin American and Caribbean Little League Senior Division Championship, which will be held in St. Maarten from July 5th - 14th, 2013. There will be over 315 junior athletes from fifteen Regional and Latin American countries, participating in this prestigious championship. WIB wishes the best of success to all the teams attending, especially St. Maarten's team and urges our community to support the games.

The donation was made to Mr. Alfonso Blijden and Ms. Maureen Vlaun, Secretary and board member of the Association. Presenting the cheque on behalf of WIB is Mr. Derek Downes, Deputy Managing Director.

Sucker Garden:--- The Prime Minister attended the No Kidding with our Kids After School Activities King's Day Crown Carousel at the Lion's Den in Sucker Garden on Friday. The event, which was organized as part of the inauguration of King Willem Alexander next week, featured various activities all centered around the theme of the inauguration. The Prime Minister enjoyed presentations on the activities centered on the Dutch Flag, the Throne Ganzenbord, a Match the Words game, Decorative Snack making, Take a Bite Game, the decorating of the children's own crown, Can Throwing, Sjoelen, a Balloon Dance, a Sack Race, Egg Race and Bowling. The Prime Minister also took the time to take part in a few of the games. "It is so heartening to see these youngsters all dressed in orange engaged in activities centered on the inauguration. I again would like to congratulate the No Kidding with our Kids Foundation in this activity and in receiving the Orange Bow Award earlier this week," commented the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

ST. PETERS:--- On Friday, the St. Maarten Academy received copies of The Angel Horn by Shake Keane, for each student of its Form 4 and 5 literary classes, said Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).

The poetry appreciation and HNP reading/writing motivation gift came from the St. Martin Book Fair, which is gearing up for its 11th annual edition from May 30-June 1, 2013.

"As principal of the St. Maarten Academy, we are thankful to the Book Fair Committee for choosing our institution this year to do its pre-Book Fair presentation in the form of books, but mostly thankful to have the author Max Rippon among us today," said Shareed Hussain, principal of the St. Maarten Academy.

Well-known Guadeloupean author, Max Rippon flew in from Marie Galante and took part in the presentation, which he and youngest Book Fair Committee (BFC) member, Akilah Meulens, made to principal Hussain. A favorite book fair returnee writer, Rippon's novels are studied in primary schools in the North of the island.

The Angel Horn is the most comprehensive poetry collection by Keane, one of the fathers of modern Caribbean literature, an educator and a famously innovative jazz trumpeter from St. Vincent, said Sample.

"Young readers can quickly get into many of Shake Keane's poems," said Sample. "We also want youngsters to see, touch, share and enjoy a book of this quality that was published on their home island," said Sample about the 194-page title, published by HNP in 2005.

About 20 students were gathered in the Academy classroom for the presentation. "When one lives on an island the fastest and easiest way to travel the world is through books. You can tour the world by reading books. You are the future and reading will make your future much brighter," said Rippon to the high schoolers.

Pre- and post-Book fair activities have over the years involved schools, senior citizens homes, and libraries on both parts of St. Martin, and the prison in Pointe Blanche, said book fair coordinator Shujah Reiph.

Conscious Lyrics Foundation and HNP are organizing the St. Martin Book Fair 2013 in collaboration with the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau and the University of St. Martin.

Great Bay:--- On Wednesday morning, members of the organizing committee for the Vaccination Week of the Americas(VWA) 2013 of the Collective Preventive Services handed over promotional items to Minister of Health, Cornelius De Weever.
Minister De Weever was handed by the Chair Anuska Gibbs, a t-shirt with a photo of fruits and vegetables to the front and back of the t-shirt along with the slogan Take the challenge "Eat Healthy St. Maarten." The Minister was also given a hat with fruits affixed to it, reiterating the importance of eating healthy and to signify the name of the carnival troupe "Tutti Frutti Healthy Steppers."
Minister De Weever stated that it is important as a nation for us to pay attention to our health and most importantly eat healthy. "I am inviting the community of St. Maarten to come out to the Children's Carnival Parade on Sunday, and see a beautiful display of various fruits and vegetables in costume form."
Vaccination Week of the Americas runs from April 20-27, 2013, it is an extraordinary effort led by countries and territories of the region to advance equity and access to vaccination. VWA activities strengthen the national immunization programs in the Americas by reaching out to populations with little access to regular health services. Since its inception in 2003, more than 410 million individuals of all ages have been vaccinated during campaigns conducted under the framework of VWA.

POINT BLANCHE:--- St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies (SMHG) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo is pleased to announce that the Causeway Swing Bridge left Hollandia Shipyard in the Netherlands on Friday for Sint Maarten, and will arrive early May.

The Swing Bridge is 220 feet long and weighs 450 tons. The Causeway has a total length of 2493 feet and features a two-lane motorway, a bicycle track and footpaths.

On April 17 the load out of the swing bridge from shipyard to the transport vessel took place. Other preparations for the voyage took place on April 18 for the cross-Atlantic voyage.

The Simpson Bay Lagoon Causeway falls under the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation. The Lagoon Authority aims to ensure that Sint Maarten remains a top yachting destination in the Caribbean while ensuring a safe, secure, pollution free and environmentally sustainable Simpson Bay Lagoon. The Causeway is just one of several initiatives leading to the aforementioned.

Construction of the Causeway started early 2012 and is scheduled to be completed by December 2013. Construction is being carried out by Volker Stevin Construction Europe BV.

The Causeway will improve accessibility to Simpson Bay, the airport and Cole Bay. It will become even more important when the existing Simpson Bay Bridge is open or temporarily out of operation.

The new Causeway will have two round-a-bouts at the Airport Road near the end of the runway and at Union Road near the border. There will be two protected sidewalks for pedestrians and a bicycle track.

The swing bridge is the only element of the Causeway that had to be constructed in the Netherlands. There will be two navigating channels for boats to pass through simultaneously when the swing bridge is open. Large mega yachts will also be able to pass through.

The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation, is a subsidiary of SMHG, and has an advisory role with respect to Simpson Bay and the Simpson Bay Lagoon.

To receive statements online via WIB@Home

PHILIPSBURG:--- On April 23rd, International Earth Day, The Windward Islands Bank Ltd. (WIB) will start a campaign with the slogan "Click and Go GREEN!" for clients who select to receive online-only statements via WIB@Home.

In celebration of 'Earth Day' and for a period of 3 months, starting on April 23rd until July 31st, WIB customers can change to receive their monthly account statements online and have a chance to win one of three Kompa Leon Money cards valued at Naf 500.00 each. All statements are accessible online for a minimum of 2 years. It's easier than you think. Log on to your WIB@Home account and make your green contribution by activating the 'online-only statement' option.

Don't have WIB Online Banking? Well this is the time to get it. WIB Online Banking enables customers to perform their banking needs from a personal computer or other mobile devices anywhere, anytime with any one of our convenient services: WIB@Home (for personal accounts), WIB Direct Business (for small & medium sized businesses) and WIB Direct Corporate (for larger sized companies). Sign up, click and activate to receive 'online-only statement' and WIN!

Other 'green' products WIB has to offer are:
Energy Alternative Loans, Easy Charge (Cell Phone recharge) SMS to recharge your prepaid cellphone.

Do something good for yourself and your environment and click to activate and receive your online-only statement today. For more information, visit the WIB website at www.wib-bank.net, visit your nearest WIB branch or call your Partner in Progress at 546-2880 or 546-8881. WIB supports "Going Green"! Come and join us.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM) – The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Hon. Silveria Jacobs: The carnival season is upon us again. One of our largest and most flamboyant cultural traditions, Carnival brings a unique opportunity for St. Maarten's creative and performance artists to display their many skills and talents and for its population to relax, have fun and enjoy the fruits thereof.

Over the years carnival has gone through many seasons of change. With each new generation the reveling, parades and shows have gotten bigger, bolder and have acquired an international flair. Carnival also serves to family and friends together during a time of fete and enjoyment. From all over the Caribbean and the world people travel to experience the magic that is unique to St. Maarten's Carnival.

Designers and creative artists will spend countless hours conceptualizing ads, costumes, banners, backdrops, cultural outfits and floats, while seamstresses, craftsmen and -women will bring these designs to life. Musical and theatrical artists will compose witty and catchy lyrics, melodies and beats to awaken the nation or help them to "free up they self".

Crowds will gather together in the 'Village' to listen, laugh and cheer as the Calyspo gives voice to the thoughts of the people while the Roadmarch makes them want to jam. Young and old competing, going up for queen or vying for the title of Calyspo King or Roadmarch Queen. Talent, confidence and skills will be on display for all to see, experience and enjoy. Local and international talent showcased every night in the party that doesn't stop for two weeks.

The smell of BBQ chicken and ribs and smoke rising to the sky; conch soup, whelk soup, oyster soup and goat water, Johnny cake, fry fish, grill fish, stew this and that, conch and dumpling ... all foods that reflect our intangible cultural heritage.

Carnival 2013 will wind down to the Jouvert jump up and parades, when even the spectators form part of the scene. Some of these traditions have made our carnival famous and well loved. Many travel from near and far to celebrate with us. Today it is one of the grandest in the Caribbean, something we can all be proud of.

Contrary to popular belief carnival is not about being scantily clothed or displaying lewd and lascivious behavior. Rather, the season is about celebrating St. Maarten's culture and enjoying the festivities with family and friends. Families are encouraged to take the time to spend with one another enjoying the many events designed for togetherness.

The celebrations have already started with pre-jump ups, and junior calypso and queen shows. Our teens and seniors have already displayed their skills, creativity and style in their cultural wear and speech competition.

I encourage my fellow St. Maarteners and visitors alike to get together, have fun, live, laugh and love, but to do so responsibly. Keep your children close, as this is not a time for a lack of parental control or supervision. Remember who you are, a proud citizen of St. Maarten. Let your actions reflect your true character. Alcohol affects our actions negatively when overdone, I implore you to drink responsibly and not to drink and drive.

In addition, this is not a time to 'settle a score' with someone or to disrespect one another. Let us continue to uphold our earned title as the 'Friendly Island'. I thank our Police force, VKS and Security Officers who maintain safety, especially during this time.

This carnival season, I look forward to great entertainment, inspired creativity, enticing cuisine and all around togetherness and fun. I encourage all carnival lovers, spectators and participants to be safe and to enjoy the festivities responsibly.

Come Experience Life! Have a safe and enjoyable Carnival 2013!

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The application process for Mobility Passes for the 2013 Hurricane Season which starts from June 1 to November 30, starts as of April 22 only for the business sector and vital organizations.

The pass allows the aforementioned to assess possible damage to their property in the event that a hurricane can caused damage to parts of the country.

Potential applicants have until May 25 to present all relevant information related to the process of requesting a Mobility Pass.

For the 2013 season, the application form as well as information sheet can be downloaded from the Fire Department's website www.brandweersxm.net under the tab link "Hurricane Information" followed by the "Hurricane Passes" tab.

Passes are issued to the following categories: government personnel, personnel of essential companies or organizations, (sub) contractors for the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), transportation passes for hotel staff, business owners and members of vital organizations to assess possible damage to their property.

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 Disaster Management is handling the application process for the passes on behalf of the Prime Minister.

The hurricane mobility pass system is a mechanism to maintain public order during emergency situations. The Prime Minister assesses the damage after a disaster has occurred and can impose a curfew if the extent of the damage poses a threat to the safety and security of the community.

After a disaster has struck, and a curfew has been imposed, the public roads can only be accessed by emergency crews. The Prime Minister will ensure that the curfew is limited to the essential time that is needed to execute emergency and disaster relief and recovery efforts.

The application form has to be completed and submitted to the offices of the Fire Department & Disaster Management, to the attention of the secretary located at Jackal Road 5, Cay Hill before May 25, 2013, with all necessary documents attached.

Applicants will be informed by email or telephone when to pick up the pass at the aforementioned address between office hours, Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00PM.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- A series of five preparatory workshops are being organized by the Student Support Services Division (SSSD) for all students who applied for study financing via the Study Financing Division (SF) of the Ministry of Education to pursue their studies in Holland.

These interactive and themed workshops, which are slated to start on April 22, 2013 and run until June, are designed to address many of the issues that our students face while pursuing their studies in Holland and to equip them to be successful.

The titles and objectives of the five workshops include:

1. Preparing for my Holland experience
   Objective: Assessing and adjusting expectations: focus on reality.
2. Social/Cultural and personal issues and adjusting to life in Holland.
   Objective: Familiarization with new environment: What to expect.
3. Educational Success I
   Objective: To provide information which can assist in educational success
4. Educational Success II
   Objective: To provide more information which can assist in educational success
5. Integrating into society in Holland.
   Objective: Provide information about maintaining a sense of wellbeing in integration without letting go who you are.

Some of the topics that will be covered in these workshops include expectations about Holland, day to day living, dealing with home sickness or feeling overwhelmed, learning styles, study skills, time management, importance of Dutch language skills, group interaction, handling procrastination, increasing motivation, dealing with prejudices, cultural differences, coping strategies, and the importance of friends and networks.

According to SSSD officials, these workshops are an initiative of the Minister of Education and all the workshops will be held in the evening hours from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at the University of St. Martin. They added that attendance to the workshops is mandatory and participants will be required to sign in and out at the workshops.

Once the workshops conclude, there will be a general session for the students where officials from the Ministry of Education are slated to address the students. In addition to this, there will also be a session for the parents of these students, where parental involvement in the students' lives will be stressed. It is mandatory for at least one parent of the student to be present at this session.

All Holland study financing applicants are urged to attend all of the sessions on the respective dates. The Division of Study Financing sent an email to each applicant informing them about the workshops and the dates they have to attend and followed up the email with a phone call.

Head of the Student Support Services Division and acting head of the Division of Study Financing, Olga Mussington-Service, stated that the Ministry strives to do all that it can do to ensure that our students are prepared as they continue their educational journey.

"The content of the sessions were derived at based on feedback from students in Holland regarding their preparedness and the bottlenecks that they face while pursuing their studies and the findings in the 2012 report of the Stichting Soualiga Foundation", Mussington-Service said.

Mussington-Service further stated that the staff of the Division of Study Financing is actively engaged in the preparations for the departure of our students and these workshops are part of a joint program to be executed by SF and SSSD.

Should you have any questions about the workshops, you can contact Michel Chance at the Student Support Services Division at Tel: 543-1235.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will meet April 24 with respect to official travel to Parlatino.

The central committee will meet on Wednesday at 2:00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The Central Committee will be requested to approve the travel of the President of Parliament to Panama to attend a meeting of the Junta Directiva (board) of Parlatino that is scheduled for May 10.

Parlatino is the Latin American Parliament, a regional permanent organization composed by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Parlatino was created in 1964. The purpose of Parlatino is to promote, human rights, economic and social development; to maintain and foster relations with other geographic parliaments, as well as international organizations; and to promote self-determination and defense against imperialism and colonialism.

The Parliament of Sint Maarten became a member of Parlatino in the latter quarter of 2010.

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

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

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

Marigot:--- The legendary Zouk band Kassav has arrived on St. Martin and checked in to Beach Plaza hotel in Marigot.

A press conference was held at the Beach Plaza hotel attended by local and regional media houses.

Zouk Kompas Bouyon Fest featuring Kassav - Carimi - Asa Banton is slated for Saturday, April 20th LIVE at the festival village; one show you cannot miss!

Promoters are reminding the public that the ticket office at the festival village will be open from 10 am this morning so you can avoid the long lines later tonight by getting your tickets early.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Baby Wellness Clinic from the Collective Prevention Service (CPS), a Department at the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, will be closed on Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23. Services will resume on Wednesday, April 24.

Cul de Sac:--- This coming Sunday April 21st the Final of the Ford Big Bash T20 cricket tournament will be held at the Caribe Lumber Ballpark, starting at 2pm. The final is a clash between the two top teams of St. Maarten,
NAGICO Cricket Club takes on WINAIR Conquerors. Both teams are star studded with many local talented stars such as Stephen Evans, Romain Doodnauth, and Lerry Baptiste. Overseas stars such as Shane Burton, Merlin Liburd, and Adelvin Phillips will also be showing off their talents. All with the ultimate goal, to become the first Ford Big Bash T20 Cricket Champions, a tournament sponsored by Caribbean Auto.
Six teams participated and 23 matches were played in this well organized tournament sponsored by Caribbean Auto. The Ford Big Bash T20 cricket tournament was a great success not only because of the numbers of teams and talented players participating, but also because of the standard of the games played. The games were very well led by the members of the corps of umpires of the St. Maarten Umpires Association. The local top teams dearly wanted to win this first spectacular Ford Big Bash T20 tournament and some teams secured the participation of overseas talents to increase their chances of success.
NAGICO Cricket Clubs was the only undefeated team, and for many they are the favorites to win the Ford Big Bash T20 tournament. The others competing teams pushed the NAGICO team continuously and they needed to call on all their talents to ensure victory each time. WINAIR Concorerors reached the final by beating MNO Spartanz last week Sunday and are certainly motivated to prove everyone wrong by beating NAGICO in this Sunday's final.
All the action takes place on Sunday 21st April at the Caribe Lumber Ballpark at 2pm, The Final of the Ford Big Bash T20 cricket tournament sponsored by Caribbean Auto.

Middle Region:--- Relatives and friends of slain Kimberly Illidge went after the suspects that stabbed her to death on March 24th, 2013. The two suspects were released on Thursday afternoon because the prison guards did not respect the conditions set by the judge of instruction when he extended their pre-trial detention. Several persons in the area went after "Eric" with a baseball bat to ensure they got justice for the death of the play school teacher. It is understood that Eric lives directly opposite the home of slain Kimberly Illidge and although Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos spoke to the family at length on Thursday when the judge of instruction ordered the release of the suspects, a huge commotion erupted Friday night and police were called to the scene.

It should be noted that while the two suspects Shaniska Brooks and one Eric of Jamaican decent were held at the Philipsburg holding cells, the detention and protection of suspects fall under the Director of the Prisons Edward Rohan and not the Police Management. SMN News learnt that one of the suspects was denied the educational classes that are set down by the judge of instruction. According to information reaching SMN News, the officer that was assigned to ensure that the suspect got his/her classes was busy with one of the two suspects at the time. Attorney General Taco Stein told SMN News that a decision was taken by his office and the Prosecutor's Office to appeal the decision of the Judge of Instruction. Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos told SMN News on Saturday that he filed the appeal on Friday because his office only has three days in which they could have appealed the decision of the judge of instruction. "Even though I know I could have done it on Monday I submitted the appeal on Friday and the arguments under which the Prosecution has appealed will be submitted to the court on Monday." Mos further explained that while the Prosecution can appeal the decision of the Judge of Instruction, they cannot appeal the conditions that were set by the judge of instruction when he ordered that they be placed in pre-trial detention.

Mos said that even though the two suspects were released, the Prosecution went one step further and asked the court to have the two suspects monitored by the Court of Guardianship which was granted. "Even though these suspects are out of jail for now, they still have to abide by the rules set down by the Court of Guardianship." SMN News asked Mos if he knew when the appeal would be heard, he said he could not say but the Attorney General has to convince the Common Court of Justice on Monday of the urgency of the case and what could be the possible outcome now that the suspects have been released. Mos said the two suspects have to follow a school program, a preacher visits them at least twice a week for their social and moral well-being, and they are also transported to the Pointe Blanche Prison facility for their recreation.
It should also be noted that one of the suspects is a flight risk because he is not from St. Maarten and while the Prosecution has filed an appeal there is nothing they can do until the outcome of the appeal is pronounced.

Bush Road:--- On Thursday April 18th, while the Opening Jump-up Parade for the Carnival Season 2013 was on the Bush road heading towards the Festival Village, a confrontation involving three young men took place during which one man was stabbed with a knife. A police officer saw the disturbance taking place and immediately took action to bring it to an end. The officer noticed that one of the young men had quite an amount of blood on his shirt and when they checked him they realized he had been stabbed on the left side of his stomach. The victim with initials K.R. pointed out a man with initials A.C.J. (18) from Sint Maarten as the person who stabbed him. This suspect was arrested on the spot. A scissors was found in one of his pockets and a kitchen knife which was used to commit this act was found on the ground close to this suspect. A second suspect with the initials R.A.H.P. (17) from Sint Maarten was also arrested in this case and a container of "Pepper spray" was found in his possession. All weapons were confiscated for further investigation. The victim was treated on the scene by paramedics and then transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. The victim whose situation was quite serious was immediately operated on and then admitted to hospital for further observation. Both suspects were taken to the Philipsburg Police Station where they remain in custody for further investigation by the Detective Department.

KPSM Police Report

~Regina Labega enthusiastically supports Art Saves Lives Foundation~

Simpson Bay:--- Local Award winning dancer and President of Art Saves Lives Foundation, Nicole C. De Weever recently received a donation from Ms. Regina Labega, Managing Director of the Princess Juliana International Airport for the upcoming workshops which will be held from June 24th -June 28th 2013 on St. Maarten.
Sixteen artists from the United States will be traveling to St. Maarten to take part in the week long series of twelve workshops on African Dance, Yoga, Pilates, Voice/Vocal Performance, Modern Dance, Tap, Jewelry Design, Ballet, Spoken Word, Hip-Hop, Art of Alignment and Djembe drumming.
The donated funds will help ALSP bring this project to fruition, serve local youth who are interested in a career in the arts and strengthen the performing arts on the St. Maarten.

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group's fifth and final "Road to Carnival" event came to a thrilling end at the Tantra Nigh Club Wednesday night.
This Tantra night is billed each week as "Ladies Night" but for this week only, all attention was on TelEm Group's pre-carnival promotions which took place at the height of the evening.
"We've come to the end of the road as far as creating public awareness about the carnival event which is now here," said one of the event co-ordinators, Lead Customer Service Representative, Suraj Ramdas.
He said TelEm Group made lots of friends and attracted many new customers while on the road taking in – Soggy Dollar, Bliss Night Club; The Boardwalk and Sheika's Bistro in Philipsburg.
"It was definitely a big plus for us and also for the Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) who collaborated with us on this project," continued Mr. Ramdas.
He thanked all the volunteers from TelEm Group who gave up their time during many evenings to ensure the pre-carnival parties went smoothly and especially the team set up within the company to plan and execute the Road to Carnival events.
Mr. Ramdas said the work of the team is far from over.
"Now that the pre-carnival show is over and everyone is warmed up – It's time for Carnival!" he says.

Telem Press Release

During the past two weeks the National Meteorological Services of North and Central America and the Caribbean met in Curaçao to discuss matters of common interest, including preparation for the upcoming hurricane season.

Since the last restructuring of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, there are now four meteorological organizations responsible for rendering services on weather, climate and seismology in the Dutch Caribbean islands. These are the Meteorological Department Aruba, the Meteorological Department Curaçao, the Meteorological Department Sint Maarten and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (in relation to the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba).

The four directors of these organizations seized this opportunity to have their first joint meeting since 10-10-10, to explore opportunities for mutual support and capacity building. These include common training of staff, regional modeling for weather forecasting and joint research on climate change.

The meeting was conducted in a cordial atmosphere and all participants were satisfied with the outcome of the meeting. It was decided that the interaction between the four organizations should continue on a regular basis, in order to improve the services to the general public in the Dutch Caribbean islands.

Philipsburg:--- The staff of the Ministry of Finance and General Audit Chamber was given intense 3 day training from 9am to 5pm by the "Rijksacademie Nederland", by Professor Jeroen Wingerde.

The name of the Course being given is: Basic Accounting Controls. The idea is to enable various Departments (Staff Buro, FBBB and F.A.) within the Ministry of Finance to gain knowledge within the scope of their respective daily tasks but also to learn from The General Audit Chamber their experiences as a Higher College of State and the Controls they apply when auditing the Annual Accounts of Country Sint Maarten for which the Ministry of Finance specifically the Department of F.A. is responsible for.

Another reason the General Audit Chamber was invited to attend was to continue to have transparency between all Government Agencies in St. Maarten. The course Basic Accounting Controls were given as part of the upgrading process of civil servants, our most valuable asset. Continued professional education is an important tool that is used to equip our civil servants to become more efficient and effective thereby providing a better service to the general public.

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- Volunteers from the U.S. Forward Operating Location (USFOL) continue to serve various community organizations on Curacao. On 11 April 2013, USFOL personnel spent the morning putting fresh coats of paint on the graves at the Dutch Military Cemetery located in Otrabanda.
This project was done in partnership with the Military Heritage Foundation, in preparation for the Fourth of May remembrance of the fallen service men and women at the cemetery. The USFOL's Community Relations (COMREL) projects are led by the Chapel Team, in order to reciprocate the hospitality that they have received from the citizens of Curacao.

Philipsburg:--- SXM clothing line, BaySide Clothing Company, has struck a deal with the Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) to sell their exclusive line of limited Carnival Tees through the Foundation's new carnival store.

The store was officially opened Thursday as a major commercial project and revenue-earner for the SCDF, offering a host of Carnival branded items to a carnival-loving public.

"With SCDF it's all about carnival and supporting all local effort to promote our carnival product locally and to an international audience," said SCDF Michael Granger.

He said he was impressed when the founders of Bayside, Lee and Rae Dominique, offered their Island Love T-shirt concept for promotion of Carnival 2013 as well as promotion of St. Maarten.

"I have personally know the founders of BaySide Clothing Company for many years. I have followed their development as teen performers on St. Maarten, and now as entrepreneurs in the hip-hop and urban culture on St. Maarten and wider-afield," said the SCDF president.

He wished Bayside well in the sale of their Tees and said the SCDF store would do its best to promote the special edition BaySide Tees throughout the carnival season.

BaySide founders Lee and Rae Dominique have meantime thanked Mr. Granger and the rest of the SCDF staffers and board for their support in carrying the locally developed brand in their new Carnival store – the first of its kind for the SCDF.

They say the agreement with the SCDF is that the Tees will be made available only at the SCDF store for an exclusive price of $19.99 to lovers of carnival and our island of St. Maarten, but at a higher retail price at other outlets.

The BaySide limited edition carnival Tees are also available online to global fans of BaySide.

Philipsburg:--- Chippie confirmed the first group of 41 winners with their tickets to The Main Event by Chippie. The Chippie customers sent an SMS to 2337 and won a ticket to the Chippie sponsored show. More winners will be selected in the coming days, so Chippie customers that haven't won yet can still keep SMSing to win a ticket!

As we celebrate an historic event of the Inauguration of the King, different activities within the Kingdom will be organized. On Friday, April 26 across the Netherlands and within the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom, King's Games will be organized. The games and other sporting activities will include a Soccer Tournament, a Walk-a-thon & Bike-A-Thon.
The King's Games will be a fun and enjoyable day for all children in our primary schools. During the King's Games a healthy, but above all festive King's Breakfast will served to the all primary school participants who will also be honored with a special T-shirt and certificate.
For persons who would like to volunteer and for those who have already signed up to volunteer a meeting will be held on Monday, April 22nd 2013 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm at the Claude Wathey Legislative Hall of the Government Administration Building, Philipsburg.
The King's Games are being organized by a special committee within the Department of Sports. To ensure a successful event, volunteers are needed to assist with the organizing of these Games. Assistance is needed from 7:30am until 2:30pm.
If you are interested in being part of this historical event, commemorating the Inauguration of King Willem Alexander, please contact the Organizing Committee Inauguration at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or the Department of Sport at telephone nr. at 542-2056 for more information.

Animals damage Prison Farm

Pointe Blanche:--- Management of the Pointe Blanche Prison recently contacted the St. Maarten Nature Foundation regarding issues it had with the feral monkey population affecting various districts on the island. Prison authorities reported that monkeys had ravaged the agriculture project at the prison, eating and damaging various crops which were planted and which were also almost ready to be harvested. Nature Foundation Chief Ranger Etienne Lake placed Monkey Traps within the prison in the hope of controlling the negative effects of the animals and bringing them to another location.

The St. Maarten Nature Foundation has been conducting baseline surveys in order to determine the abundance and level of threat posed by invasive and exotic animals on the island. "We have increasingly been receiving complaints and reports of various animals, but monkeys and raccoons in particular, causing problems for residents in various districts. Before we can make recommendations as to what can be done to control the population we first have to see how many of them are out there and what types of threats they pose to the health and safety of the general public," read a Nature Foundation Statement
.
Many residents have been contacting the Nature Foundation regarding large groups of monkeys, possibly vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), acting aggressively towards residents and pets. The Nature Foundation has also received calls concerning raccoons overturning garbage bins in numerous districts. "We urge residents to not approach these animals and contact the Nature Foundation so we can record them. If a monkey, raccoon or any other unusual animal is observed contact the Nature Foundation at 5270490 or via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.," Concluded the Foundation. The Nature Foundation assures that the animals will not be harmed.

Economic Development and Nature Conservation Go Hand in Hand

Tadzio Bervoets, representing the St. Maarten Nature Foundation, recently gave a guest presentation and formed part of a panel discussion at the Small Island's Conservation Symposium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Bervoets gave a presentation on how Economic Development of a developing small island nation like St. Maarten and Nature Conservation go hand in hand and are essential in promoting both a sustainable economy and conserving the important and unique wildlife habitat remaining on St. Maarten.

American president Barack Obama also recently released a plan aimed at conserving and protecting various ocean habitats while simultaneously safeguarding businesses associated with the ecosystems. "It has long been thought that conservation impedes economic development and vice versa but this is very far from the truth. It is our belief that these systems are in fact interconnected and very much dependant on each other. For example research has shown that St. Maarten's Coral Reefs and Mullet Pond for example contribute almost 60 million dollars to the economy of the island combined," commented Bervoets.

During the symposium there was much interest from participants from around the world regarding the various issues, both positive and negative, regarding the environment of St. Maarten and the Dutch Caribbean in General.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- A number of first responders including nurses from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Emergency Room (ER) Nurses of the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) were trained in the use of the AutoPulse Chest Compression Support Pumps that will be available onboard the nation's ambulances. The Auto Pulse is an automated, portable device with an easy-to-use, load-distributing Life Band that squeezes the entire chest, improving blood flow to the heart and brain during sudden cardiac arrest. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) nurses and ambulance assistants recently received training and instructions on the use of the lifesaving equipment. Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever said: "When every second counts it is important we have the right equipment and trained staff to administer emergency care in order for them to save our lives."

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Affairs the Honorable in opening the Language Lab at the University of St. Martin on Wednesday. Also at the opening were the Governor of St. Maarten His Excellency Eugene Holiday, Minister of Finance the Honorable Roland Tuitt and the Minister of Health and Social Affairs the Honorable Cornelius De Weever. The Prime Minister applauded the University in the realization of this important step in the development of language on St. Maarten. "I would like to congratulate and applaud USM for this very important achievement. St. Maarten, despite having its official language, is a country where many different languages and dialects are spoken and this is indeed a very important step in the research of what language means to this country. So once again I would like to applaud and congratulate the University of St. Maarten with this very important milestone," concluded the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- The judge of instruction of the Court of First Instance released the two suspects that murdered 20 year old Kimberly Illidge on March 24th in Middle Region. According to information provided to SMN News on Thursday evening, Judge Luicks released the two suspects that were being held at the Pointe Blanche Prison claiming that the prison facilities did not provide the two minor suspects with the necessary recreational programs. Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos confirmed on Thursday night that the two suspects were released by the Judge of Instruction, Mos said reporters should contact the judge for an explanation because he was unable to provide the judge's reasoning for releasing two suspects who admitted to killing someone.

In an invited comment, Minister of Justice Roland Duncan told SMN News Thursday that the people of St. Maarten will soon understand what he is being faced with on a day to day basis because St. Maarten lacks certain facilities. Minister Duncan said the Prosecutor's Office is expected to appeal the decision rendered by Judge Luicks on Thursday afternoon.

Duncan said that politicians and certain parliamentarians including the CFT do not understand why he needs to move forward in building the Justice Park which will create more space and a juvenile detention center. He said the two suspects that were released Thursday, one is a male and the other is a female, both of them are 17 years old and they cannot be held in the same area, neither can these two suspects be held with prisoners that are over 18 years of age. The Minister of Justice said that currently there are two female prisoners at Pointe Blanche that are over the age of 30 years and the 17 year old female suspect cannot be in the same holding area as these two suspects, neither can she follow the same recreational program as the two adults. Duncan said the same thing applies for the male 17 year old who was also involved in the murder of 20 year old Kimberly Illidge.

Marigot:--- Over the past two weeks SMN News has been monitoring the various radio programs and we also took the time out to listen to the people of St. Martin (voters) that elected those that are in power and on the opposition benches to office. After listening to several persons, it is clear that the people of St. Martin are disgusted with the level of politics that is being displayed by those that postulated themselves for the 2012 elections.

Several St. Martiners found that politicians have gone to the lowest level when they either try to justify what they have done wrong or cast the blame on others. Some of the people that we have spoken to felt they were being used and misled when they were called upon to defend the former President who was ousted from his seat. "Even the name of God and the church was brought into the political arena to benefit someone who refused to accept he committed an error," one St. Martiner told SMN News reporter.

While those that were not elected in the last election used the opportunity given to them by the State Council to cast more blame and to insult the former President.

It is logical that the leader of the RRR and former President knows that he committed an error when he broke the rules of the electoral law. The former President ran in several elections before and he did not open more than one bank account before because he stuck to the law. The biggest question now is why he did what he did in 2012 and why he chose not to take responsibility for what was done rather than blaming everyone else.

Mr. Leopold James clearly expressed this sentiment in his interview with DJ Air Supply on the program 'One-on-One', on Thursday, April 18, 2013, when he accused the president of blaming everyone else and looking for excuses, rather than being a man and accepting full responsibility for his own actions.

Now that the episode of the former President is almost over, and there is a new President sitting at the helm, it is of utmost importance that the politicians, not only those that were elected but also those sitting on the sidelines get involved in a positive way by providing their ideas and solutions to the various problems St. Martin is faced with. After all, each and every one of the political parties that postulated in 2012 told the people of St. Martin that they love their country and its people. If that is indeed so then this is time to show the people how much they care and really get involved.

The Territorial Council should also put in place a committee where people from the community could voice their opinion and provide ideas on the projects they intend to work on. After all there will be no harm committed if there are more ideas and opinions on the table even though the final decision would rest with the elected. It has been said over and over that "all hands" should be placed on the deck to assist and work in the interest for St. Martin; therefore the Collectivity and its elected officials need to find a way to get all the hands on the deck in the interest of St. Martin.

The media became the target for the mistakes and ill will of those that ran for office, while media workers are performing their duties by informing the people of the day to day happenings, they are being crucified by politicians who did not get their way. Some of us were called unprofessional and told that we do not do our jobs. As a media operative, SMN News wants to remind politicians and elected officials that the French were the second nation to eradicate slavery in the year 1848 and it is time that the slave and dictatorship mentality be placed where it belongs since slavery in the French state was abolished just ten years after the British abolished slavery between 1833 to 1838. Therefore, SMN News will not allow anyone to dictate to us and treat us as if we are slaves. The news articles published will be supported by facts because on several occasions we attached documents to our articles as evidence.

Because of the recent trend and the concerns expressed by the people of this island, SMN News felt it necessary to inform the politicians on St. Martin to put their selfish desires aside and come together as one to work in the interest of the country they all said they love.

Protocol needs to be Observed --- Assist the COM with Protocol.

It should also be noted that while the French side did what had to be done by electing a new President in record time, even though they had one month to do so. Proper protocol was not followed during the election of the first female President (leader) of French St. Martin. As a media operative, we noticed that the extra-ordinary Territorial Council meeting had no chairman to officially open the meeting that would have established that Jean Philippe Richardson is the person that took the seat that was made available in the Territorial Council through the State Council, and to officially establish the election committee for the election of the President. What we saw on Wednesday afternoon is that the oldest and youngest member of the TC opened this meeting and proceeded with the election of the president. Another observation is that former President Alain Richardson who was sanctioned by the State Council and removed from his seat chose to intervene in the meeting and place the "Echarpe" around the neck of the newly elected President, it is now left to be seen how the State will accept the intervention of the former president. However, what we at SMN News believe is that someone with knowledge of protocol should step in and offer their services and or advice to those that are supposed to be representing St. Martin. Let us not be put to shame once more.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On April 16, 2013, the Windward Islands Bank Ltd. (WIB) was very pleased to provide a donation to assist the Sint Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) with this year's carnival celebrations. The cheque was presented by Mr. Kelvin Bloyden (Assistant Managing Director) to the President of SCDF, Mr. Michael Granger who was very appreciative of the donation. WIB has long been an SCDF contributor and continues to provide support to St. Maarten's Carnival. WIB realizes the positive impact Carnival has on the economy, community, and culture of the island and wants to make sure that St. Maarten continues to enjoy the development of its Carnival.

In addition to WIB's monetary donation to SCDF, WIB also extended the use of its company vans to SCDF for both parade days.

WIB also encouraged the general public to join them for the WIB Block Party on April 26th from 5:30PM until 12AM, which will be held in Clem Labega Square. There will be live entertainment, food, drinks, prizes to be won, and lots of fun.

It's always more fun with your partner in progress.

WIB Press Release

Philipsburg:--- On Friday, April 12th, 2013, a special celebration was held to honor five colleagues from the Tax Administration celebrating their 25 year anniversary in Office. In his speech the Head of the Tax Administration drs. Geert Bergsma mentioned in his speech that the 5 co-workers together have 125 years work experience within the Tax Administration. "With your broad experience, you are an example for the younger colleagues, and a source of information for your leadership. We thank you for that." Minister of Finance, the honorable Mr. Tuitt, handed out special certificates to Mrs. Ruth Nedd, Mrs. Gloria Brown, Mrs. Joan Peterson, Mrs. Anna Philips and Mrs. Joyceline Carty-Lake. "It was a good tradition within the Government of the Netherlands Antilles that on the occasion of a jubilee a special certificate was given. I find this a nice gesture and I want to present on behalf of the Ministry of Finance this special certificate to you."

French Quarter:--- SMN News team noticed over the past months that there have been some people who strive on making horrible, if not very degrading comments under the articles that are published on SMN News. Almost everyone is being attacked by a few people that we at SMN News already pinpointed. It should be noted that IP addresses can be traced through various ISPs on St. Maarten/St. Martin even if users try to hide or reroute their IP addresses through other countries. SMN News has the tools in place and professionals to conduct the necessary traces. In order to protect the readers of this website we have decided not to display the IP addresses so that law enforcement would have to travel the legal route to obtain the IP addresses of comments they feel can assist them in solving crimes.

The main idea of the comment section was to allow readers to voice their opinion in a constructive way which would assist in building St. Maarten/St. Martin as a country and nation. The owner of this website was attacked on several occasions but as usual the SMN News team believes everyone has a right to their opinion even if what they are thinking and writing is pure trash.

Therefore, we are appealing to our readers to use the comment section of this website in a more constructive way. Let your voices be heard, be more objective and instead of finding faults and criticizing everyone provide possible solutions to the problem this country is facing.

While this article is meant to be an advice and warning to our readers, everyone making comments should think twice before they do so because those affected can approach us if they feel their character was assassinated and they want to take action via the court system.

Pond Island:--- Carnival Corporate sponsor, TelEm Group, has delivered on its promise to become an active partner in the promotion of St. Maarten's premier event – Carnival 2013.
With the official launch of carnival yesterday and tonight's Night of the Hit Makers concert hosted by TelEm Group, the company is satisfied that it has played its part in raising awareness about Carnival this year.
According to TelEm Group Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Brian Mingo, the company has delivered as a main sponsor for Carnival this year and may even have redefined the tone of Corporate Carnival sponsorship on St. Maarten.
"It's not only about the thousands that we donate each year, but also about getting people moving and talking about Carnival and what it means to the economy, to the culture of the island and how you get the people of St. Maarten and visitors alike involved," said Mr. Brian Mingo.
He said this year, on top of a large financial donation to carnival, an entire program was put together by a volunteer team of TelEm Group personnel to get into the community and raise awareness about this year's carnival event – and all at a cost to St. Maarten premier telecommunication provider.
The group's activities has included a Road to Carnival series of parties at various nightspots around the island each week and for several weeks leading up to the opening of carnival.
It has also included:

• Sponsorship of the opening night of carnival.
• Official sponsor of the Miss Mature Pageant, Teen Pageant and Senior Pageant contests on April 22 and April, 24 respectively.
• Title sponsor of the Youth Extravaganza on April 25.

TelEm Group will also be making a special showing during this year's carnival parade to keep carnival fever rolling right through to the end.
The company will also have a VIP section at the Festival Village and other areas which will promote TelEm Group's products and services.

"Our relationship with Carnival and our confidence in the importance of the annual event really took off a few years ago with our $1.2 Million investment in the construction of the Festival Village stage," said the Commercial Director.
He said at the time TelEm Group believed in what the Festival Village would have to offer St. Maarten in general and the island's carnival-loving followers in particular.
"Today you will see TelEm Group's name on the stage as a testament to that confidence and our continue relationship with carnival on St. Maarten," said Mr. Mingo.
The Commercial Director says a closer working relationship with the carnival organizers, the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF), still needs to be developed in order to continue with new methods of corporate sponsorship for the annual event by TelEm Group.
"By getting out into the community ourselves as a partner in carnival we are supporting SCDF's efforts to give us the best carnival event the island can give each year and in this way we can say we are truly redefining the way corporate sponsorship of such a major event should work," said Mr. Mingo.

Philipsburg:--- Lion District Governor for the area 60B, Lion Claudius Buncamper MJF audited the Sint Maarten Lions Club earlier this week in a meeting at the Oasis Lounge on A.T. Illidge Road. The meeting which is held every year by hosting a visiting District Governor was extra special as the District Governor was from Sint Maarten and the Sint Maarten Lions Club was the home club.
During the meeting, Sint Maarten Lions Club President Richard Boyd outlined the four sustainable projects that the club does for the year such as the Nelson vd Linde Senior Citizen Party, Lion Rudy Hoeve Health & Wellness Fair, Lions Quest program and the ongoing support of the Sint Maarten Leo Club. The club president also outlined the many donations that it gives out which could only be done due to the healthy fundraising efforts by members throughout the year. These events are the Christmas Bingo Spectacular and the upcoming Grand Car Raffle which is schedule for June 12th.
Lion District Governor Buncamper said that financial payments of the club to the District and to Lions International were in good order but he wanted the Sint Maarten Lions Club to work on improving the membership experience as outlined in the five year plan that the district was carrying out of which he was a co-author. "Lionism is about serving the community and the membership has to be personally happy to come to meetings and feel that they are playing a role in the ongoing projects of the individual club" said the District Governor.
The audit meeting was followed by a dinner meeting after which the District Governor's official song was sung and danced by all members. The next main event for District Governor and the Sint Maarten Lions Club is the yearly multiple district convention which is scheduled for May at the St. Kitts Marriot Resort and Casino.

Although regrets unfortunate circumstances, PM looks forward to continued close working relationship between North and South

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams yesterday congratulated Former Vice-President Aline Hanson on becoming president of the Collectivite of St. Martin. "I would like to congratulate President Hanson on becoming the new President of the Collectivite and I very much look forward to a continued close working relationship between St. Maarten South and St. Martin North. I would also like to congratulate President Hanson in being the first female president of the Collectivite and wish her the best of luck in her new function. Although I regret the circumstances that have affected our Neighbors to the North I do believe the new president of the Collectivity is up to the task and I look forward to working with her for the common good of the people of St. Maarten/ St. Martin" commented the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- A book of thanks and congratulations is still available for members of the community to sign in connection with the abdication of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and the succession to the throne of His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange.

When the Prince of Orange succeeds his mother, he will become King Willem-Alexander. Princess Maxima will become Queen Maxima.

The Sint Maarten Organizing Committee Inauguration says anyone wishing to thank the Queen or congratulate the Prince and Princess can leave a digital message in the book of thanks and congratulations which can be found at the following website: www.koninklijkhuis.nl.

According to the Netherlands Government Information Service (RVD), a selection of the messages will be published on the website.

Philipsburg:--- Zaya Records and OMC Music, organizers of the Zouk Kompas Bouyon Fest are reminding the public that today, Thursday April 18th, will be the last and final day for purchasing tickets for the ZKB Fest for the price of usd $35. So take advantage of this price and get your tickets today!

Tickets will then be $45 on Friday, Saturday and at the gate. Patrons can also purchase tickets from the Carnival Village ticket office on Saturday April 20th from 10 am until.

The"Zouk Kompas Bouyon Fest" carded for Saturday April 20th will feature an impressive line-up of headliners in three genres of music: the legendary complete Zouk band Kassav, the definitive kings of Konpas CARIMI and the undisputed Prince of Bouyon music, young sensation Asa Banton.

Also scheduled to perform are Youthwaves, "Ilismo", Mixmaster Dj Pauly, Ronald Lebeau and Ricky Da Phox !

Promoters are encouraging the public to come out on time as the event will kick off at 8pm sharp !

The show is definitely a must-do during this year's Carnival season, they say. "The three acts are sure to bring an explosive night of musical entertainment."

Keynote Speakers Include CNN, CBS, OWN Personalities

PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten has been selected to host the first ever Women With Purpose Global Summit - Mind, Body & Soul taking place June 18-22, 2013.The invitation-only event will bring together multi-cultural, business-savvy women with a passion for professional growth and personal development for a five-day conference being held at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino.

Summit attendees will include industry experts and 300 professional women from around the globe, including keynote speakers Soledad O'Brien, CNN news anchor, Carmen Wong Ulrich, financial contributor to CBS This Morning, and Iyanla Vanzant, OWN Network life coach, among others.

This unprecedented gathering will offer women direct personalized business-to-business meetings, pre-summit introductions, cutting-edge seminars, workshops, roundtable discussions, spa pampering in Anguilla and a day of high-end shopping on St. Barths.

Speakers include Dr. Michelle Garcia, associate dean at Johnson & Wales University; Dr. Winifred Scott, assistant professor at Dubai Zayed University; Patricia Harris, global diversity officer, McDonald's Corporation; and Pamela Ravare Browne, chief operating officer of the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance & Accounting. Roundtable topics range from media and tourism to diversity, philanthropy and more.

The Women with Purpose Global Summit - Mind, Body & Soul is created and produced by Amethyst Entertainment. For more details on the Summit and the full program, visit www.womenwithpurposeglobalsummit.com, call 754-300-7594 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information on St. Maarten, visit the official site of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau at www.VacationStMaarten.com.

Carnival is an integral part of our culture and therefore I encourage all to be a part of this festive season

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten, the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams took time out to wish the community of St. Maarten a Happy and Safe Carnival 2013. "I would like to take this opportunity to wish the population of St. Maarten a happy and safe Carnival 2013. Carnival is an integral part of our culture and therefore I encourage all to be a part of this festive season. Enjoy the Carnival Village, the shows and of course the parades and realize that this is part of our culture," commented the Prime Minister.

The PM also took the opportunity to thank the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation for organizing an exciting and impressive carnival lineup. "I would like to commend and thank the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation for organizing an excellent and exciting Carnival 2013. Additionally I would like to thank the business community for their support of this most important item on our cultural agenda," continued the Prime Minister.

"I would like to stress that even as we celebrate carnival , we do so in a safe and respectful manner. As usual safety is priority number one. Once this is observed the good times and celebrations that come with the carnival season can freely flow. So having said that, "enjoy the celebrations, the food, the music, the costumes and the revelry". Have a safe and excellent Carnival 2013.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- Minister of Justice Roland Duncan met with Mighty Dow and retired Police Commissioner Hildo Martina along with the President and secretary of Curacao Music Association Manfred Gomes and Giovanni Atalita who are on the island to assist St. Maarten musicians to establish a foundation (Association) in order to protect the local music industry, artists, and culture. The four members also met with other Ministers prior to meeting with Minister Duncan on Wednesday. York said they met with Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams and Minister of Culture Silveria Jacobs. He said they also met with some of the local musicians to inform them of the endeavors they are undertaking at the moment.

Minister of Justice Roland Duncan in a short introduction speech said the aim of the soon to be association is to regulate the entrance of foreign bands to St. Maarten. Minister Duncan said based on the information he received from the group is that the two associations will be working together to accomplish their mission and he as Minister of Justice will do what is necessary to assist them legally within his Ministry. Minister Duncan said that the Minister of Justice is responsible for the entrance of foreign bands and musicians and he will be assisting the group by executing the regulations. He said the association will make proposals to the Ministry and his job is to execute as quickly as possible.

Isidore York said that his foundation Dow's Musical Foundation and Divi Resort assisted with the sponsorship by hosting the two people that came to St. Maarten from Curacao to assist him and Martina who is also a musician. York said the association has not yet been established but they already chose a name for the association which will be St. Maarten Music and Artists Association. York said they are trying to break Aruba's record who took six months to form their music association and their aim is to complete the process within three months.

The President of Curacao Musician Association Manfred Gomes said that he is enlightened at the fact that the government of St. Maarten especially the Minister of Justice is willing to take the necessary steps to preserve the local musicians and artists. Gomes said just recently a huge function was held at PJIAE and two foreign bands performed there while the local musicians and bands were completely left out. "This does not happen anywhere else in the world. Curacao has a law that permits the music association to have their input when it comes to having foreign bands going to Curacao to perform. I am sure after the discussions held with the various Ministers on St. Maarten they will assist in realizing such a law in order to protect the local musicians and the culture of St. Maarten."

Philipsburg:--- The Windward Islands Bank (WIB) managing director Jan Beaujon and his marketing staff held a small cocktail reception at the Windward Islands Bank on Wednesday to honor and present their annual report to the various artists who submitted their drawings that were used in the 2012 Annual Report 2012. Beaujon told reporters that the intention was to personally thank the various artists that were present and whose art work were used in the 2012 Annual Report.

Some of the artists that attended the cocktail were Roland Richardson, Youmain Dormoy, Ruby Bute, and Max Philipa. The handbook can be picked up at the Windward Islands Bank or viewed on the WIB website.


Click here to view WIB's 2012 Annual Report.

Philipsburg:--- UTS CEO Eastern Caribbean, Glen Carty presented the first BlackBerry Z10 device to Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams. The device is the first in a shipment of this new model of BlackBerry devices that will become available to the Latin American region as of April 23rd, 2013. The Prime Minister accepted the device in her capacity as Chairlady of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of Country St. Maarten. UTS' mobile brand, Chippie, offered the device to the Prime Minister to allow her to stay in closer contact with emergency service providers, her operating staff and to allow her to receive and send pertinent information on approaching weather systems and other possible crisis situations. Through the Chippieland concept, Chippie mobile service will allow the Prime Minister full voice and data connectivity on both sides of our island as well as in Curacao, on all BES territories and even Surinam and other islands in the region. The new BlackBerry Z10 device will be commercially available at UTS from April 23rd, when the devices are officially allowed to be sold by authorized BlackBerry sanctioned mobile providers. Devices sold locally thus far have reached the island through various unauthorized sales channels and are not eligible for warranty claims or service from BlackBerry.

UTS Press Release

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- Recently several newspapers in St. Maarten wrote that the most recent semiannual report of the Board of financial supervision (College financieel toezicht Curaçao en Sint Maarten - Cft), offers a misinterpretation of facts. The Board considers it of importance to set the record straight by means of this press release.
Twice a year the Board of financial supervision submits a written report of its activities to the Kingdom Council of Ministers. This report, the so called semiannual report, is forwarded to the governments and parliaments of the respective countries.
On March 28th Sint Maarten newspapers reported that Cft erroneously stating that no financial statement were drafted by the government of Sint Maarten. The Board informs however on page 15 of the semiannual report, that it on October 31st it received the draft financial statements for the extended year 2010/2011; thus the draft financial statements over the period starting on October 10th, 2010 until December 31st, 2011. On the same page it is mentioned that the SOAB and the General Audit Chamber would report about these draft financial statements not earlier than 2013. Up until now this reaction has not been received. It is furthermore stated on page 22 that the financial statements are only available in draft and have not yet been adopted by the Parliament.
On December 7th, the General Audit Chamber submitted its report on the financial statements of the former island territory of Sint Maarten to Parliament. This concerns thus financial statements over the period up to October 10th, 2010 and not over the period after October 10th, 2010. This report was shown to the media during a press conference of the Minister of Finance and was also published on the website of the General Audit Chamber. The financial statements from October 10th, 2010 to December 31th, 2011 have not been submitted to the General Audit Chamber as yet.
For the sake of completeness, the Board stated in its press release of March 25th, that 'up till now none of the two countries have an audited annual report to present to Parliament to account for the use of tax money since October 10th, 2010.' This statement is correct. No audited financial statement was presented to the parliament of the period since October 10th, 2010. For the Board of financial supervision it is of great value that financial statements are timely drawn up and that accountability if given to Parliament, reason why this subject was explicitly brought forward in the semiannual report.
The Cft cannot but conclude that the facts given in the semiannual report are correct. To avoid errors, it is a good practice that the Cft confers with the Ministry of Finance before it submits its semiannual report to the Kingdom Council of Ministers. The Ministry however did not detect any factual inaccuracies during the two weeks that it had, to provide comments on the draft semiannual report.

CFT Press Release

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Hon. Silveria Jacobs on Tuesday issued on the eve of World Heritage Day her message entitled, "The Heritage of Education".

World Heritage Day also commonly known as International Day for Monuments and Sites is celebrated every year on April 18 celebrating the world's built cultural heritage.

UNESCO established April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites in 1983. It aims to raise public awareness about the diversity and vulnerability of the world's built monuments and heritage sites and the efforts required to protect and conserve them. Each year has a different theme which is selected and this year's theme is "The Heritage of Education".

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in one of its communiqués recognizes that although it is possible to find several definitions of education, all of them refer to a form of learning knowledge, skills and habits in which of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training or research. Education also means the transmission of beliefs and values and can therefore be considered as one of the main means for constructing the future.

In ancient civilizations, adults trained the young of their society in the knowledge and skills they would need to master. The evolution of culture and human beings as a species depended on this practice of transmitting knowledge. In pre-literate societies this was achieved orally and through imitation; story-telling continued from one generation to the next. Oral language developed into written symbols and letters. The depth and breadth of knowledge that could be preserved and passed on soon increased exponentially. When cultures began to extend their knowledge beyond the basic skills of communicating, trading, gathering food, religious practices, etc., formal education, and schooling, eventually followed. Schooling in this sense was already in place in Egypt between 3000 and 500 BP.

Throughout history and in different geo-cultural contexts, education was practiced in a wide range of places or buildings. Open spaces, agora or the protective shadow of a tree could be useful for the transmission of knowledge, but also specific institutional buildings such as schools, universities, madrasas, academies, libraries, monasteries, etc. Many of those buildings, groups of buildings or sites are recognized as bearing not only social or institutional values but also historic or artistic ones, and have therefore become a significant part of our cultural heritage. The protection and conservation of the heritage of education not only implies preserving cultural assets but also, at the same time, celebrating education as one of the fundamental human tasks.

Several heritage properties on our beloved "Souahliga" Land of Salt linked to education have reached national recognition and are about to reach international recognition and hopefully soon will be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List: the sites of the Methodist Church, Brick Building, Methodist Manse, Catholic Convent, Fort Amsterdam and not forgetting the Sand Box Tree all have several things in common: they were institutions of imparting knowledge in St. Maarten's early development.

The Methodist Church served as the first institution to educate enslaved Africans, Catholic Convent/ St. Joseph school with the Nuns were instrumental in educating a number of prominent persons in our community, PJD2 in its early beginnings housed at Fort Amsterdam was the institution that prepared many local and regional journalists who have become recognized internationally as journalist of outstanding capabilities on the world stage and the Sand Box tree which has re-emerged as a local gathering area for communicating the concerns of national importance that are not discussed in the main stream media for whatever reasons.

All of the aforementioned cultural properties linked to education and bearing historic, artistic or social values enjoy proper protection and recognition with the exception of the Sand Box Tree which has to be elevated into a category of trees worthwhile of being listed to be protected on the monument list.

In closing on this year's World Heritage Day I am urging every citizen of my beloved St. Maarten to reflect and ask the question: Am I properly interpreting the values of those cultural properties and presenting them accordingly to the younger generation of our society? It boils down to two simple proposition and obligation which are:

Each generation is obligated to teach the future generation of the past and as Jomo Kenyatta stated "Our children may learn about the heroes of the past. Our task is to make ourselves the architects of the future."

Happy World Heritage Day.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Vacationers looking to escape to a locale highlighted by idyllic white sand beaches, world-renowned cuisine and vivacious nightlife are in luck with an abundance of spring travel deals from properties throughout the "friendly island" of St. Maarten (www.VacationStMaarten.com). Visitors to the island can take advantage of spring deal discounts from the participating hotels listed below, all located on the Dutch side of the island. Rates are reduced by as much as 50%, with value-added resort credits and savings also included.

Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino and Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino are offering vacationers the "Fun in the Sun" package, with 35% off all-inclusive stays on reservations with a three-night minimum. Travelers booking five nights or longer will also receive $200 in resort credits to be used towards spa treatments, apparel, a three-course dinner and more. This offer is valid on new reservations made by April 30, 2013 for travel through Aug. 31, 2013. Reduced rates start at $135 at Great Bay and $139 at Maho, per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Additional information can be found by visiting www.sonesta.com/greatbay or www.sonesta.com/mahobeach.

Flamingo Beach Resort and Royal Palm Beach Resort are offering travelers every third night free this springon new reservations booked by June 28, 2013, for travel through June 30, 2013. Rates start at $199 for Flamingo and $299 for Royal Palm, per room, per night, based on maximum occupancy. For additional information or to book, visit https://www.diamondresortsandhotels.com/?MKC=KTCPR or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort & Spa is affording guests a 40% discount for every second night when the first night is paid at the regular rate. Offer is valid on stays of two or more nights through Dec. 18, 2013 for arrivals Tuesdays through Thursdays. Nightly rates start at $189 during the summer season and $452 during the winter season. Rates quoted are per room. Each discounted second night starts at $113 during the summer season and $271 in the winter season. For additional information, visit www.westinstmaarten.com or call 866-716-8108 and mention rate plan ZB4.

Oyster Bay Beach Resort is giving travelers the chance to save up to 50% off regular room rates this spring with rates starting at $128 per room, per night, based on double occupancy. Discounts vary from 10 - 50% by room category for travel through May 4, 2013. Additionally, travelers can save 10% on all room categories at the property for travel May 5 - Dec. 19, 2013. A 20% tax and service charge applies to all rates and room categories. For additional information visit, www.oysterbaybeachresort.com.

For more information on St. Maarten, visit the official site of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau at www.VacationStMaarten.com.

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group engineers and personnel from the Technical Department began a three day training in Project Management at the TDC Center in Philipsburg, Monday.

The training is being given by visiting Project Management specialist Ms. Sharon Kjellquist.
During the introductory session to introduce the trainer and the TelEm Group personnel, Chief Technical Director, Mr. Eldert Louisa, explained that this training and other training to follow, is part of the restructuring process that TelEm Group has recently completed.
"With this type of training, you will be well prepared if you are called on to oversee or manage an important project," said Mr. Louisa.
He told the participants that all training is useful and he urged them to take advantage of what is being offered as a useful addition to the knowledge they already possess.
Also attending Monday's opening session was Manager, Planning and Engineering, Mr. René Visser, and Manager, Human Resources and Development, Mrs. Shadira Lont-Richardson.
Coordinator of the Technical Operations Project Management Training Program, Ms. Marjolein van Engelen, says two groups from Technical Operations will in fact be attending the project management course.
"The participants have been divided into two groups so that there will be continuity with the daily operations of the company," said Marjolein.
She said the first training session began Monday and will continue on Wednesday and Friday of this week while the second training session will begin during the week of May 13.

Telem Press Release

Philipsburg:--- The Chairman of the General Audit Chamber, Mr. Ronald Halman, presented the final report 'Pensions Sint Maarten 2011' to the chairman of Parliament, Mr. Rodolphe Samuel, on Tuesday 16th of April.
The major finding contained in the report is that 55% of civil servants were not registered at the pension fund - het Algemeen Pensioenfonds Sint Maarten (APS) - in 2011. Relevant governmental organizations such as the Ministry of General Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, as well as the Pension Fund (APS), recognize the findings of the General Audit Chamber, although none of these entities were able to provide sufficient information regarding the scope of the potential financial impact. The magnitude of the financial effect therefore remains unclear for Sint Maarten and, in the opinion of the General Audit Chamber, requires immediate action from Parliament.
In August 2012, the General Audit Chamber announced, in the final report 'Lawfulness of Personnel Expenditure Sint Maarten 2011', that they would instigate a follow up investigation regarding the registration of civil servants at the pension fund. Mr. Halman stated, "in the first audit, the personnel files provided no proof of the registration at the pension fund for a significant number of civil servants. We were not sure of the exact reason for the lack of registration at the pension fund. That uncertainty led to the execution of a follow up investigation". The results of the follow up investigation demonstrate that 45% of civil servants were registered in 2011 at APS (55% were not registered).
Relevant governmental organizations, as well as APS, during the consultation phase of the investigation, acknowledged the finding of the General Audit Chamber. In fact, a provision of ANG 46 million was taken up in the financial statements 2010 of the Island Territory of Sint Maarten, for pensions. However, the General Audit Chamber did not receive any substantiation for this provision Mr. Halman stated. As a result, the General Audit Chamber was not able to determine if the provision is sufficient. Should the provision prove to be insufficient, there will be a direct financial impact on the budget(s) of the Country Sint Maarten. "We find this to be worrisome because the magnitude of the financial impact is still unknown", according to Halman.
The General Audit Chamber is able to state that the legal consequences for civil servants are likely to be minimal. Each civil servant has the right to pension. However, the General Audit Chamber did not investigate the possible practical consequences resulting from the absence of a registration of an employed civil servant. In terms of impact, the effects can vary by individual. "An employment decree from Country Sint Maarten provides a civil servant with the right to claim a pension. This is a comforting fact for current as well as future civil servants", according to Mr. Halman.
As part of the report, the General Audit Chamber issued a number of recommendations focused primarily on gaining insight into the magnitude of the financial risk. Halman cautioned that "the General Audit Chamber is an advisory body and supports Parliament in terms of its supervisory task". As such, Halman recommends that Parliament debate the findings, conclusions and recommendations contained in the report. Only Parliament can decide if an assignment, if any, is given to the Council of Ministers in regard to the issue of pensions.
The investigation and printing of the report was – in part - made possible through funding from USONA.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Collective Preventive Services' (CPS) calendar of health observances, focuses on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) during the month of April, and wishes to remind the community about preventing STIs, and making a healthy choice.

Based on the department's 2011 surveillance report, the following STIs were reported from the laboratory and sentinel physicians: two cases of Genital Discharge Syndrome (GDS); 41 laboratory positive tests for chlamydia; six cases of gonorrhea; nine Herpes Simplex Virus-2; 54 laboratory positive tests for trichomonas; and 70 laboratory positive tests for syphilis.

These numbers do not depict the true burden of disease in our society but gives a signal that sexual transmitted awareness is needed to prevent STIs. Just as important is ensuring that accumulation the data is captured.

STI Surveillance is one of Section General Health Care's task and, locally STIs falls within the category of laboratory-based surveillance. Reporting on the local STI situation is dependent on receiving the relevant data and information from the laboratory and healthcare professionals.

Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius De Weever as part of his "Get Checked' campaign, is calling on the populace to get checked, adding that Sexually Transmitted Infections are real, they are here, and they do not discriminate. The Minister added that persons should also be well informed in order to make wise choices.

Always make informed decisions even during the Carnival Season.

The Calendar of Health Observances' objectives is to bring about awareness as it relates to STIs; to encourage individuals to be more responsible for their own health and their partner's health; and to provide the public with general information.

STIs are infections that are spread primarily through person-to-person sexual contact. STIs are infections that are likely to be transmitted while having unprotected sex. Transmitted means passed on from one place to another, in this case it means passed on from one person to another.

There are more than 30 different sexually transmissible bacteria, viruses and parasites.

In making a decision to be sexually active, the most important thing is to get the facts. Getting the basic information on STIs is a positive step in making an informed decision on whether to be sexually active or not.

Protect yourself and your sexual partner. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider to test you for STIs. Asking is the only way to know. Many STIs can be easily diagnosed and treated.

Effective strategies for reducing STI risk include: abstinence, vaccination, mutual monogamy, reduced number of sex partners, condoms and put yourself to the test.

The most common conditions STIs cause are: cancer, gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, syphilis, trichomoniasis, chancroid, genital herpes, genital warts, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and hepatitis B infection.

For (awareness) basic STI information you can also contact your local Family Physician, The AIDS Foundation, Red Cross Foundation, and/or the Section General Health Care at Tel. 542-3003.

Marigot:--- The majority members of the Territorial Council representing the RRR political party along with independent member of the Territorial Council Jules Charville voted in favor of first Vice President Aline Hanson to become the first female President (Leader) on French St. Martin on Wednesday at an extra-ordinary Territorial Council meeting. President elect Aline Hanson has been in the political arena since 1977 under the leadership of Mayor Elie Fleming and continued her political career with Mayor Albert Fleming who was the leader of Solidarity St. Martinoise. Hanson then joined the RRR team when St. Martin became a Collectivity in 2007 and ran on the RRR slate on both elections since then.

Shortly after the votes were counted and Hanson was declared President elect, former President of the Collectivity and leader of the RRR Alain Richardson who was present for the voting (extra-ordinary meeting) stood up and placed the "Echarpe" around her neck (passing the mantle over to the new president). Richardson then congratulated the new president who will carry the torch for the RRR for their remaining term. President Hanson will be replaced by First Vice President Guillaume Arnell when she is not on the island. Jean Phillipe Richardson filled the vacant seat for the RRR since Sophie Jaboin did not take the seat appointed to her.

The RRR majority nominated Hanson as their candidate while the opposition chose to respect the wishes of the population who elected the RRR political party to office. Territorial Councilor and Deputy of St. Martin Daniel Gibbs in his presentation on Wednesday during the extra-ordinary meeting that was called to elect a new president since the State Council ousted Alain Richardson from his seat for breaching electoral rules said that the opposition would respect the people's wishes by allowing the RRR to nominate and elect the new president. Gibbs further explained that his team will not participate in the election of the new president but promised to work together with the majority in the interest of St. Martin. He told reporters shortly after that it was kind of emotional for him because the President elect Aline Hanson was his teacher, therefore contesting her candidacy would have been difficult for him.

In her election speech President Hanson thanked the Territorial Council for the confidence they placed in her when they elected her to the top position. She promised to continue the work the RRR team started under the leadership of Alain Richardson in 2012. President Hanson said that when St. Martin (RRR) was hit with the news that their president had to leave office they quickly got together and maintained the unity they have had from the beginning and that is the main reason all of the council members from the RRR team voted for her. President Hanson said that the ousting of their leader from his seat was probably meant to cause political destabilization but they managed to get together and re-establish their orientation which they will continue with. She said there is crisis in Paris (over there) and this is time for St. Martin to work in partnership in the interest of St. Martin and its people. President Hanson then called on the members of the Territorial Council to work with her because she will be depending on them for their cooperation. She also made clear to her former student and now Deputy of St. Martin Daniel Gibbs that her doors will remain open to him when it comes to defending the interests of the people.

President Hanson called on Gibbs and Senator Louis Constant Fleming to work on the State level so that St. Martin can implement the road taxes in order to build better roads. She also called on the citizens and the people of St. Martin to make their contributions via the taxes that are implemented in order for St. Martin to achieve its goals. President Hanson said that the Collectivity has taken up its responsibilities and are doing what needs to be done, however the State needs to take up their responsibility and do what they need to do for St. Martin. She said since the RRR took office they elevated the financial situation of the Collectivity and they are now counting on the State of France to do what they need to do for St. Martin.

The Territorial Council also elected a new executive council. The new members of the Executive Council are President Aline Hanson, first vice president Guillaume Arnell, second vice president Ramona Connor, third vice president Wendell Cocks, fourth vice president Rosette Gumbs-Lake, fifth vice president Jeanne Rogers-Vanterpool, while Christophe Henocq is a member of the executive council representing Team Daniel Gibbs (TDG).

The council then proceeded to vote on the delegation given to the President (Delegation donne au President), election of the members of the bidding committee (Election des members de la commission d'appel d'offres), election des members de la commission d'ouverture des pils, and the designation of elected officials on the commission of public establishments (designation des elus dans les commissions et establissements publics de la Collectivite).

Jeanne Rogers Vanterpool has been elected President of the Office du Tourisme. However, the members of the SEMSAMAR board will be assigned at a later date.

Deputy Daniel Gibbs and leader of TDG said he felt bad that St. Martin had to go through another election which was not on the program until another five years, but since they had to do it there was no choice. He said he preferred if this did not happen because it created another bad image for St. Martin because the same thing happened in 2008. "This is a sad situation because the image of St. Martin has been tarnished once again." He said he is happy with the announcement made by President Hanson who said she will implement new policies. Gibbs said his team as opposition will wait and see what will happen but vowed that they will remain active and vigilante as they were from the very beginning.

Click here to view the Program for the extra-ordinary Territorial Council meeting held on Wednesday.

Click here to view more photos of the Territorial Council Meeting held on Wednesday.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- On April 16 'Team St. Maarten' consisting of Melanie Choisy, Clara Reyes, Marcellia Henry and Neville York travelled to Aruba to attend a workshop on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention.

The three main goals of the workshop were:

1. To make sustainable, concrete cooperative agreements referencing the implementation of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the areas of:
   - Establishing knowledge networks
   - Establishing one or more inventories
2. To make an action plan on how to realize the agreements made;
3. To draft a capacity building program for the Caribbean region of the Kingdom and Suriname, financed by UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund which was made possible through the financial contribution of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Netherlands.

The Country report of St. Maarten started with a unique introduction of Clara Reyes in song touching on all the information that has been passed on to her as an example of how fragile our precious intangible heritage is resting in the soul and body of usually one person in the community and the need for that knowledge to be imparted and made accessible to the general public in order for it to continue surviving.

This approach and style drew a huge round of applause. At the end of her introduction Clara smoothly transitioned into introducing Melanie Choisy who captured the minds and hearts of the audience with her in depth knowledge and youth on the subject of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Melanie explained in that St. Maarten Intangible Cultural Heritage was much alive; however been threatened by the rapid growth and tourism development on the island. She showed examples of photos of practitioners performing the Porum Dance, Steel Pan, String Band Music, Culinary Arts, and Making of Fish Pots etc.

A number of activities were mentioned such as the launching of the "Decade of Revitalizing our Natural and Cultural Heritage 2013-2023" with the Cultural Calendar, Diamond 26 Run for Freedom, DOW's Pan in Paradise, and the Commemorative walk for the Treaty of Concordia, Celebrating St. Maarten's Traditions in summer camp of 2012 etc.

She further pointed out that laws ought to be enacted to protect and safeguard the Intangible Cultural Heritage and not the contrary in reference to serenading where the laws have threatened to kill such an important part of our heritage of going house to house and door to door serenading during the Christmas season.

The use of modern technology was also brought forward to illustrate the need to engage the youth however not necessarily through the conventional traditional ways and means but to use modern technology such as Facebook, Twitter, BlackBerry Messenger, instant messaging, blogs, etc. which are all free to interface tradition with modernity and the youth.

In closing she pointed out to all persons attending not to be afraid of change because Culture is always evolving. "So, from a youth perspective, I'd like to put a stop to the lamenting of those who say "the dance hall music is overshadowing the calypso so that's why the art form is dying in our country". NO! We are living in a globalized world inundated with flashy images causing the youth to have a very short attention span for things that they may not consider fun or interesting from the offset. We need to be able to communicate with the youth in their own language in order to alter their perspectives and attitudes. We need to be able to pick these eggs up off of our backs and put them in a place for the future benefit of our countries". She was referring to the SANKOFA BIRD.

The audience had many questions for her at the end of her presentation which she was able to answer and York, Henry and Reyes intervened and assisted when the questions went beyond her being able to answer. This is a clear example and the vision Minister of Culture Hon. Silveria Jacobs wants implemented throughout the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs.

In an invited comment after hearing how well received St. Maarten Report was received at the workshop in Aruba, Minister Jacobs with a very content smile said: "St. Maarten and the Ministry is on the right track by supporting the youth and making them active participants of the future. After all they are our future".

To top the entire presentation off St. Maarten had its own Camera man to ensure what took place in Aruba will be shared with the St. Maarten community at home thanks to Dwight Barran who currently resides in Aruba.

Minister Jacobs alluded that it is all about engaging persons of St. Maarten home and abroad who have St. Maarten at heart and harnessing our energies and talents in a positive direction in the benefit of country".

POINT BLANCHE:--- Preparations are in full swing for the 21st Annual Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference and Trade Show that will be hosted by St. Maarten in the latter half of 2014. On Tuesday morning, President of the FCCA Michele Paige and Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Hon. Romeo Pantophlet attended the kick-off meeting at the Cruise Terminal Building.

The Steering Committee which is chaired by Minister Pantophlet with St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies Co-Chair held by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo, provided an update to a four-member delegation from the FCCA headed by its President Michele Paige. Next year will be 10 years since the destination hosted its first FCCA conference and trade show, and CEO Mingo is looking forward to another successful event where the country can be showcased to cruise executives.

The FCCA's mandate is to foster a better understanding of the cruise industry and to develop cooperative relationships with destination partners at both the public and private sector levels in order to create a win-win situation for all.

The conference benefits are a real opportunity for all stakeholders involved in the cruise sector. Some of the benefits are an increase in cruise industry contact base from cruise executives, operations, purchasing, marketing and shore excursions; and gaining insight on what cruise lines look for in shore excursions, products, and services.

The premier cruise industry event of the year will bring together over 1000 cruise industry partners and approximately 100 cruise executives to the island in September/October 2014.

Michele Paige stated at the meeting that the conference is an opportunity where all decision-makers of the industry will be present and private sector stakeholders will be able to have direct conversations with cruise line CEOs. Paige added that St. Maarten is growing in every way, but that new tours will need to be added annually, tours that educate and entertain cruise passengers.

The Steering Committee members include the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA), the Tourist Bureau, the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Princess Juliana International Airport, and Branding and Marketing Destination. The Harbour Sub Committee has representatives from the Commercial Department, Safety & Security, Cargo & Terminal, Senior Manager and Maintenance.

Mingo says that he would like to have all conference and trade show organizational logistics completed by January 2014.

"Private sector involvement is essential in making the 21st Annual FCC Cruise Conference & Trade Show a success. I see this as a big opportunity for our private sector especially where it comes to deliberations and exchange of ideas and views with cruise executives. Our destination has to think outside of the box. Tour and destination development are key areas that we have to focus on for continued future success of our cruise sector," Harbour CEO Mark Mingo said on Tuesday.

Simpson Bay:--- When Carnival royalty calls, the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) can only respond by rolling out the red carpet of support. And so it was with five contestants for the Teen, Senior and Mature Queen Pageants who are the recipients of SXM sponsorship.

"On behalf of the board of the SCDF allow me to express gratitude for the way SXM Airport has stepped up to assist our contestants again this year. Their preparations are costly affairs and any amount from corporate sponsors will go a long way. Thank you for being a dedicated partner of Carnival," stated president of the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF), Michael Granger.

"That partnership is an expression of our corporate policy of supporting whenever possible activities that reflect the cultural enhancement of St. Maarten, especially during this year of the celebration of our 70th anniversary," said Regina LaBega, managing director of SXM.

"We are happy to once again team up with the SCDF in making Carnival the major event it has become on our cultural calendar," LaBega added. "We also wish all the participants in the various pageants the best of luck as they continue to showcase the very best in our womanhood."

The Police Force of Sint Maarten is without any doubt doing its utmost, to protect you, your family and your property, in combating crime and criminals. The Public Relation Office of the Sint Maarten Police Force is therefore offering the entire community, the following safety tips, to help them prepare against crime.
Remember the 3 A's of Crime Prevention

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

If you are out for the evening:

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

Make use of a designated driver or public transportation (taxi or bus).
Make sure that you know where your kids are at all times and that they are safe.

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

PHILIPSBURG:--- Parliamentary deliberations in the plenary session of Parliament regarding the draft 2013 country budget will continue on April 17.

The plenary public meeting was postponed early Tuesday evening and will be reconvened on Wednesday at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend the national deliberations with respect to the country's draft budget.

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

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

PM Urges community to Visit Facebook and Government Website

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams announced yesterday that there is a new Government website dedicated to the upcoming inauguration of King Willem Alexander. The PM commented that the website, which was developed and launched by the Department of Communications on Tuesday, was part of the National Organizing Committees communication package geared towards keeping the public informed on the activities surrounding the inauguration of the new King of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. "This website, together with the existing Facebook page and the press releases which will be issued form part of the general information available to the community regarding the inauguration of the new King of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. I encourage the public to visit both the website and the Facebook page in order to keep abreast on activities centered on the inauguration", commented the Prime Minister.

Members of the Public can visit the website on http://www.sintmaartengov.org/Government/specialCampaigns/Pages/default.aspx and the Facebook page on http://www.facebook.com/pages/StMaartens-Page-for-the-Inauguration-of-King-Willem-Alexander.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- On Wednesday April 17, 2013, Minister of Education Ms. Silveria Jacobs will be cutting the ribbon at the Grand Opening of the USM Inlingua Language Lab.
The reception will take place at 5:00pm at the University of St. Martin (USM).

USM has been working on establishing its language lab since 2009. The realization of the USM Regional Project, which became the USM inlingua Language Lab (UiLL), was made possible through a grant made available by the Social Economic Initiative (SEI) USONA in the realm of Economy, Education/Development and Economic Diversification of the department of Interior and Kingdom Affairs (BAK) of the Ministry of General Affairs. The project will be handed over to the University of St. Martin as having complied with all the financial and administrative protocols.

Recently, USM signed a license agreement with inlingua international (inlingua) to operate its language lab under the inlingua umbrella and to use the inlingua method for its language training. inlingua operates a worldwide network of independent language service centers covering the fields of language, communications and intercultural services in over 350 locations worldwide.
One of the goals of the language lab for USM, which is now also known by the acronym UiLL, is to improve the chances of students to achieve the right level of language proficiency needed for their course of study. The USM inlingua Language Lab will cater to the linguistic needs of prospective students as well as fortify their language skills and offer language training, practical communication solutions for government and businesses on St. Maarten as well as the region.
USM is confident that the USM inlingua Language Lab will also contribute to the economic diversification as well by attracting tourists and visitors to St. Maarten.
USM Inlingua Language Lab will train professionals to communicate across borders with custom language-training programs designed around any schedule or budget. Whether you want to learn French over a six months period, or your company wants to train 10 engineers to speak Spanish in 30 days, the USM inlingua Language lab will have a program for you.
The USM inlingua Language Lab will assess current skills and plan the most effective language-training strategy to meet one's goals. If you require business, financial or technical vocabulary, the course will be tailored to include special terminology and relevant occupational material. The programs include the three items you will need to succeed: 1. the inlingua method, 2. native-speaking teachers and 3. inlingua's exclusive training materials.
The inlingua method will have the student thinking in the target or new language before they know it. Students will begin speaking a new language at the first lesson and continue to speak it at least 60% of the time throughout the course. The lessons will progress using structured building blocks that create real fluency. It is a faster way to learn any new language.

The programs at the USM inlingua Language Lab are built around the student and private, semi-private and group programs will be provided. Class lengths will vary from an hour and half to a full day. The USM inlingua Language Lab will design language-training programs with the student's schedule and goals in mind!

Simpson Bay:--- Flags representing the different countries or territories serviced by the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) were flying again proudly along the final approach of the Airport Boulevard to the Terminal Building.

The 33 flags were first mounted at the end of 2011 on light poles that arch around the lagoon-side road leading to the airport, starting with the St. Maarten flag in the area of WINAIR offices, and moving on up to the poles opposite the FBO facilities.

The flags represent islands of the now defunct Netherlands Antilles (St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao), the hub islands of Anguilla, and St. Barths, as well as other Caribbean islands.

Destinations in Central and South America (e.g. Panama, Brazil, Argentina), the USA and Canada as well as Europe, are also represented.

"The flags are not a mere decoration," said Regina LaBega, managing director of the airport, "but a visual reminder of the international character of the airport and the diverse origins of the people that use it."

Wear and tear made it necessary to remove the previous flags and replace them with larger and more weather-resistant ones.

"As we celebrate our 70th anniversary, it is important that we acknowledge the destinations we serve through the symbol of their flags," LaBega added.

Great Bay:--- The Department of Youth and Sports is pleased to announce that application forms for the Business Outreach and Placement Program (BOPP) 2013 are available to students at the various High Schools on St. Maarten.

Said program, coordinated by the Department of Youth and Sports Affairs, is dedicated to placing pre-exam and exam students aged 16 and older of secondary schools as well as students in tertiary level education in temporary employ during the months of July and August. The main objective of the BOPP is to provide a work experience based on the students' possible career ambition.

All students entering the program will gain knowledge through the training that is provided and ultimately gain an invaluable work experience. By spending four to six weeks working in various government departments and in the private sector, the gap between the academic and business world is bridged. The employer will benefit from the competent and often times innovative perspective that students can offer.

This year, the BOPP program is scheduled to run from July 1st through August 9th, 2013 and will mark its 15th anniversary in existence.
The program will consist of the usual application period, training, pre-selection for interviews and final selection for a summer job.

Students wishing to apply for a summer job can do so by visiting their school guidance counselor's office for an application form or pass by the Department of Youth and Sports Affairs. Student applications must be submitted to the Department of Youth and Sports located in the Vlaun Building, across from the Post Office no later than Friday, May 17th, 2013.

Business owners are encouraged to participate in the program and support the youth as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility to the community. Businesses that are willing to participate or seek more information can contact the department of Youth and Sports Affairs for further information at telephone number: 542-2056/ 5423873 or via fax: 54-20643 or send an e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG:--- An active 2013 hurricane season has been predicted. Last week Colorado State University's Tropical Meteorology Project's hurricane forecast for the 30th year calls for a higher than normal tropical storm activity during the hurricane season.

Prior to the release of the forecasts, the Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) took the initiative to update its database of contractors on Sint Maarten.

The Ministry is inviting all general contractors and heavy equipment owners interested in participating in any upcoming clean-up projects to an informative meeting on Friday, April 19 at the Ministry VROMI, Savance Building (next to Carl's & Sons on the Pondfill), starting at 10:00am.

Information will be provided about preparations for the 2013 Hurricane Season.

Contractors and heavy equipment owners are requested to bring along their equipment list with valid insurance, crib number of their company, updated registration form from the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, car insurance to the tune of Naf. 250 as well as contact information. The information is very important in the event Ministry VROMI needs to call on contractors before or after a storm.

Ministry VROMI Operations Manager Eldemiro Jansen and Project Manager Hensley Kwidama will be present for the meeting.

For those who need additional information, you can call Eldemiro Jansen at Tel. 542-4289 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Philipsburg:--- The President and Vice President of the Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU) at their press conference on Tuesday said that their intention is not to criticize the government of St. Maarten. WITU President Claire Elshot told reporters that their members are very pleased with the information they get via the weekly press conferences that are held by the WICLU. The main objective the President and Vice President of WICLU said is to bring more awareness and information to their membership through the media.

Elshot said the intention of the unions is to stress heavily on the importance of Labour Day (May 1st) which will be celebrated on St. Maarten in the next two weeks. Elshot also commended the President of the Youth Parliament for her comments regarding the level of the Parliamentary meetings currently taking place. Elshot further lamented that the youths on St. Maarten are looking for role models and information which they are in dire need of in order for them to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Elshot said the meetings held in Parliament are not educational, therefore the WICSU and the WITU are doing their best in providing information every week in order to create better awareness.

Elshot also gave an outline on some of the activities that are planned for Labour Day 2013. Some of those activities are a church service and the ceremonial activity. At the latter ceremony, three persons will be receiving awards. One of the awards are for the historic leadership in trade unionism, contributions given to trade unionism, while the third category will be the 'spirit of labour' which will be given to someone that works for the unions behind the scenes or in the background. The unions also intend to create a booklet with information in order to inform workers about Labour Day and its historical values.

The WITU is also very pleased with the cultural calendar that was prepared by the Minister of Education, but they felt that the Minister (government) should go further by having a booklet made with information for the general public.

Elshot said that by the end of this week the survey on violence will be completed. She said that a number of schools already send back the survey forms that were distributed to them but the final collection will take place this week. Another project the WITU has completed is their newsletter which will be distributed shortly to teachers on St. Maarten. The newsletter will serve as an informative tool on the plans of action of the unions.

Regarding the motion submitted to the Minister of Education on the increase of salary scales, Elshot said to date the Minister of Education has not responded to their letter. The union she said intends to send the Minister a reminder on the motion which had over 400 signatures.

Elshot said the unions are following the budget debate that is currently taking place Parliament. She said despite the information that was released during the Parliamentary meetings, the union and the members do not fully understand what government intends to do regarding the payment of the COLA.

Marigot:--- The Territorial Council of the Collectivity of St. Martin will be holding a Territorial Council meeting on Wednesday April 17th, 2013 to elect the new members of the Territorial Council. The meeting on Wednesday is to elect a new President and to also include another member to the territorial council. In the decision of April 13th, 2012, the State Council sanctioned Alain Richardson by removing him from his seat and deemed him in-illegible for a period of 18 months. The State Council also nominated the 18th candidate on the RRR list Mme. Sophie Jaboin to take her seat in the Territorial Council.

According to supporters of the RRR majority, first Vice President Aline Hanson will be nominated on behalf of the RRR to take up the President's seat which was vacated on Friday when the State Council issued its decision and forced the leader of the RRR political party and President of the Collectivity Alain Richardson to vacate his seat.

Alain Arnell, brother of the third vice president Guillaume Arnell said on a radio program on Tuesday and to SMN News that the first vice president Aline Hanson will receive full support from him, his family, and those that spearheaded the election campaign for the RRR in 2012. Arnell said he is of the opinion that the first vice president is capable of doing the job therefore she will get their full support.

The Territorial Council will elect the new members of the executive council, and the members that will take up various positions that were held by the former President Alain Richardson. The Territorial Council will also be nominating other council members to take up positions that the first vice president held. One of the positions that has to be filled is the one vacated by Hanson on the SEMSAMAR board.

Good Morning and welcome to this "Orange Bow" award ceremony.

On January 28, 2013, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix announced that she had decided to abdicate the throne in favor of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, who will be inaugurated as the New King on April 30 upcoming.

As a result the Dutch Government decided to install the "Nationaal Comité Inhuldiging" to coordinate certain festivities surrounding the inauguration throughout the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Similarly the Government of Sint Maarten installed the Organizing Committee for the Inauguration (OCI) to coordinate all activities related to the inauguration of the New King on Sint Maarten as well as to synchronize activities with the "Nationaal Comité Inhuldiging".
To officially recognize persons and organizations for their work to mark the inauguration of the New King, the "Nationaal Comité Inhuldiging" designed an Orange Bow. To qualify for an orange bow activities organized by persons, associations and/or organizations must meet the following requirements:

1. The activity must be original, positive and authentic;
2. It must speak to a wide audience; and
3. The activity must fit within the theme "My dream for our country, inspiration for our King"

The Orange Bow is a logo representing a special distinction, which recipients may use at their activities or when announcing their activities via posters, brochures or on their website.
To award Orange Bows to candidates I requested the Organizing Committee for the Inauguration to accept and evaluate applications from eligible candidates. A total of 6 applications were received and reviewed against the requirements.
Today we are here to grant this special Orange Bow award to three of those six organizations in recognition of their valued community activities and their contributions to the events to celebrate the inauguration of King Willem Alexander on April 30, 2013.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Having reviewed the applications and the recommendations by the OCI I have on behalf of the "Nationaal Comite Inhuldiging" decided to grant Orange Bows to the following organizations:

1. The first organization is: the No Kidding With Our Kids Foundation for its "ASA King day/Crown Carousel", an activity aimed at introducing some 150 children to the topic, and planned to take place on April 15 and 19;
2. The second organization is: the Sint Maarten Soccer Educational Foundation for its "primary school soccer tournament" being organized as part of the King's Games on April 26, 2013;
3. And the third organization is: the SIMARC Foundation for its project "Our dream of a more heritage conscious Sint Maarten" in which students will be repainting and repairing the information signs at Fort Amsterdam on April 27, on the birthday of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander.

I hereby applaud each of you for your efforts in celebrating the inauguration and for your positive and educational work towards our future by involving our youths.
In a few minutes each of you will in recognition for these activities be called forward to receive your Orange Bow Award and I thus hereby, in closing, congratulate each of you and your organizations with your special distinction and wish you success with the execution of your respective activities now and in the future.

Thank You

Philipsburg:--- The organizers of DayBreak, St. Maarten's first breakfast fete have joined forces with RiddimBox productions and mutual partner, Chippie, to bring the public a package offer that will give carnival lovers more bang for their buck. The package will allow carnival goers to attend the Main Event by Chippie on April 27 and then go on to DayBreak at the Emilio Wilson Park to continue the party. The $45 package will include a ticket to both events plus $30 prepaid Chippie credit and is available from all UTS store locations and the Chippie booth in the Festival Village.

UTS Press Release

"Heartened by focus on Youth"

Harbour View:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined the Governor of St. Maarten His Excellency Eugene Holiday in his presentation of the Orange Bow Awards to three organizations for their work in the community to mark the inauguration of King Willem Alexander. Orange Bows were awarded to the No Kidding with Our Kids Foundation for the Crown Carousel After School Activity, the St. Maarten Soccer Educational Foundation for the youth soccer tournament as part of the King's Games, and SIMARC for the project "Dream of a more Heritage Conscious St. Maarten, where youngsters will repaint the information signs at Fort Amsterdam. The Prime Minister joined the Governor in presenting the Orange Bows to the organizations and offered warm congratulations. "I would like to express warm congratulations to all of you for your work and especially in your participation in this once in a lifetime project. It is heartwarming to see that the focus of all of these activities is on the youth of St. Maarten and it is encouraging to know that these projects all invest in the youth of St. Maarten and therefore also in our future. I again would like to congratulate you and look forward to seeing your projects in the days and weeks to come," commented the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

GREAT BAY:--- A young generation writer, Georges Cocks, represented St. Martin at the 3rd Caribbean Writers Congress, organized by the Association of Caribbean Writers (ACW) and the Regional Council of Guadeloupe, from April 10-13, 2013.

The 51 authors registered for the conference from throughout the Caribbean, Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana, and the USA, included Ambassador Chiqui Vicioso (Dominican Rep.), Marion Bethel (The Bahamas), and Emilio Jorge Rodriquez (Cuba), said Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).

"We try to keep up with our writers and let readers in St. Martin and throughout the region know about their professional movements, achievements, and the performance of their books that are published in St. Martin," said Sample.

"Getting samples of the HNP titles authored by Chiqui, Marion, and Emilio to the congress was one of the publisher's tasks, especially the bilingual and trilingual books by Emilio and Chiqui," said Sample.

"Our new French edition by Emilio on Haitian literature, Haïti et l'identité littéraire trans-caribéenne, was given a soft introduction at the conference through the hard working folks at Jasor bookstore," said Sample.

Bridging language zones or gaps between Caribbean people through their writers and books was a major point made by Josette Borel-Lincertin, President of the Region of Guadeloupe.

"The world-honored literature of the Caribbean needs to overcome language barriers and geographical boundaries to try to build a common literary space," said President Borel-Lincertin. She was speaking about the importance of the bi-annual discussion and planning meeting of the ACW members as a common literary space.

Cocks, soon to be published in an anthology of 25 St. Martin writers, stood ready to provide fraternal assistance to the HNP authors in Guadeloupe. He was also instrumental in getting book samples to Jasor for exhibition at the conference and invitations to promote the upcoming St. Martin Book Fair.

"Writers feel good when they can see or know that their books are accessible at a conference for fellow writers, reviewers, and audience guests," said Sample.

The Guadeloupe-based Cocks hails from French Quarter. "Some of his poems reflect an aspect of a St. Martin diaspora, the desire to reconnect, a somewhat unique element in writings from or about St. Martin," said Lasana M. Sekou, editor of the upcoming book of mostly young poets from both parts of the island.

Participating in the St. Martin Book Fair by Cocks over the last few years has boosted his appearance as a writer in Guadeloupe and made more people on both islands aware of his seminal print-on-demand novels and poetry collections.

Edwidge Danticat wins ACW Grand Literary Prize 2013 in Guadeloupe

The US writer Russell Banks was the guest of honor at the ACW congress, which had as its theme: "A collective epic, fighting for freedom; historical truth and fiction in Caribbean literature."

According to Borel-Lincertin, the Regional Council recognizes "the importance of cultural development, including literature" in its partnership with ACW to organize the 3rd Congress of Writers of the Caribbean (Congrès des Ecrivains de la Caraïbe).

The ACW awarded its Grand Literary Prize [Grand Prix Littéraire] this year to novelist Edwidge Danticat, for her most recent work Create Dangerously. The prize is one of the financially richest of four important and increasingly coveted Caribbean literary prizes.

People driving ATV's or Four Wheelers on Guana Bay Beach Major Threat to Sea Turtles

The Department of Public Works from the VROMI Ministry and Windward Roads assisted the St. Maarten Nature Foundation in the placement of boulders along Guana Bay Beach in order to block access to vehicles from driving on the beach. The St. Maarten Nature Foundation recently carried out a wide scale assessment of the threats to St. Maarten's Native Sea Turtle population which mostly nests at Guana Bay Beach. Over the last two months there have been various activities that have been occurring on Guana Bay which has caused the Nature Foundation to express grave concern on the safety of one of the island's most important sea turtle nesting beaches. People driving vehicles on the beach, especially quads or 'four wheelers' as they are known, was one of the most serious negative activities affecting nesting sea turtles.

Each year between March and November, female sea turtles return to lay their eggs on the island. There are three sea turtles which nest on St. Maarten beaches: the Hawksbill Sea Turtle, the Green Sea Turtle and the largest sea turtle species, the Leatherback. Guana Bay Beach is the most important nesting site, with in 2012 42% of all sea turtles having nested on just that one particular beach.

"We would like to express our thanks and gratitude to Mr. Claudius Buncamper of the Public Works Department, Mr. Jos De Nijs of Windward Roads and the Guana Bay Property Owners Association for the help in keeping vehicles off of the beach," read a Nature Foundation statement. Windward roads placed some thirty large scale boulders along the beach and Guana Bay Resident Jerry Speetjens planted coconut palms in between the boulders further restricting access and beautifying the project.

The Nature Foundation stated that female leatherback sea turtles have already lain two nests on Simpson Bay Beach and that staff and volunteers patrol regularly on Guana Bay Beach to look for Leatherback nests which are expected any time now.

The St. Maarten Nature Foundation actively manages the sea turtle population on St. Maarten, particularly during the nesting season. The Foundation conducts various activities with regards to sea turtle nesting including beach surveys, nest excavations, tagging activities and nest success research. This research is done through beach patrols by staff, volunteer checks and dedicated research activities conducted on a daily basis during nesting season.

The Foundation urges the community to call its offices on 5444267 if they notice sea turtles nesting or if they notice illegal activities on any of the island's beaches.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Hon. Silveria Jacobs met with representatives from the St. Eustatius School of Medicine where she was updated on the progress of establishing the medical school on Sint Maarten.

The St. Eustatius school of Medicine will be offering freshman and sophomore college courses starting September 2013 and will be making use of the classrooms at USM. In addition the school will be offering pre-med classes.

Great Bay:--- The Ministry of Public Health Social Development & Labor, Section Collective Prevention Services is currently working hard on costumes for the debut of their carnival troupe "Tutti Frutti Healthy Steppers" as they will be taking part in the Children's Carnival Parade on Sunday April 21, 2013. The carnival troupe is part of the Vaccination Week of the Americas 2013 activities.
"Children between the ages of 3-11 years old will make up the troupe from family and friends of the department. It is important to note that the costumes are being made from recycled products, so we are inviting the community to come out and support the Children's parade, as it will be a surprise," said Anuska Gibbs, Chair of the organizing committee.
The Baby Clinic has been turned into a mass camp in the afternoon hours, to allow staff the time to construct the costumes. Approximately 30-35 children will be displaying costumes during the Children's Carnival Parade depicting various fruits and vegetables as a means of bringing awareness about the importance of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet.
Minister of Public Health Social Development & Labor, Cornelius De Weever stated that it is a great initiative of the Department of Collective Preventive Services to have our young people showing the importance of fruits and vegetables through carnival costumes, while part taking in one of the islands biggest cultural events.
"It is also very important to note that the costumes are being made from recycled products, recycling generally shows us how the life of an item can be extended and used again, instead of throwing it away," said Minister De Weever.
As part of Vaccination Week of the Americas, which runs April 20-27, the organizing committee of this year's activities decided to come out with a carnival troupe and to have community outreach in the various districts on the island. Stay tuned for more information regarding the community outreach program.

Philipsburg:--- The District Governor for District 60b Lion Claudius Buncamper MJF has begun his official visit on St. Maarten on Sunday with the St. Maarten Lions Club by attending a Thanksgiving Service at the Saint Maartie of Tours Roman Catholic Church in Philipsburg. The service was led by Father Johannes.
The morning service which was attended by members of the St. Maarten Lions Club and their families was the first official function with regards to the District Governors visit. Members of the club took part in various activities of the service such the singing of the Catholic Liturgy, presenting of the offertory gifts and assisting with the church collections from the congregation.
District Governor Claudius Buncamper gave a short speech on behalf of Lions International whereby he urged the congregation to support the St. Maarten Lions Club whenever they have fundraising functions as these funds go back to the St. Maarten community in various ways. Father Bob concluded the service by offering a special prayer for god's guidance on the excellent work the club does in the community.
The visit of the District Governor continues on Tuesday with various media interviews, courtesy visits to His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday and Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams along with the Club Audit and Dinner Meeting on Tuesday evening.

With the New Public Service Center in Simpson Bay we answer people's cry for Government Services in the Districts

Simpson Bay:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams on Saturday opened the Country's first Public Service Center at the Simpson Bay Fish Market, an important step in her Government's plans to increase the service of Government in the Various Districts. "In 2010 a project plan was approved to implement the new Public Service Center (PSC). The goal of the project was to set up a PSC where all public services, government information and government products would be delivered in a client oriented fashion, based on an integrated approach. In this manner public service delivery would take place more efficiently," stated the Prime Minister.

"The concept of this Public Service Center is centered on the premise of improving Government's services efficiently using modern technology. Now residents living "over the hill" can have the opportunity to make use o five government services at this location; the Civil Registry, the Receiver's Office, the Tax Department, the Department of Social Services, Labor Affairs and the Customer Care Information Center, which is a part of the Department of General Affairs. This has been a long journey but now we have the opportunity where residents have the possibility to have the services of Government in their own district," commented the Prime Minister.

The PM also reiterated that the Public Service Center will also serve as an economic boost to that area of Simpson Bay, where the businesses and in particular the restaurants of the Fish Market will receive an extra boost. "Additionally this important and beautiful location will get an extra boost with increased visitation. It is good to see how all of the various departments have come together and cooperated on realizing this very important first step."

"It has taken a while and it has naturally taken a lot of work and cooperation but I am happy to see that we are here at this point and we are now ready to start and to move on into the other districts. For a long time the cry of the Cole Bay/ Simpson Bay districts has been for a service area in order for people to not have to travel to Town. We also know how it is where some of the queues and lines are concerned and so I am truly exited about this particular start of the public service centers," concluded the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Pembroke Pines, FL:--- The historic city of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia will set the stage for the 20th annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Cruise Conference & Trade Show, taking place September 30 - October 4, 2013.

Cruise industry partners and stakeholders will join cruise executives from the FCCA Member Lines to share ideas and discuss industry trends throughout a series of tailored events, functions, meetings and more.

Workshops will be available, where executives from the FCCA Member Lines will participate in a series of roundtable discussions in the areas of marketing, shore excursions and operations to teach participants about the latest trends/developments and help them learn how to maximize cruise tourism's benefit.

To guarantee attendees' opportunity for individual attention from the executives, the FCCA will pre-set one-on-one meetings with select cruise executives for pre-registered delegates registered and paid before August 15.

Increased concentration on the trade show floor will provide a steady flow of attendees and gain the attention of the cruise executives and industry stakeholders. With an expanded number of booths and special destination pavilion options, this will be the perfect way to showcase a destination and its product as a team-from vendors and tour operators getting their product(s) onboard to destination ministries and port operators increasing their calls. This is the best way to make the greatest impact and most impressive showing at the FCCA Trade Show.

Choosing to fly with Avianca or Taca, the official airlines of the 20th annual FCCA Cruise Conference and Trade Show, will allow you to enjoy premium services on land and onboard. Access discounts from 15% to 20% for flights within Colombia and discounts from 10% to 20% on international flights. These discounts are only available on applicable fares on flights operated by Avianca or Taca.

For more information on the FCCA Conference & Trade Show, please visit our website, www.f-cca.com, or contact Terri Cannici at +1 954 441 8881.

Paris/St. Martin:--- The State Council, Commission national des comptes de campagne et des financements politiques (CNCCFP) in its decision rendered on April 12th, 2013 quoted articles L. 52-4 to L. 52-18 where they stated that political campaign accounts are rejected on two basis. One being if the political party showed willful intentions to commit fraud or if they deliberately broke the rules on campaign accounting.
In the case of the RRR political party, the CNCCFP found absolutely no trace of fraud committed by the RRR Political Party and its leader. However, the CNCCFP found enough reasons to reject the RRR accounts on the second part of the law which states that the RRR breached (broke) the rules when the political party opened two bank accounts for its political campaign for the March 18th and March 25th, 2012 elections.
SMN News apologized to President Richardson and the RRR party for the error published earlier. "We want to make clear that SMN News had no willful or bad intentions when we did not break down the law completely in the English language for our readers. SMN News also called President Richardson to apologize to him personally for the misinterpretations but he said he was busy.
A Territorial Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon where the new President of the COM will be elected by the majority vote of the council.

 A copy of the decision rendered by the State Council can be viewed beneath this article. A breakdown of the decision follows:

Excerpts from the decision of the STATE COUNCIL

N° 364071

Session of 27 March 2013

Reading of 12 April 2013

1. Considering that ... the provisions of title 1 of book 1 of the electoral code dedicated to the provisions, which are common to the election of members of parliament, general councilors and municipal councilors, are automatically applicable to the elections of territorial councilors of the overseas collectivity of Saint-Martin for everything that is not contrary to the special provisions pertaining to them; that the provisions relative to the financing and ceiling of the electoral expenses mentioned in articles L. 52-4 to L. 52-18 of this code are therefore applicable; that the second paragraph of article L. 52-6 of the same code especially provides that the financial representative designated by the candidate is under the obligation to open a single bank or postal account tracking the entirety of his/her financial operations; that in application of the third paragraph of article L. 118-3 of the same code, the judge of the election pronounces the ineligibility of the candidate, whose campaign account has fairly been rejected in a case of willful fraud or especially serious breach of the rules relative to the financing of electoral campaigns; that the fourth paragraph of the same article indicates precisely that this ineligibility is pronounced for a maximum period of three years and applies to all elections;

2.

3.

4.

5. Considering, however, that if the creation of a new territorial collectivity within the Republic made it necessary to adopt a new and specific legislative and regulatory system, the provisions of the electoral code applicable for the elections of territorial councilors of this new collectivity, basically taken from the provisions applicable to elections in France, are not ambiguous and do not give rise to any difficulty of interpretation; that the opening of a single postal or bank account denominated in euro in no way obstructed the payment of expenses made in a foreign currency during the electoral campaign; that, in this way, Mr. Richardson, a chartered accountant by profession, an experienced politician, a territorial councilor of Saint-Martin elected in 2007, must be considered as having deliberately neglected a very important rule of the financing of electoral campaign; that consequently he has committed a particularly serious breach of the rules of the financing of electoral campaign;

6.

7.

8.

COM Mum on Decision --- First Vice President to move up to President's spot.

While the State Council rendered its decisions on Friday April 12th, 2013 and the RRR majority is aware of the sanctions taken by the State Council, so far President Richardson who has been ousted from his seat is still to make an official announcement. SMN News learnt that the RRR majority met in a closed door meeting on Saturday at the Collectivity of St. Martin to discuss who will be replacing Richardson.

SMN News learnt that first Vice President Aline Hanson will be taking her position as President of the Collectivity since she is the first vice president of the RRR majority. Sources close to the political party said that the RRR was looking at holding a territorial council meeting later this week where the new president will be elected by the majority vote of the Territorial Council. However, that does not seem likely because first Vice President Aline Hanson has to first resign from her position as school principal and from the SEMSAMAR board since the positions she currently hold are not compatible with her new position.

Click here to view the Decision rendered by the State Council.

Cole Bay:--- On Friday April 12th at approximately 9:45pm, the gas attendant at Sol Gas station on the Union road was robbed at gunpoint by an unknown man dressed in black. During this robbery, the money the attendant had in his possession was stolen. On Saturday April 13th at approximately 9:30pm, the gas attendant of the Texaco gas station on the Welfare road was robbed by an unknown man wearing dark clothing with a machete. The money that attendant had in his possession at the time was also stolen.

KPSM Police Report

St. Peters:--- On Friday April 12th at approximately 12:30am, a police patrol was directed to the L.B. Scot road at the entrance of Sint Peters road to meet the witness of a threat and kidnapping case. On the scene, the witness explained the investigating officers that she and a friend of hers with the initials M.P. were standing at the bus stop when suddenly a white Toyota Yaris pulled up next to them. She further explained that the ex-boyfriend of her friend with the initials A.M.D. jumped out of the car with a knife in his hand. He grabbed M.P., put the knife to her throat and forced her into the car and drove off in the direction of South Reward. After about an hour of searching the vehicle was located at a home in the Sint Peters area. The suspect and the victim were located sitting in the car. The suspect with the initials A.M.D. from Sint Maarten, was arrested on the spot and taken into custody. The weapon and vehicle used in this case were confiscated for further investigation. This case is under investigation by the Detective Department.

KPSM Police Report

"I was honored to spend a few hours with the family"

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams met with the Family of Michael and Thelma King at Holland House on Thursday. The family members traveled to St. Maarten to attend the murder trial which have shocked the island.

The Prime Minister had lunch with the family and showed her support on behalf of the people of St. Maarten to the family of the murdered couple. "I was honored and humbled to spend a few hours with the family of Michael and Thelma King and support them in this difficult moment. Despite their loss the family is one that is strong and this is a source of much admiration for me. Numerous family members have even encouraged friends and family to visit St. Maarten and have issued strong support for the island despite the tragedy which happened. The whole island was shocked at what happened and every single person was relieved to see that the perpetrators of this horrible act were apprehended," commented Prime Minister Wescot-Williams. (DCOMM Photo)

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Hon. Silveria Jacobs presented the recently launched Cultural Calendar to School Managers during a press conference on Thursday. The Cultural Calendar was first launched at Fort Amsterdam on March 10th as part of the "Decade of Revitilization of our Cultural and Natural Heritage 2013-2023" All children, teachers and staff of the schools on St. Maarten will receive a copy of the calendar. School mangers who were unable to attend were invited to pick up their copy at the Culture Department.

The calendar highlights places and persons of worth in our history. It contains a vast amount of historical and cultural information. The Minister hopes that it will serve as a research tool for children and that it will educate and encourage our children and community to preserve and maintain our cultural and natural heritage. "This calendar gives our children the opportunity to learn something about St. Maarten each month," the Minister said.

The Culture department has also been assigned the task of creating booklets containing the information. This booklet will be available for the schools, general public and visitors alike, "With the creation of this booklet we can proudly say that we have created literature that everyone can read and enjoy," Minister Jacobs said.

The calendar represents the first step in the Ministry' goals for the Decade of Revitilization of our Cultural and Natural Heritage 2013-2023." The Ministry is also working towards achieving a stakeholder's summit to gather information and input as to where the focus should be during the coming 10 years. "Many of the stakeholders have already been doing the work, with sometimes limited financial means and low input from government in keeping our culture and natural heritage alive. "Revitalization of our heritage cannot be done without the valuable input of these stakeholders," said Minster Jacobs. The Ministry will also be working on establishing the National Cultural and Natural Archives as part of its long term goals.

A letter of protests will be filed on Monday morning by the UP Faction to the President of Parliament.

The UP would like to refer the President of Parliament to the objection by MP Jules James during the end of the second round not to move to end the meeting due to the absence of the Minister of Health, Social Development and Labour to actively take part in the budget deliberation.

We heard the Minister wasn't feeling well at the time of the continuation of the Central Committee meeting. If this is the case, then the Minister of Health should have authorized his Secretary General to come to the House to provide answers to questions posed or the President of Parliament should have postponed the meeting to a later date.

The Minister of Health we were informed sent some answers to questions at 1.30am on Saturday, but the document was not signed and wasn't addressed to the honourable Members of Parliament. You do not treat the highest elected legislative body in that manner. Anybody could have written those answers, and this is unacceptable.

The key point is that MPs were not able to ask the Minister of Health clarification on their questions posed. Rather than postponing the meeting as in the case of both Minister of Finance Tuitt and Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Pantophlet who needed more time to respond to the many questions posed in the first round, the President of Parliament insisted to close off the second round, not acknowledging the objection.

The Constitution makes provisions for how this should be handled.

Seeing that none of the above actions were taken by the President of Parliament, the UP faction is serving official notice on Monday morning to the President of Parliament and the Government, that should this objection not be heeded, the UP faction will use all legal means available at its disposal to take this matter further.

The UP faction is giving the President of Parliament an opportunity to correct this matter before proceeding to the plenary session on Monday morning at 10:00am.

Sylvia Meyers
Interim Faction Leader United People's (UP) Party
Member of Parliament

Great Bay:--- Minister de Weever stated, in reaction to the statements made by Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Mr. R. Plasterk in the Daily Herald last Saturday, with regards to Governance issues at SMMC that ended the specialist cooperation that he is fully aware thereof. This matter has my full attention. Great efforts have been and are still continuously being made by both my Ministry and the Inspectorate of Health to address these issues. These efforts have resulted in the placement by the Health Inspectorate of SMMC under intensified supervision and the subsequent issuance of 14 orders by the Heath Inspectorate to SMMC, to address amongst others several governance matters, or else pay significant fines. One of these measures was the much discussed measure to either terminate the contract with Dr. Scot, or terminate the contract with his consultancy firm ANG Consulting N.V. Although SMMC is still opposing all the imposed measures through litigation, it has meanwhile complied with some of them. There has consequently been some improvement. There is however still much work to do and I can only hope that, with the appointment of a new interim director of SMMC recently, the era of constant opposition and litigation by SMMC, will be replaced with the much needed collaboration, dialogue and decisive actions, so that our combined efforts can promptly resolve the existing issues. The cooperation with AMC and VUmc is important for both St. Maarten and our sister islands Saba and St. Eustatius. Conditions must be set for the prompt realization hereof.

Will Await Operational Audit on Central Bank and Move Forward From There

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot Williams explained the recent discussions in the community centered on dollarization. The Prime Minister explained on her weekly radio show One on One with the Prime Minister that the unsolicited advice that the Social Economic Council gave regarding dollarization has reignited the talk of dollarization for the Country. "The Social and Economic Council recently gave an unsolicited advice on the monetary union between Curacao and St Maarten, which of course was an agreement which was made coming into 101010. It was decided by the two countries of Curacao and St. Maarten that we will share a central bank and then because of that will de facto have a monetary union. However, when you take into consideration the issue of the appointment of board members to the Central Bank and what that took and is taking to get done both countries have questioned the effectiveness of that union," commented the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister reiterated that she still believes in the monetary union and a Central Bank between the two countries. "Two autonomous countries within the Kingdom have decided that there is strength in numbers, especially in monetary matters and thus we agreed to work together on a monetary union on the basis of equality. However, it has not worked like that in practice and so we had so many issues, again in particular with regards to the appointment of board members. Coupled to that was the question of what currency this union would have and what currency St. Maarten would have. As agreed to in 101010 there would be a Dutch Caribbean guilder for this monetary union for Curacao and St. Maarten. No attempts for a monetary union have yet been made particularly due to those issues. The presidency of the Central Bank was also a matter of much discussion and criticism. Finally we have now agreed that an operational audit will be conducted of the bank, with some two weeks ago the agreement being arrived at on who would execute the operational audit," continued the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also explained that St. Maarten's economy is in practice a dollarized economy, despite the country having an official, stable Netherlands Antillean guilder. "The Dutch Caribbean Guilder would be another name for the Antillean guilder pegged to the us dollar. As long as our currency remains how it is any currency vis a vis the dollar should not be an issue. However, the Social and Economic Council did come up with the un asked for advice which has become public and advised that St. Maarten get out of the union. Where do we stand at this moment? Before May 2012 there was a clear preference for dollarization, however that issue was never taken to the point of a decision support by legislation in parliament but that Government was leaning in that direction. Currently we are waiting on the operational audit of the joint monetary union to make the decision whether we will continue cooperation or would be looking at our own agency. If we do that will we then go over to formal dollarization. But up to this point both Governments have indicated that they will be awaiting the result of the union," concluded the Prime Minister.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, April 17, at 5:30pm, students of the University of St. Martin (USM) in collaboration with the Philipsburg Jubillee Library (PJL) will put on a special free Puppet Show for all ages.
Twelve students enrolled in the Teacher Education Program at USM will perform approximately 4 puppet shows. Their performances will fulfill a major requirement for their Children's Literature course, as they works towards obtaining their Bachelors Degree in Education.
This collaborative effort between USM students and the library was spearheaded by Maryland Powell, PJL's Junior Children's Librarian and the instructor of the Children's Literature course, Pattie Maier. The pair have collaborated on many events such as the Anansi Storytelling Festival and countless other puppet shows and festivals, that foster learning through storytelling.
"Puppet shows tantalize the imagination and bring written stories to life. They show that written stories can be acted out using voices and props", remarked education Instructor Maier.
Children attending the puppet show display can expect to see stories like "We're Going on a Bear Hunt", "Cleaning Mr. Crocodile's Teeth, "The Three Billy Goats' Gruff" and many more interactive, exciting stories.
Parents and children are invited to attend this educational, yet fun puppet show display at the library, put on by the students of USM.

Philipsburg:--- With the distribution of new 65 gallon garbage bins that started during the weekend, it is expected that within a few weeks the island will be noticeably cleaner. William Marlin the Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility for VROMI was very happy with the arrival and he mentioned that these new bins would be a welcome addition to his overall get St. Maarten clean efforts. Along with the other projects coming down the stream and the possibility of an awareness campaign, the Minister is confident that these will lead to a healthier population. The Minister added that we are all affected by pollution in any form and we must all pitch in to make St. Maarten the cleanest island in the region.
A partial amount of some 2000 bins have already arrived on the island with more to come in the next few weeks. The bins will be distributed by the contractors who are now tasked with garbage pickup. The bins are numbered and residents will be required to sign for receipt of the bin.

Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA), the largest private business representative on the island, met on Tuesday April 2, 2013 with a delegation of the St. Martin Grassroots People Movement, led by its president and founder, Leopold James. The other members of the delegation were the board-member of the grassroots organization, Albert ('Jesse') Adams, and independent concerned citizen and observer, Mr. Freddy Richardson.
James explained that the term Grassroots St. Martin People Movement, is the colloquial name, indicating both the St. Martin Nation Building Movement (SNBF) and its ('French'-) counterpart, the Association L' Esprit de Concordia.

In his opening remarks, James clarified the metaphor "Bush-tea", representing the St. Martin Cultural heritage and its very embodiment - the native, indigenous St. Martin people.
"These are the very people, whose culture of hospitality was why the island got the brand name, the Friendly Island, which in return attracted hundreds of thousands of people and allowed for many businesses to flourish" James explained. He noted that, there have been numerous indications, that finally, there is a recognition, on various levels, that there can be no sustainable development on the island without "bush-tea", - meaningful input and participation from the indigenous people of St. Martin.
The Executive Board of the SHTA and the Grassroots SXM People Movement met to discuss common grounds. While both entities might have different starting-points based on their specific interests, they have many common concerns about issues the country is currently facing. The parties agreed to establish a structural setting for consultation, based on focusing on these common concerns and the betterment thereof.
Concerns were shared about transparency and electoral reform, the way in which decisions are being made by Government, the lack of stakeholder involvement in the various decisions and some of these decisions not being in the best interest of the people, the economy and the island as a whole. We all have a stake in St. Martin so we should all work towards a harmonious society, it is a process that may not always be easy, but it concerns the future of everybody. We have no right to saddle the next generation with the problems that we are reluctant to deal with.
James, thanked and commended the SHTA, in particular its president, Emil Lee for having the courage to invite his group in order to find common grounds and for creating the right conditions, conducive for developing a structural consultation format intended to bring parties together to that end.

The SHTA is dedicated to bringing quality to all aspects of life on St. Martin by promoting sustainable economic development for its members in cooperation with the social partners and the creation of a fair marketplace. For more information please contact our offices at 542-0108 or visit our website at www.shta.com.

Philipsburg:--- The Ombudsman, Dr. Nilda Arduin, herewith informs the public that the7th Biennial CAROA Conference will be hosted by the Ombudsman of Sint Maarten from May 5-9 2013 at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino.

Being host of this event gives the Ombudsman the opportunity to expose not only the CAROA members, but also the local guests to topics of general concern presented by renown speakers and experienced and dynamic regional and international Ombudsmen.

At the Opening Ceremony His Excellency, the Governor, drs. E. Holiday, the President of Parliament drs. R. Samuel, as well as the president of CAROA Mr. Valton Bend will address the audience. The key note speaker of this event is the International representative of the Ombudsman of Sweden , Mrs. Marianne von der Esch; the topic of her presentation is: "The Evolution of the Ombudsman concept as started in Sweden and its worldwide status today."

Block registration is open to non-members of CAROA. The topics that will be addressed at the various sessions are the following:

1. "Maximizing the Ombudsman's influence, impact and effectiveness ensuring ethics in public administration." by Mrs. Mr. Alba Martijn, Ombudsman Curacao
2. "Transparency and freedom of information in a difficult and constantly changing environment." by Mrs. Lynette Stephenson, Ombudsman of Trinidad and Tobago
3. "Traditions in setting standards of good administration; the role of legality in Ombudsman's decisions." by Mr. Gert Bergman, Attorney at Law
4. "Delivering more with less" by Nicola Williams, Ombudsman Cayman Islands
5. "Holding leaders to account: A summary of experience." by Ulco van de Pol, Ombudsman Amsterdam
6. "Human Rights as Public Service Ethics-Issues, Challenges and Prospects." by Victor Ayeni,Director Governance & Magement Services International
7. "Enhancing the role of Ombudsman institutions in the protection and promotion of human rights." by Arlene Brock, Ombudsman of Bermuda
8. "Protection of vulnerable groups (children, disabled, elderly) in society" by Florence Elie, Ombudsman Haiti
9. "Caribbean Ombudsman and the Human Rights Function a re-assessment." by Professor Victor Ayeni: Director Governance & Management Services International
10. "Equal rights without discrimination! The European Court on Human Rights and the protection of Human Rights in the Dutch Caribbean" by Prof. Arjen van Rijn: Constitutional Law
11. Workshop "Sharpen Your Teeth "(SYT ) Investigative Training by the founder of this investigative method , Mr. André Marin, Ombudsman Ontario Canada.
12. "The growing trend of privatization of public services: consequences for the Ombudsman" by Dame Beverley Wakem, President IOI the Ombudsman.
13. "Ombudsman and the changing face of public services" by Marianne von der Esch, International representative the Ombudsman Sweden
14. "Public Sector accountability and the public service landscape." by Mr. Miguel Alexander, Civil Notary
15. Workshop: "Dealing with modern technology." by André Marin, Ombudsman Ontario
16. "Ensuring procedural fairness and administrative justice for all citizens at a time when entities, governance and administration arrangements worldwide are undergoing fundamental changes." by Beverley Wakem, Ombudsman/President International Ombudsman Institute (keynote speaker at the Closing Ceremony).

Each Session will end with a panel discussion.

Invitation has been extended to government entities and other supervisory boards. The Ombudsman is urging all persons who have been invited to this conference to please register at the website mentioned in the email of Artemia, the event planner of this event.

A productive, informative and exciting Conference is guaranteed to equip each CAROA member with renewed vigor to bridge the following two years and will provide the non-members with more information about the Ombudsman Institution.

Philipsburg:--- With the arrest of a person suspected of snatching a chain, the police found this pendant in his possession. The police is therefore requesting the assistance of the public to find the rightful owner of the pendant.

KPSM Police Report

Global Missions church youth training and counseling program is inviting the general public to attend their first in three (3) series of anger management under the Theme: "Bridging the Gap".

Our Objective is: "He will go before the Lord in spirit and power like Elijah. He will make peace between parents and their children and will bring those who are not obeying God back to the right way of thinking, to make a people ready for the coming of the Lord." St. Luke 1:17 (NCV)

Question: How do we deal with anger at home, church, school, the workplace, in Government and the community at large?

Come on out! A special invitation is going out to all youths and their parents.

Facilitator for this first session is: Minister Jenneth Harrigan,

Venue: #16 Coralita Road.

Date: Wednesday April 17th, 2013

Time: 7:30am

Please make a special effort to attend! And bring along an offering!

Music will be played by Scotty.

Light refreshments will be on sale.

We would like to thank our sponsors in part for their contribution Over the years towards our Youth training and counseling Program and Poverty alleviation program: Seven Seas Water, FkG Riggings, Pineapple Pete, Sunset Beach Bar, Zee Best, Alpha Jewels, Rays Jewellery Int., Trident Jewelers, Mayfair, Mr. Tablecloth, Caribbean Gems, Linen Galore, Napa, Prestige Value Car Rentals, United Car Rentals, Juliana int. Airport, SaintAcc, TEES By The SEAS, Drywall Systems, Prime Distributors, and others to be announced during our upcoming projects this year God willing!

Contact Pastor Esmond Flemming at: +1721-587-5271 / +1721-527-4614

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group will be holding a 15-15-15 ticket sale at the company's main office on Pond Island on Monday upcoming, to promote Carnival's opening night show - "Night of the Hitmakers."

The ticket sale will take place on Monday (15)th at (15):00 hours and at a discounted price of $(15) - Hence the publicized 15-15-15 promotion.
"We will be opening the main branch for only one hour for the pre-ticket sale promotion which will be handled exclusively by the promoters of the show, Xtratight Entertainment," said promotion coordinator and TelEm Group Marketing and Sales Officer, Cheryl Rismay.

Ms. Rismay is advising anyone who wants tickets for the show at the greatly reduced price to come to the main branch location during the special hour of the promotion to avoid disappointment.
The first 15 to arrive for the promotion will also receive a $5.00 calling card as an added bonus.
The Night of the Hitmakers is being billed as a party dance night on the "biggest dance floor ever constructed for a public St. Maarten event."
Getting the party going will be hit bands, Burning Flames and Onyan , along with Gio Fuertisimo, Le Groove, Oswald and Control Band.
"The entire Festival Village will be our dance floor. There will be no spectators on the night, only dancing," said Xtratight Entertainment show promoter, Bertaux "Mr. Rude" Fleming.
The promoter has meantime thanked TelEm Group for Monday's promotion and for opening the company doors to the island's music and carnival show lovers.

Telem Press Release

Philipsburg:--- Minister of Justice Roland Duncan and Finance Minister Roland Tuitt are outraged at an article that appeared in one of the local newspapers on Friday where they copied a story from De Telegraaf in the Netherlands who claimed that St. Maarten is not paying its fair share to the Coast Guard bills who are providing services to the Dutch Caribbean nations. The Minister of Justice provided reporters on St. Maarten with copies of the payment receipts that were wire transferred to the Coast Guard accounts. The latest payment was made in March 2013. De Telegraaf in their article published on Thursday stated that St. Maarten is a "corrupt island" and has been ducking its responsibilities when it comes to paying its share for the operations of the Coast Guard.

Below are copies of some of the receipts that show when the Government of St. Maarten made the payments via wire transfer from the Windward Islands Bank to an account in Curacao.

Click here to view the payment receipts to the Coast Guard's account.

Philipsburg:--- The board of the CFT (College financieel toezicht) seems to be peeved by the statements made by Finance Minister Roland Tuitt who told reporters two weeks ago at the Council of Ministers' weekly press briefing that the CFT was wrong with their statements when they said that so far country St. Maarten did not submit its financial statements for the year "October 2010 to December 2011". Tuitt showed reporters a report book which stated that the statements were inside of that book. In a one on one meeting with members of the press, the secretary of the CFT Erik van Engelen said that they were not speaking about the time when St. Maarten was part of the Netherlands Antilles. "The statements for the Netherlands Antilles were submitted but they were referring to the financial statements from the time St. Maarten became a country. Van Engelen said that the CFT was told that the financial statements are by the SOAB and when it is finished it has to go to the General Audit Chamber and Parliament before it reaches them. They said the deadline for those statements already passed and they spoke to the Minister of Finance of St. Maarten and clarified what statements they were referring to. It appeared as though the Minister of Finance Roland Tuitt was supposed to clarify or apologize for his statements regarding the announcement he made at the Council of Ministers' press briefing but he never did so.

One of the issues the CFT has with the 2013 budget which is currently being discussed in Parliament is the Justice Park that Minister of Justice Roland Duncan wants to construct. They said they are of the opinion that St. Maarten should put the project on hold because they believe that the Minister of Justice will be building this project via loan which will have an 8% interest rate on it. According to the CFT, St. Maarten should seek to obtain this loan from the Netherlands where they will pay a mere 2.5% interest rate and they can also borrow more monies to upgrade all the Ministries that are lacking monies.

As for the 2013 budget, the CFT said that this budget is already late because only now it is being discussed in the Central Committee and next week it will be discussed in Parliament. The 2013 budget might reach the CFT by June this year, by then St. Maarten still has to buckle up to prepare the 2014 budget.

The government of St. Maarten promised the CFT and it is also included in the budget of 2013 that St. Maarten will increase its tax compliance in order to fullfill the target of its budget. They also intend to levy taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and other items and that should have been implemented by April 1, 2013.

Philipsburg (DCOMM):--- At the University of St. Maarten, the 2-day conference on the National Development Plan organized by the National Development Team from the Department of Interior & Kingdom Affairs (BAK) came to an end.

The first day consisted of two lectures, while the 2nd day was mainly discussions about what the issues were in reference to the NDP.

The goal of the NDP, a multi-annual development plan, is to guide the strategic development of St. Maarten—a vision of the people—with all sectors from St Maarten stakeholders (i.e. NGOs, grass root organizations, private organizations, foundations, social groups, academia, and others) involved and engaged via participatory dialogue.

This conference consisted of lecturers giving presentations relating to the National Development Plan, meant to increase awareness of the topic and to stimulate the participatory process with stakeholders,

The first presenter was Jens-Ulrich Poppen, Program Manager of Democratic Governance (UNDP), whose presentation was on the UN experiences in engaging the Community on Nation Building Projects.

Poppen spoke about how "Nation building must be understood as an ongoing and continuous effort particularly in countries in which state-building (institutions) took place before nation-building (identity, norms, values)" and the reasons for its importance, which ranged from the "building of an integrated national community is important in the building of a state and its institutions, social and economic development is a pre-requisite for the building of such an integrated national community" to the "socio- economic development through local(ized) leadership."

He went on to emphasize the importance of the bottom-up approach to nation building by emphasizing local knowledge. Poppen said, "empower[ing] and active[ing] citizenship is a critical part of social capital and is an end in itself besides being essential for inclusive growth and national ownership."

The second speaker was Daniella Jeffry, historian and writer, who provided insight into the cultural history of St. Maarten.

Jeffry spoke about the Treaty of Concordia, its importance, the impact of the 1848/1863 Abolition of Slavery, Culture and Identity, the Frontier monument, St. Maarten/St Martin Day, Effects of the political separation of the island, and reunification of the people.

Jeffry said that the Treaty of Concordia can be summed up in three words, namely: "UNITY – LIBERTY – FRIENDSHIP" and that the "1648 Treaty established the rules for a peaceful and friendly cohabitation of two nations sharing the ownership of the land. What is unique about this cohabitation is that the people who settled on the island were not necessarily Dutch on one side or French on the other side. Therefore, the terms of the 1648 Treaty initiated a special and unique cohabitation."

Jeffry added that the "native St. Martiners must regain their unified way of life for the preservation of their heritage and the fulfillment of their common destiny: that is the foundation we have to thrive to consolidate. It is the 'sine qua non' condition in which to engage in the process of integration and inclusion. This natural human process has given substance to our St. Martin culture throughout the years."

On the second day, there were 6 short presentations by stakeholders, dealing with the issues of how their organization can contribute to the national development plan. There were advocates or representatives from the indigenous group, the USM president, Sunfed (funding agency), the marine sector, and Secretary Generals of the Government of St. Maarten.

Several important issues were brought forward about the St. Maarten society from these stakeholders, contributions that sparked agreements and or disagreements.

In the near future, more events will be held to get the input from the community.

From the answers of the Minister of Finance Roland Tuitt to parliamentary questions on the future of the monetary union, it might be inferred that the recent SER advice on the monetary union contained criticism of the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS).
The Social Economic Council wishes to correct any possible impression of criticism on its part towards the Central Bank as an institution or its role in safeguarding our monetary stability.
The SER advice "Sint Maarten stepping out of the monetary union" does not pertain in any way that the Central Bank would be dysfunctional or "broken" as Minister Tuitt phrased it. In the view of the SER, the Central Bank is a highly professional, well-functioning institution. Information provided by the Central Bank contributed greatly to this SER advice and others. Furthermore, beefing up the Sint Maarten branch of the Central Bank is a desirable development, whatever the future of the monetary union may be. If it would come to dissolving the monetary union, Sint Maarten will at the very least need a regulatory body for supervision of the banking sector, and certainly a research and statistics division to monitor the new financial system.
What is broken, according to the SER advice, or at least at great risk, is the monetary union, the situation of Curaçao and Sint Maarten sharing the same currency.
Our common currency is underpinned by a common foreign exchange reserve, that is the amount of dollars and other foreign currency the central bank keeps ensuring that a Netherlands Antilles guilder at all times can be exchanged for a dollar at the official rate of Naf. 1.79 to the dollar, even if we temporarily spend more dollars than we earn as a country. The foreign exchange reserve is permanently fed by the dollars we earn from export and our tourism sector and other earnings, while it is at almost the same rate depleted by our imports and other dollar spending.
According to the IMF and other expert organizations, the structural problem between Sint Maarten and Curaçao is that our economies do not operate at the same wavelength. On balance, Sint Maarten consistently adds to the foreign exchange reserve, while Curaçao tends to draw from it. It is the worrisome financial situation in Curaçao that undermines our monetary union, as government budget deficits tend to lead to balance of payments or foreign exchange deficits as well. If the foreign exchange reserve consistently runs low, the Central Bank, however well-functioning and well-equipped, in the long run will not be able to maintain our pegged rate to the dollar and the value of our currency would be at risk.
This negative trend in the foreign exchange reserve has been camouflaged for years by debt relief and by Dutch aid monies flowing in. The Dutch aid has come to an end while debt relief was a one-time windfall.
Compounding the problem of unbalance between both countries is that our economies are of unequal size. This makes the risk of unfavorable financial policies on Curaçao far greater than the other way around. Simply put, Curaçao is able to drag Sint Maarten down monetarily, but we would not easily be able to put Curaçao at risk.
The minimum safe level for the foreign exchange reserve is internationally recognized as the sum needed for three month of imports. This level has been safely maintained for decades. However, in 2012, for the first time in many years, the foreign exchange reserves dipped below this level. This and other factors prompted the SER to initiate an unsolicited advice on the future of the monetary union.
The SER concluded that maintaining the monetary union would be too risky. Once it is decided to dissolve the union, the next choice would be between either creating a "Sint Maarten dollar" for the 30% of our economy that is not dollarized yet, or to introduce the US dollar as the sole legal tender. For practical reasons, the majority of the SER advised to generally introduce the dollar.
The view of the finance minister Mr. Tuitt that "no country in the world that has dollarized has been successful" must be refuted, as our next door neighbors the British Virgin Islands (Tortola) introduced the US dollar in 1959 without a glitch since, while many Latin American countries used temporary or permanent circulation of the US dollar as a means to successfully combat hyperinflation. Sint Maarten however, if dollarizing, would not do so from a position of weakness, but from strength, as our country – taken separately from Curaçao - does not have structural balance of payment problems, and it is already 70% dollarized.
The SER wishes to support the view of Finance Minister Tuitt that any individual in the community can give advice to the government, and certainly encourages every citizen to do so. At the same time, the SER has a specific advisory obligation anchored in the law, and provides advice from the tripartite background of business, labor and independent experts.
A SER advice is the reflection of a broad array of social economic partners in civil society who bring forward joint advice, often unanimous and always with majority support among members. It is noteworthy however that contrary to the essence of the role of the SER in our constitutional framework, so far no official reply or feedback was given by government on any of the advices – solicited or unsolicited - brought forward by the SER.
The SER advice "Sint Maarten stepping out of the monetary union" can be downloaded at any time from www.sersxm.org.

SER Press Release

Marigot:--- The State Council (Conseil d'État) rendered its decision on the in-illegibility of President Alain Richardson on Friday morning. The State Council in its decision said President Alain Richardson must resign from his position as President of the Collectivity of St. Martin and he has been deemed in-illegible for a period of 18 months. The file number on the decision taken against President Richardson is No:364-071.

Based on the decision rendered by the State Council, President Richardson cannot postulate himself as a candidate for the senate seat which will become available in September 2014.
The State Council, Commission national des comptes de campagne et des financements politiques (CNCCFP) on March 27th, 2013 examined the campaign accounts for the RRR Party and rejected the RRR campaign accounts based on a decision of November 21st, 2012.
The Prefecture of St. Martin confirmed to SMN News on Friday that a copy of the decision was sent to them, but they do not have the power to release the document to the media. However, the Cabinet of the Prefet Phillipe Chopin confirmed that President Richardson has to resign from his seat and he received 18 months of in-illegibility.

On Saturday March 30th, 2013, President Richardson told reporters at a special press conference that he was notified of the decision on March 27th, 2013 and that the Conseil d'État would give its final decision within one month. SMN News reported on March 29th, 2013 that the State Council would have rendered its decision within two weeks.

While President Richardson is not the first President who had to leave his seat because of his campaign accounts not meeting State regulations, he is the first one to have received such harsh punishment.

The leader of Union pour les Progres Louis Constant Fleming was sanctioned twice during his career as a politician. Once when he lead the United St. Martin Movement (USM) and when he led the UPP list. On both occasions L.C. Fleming was given a one year sanction of in-illegibility but L.C. Fleming still managed to get himself elected as senator after the one year sanction was up. It appears as though the State Council decided to increase its sanction against President Richardson to ensure that he does not postulate for the senate seat next year.

During the press conference on Saturday March 30th, 2013, President Richardson said the State Council rejected his campaign accounts because he had two accounts for the RRR political campaign. One of those accounts he said was a USD account and his lawyer argued that the Conseil d'État needs to consider the specifities and or realities of St. Martin because the island is the only French territory that shares an open border with another country while US dollars are widely used on the French side. President Richardson also said that the two accounts were open at the same bank on the French side of the island and most importantly the accounts were not used simultaneously.

When SMN News reporter asked President Richardson if he ever opened two accounts for his political campaign when he campaigned before he was finally elected in 2012, President Richardson said this was the first time he opened two accounts, even though he knew that the CNCCFP is looking for one account to audit campaign funding.

With this sanction the RRR party will not get back the Euros 22,000.00 they spent on their election campaign in 2012.

Philipsburg:--- On Thursday April 10th four students from the Sint Maarten Academy namely James Brooks, Brandon Blake, Nathan Clifford, and O'Heny Lorendent under the guidance of the school counselor Mrs. Lisa Peynado visited the Philipsburg Police Station to give a presentation they prepared. This presentation was the result of a challenge made by the Community Police Officer Major Felix Richards during a presentation he had given to these students approximately 2 weeks ago concerning Community Development and male Self-empowerment. Some of the topics that were discussed by these students during the presentation were taxes and the environment. The presentation was a well put together PowerPoint presentation during which each student got the opportunity to explain what they would do if they were the leaders of country Sint Maarten by diminishing taxes and cleaning up the island. The officers present during this presentation were quite impressed and encouraged the students to continue with their great work.

KPSM Police Report

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The St. Maarten Volleyball Association SIMVA brought the curtain down on yet another successful Secondary School Volleyball Tournament. This is the fourth year and each year the level of the games has improved tremendously.

Once again the St. Maarten Academy School girls retained the championship for the fourth year consecutively. The defending champions Milton Peters College boys also retained their title for a second year.

Minister of Sports Hon. Silveria Jacobs was on hand to address the crowd and helped with the handing out of the awards at the ceremony, which was held on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at the Roof Top Bar and Grill.

At this ceremony awards were handed out for the recently concluded school tournament and the annual senior championship which concluded in December of 2012.

In the Minister's address, she congratulated the winners and encouraged the others to work hard to be at the top next time.

Minister Jacobs spoke directly to the youths at the gathering and commended them on their show of sportsmanship. The Minister was able to witness a limited amount of the games and was impressed to see the improved level of the play.

SIMVA President, Raymond Jacobs, thanked the sponsors who for the last four years have helped in making the school tournament a success. These sponsors are: GEBE NV, Windward Islands Bank. ORCO Bank, Bank of Nova Scotia, Paradise Inn, Builders Paradise, Travel Planners, Intermar Shipping, Divico and A&A Supply.

He also made mention of the media houses that were very instrumental in getting the games and the scores out to the public such as Rodney Richardson of Soualiga Sports, Gordon St. Luce of the Score, SXMislandtimes and a very special commendation to Steven C of PJD2 radio.

In closing, President Jacobs mentioned some of the events that SIMVA has planned for the rest of the 2013 season. The next event up-coming is the Business Tournament which is scheduled for May 3, 2013 to June 1, 2013 and will be played every Friday and Saturday during this period.

Jacobs also mentioned the visit of Coach Caffe from Brazil. This is the second visit by Coach Caffe to our island. Coach Caffe will be working closely with the local coaches and will assist them in preparing National Teams for the up-coming Junior and Youth tournaments which are scheduled to be held between July to September of this year. Also on this year's calendar is the election for a new President and the senior tournament which is scheduled for September.

Female Division

1st place: St. Maarten Academy

2nd place: Milton Peters College

3rd place: Learning Unlimited

MPV of the girls : Keirin Franklyn – St. Maarten Academy

Male Division

1st place: Milton Peters College

2nd place: Academy

3rd place: Sundial

MVP of the boys: Adonis Jacobs -- Milton Peters College

Female Division

1st place: Shush

2nd place: Nagico Nitro

3rd place: Go For It

MVP Renata Haques -- Shush

Male Division

1st place: Reptiles

2nd place: Guess What

3rd place: Go For It

MVP Rotillo Richardson -- Reptiles

Philipsburg:--- St. Maarten's very own BaySide Clothing Company has released a new limited edition "SXM Island Love" Tees especially for fans of St. Maarten's premier tourist event - Carnival 2013.

The Tees are coming out in some playful new color & material combinations that certainly will not go unnoticed.

The Tees will be retailed from $19.99 for male and female customers who want to be well dressed for carnival while sending a strong message about the love of their country and the premier carnival event.

Company founders and Directors Lee and Rae Dominique say since they could not attend this year's carnival celebrations due to business commitments in the United Kingdom, they were however able to design and release this new limited line of Tees to make their own brand impression on the St. Maarten carnival.

"We could not resist the big buzz that's going around for carnival this year, it's going to be HUGE," says Rae.

He said both he and his brother Lee are very excited about the new line of Tees and the hard work that has gone into producing them in time for the opening of carnival.

Both have thanked the owner of Galaxy Fashions in Philipsburg for supplying the usual high quality Tees and Front Street printing company, Bling It for their excellent printing and attention to detail.

"The fact that we can get such good work produced locally is an amazing bonus for our company. It cuts down on shipping costs from the UK or from the US", said the brothers.

They say since announcing the launch of their clothing line last year they have officially registered their company We Are BaySide Ltd., in the UK and have taken on the services of an accountant and business adviser to help grow their new enterprise.

And since the company launch on St. Maarten last year, BaySide has attracted the attention of one well-known retail store in the UK who are exploring the possibility of adding to their own urban line of clothing to attract a younger customer base.

"Negotiations with the retailer are still at a very early stage but BaySide Clothing Co. is hopeful that this will be their first big entry into the competitive UK market.

"People are taking note of what we are doing online and are now looking to us for guidance and advice on how we can take the next step in our business venture," said Lee.

"As usual the challenge is doing what you can with limited resources, especially the resources needed to market your brand and maintain that online presence in a market as wide as the UK," continued Rae.

President of Love of Kids Foundation Mrs. Heather Mercuur made a presentation during the club's meeting at Divi Little Bay on Wednesday April 10th. The subject of Autism has received more attention this month considering that April 2nd was World Autism Day.
World Autism Day was agreed by the United Nations in 2007. It is intended to bring the world's attention to autism, a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions, by encouraging member states to take measures to raise awareness about autism throughout society and to encourage early diagnosis and early intervention.
According to president of the Love of Kids Foundation there are a growing number of children who may be autistic or have another form of learning challenges, but whose condition is not properly diagnosed by a professional and therefore adequate steps are often not taken. There is still allot unknown about autism, but research continues to take place.

President Robert Judd of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten presented a donation on behalf the members in order to assist the Love of Kids Foundation with two of several information events that the foundation will be hosting throughout the year.
The community is encouraged to attend these information sessions and to visit www.loveofkids.net; "the child you may be helping may be your own".

PHILIPSBURG:--- The organizers of the "Zouk Kompas Bouyon Fest" stated we're teaming up with Sunny Foods on Illidge Road for a super ticket promo. The hottest zouk event of this year is scheduled for Saturday April 20th in Festival Village and the organizers are granting the public One last opportunity to get their tickets at super price of US$ 20.

"We're doing this for one day only and only for the limited amount of tickets. These tickets will be made available via our partnership with Sunny Foods," the organizers have announced.
The promo will be held on Saturday April 13th only at St. Maarten's favorite supermarket, Sunny Food. "Tickets are in limited supply, so first come, first served. When they are sold that's it," the organizers said.

"We're pretty sure that that these tickets will go in a matter of a few hours, so come early and get yours"

The "Zouk Kompas Bouyon Fest" will feature an impressive line-up of headliners in three genres of music: the legendary complete Zouk band Kassav, the definitive kings of Konpas CARIMI and the undisputed Prince of Bouyon music, young sensation Asa Banton.

The show is definitely a must-do during this year's Carnival season, they say. "The three acts are sure to bring an explosive night of musical entertainment."

Formed in 1979, Kassav' was the leading band to emerge from the formative years of zouk. Most authors credit Décimus, his brother Georges, the band's bassist and Desvarieux as its inventors. Their first album, Love and Ka Dance (1980), established the new sound of zouk, a Parisian concoction unlike anything else, island-based or otherwise to come onto the global scene. The band gained popularity in their much-heralded live performances in Paris's Club Zenith and toured widely.
Kassav' continued to gain popularity both as a group and by several members' solo recordings, eventually peaking in 1985 with Yélélé, which featured the international hit "Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni" (meaning "Zouk is the only medicine we have" in French Antillean Creole).

Receiving accolades from the International music scene, including Best Album Of The Year, Carimi has risen to the top of the charts across Billboards best in Haiti, Guadeloupe, Paris, French Guyana, Canada and parts of Europe.
The music industry is now ready to acknowledge the world's best Haitian Kompa band to ever come out of Haiti and has been openly welcomed by music lovers even those who do not like much Kompa genre. After 10 years, Carimi Band is not just popular but have become a music icon in the country of Haiti representing the Kompas genre of music throughout the world.

Asa Banton is blowing up all over the world and fast becoming the Prince of Bouyon music. ASA first appeared with Jah Crew from grand Bay Dominica. The "tell it like it is" child of Grandbay exploded in 2009 with the hit "Grandbay", following up with many other hits like "Spray D Bagon Kill D Cockroach."

Philipsburg:--- The owner of a Chinese grocery store is now a patient at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital nursing wounds he sustained Wednesday morning in Concordia. Captain of the Gendarmerie Sylvain Jouault said the victim's life is not in danger but he was seriously injured on the head. Jouault said a man of unsound mind attacked the businessman with a sword. The suspect was arrested and placed in garde à vue. He was then transported to Guadeloupe pending his trial.

Cay Hill:--- Nine persons were injured Thursday afternoon in a head on collision which occurred after 5pm on Belair road in the vicinity of the One Tete Lockay statue.

Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said all the injured persons were taken to the St. Maarten Medical Center for treatment. The police spokesman further explained that the accident was a head on collision involving a car (Kia) and a mini-van. It appeared as though the accident was caused due to high speed because one of the vehicles tried to overtake a number of cars that were backed up in traffic. The fire department was called to the scene to assist with the rescuing of the injured victims.

Philipsburg:--- A female passenger traveling on Insel Air on Thursday morning from Curacao to the Dominican Republic passed away while the aircraft was on its way to St. Maarten. Insel Air normally makes an in transit stop at the PJIAE before taking off to its final destination.

Prosecutor Dounia Benammar confirmed to SMN News on Thursday that a female passenger passed away on the aircraft while it was on its way to St. Maarten. Benammar said that the woman was not traveling alone and her final destination was the Dominican Republic. The police doctor pronounced the woman dead when the aircraft landed on St. Maarten and also determined that she died of natural causes.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Ombudsman Hon. Dr. Nilda Arduin visited Sint Maarten House in The Hague. The Ombudsman is currently in The Netherlands for a number of meetings before leaving for Vienna, Austria, to attend the Second Board of Director's meeting of the International Ombudsman.

Ombudsman Hon. Dr. Nilda Arduin, after visiting the Dutch Bureau of the National Ombudsman, paid a courtesy visit to Minister Plenipotentiary Hon. Mathias Voges where she was briefed about current activities of the Sint Maarten House in the Netherlands. Minister Voges accompanied Dr. Arduin during her visit to S4 where she met with the Board.

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- The Board of financial supervision (College financieel toezicht - Cft) is of the opinion that the budget of 2013 for Curaçao currently complies with the norms as stipulated in the Kingdom Act on financial supervision Curaçao and Sint Maarten. In its evaluation Cft has taken a number of factors into account, including the instruction. The Cft concludes that the instruction has significantly, but not yet completely, been complied with. Four of the six sections have been met. An agreement is reached with the government on the coverage of deficits of the previous years, and the vacancy stop will be upheld. Meanwhile sufficient trust has been built up to allow for the government in principal to take out loans again for investment purposes, provided that the measures included in the budget are in fact implemented.
The Board of financial supervision has given a positive advice concerning the adopted budget for 2013. Herewith Cft expresses its appreciation for the drive and the direction the government has applied in the past months to take measures to get the out of control public finances back on track. The Board of financial supervision is of the opinion that with the adopted budget for 2013, four of the six sections of the instruction have been met.
Two sections of the instruction are still applicable for the Cft. Primarily this implies maintaining the vacancy stop. The intentions of the government to come to a smaller and more determined administration and the additional package that is being prepared to absorb possible setbacks, show that the original considerations to initiate a vacancy stop are still current. This part of the instruction therefore will remain applicable, with the exception of the so called critical functions. These may still be filled, as has been agreed on last September by the Cft and Curaçao.
The second section is that it is still required to compensate the deficits of the past years completely and in a timely manner. The Cft and Curaçao do not agree on the height of the designated reserve, which has been formed on 10-10-'10 out of the BRK funds, and that Curaçao amongst others wants to use for this purpose. In good consultation with the government it was agreed to wait on the reports of the accountant and the General Audit Chamber (Algemene Rekenkamer) on the financial statements.
Considering that the Cft has given positive advice on the adopted budget 2013, in principal Curaçao may take out loans for investment purposes. With this the policy included by the government in the budget to stimulate the economy, such as major maintenance of school buildings and infrastructure, can be executed. The moment a concrete petition for a loan is submitted, the Cft will evaluate this petition according to the current guidelines in the Kingdom Act. This means that the measures that are included in the budget but that have not been taken as yet, particularly the tax measures, have to be implemented by then, just as possible losses and deficits have to be compensated. For a possible loan for a new hospital, in addition there has to be a balanced business case, including the execution of the measures that are necessary for a responsible exploitation of the hospital.

CFT Press Release

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Tourist Bureau (www.VacationStMaarten.com) has partnered with PIX11 to award one lucky Morning Show fan with a five-night stay for two at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino in St. Maarten, including roundtrip airfare. For a chance to win, viewers must tune-in to the PIX11 Morning Show from now through April 28, 2013 to listen for special code words and enter online at www.pix11.com/rewards.

"We encourage everyone eligible to enter in order to have a chance to win this prize trip through the PIX11 Morning Show. Come and experience how truly unique and beautiful St. Maarten really is," said Edward Dest, interim director of tourism for the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau. "Thousands of visitors are welcomed to our island each day to indulge in St. Maarten's idyllic white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, lively nightlife, duty-free shopping and world-renowned cuisine. There is truly something for everyone in our Caribbean paradise and our friendly residents go above and beyond to make travelers feel at home," he added.

The winner of the prize trip will receive a six-day/five-night trip to Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino for two including breakfast and roundtrip airfare from a New York City-area airport provided by the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau. Blackout dates apply. The winner will be selected in a random drawing from all eligible entries received and will be notified by email.

For more information on St. Maarten, visit the official site of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau at www.VacationStMaarten.com.

Philipsburg:--- The brother of murder victim Michael King told reporters on Wednesday at the Court of First Instance that he wanted to put some of the rumors to rest regarding his brother and the Dabouls. Todd King said that his brother and his wife Thelma did not sign any business contract with the Dabouls (Toppers) prior to their death. He said parties were discussing the possibility of starting a business but no contract was signed at the time. Todd said he and his brother met that whole weekend at the beach and he outlined the plans he had for the company and how the operating agreement would have been written up. Todd further explained that he was helping his brother with the preparation of that agreement.

King said after his brother died he contacted the Dabouls and asked them what had changed in the agreement and they assured him that nothing had changed and only recently the King families signed a business agreement with the Dabouls. Todd King said what people are saying are pure speculations but he confirmed to SMN News that discussions were taking place between his brother and the Dabouls.

Melanie Daboul who was also present during the proceedings also said they have been doing business with Michael and Thelma King for quite some time and there was absolutely no contract signed for the rum factory prior to the death of the Kings.
Another clarification the Kings made was concerning the drugs Jeremiah Chevon Mills told the court that he took from the King's safe on September 19th, 2012 when he went to their condominium and robbed them. Todd said his brother and his wife never did drugs. "Inside that bag they stole had all Thelma's jewelry that valued about $70,000.00." Todd King said the package Mills described could not fit in the safe because the safe is very small. He further explained that if Mills had found drugs in the safe and sold it he would have shared that money with the other suspects. When SMN News asked Todd what kind of work his late brother did to earn his living prior to coming to St. Maarten, he said Michael and Thelma owned a labeling company which they sold. Todd said Michael King was on retirement and he was planning to invest his monies in a rum factory on St. Maarten.

Melanie Daboul said when she was informed by Todd that one of the suspects Jamal Jefferson Woolford worked for Toppers Restaurant she was shocked because in her mind that was not the case. Melanie said she then checked with her administrators and it turned out that Woolford did work for them in February 2012 at Toppers by the Sea. She said that she never met Woolford and did not know him because during that same period of time she had given birth to her baby and she was not working. She further explained that her husband Topper Daboul also did not know the suspect Jamal Jefferson Woolford because the young man worked at nights. She further explained that Woolford only worked 12 shifts in the course of six weeks. She said Woolford was given a three month contract but left for another job.

Michael King's mother Sally Gripkey told SMN News that what has happened to her son is like a nightmare for her, to her it is like a dream and she still thinks that she would wake up one day and her son and daughter in law would be there. When asked by SMN News how the trial on Tuesday affected her she said they knew about the case for a while now and none of it was a surprise to her. At the two day hearing, two of Michael King's brothers, his mother, and a sister of Thelma King were among those that came to St. Maarten to witness the proceedings.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- In an effort to continue to further professionalize the operations of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and to equip ambulances and expand the level of care in the area of Advance Cardiac Life Support, the Department of EMS has purchased two (2) Auto Pulse equipment that are made by ZOLL Medical Corporation.

The Auto Pulse is an automated, portable device with an easy-to-use, load-distributing Life Band that squeezes the entire chest, improving blood flow to the heart and brain during sudden cardiac arrest.

It has been documented and proven through case studies that this device delivers high-quality, uninterrupted chest compressions to maintain myocardial and cerebral perfusion even when moving patients, and/or traveling in an ambulance.

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever said: "When every second counts it is important we have the right equipment and trained staff to administer emergency care in order for them to save our lives."

Pelegrina Equipment Corp in Puerto Rico is the official representative for Zoll in the Caribbean and Norberto Rodriquez will be conducting training for the operational staff of the Ambulance Department on April 10th – April 11th 2013 including practical training with the use of this innovative and vital equipment.

This piece of equipment cost US$ 15,950,00 each. The training will take place at the Ambulance Department headquarters at the Fire & Ambulance Building located at Jackal Road # 5 in Cay Hill.

It has also been proven that the device may offer a significant advantage over manual CPR, moving blood more consistently than human providers. It also offers the benefit of freeing up the ambulance nurse to focus on other life-saving interventions while keeping both patients and themselves safe in the back of a moving ambulance.

Furthermore, an abrupt disruption of the heart's function which causes a lack of blood flow to vital organs claims many lives (-/+ 325.000 lives) each year in the United States of America and is the leading cause of unexpected death that strikes without warning. Therefore improvement in resuscitation practices such as is the case with Auto Pulse could save as many as half of these lives.

The revolutionary ZOLL Auto Pulse provides a better choice for top-quality CPR on the move and therefore is the only device of its kind that is a non-invasive cardiac support pump that moves more blood, more consistently than is possible with human hands.

This device sets a new standard of care for effective and easy-to-use non-invasive cardiac support during resuscitation. It even delivers excellent and consistent blood flow during all patient movement operations, even when ambulance teams are going down stairs, rushing to and from the ambulance or navigating traffic at high speeds.

This investment would be an added value and will certainly enhance and bring the level of care to a much higher standard and ambulances would be fully equipped to deal or handle any type of emergency situation in the pre-hospital care setting.

Philipsburg:--- The Prosecutor's Office used a strange but very beneficial strategy on Tuesday and Wednesday when they presented the case they have against the suspects that are accused of slaughtering US citizens Michael and Thelma King. It is the first time the Prosecutor's Office chose to present their case in the English language so that the family and friends of the Kings who came from the USA to witness the trial could understand the proceedings. One of the good things about this new strategy is that it worked for SMN News reporter who does not speak the Dutch language. It was also beneficial to the two US reporters who traveled to St. Maarten to cover the trial.

However, it behoves the staff of the court house and the people of St. Maarten to ask the Prosecutor's Office why they never used this strategy in other high profile cases. Their actions on Tuesday and Wednesday showed that the Prosecutors that are working on St. Maarten are multi-lingual and they can speak the English language if they want to in order to benefit the local suspects and families of victims who also suffered the loss of loved ones at the hands of criminals. Almost 90% of the population including elected officials that were prosecuted could not speak the Dutch language fluently, yet the Prosecutor's Office did not even attempt to facilitate the people of the country who are writing out their pay checks every month. Another strange behaviour SMN News reporter noticed is that the presiding Judge made every attempt to ensure that the relatives of the Kings that were present understood the proceedings. The court house is equipped with a legal translator and microphones, but this is the first time that a microphone was assigned to the court translator. On several occasions, Judge Tamara Tyghuis called on the court translator to speak into the microphone so that those sitting the tribune could hear what she was translating when the Judge Tyghuis spoke in Dutch or when the Prosecutors were using the Dutch language to transmit technical terms of the law to the court.

One case in point where the Prosecutor's Office did not make use of this strategy was during the Regatta murder trial where a number of people were killed, one of them was French national. In the eyes of SMN News reporter, the Regatta killings were equally bad for St. Maarten because a number of people that were residing on St. Maarten were killed innocently, yet their relatives did not get preferential treatment, neither did the families of the French nationals that were killed on the Dutch side of the island. As we stated in the beginning of this article, the new strategy is beneficial to St. Maarten and its people, even though it appears as though the Prosecutor's Office made special efforts for the Kings' families because they know they made mistakes that can have fatal consequences even though each of the suspects admitted their roles in the robberies and killing of the Kings.

The constitution of St. Maarten states that the official languages in country St. Maarten are Dutch and English, therefore the new strategy used for the Kings murder trial should be maintained on a daily basis. It will make life much easier for the people of St. Maarten, victims, and suspects alike.

Another point that has to be made is that no one (including reporters) is allowed to use computers or any other digital devices during court proceedings. In December 2012, the Netherlands adopted a new law which was enacted on March 1, 2013 where they will allow all courtroom procedures to be filmed. Cameras and other recording devices can also be used just as it is in the United States. But the Court of First Instance has decided that they will not adopt this new law because for them this is St. Maarten and not the Netherlands.

The world is changing by the day through technology and it is imperative that the lawyers on St. Maarten or the Parliament of St. Maarten take the necessary actions to have the Court of First Instance do whatever is necessary to catch up with the rest of the world. It is no longer acceptable for courtroom cases to remain a public secret and the people of this nation have to depend on some of the twisted reporters who do not report the actual facts of what transpired in the courtroom but choose to write commentaries and opinions on court cases.

The Minister of Justice Roland Duncan is fully aware of the new law in the Netherlands, he has some authority in giving instructions to the people he is paying in the Justice Ministry and it is our hope that the Minister does whatever is in his power to ensure that the people of St. Maarten receive equal and fair treatment when they have to appear before the courts.

Philipsburg:--- The three defense lawyers representing the three suspects that are involved in the murder of US citizens Michael and Thelma King poked several holes in the case presented by the Prosecution on Tuesday against the three suspects, Meyshane Kemar Johnson, Jeremiah Chevon Mills, and Jamal Jefferson Woolford. Even though all three of the lawyers that are representing the suspects are from different law firms, they all had the same view on the case presented by the prosecution. All of the lawyers stated in their pleadings that the prosecution did not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt for the types of sentences they are asking for the suspects.
The second day of proceedings began with Attorney at Law Brenda Brooks who is representing the main suspect in the brutal slaying of the Kings.

Brooks is representing Meyshane Kemar Johnson who admitted to slashing the throats of both victims. In presenting her defense, Brooks called on the court to look at what transpired during the pro-forma hearing and she pointed out the amount of mistakes that were made by the prosecution. Attorney Brooks made sure she informed the court that despite the outcome of the case, she intends to appeal the decision because of the mistakes made by the prosecution and more seriously because they concealed that information and did not submit it to the court and the defense. She said based on the mistakes made the judge should deem the case inadmissible. "The prosecution considers this case to be of a serious nature and I agree with them because two people lost their lives, however, I cannot see how the prosecution would intentionally make so many mistakes and then try to cover it up by concealing it from the court and the defense. Your honor I want to make clear that every place in the world has procedures that have to be followed and that also applies to the United States, where the victims are from. Our law gives us the opportunity to correct mistakes that we make but instead of using the time the prosecution had to correct their mistakes they made more mistakes when issuing two summons to the main suspect on January 17th, 2013. The mistakes made by the prosecution can be fatal to this case in the long run because I will go to the highest court to show what takes place here on St Maarten. I want to know how you would feel your honor that we go through the legal system and this case is thrown out because of the mistakes made by the prosecution. Therefore, from now I am asking you to deem the case inadmissible." Brooks said she only found out about the second summons when she spoke to the prison guard that delivered the third summons to Johnson and she is the one who informed the court of that second summons. "This is not acceptable, all of us in here studied the same law and we need to follow procedures. I can only conclude that the prosecution did sloppy work, this is even beyond sloppy work." The Prosecution, she said served her client with three summons, one on January 7th, 2013 to appear in Court on January 10th, 2013, just three days prior to the hearing. She told the court that her client refused to waive his rights on the seven (eight) days notification period, therefore he did not attend the trial on January 10th, 2013. That led the judge (Judge Tyghuis) to deem the summons null and void but the judge did not release Johnson. Brooks went on to explain that she appealed that decision and the Appeals Court upheld the decision given by judge of the Court of First Instance but they did not rule on the other two summons that were issued to her client on January 17th, 2013 because that is not yet before them. Brooks used several case laws from Curacao and the Netherlands to prove to the court that because of the same mistakes the higher court had to release suspects who committed worse crimes than the three suspects that were in court on Tuesday.

Another point Brooks raised before dealing with the six charges her client is facing is the way her client was arrested on September 23rd, 2012. Brooks said when Johnson was arrested the Police Arrest Team used excessive force which amounts to police brutality. She said Johnson had to be taken to the hospital where he received treatment such as stitches in his head. Brooks provided the court with photographs of the injuries Johnson sustained, she said that the police knows when they brutalize suspects they end up being released by judge of instruction because the law does not condone police brutality. Attorney Brooks said that the A Team consisted of several men and it was not necessary for them to use excessive force to arrest one man who was hiding under a bed. "In St. Maarten we do not condone crimes that are committed against our visitors and locals, neither do we condone police brutality. The police's behavior will have consequences on the decision when it is taken." She asked the court to consider the amount of force used by the police when judge is rendering her verdict on the case on May 8th, 2013.

As for the first charge, the prosecutor charged Johnson as one of the suspects and perpetrators of the armed robbery at the Happy Star Chinese restaurant. She asked the judge to acquit her client of that charge because Johnson did not participate in that robbery. "My client drove the car, which he admitted to but he did not commit the robbery at Happy Star. Brooks referred to a case that the Appeals Court overturned recently when the driver of a getaway car was convicted for a robbery two other persons committed." She said the owner of Happy Star Chinese Restaurant knows Johnson because he was a regular client of the restaurant. "Johnson was still in his uniform and he did not have a mask or anything to commit the robbery."

Brooks then moved to the fourth and fifth charge which is the murder/ manslaughter of Michael and Thelma King. She asked the court to acquit Johnson on the murder charge because the prosecution did not provide evidence and they did not prove their case beyond reasonable doubt to show that Johnson had committed pre-mediated murder when he killed Michael and Thelma King. "My client confessed to killing the Kings and he gave several statements some of which has details of what transpired that night. The court also has the psychiatric report on Johnson who was institutionalized twice for psychotic and delusional behavior. Apart from that Brooks told the court that Johnson does not remember anything that happened that night because of his condition and he was also intoxicated. "This is not only frustrating for the court but it is also frustrating for me because I cannot get the information and details I need from him. You heard him yesterday telling this court that he does not remember anything. This is no fairy tale, the psychiatric report has the information in it." Attorney Brooks said that the case that is before the court amounts to manslaughter, therefore she asked the court to convict Johnson for manslaughter for the killing both Michael and Thelma King. She said the suspects gave the police statements and they all told the police and this court that they did not have a plan to rob or kill people on the night of September 19th, 2012. The prosecution has the responsibility to prove that the suspects had a plan to rob and murder the Kings and all three of the suspects said there was no plan they just chose the King's house randomly. Brooks told the court that she is convinced that something is wrong and therefore the court should convict Johnson on the manslaughter charge. Attorney Brooks did not contest the sixth charge which is the laundering of money and goods because she considered that the charge has been sufficiently proven by the prosecution. Brooks also pleaded with the court to grant her client reduced punishment for his actions because he is a first time offender. She said her client has children in his country and while people are saying that there is no lifetime sentence within the Dutch law she said that lifetime is lifetime and nothing less.

The second Attorney that presented her defense on Wednesday was Attorney at Law Shaira Bommel on behalf of Jeremiah Chevon Mills. Bommel presented her defense in the Dutch language because she said she was only going to deal with the technical aspect of the case. Bommel said that while her client is facing six charges, some of them he confessed to and the others he did not confess to them simply because he did not commit those crimes. She told the court that her client Jeremiah Chevon Mills gave more than one statement to the police and she urged the court to consider those statements to be truthful. As for the first charge which is the robbery that was committed at Happy Star Chinese Restaurant, Mills confessed to it so I will not contest that charge.

However, the robbery and killing of the Kings in Cupe Coy is a different story according to Bommel and Mills. Bommel said the prosecution wants the court to believe that her client was an accomplice or accessory to the killing of Michael and Thelma King. However, they did not prove that in this courtroom beyond a reasonable doubt. The law clearly states that to be considered an accomplice of a crime there has to be a plan, the prosecution must show pre-meditation and they also has to show that Mills actually assisted with the killing of the Kings. "I don't see anything in the file the prosecution presented to you that showed Mills actually assisted or participated in the killings. We also have the statements from all of the suspects, as for the man who actually killed the Kings he cannot remember anything that happened that night. What I deduced from the file is both Mills and Woolford were taken by surprise when they learnt that the Kings were murdered. They were shocked when they heard of this via the newspapers. I see no correlation in the file and therefore I have to say that Mills were not involved in the Kings slayings." Bommel said her client did not even see Johnson was in possession of a knife (weapon). Therefore, she pleaded with the court to acquit Mills on the charge of being an accomplice or accessory to the murders of the Kings. He did commit a robbery at the Kings' home and he did not use any violence against them, therefore I am asking this court to punish him for the crimes he committed and those that were proven by the prosecution. Bommel said that the prosecution is trying to send three people to jail based on guess work and not evidence. There is nothing in the file that shows a second knife was used. Mills and Woolford gave statements to the police separately and their stories are the same, they went to the Kings house to commit a robbery, there was no intention to kill or harm anyone. Bommel further told the court that the prosecution told this court that Johnson stayed seven (7) minutes in the house alone because the two other suspects, Mills and Woolford had already left the scene. "Your honor a lot could have happened in (7) minutes while Johnson was alone in the house. Mills and Woolford left with what they came for, monies and valuable items. They did not envision that Johnson would have killed an innocent woman who was bound to a chair, gagged and blindfolded." Bommel said because of the lack of evidence she is pleading with the court to acquit her client on the charges that are levied against him as an accomplice or accessory to the brutal killing of the Kings. Bommel said her client had stolen from the Kings and he also helped in tying Thelma King to a chair therefore he should be punished for that, she further explained that Mills and Woolford promised Thelma King that they would not hurt or harm her and when they went upstairs to get the monies and the grey bag from the safe. They did not use any violence towards her and they did not hurt her. "Even when they asked Thelma King to sit in the chair so they could tie, gag, and blind fold her they did not use violence, because none of that is in the file that is before this court. The file does not even show that the robbery committed that night at the Kings home would have left two people dead. Attorney Bommel said even though the death of the Kings are tragic to say the least, the blame cannot be thrown on Mills because he did not do it, therefore she pleaded with the court to acquit Mills on the charges relating to the death of the Kings but hold him accountable for the robbery and unlawful restraint of Thelma King. Bommel further explained that Mills fully cooperated with the investigation and what he told law enforcement is exactly the role he played that night.

Attorney at Law Safira Ibrahim also tried to convince the court that her client Jamal Jefferson Woolford was not an accessory or accomplice to the killing of the Kings. Attorney Ibrahim told the court that Woolford stayed where he lived in Cay Hill most of the day on September 19th, 2012. However, he had financial difficulties because he could not pay his rent and support his pregnant girlfriend who is due to give birth next month. Ibrahim said that Woolford was working for Island Charters located at Bobby's Marina and the slow tourist season had affected his income therefore he could not pay his bills. She said Woolford began working since he was 12 years old. As for the robbery that was committed on the night of September 19th, 2012 at Happy Star Chinese Restaurant, Ibrahim asked the court to acquit her client on one part of the charge because the prosecution claimed that Woolford held a pellet gun at the head of one of the clients in the restaurant and while the prosecution spoke about the statement given by the owner of Happy Star who said she heard when Woolford cranked the gun, the client who had the gun to his head did not say that. Another argument Ibrahim used was based on how the owner of Happy Star was positioned she could not have seen or heard if a gun was cranked. Besides that, she told the court that the pellet gun was not loaded and it was not cranked. She asked the court to convict Woolford on the robbery, she also pleaded with the court to take Woolford's financial standing into consideration, the fact that he is a first time offender, and to look at his academic achievements. Ibrahim said Woolford has several diplomas and he worked hard for his living, besides all of those facts, he gave the investigators his full cooperation during the investigation.

As for the killing of Michael and Thelma King, Ibrahim said it is funny how the prosecutor used the statement Woolford made to the investigators when he saw Johnson made a sudden move to slash Michael King's throat and he said he told Johnson not to do it. Ibrahim said that Woolford was standing by the sliding door, he wanted to leave, he got what he went there for, and when he saw the sudden movement by Johnson who was holding Micheal King in a headlock with a knife to this throat he yelled out at Johnson and told him not to do that. Apart from that, Woolford then left the home with the monies, iPhone, and laptop. "When my client left that house both Michael and Thelma King were alive. The prosecution used his statement against Johnson and then they turned around and used it against him saying he did not do anything to try and stop Johnson from killing Michael and Thelma King." Ibrahim insisted that Woolford was not in close proximity of Johnson and the only reason he assisted in tying up Thelma King was because he wanted to make sure they got away safely. Ibrahim told the court that the statements the suspects gave police are consistent when they said they did not plan to kill anyone and they did not know the Kings. She said the Kings house was chosen randomly while the three suspects were walking along the beach. "The Kings home had on light and the sliding door was open, my client had no intention to hurt or kill anyone. When the suspects entered the house, Johnson went and held Michael King by headlock he held a knife to his throat while Woolford and Mills went upstairs in search of monies. When Woolford, Mills, and Thelma King came downstairs Micheal King was still alive, Woolford and Mills had no idea that Johnson would have killed the victims, he was alone with Micheal King and he did not do it then. Ibrahim asked the court to acquit her client on the accessory charge to the murder/manslaughter of the Kings and to hold him accountable for the robbery and illegal restraining of Thelma King.

After the lawyers presented their defense, Prosecutor Dounia Benammar admitted to the court that they made mistakes and she apologized for the mistakes they made. However, Benammar said the law allows them to issue as much as 20 summons if they want, especially if a suspect is living several places. She said that it is absurd for Attorney Brooks to ask the court to deem the case inadmissible because of their mistakes and the police brutality. In no time Attorney Brooks responded in her rebuttal and asked the Prosecutors if they read her pleadings because she did not ask the court to deem the case inadmissible because of the police brutality. She said she asked the court to consider the police brutality when it is making its decisions. Brooks also told the court that the prosecution should not mislead the court or the public when they said that the first lifetime sentences were handed down in the Regatta cases which were eventually overturned. Brooks said there is a prisoner right now in Pointe Blanche Prison serving a lifetime sentence for the murder of Bobby Velasquez's daughter. Brooks said this sentence was handed down when she was just a child and the last time she saw that convict was on Monday when she visited the house of detention.

Meyshane Kemar Johnson in his address to the court said that he is being charged with a crime he committed and cannot remember. He said that he has been working and assisting in the prison facilities because he cannot see himself sitting in prison for lifetime. Johnson then went on and apologized to the King families. He said he hopes that the Kings could forgive him and he can come to the point of forgiving himself for his deeds. "I just don't know if I can live with myself with what I have done to those people."

Jeremiah Chevon Mills in his statement said that he wants to apologize for his actions but he does not know if the Kings will accept his apology. "I will still ask you for your forgiveness, if I could go back in time and undo what I did on September 19th, 2012 I would have done so and stop Johnson from killing your loved ones. I rob people, use drugs but I will never physically hurt anyone. I understand how you are feeling and I am sorry I ever went to the Kings' home. I hope you will accept my apology."

Jamal Jefferson Woolford also apologized to the King families he said had no intention to hurt anyone. "All I am asking for is a second chance so that I can make good with my life."

The judge Tamara Tyghuis said because of the upcoming Carnival holidays and the Queen's Birthday at the end of April she cannot close the criminal proceedings on Wednesday because then she would have to render her decision three weeks later and during that period the court will be closed due to the holidays. Judge Tyghuis said that she will resume the case on May 8th, 2013 where she will officially close case and shortly after that she will render her decision.

Philipsburg:--- At a very impressive Induction ceremony held recently at the Holland House Beach Hotel, the St. Maarten Lions Club inducted five new members into the fold. The new members are Selma Baker, Imelda Joseph, Cris'tel Larmonie, Jasmine Mathani and Carolyn Longhorn.
The induction ceremony was conducted by Lion District Governor Claudius Buncamper, MJF who presides over District 60B of which St. Maarten falls under.
Before taking the oath of membership and new members were given a thorough orientation session where they received much information about the International Association, the Multiple and Sub Districts and the service given on Cub level. District Governor Buncamper put the emphasis on the added value which new members are expected to bring to the Club.
In keeping with District Governor Buncamper's wish to bring in as much former Leos to the Lions fold the club yet again welcomed former charter member of the St. Maarten Leo Club to the Lions fold in the person of Cris'tel Larmonie who is also the daughter of Past District Governor Maxime Larmonie, MJF.

Philipsburg (DCOMM):--- In an effort to improve services for the general public and all stakeholders the Department of Labor Affairs has successfully acquired and implemented further resources in the form of additional Job Placement Officers, Job Coaches and Social Workers as of January 1, 2013 in Section Labor Market. The section serves as a focal point for many of the services offered by the department such as business and labor registration, unemployment and vacancy registration job placement and dismissal.

The Job Placement team now has additional Job Placement Officers equipped with techniques to assist persons with finding suitable employment and assisting the business community in fulfilling the employment needs of the labor market.

Labor Affairs has gone beyond extra Job Placement Officers to include services provided by a Job Coach and Social Worker in close consultation with the Job Placement team. The core objective of the Job Coach is to prepare, coach and mentor candidates for placement by utilizing career path methods.

In some cases, candidates will be referred to a Social worker for assessment and additional services according to the needs of the person. The role of the Social worker, in general, is to address social concerns that may be affecting the candidate both personally and/or professionally.

The various officers tasked with executing such responsibilities have a comprehensive and holistic approach and work closely with each other to improve overall success and service for the clients who visit and utilize the diverse amenities.

The Ministry of Labor and by extension the Department of Labor Affairs continues to support and promote sustainable employment through programs such as the Employability through Training Project (ETTP) which offers the opportunity for further social development, specialized training and certification to persons within the community.

The department continues to strive for innovation and improved service for the community in the form of a newly implemented complaint service now available at all sections, services in various districts via the Integrated Neighborhood Development Program (INDP) and access to varied amenities in the Public Service Center coming soon in Simpson Bay. Section Labor Market continues to have remarkable success by increasing placement in the labor market by strategically improving private and public partnerships in the form of viable job opportunities.

For further information concerning any of the services and programs at the department, contact us by visiting and speaking with the available officers or calling 542-3561/543-7509 or emailing us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Philipsburg:--- Certain Members of Parliament behave as if commenting on the budget is an earned right and that if organizations or individuals don't meet certain randomly set criteria, then they don't have the right to comment on the budget. Instead of having a discussion about the contents of SHTA's comments, some members of parliament have chosen to attack the messenger, sending a clear message to many in the community to be careful when speaking out.
The SHTA was simply following the recommendations of the Prime Minister and the President of Parliament made at SHTA's Membership Mixer last February, about the dual layer of government, that we study the budget and use it as a basis for commenting on the plans and priorities of government. To make unsubstantiated accusations, against an organization that offers a differing point of view is simply contrary to the principles of democratic governance.
The SHTA, the largest private business representative on the island whose members cover a broad range of industries including amongst others: the hotel, restaurant, catering and entertainment industry, wholesalers, retailers, real estate, marine trade, financial and legal services, taxi associations, car rentals, construction companies, and environmental organizations, has been objective and open to dialogue with all of the governments, past and present. Nevertheless, in representing our members, we are sometimes critical of any present government. However, contrary to what certain members of parliament may have suggested, SHTA has always been objective and has never shown any favoritism towards any politician or his family members.
The SHTA has always strongly encouraged its members and the community at large to abide by the Law. It is however not the SHTA's role to audit or police its members to guarantee compliance to legislation. It is the role of Government to ensure, through the drafting and implementation of policy and legislation that rules and regulations are properly adhered to by all. The SHTA has always refrained from commenting on specific cases which is why SHTA has not commented on the ORCA investigation, MP Laveist's conviction, the Pelican issue, etc. If the Members of Parliament believe SHTA should police its own members, perhaps the Members of Parliament would do well to lead by example.
According to a member of parliament, the waiving of collecting of taxes prior to the year 2006, is already relief for SHTA's members. SHTA has never condoned the waiving of tax obligations for individual companies. It's understanding was that government ledgers were and are clogged with unrealistic and erroneous assessments and that the Department of Finance was going to waive taxes from before 2006 because they were either uncollectable or inaccurate. The waiving of real tax obligations is unfair to those companies that have indeed complied with all of their tax obligations. If real tax obligations are being forgiven as mentioned above, this only reinforces the perception that if you comply with the law you are punished and if you break the law you are rewarded. The SHTA has always advocated for the fair and uniform application of laws and that sporadic and selective enforcement of the laws is unfair.
The SHTA has commented on several occasions that the current tax system should shift from direct taxation to indirect taxation improving compliance, advocating that by broadening of the tax base, the overall tax burden could be reduced. The SHTA has repeatedly criticized the Turnover Tax as it is damaging to our economy due to its cumulative nature. In 2010, 2011, and 2012, SHTA warned about the possible ramifications an increase in the Turnover Tax could have. We refer to numerous press releases in 2010, 2011, and 2012, featured in both the Today and the Daily Herald newspapers, including the SHTA's response to the increase from 3% to 5%.
Last September when there were rumors of yet another increase in the turnover tax, the SHTA was assured by the Minister of Finance that there would be no increase in TOT, see article in The Today of September 13, 2012 "Tuitt No Hike in TOT".
With regard to tax compliance, SHTA has, as previously stated, always encouraged its members to comply with all laws and regulations. If the Members of Parliament are aware of businesses that aren't complying with the law, they should deal with this matter accordingly. Again, the SHTA believes that broadening of the tax base and improved compliance should allow the overall tax burden to be reduced.
The SHTA urges the Members of Parliament to get back to the business at hand of discussing the draft 2013 budget. These discussions should have taken place last September, not six months later. We, the SHTA, just like all the voters and taxpayers on St. Maarten, feel that we have the right to know and should have a say in how the Government of St. Maarten will be spending our hard-earned money, as all policy seems to be lacking from this budget.
Last but not least, and this may be the most important issue the SHTA has with this budget, is the fact that the 2013 draft budget currently being discussed is not based on the actual financial statements of 2012. As far as the SHTA has been informed and we hoped that this information is incorrect, that to date, the actual financial information for 2011 and 2010 has not even been finalized. A budget should, according to general accounting practices, be based on actual financial information of the previous year, not on merely the budget of the previous year. Especially, a 2012 budget of which no one knows as yet how it compares to real expenditures and income. Thus this raises the question whether this draft should even be considered or whether we should maybe continue to use the 2012 budget and then make sure we have all the necessary figures in order to compile the 2014 budget, in a manner that is in the best interest of our country.
The SHTA is dedicated to bringing quality to all aspects of life on St. Maarten by promoting sustainable economic development for its members in cooperation with the social partners and the creation of a fair marketplace. For more information please contact our offices at 542-0108 or visit our website at www.shta.com.

Philipsburg:--- The Court of First Instance was busy on Tuesday morning. On the upper floor of the Court House the murder trial of the Kings was taking place, but downstairs several persons attended court for civil procedures. One of those persons who appeared in court on Tuesday morning is former secretary to several Lt. Governors on the island who was convicted last year in the BTA scandal, Evelyn Hodge.

SMN News learnt that Attorney at Law Cor Merx filed a civil case against Evelyn Hodge for nonpayment of legal fees. Hodge was arrested in 2011 during the BTA investigation. She spent 15 days behind bar and was later convicted in May 2012 for forgery and fraud.

According to information reaching SMN News, Cor Merx presented Hodge with a bill exceeding $13,000.00 for representing her while she was arrested and for representation during the criminal proceedings in 2012. SMN News learnt from reliable sources that Hodge paid part of the bill because she could not pay the entire sum. A source said Hodge made clear to Merx that she could not pay that amount of monies for legal fees but Merx kept adding more monies to the bill claiming he worked hard on the case even though Hodge was convicted.

While the civil case was filed by Attorney at Law Cor Merx, Attorney at Law Edwin Maduru represented Merx on Tuesday. The case has been postponed to 15th May 2013. The judge took the files from both parties. Hodge represented herself on Tuesday.

Philipsburg:--- The Court of First Instance was packed to its capacity on Tuesday with relatives including the mother and siblings of Michael King as well as friends of the couple when the prosecution presented its case against the three suspects who were arrested shortly after Michael and Thelma King were brutally murdered in their Cupe Coy condominium. Among the bereaved relatives in the court room on Monday morning were the mother and uncle of Jamal Jefferson Woolford; however, Woolford's mother and uncle left the courtroom shortly after the proceedings started.

The three suspects are Meyshane Kemar Johnson, a national of Jamaica, his first cousin Jeremiah Chevon Mills, born on St. Maarten with Jamaican and Grenadian parentage, and Jamal Jefferson Woolford of Guyana, the trio is facing six charges, which are murder/manslaughter, armed robbery, laundering of goods they obtained from the robberies, and unlawful detention of the victims. The prosecution asked the court to sentence Meyshane Kemar Johnson to life imprisonment because he is the one who killed the Kings. As for Jeremiah Chevon Mills who was 17 years old when he committed the crimes, the prosecution believes that they have enough evidence to ask the court to sentence Mills to life imprisonment especially because he was convicted twice before and he was the one that orchestrated the robberies but because of his age the prosecution asked that Mills be sentenced to 28 years imprisonment. Jamal Jefferson Woolford does not have any criminal record prior to this murder but considering the magnitude of the crimes he committed, the prosecution asked that he be sentenced to 24 years imprisonment. Prosecutor Dounia Benammar and George van der Eshof told the court that they believe that they have sufficient evidence to prove all the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

Based on the evidence the prosecution provided to the court which consists of video images, the three suspects robbed Happy Star Restaurant and even though police fired several shots at them, one of which hit the back of the getaway car, they went to Maho and Mills went into a casino probably to see if they could have robbed the casino. They then went to the Cupe Coy later that night and robbed and killed the Kings. Among some of the items stolen from the Kings were an iPhone, laptops, stacks of money, and a grey bag that was taken from a safe that contained items that are unknown to the police and a credit card belonging to Micheal King.. After all of that, the suspects then went to Casa Blanca where they continued to drink and have fun with prostitutes.

The suspects told the court they needed monies, yet they choose to spend the loot on prostitutes and alcohol. The laptop stolen from the Kings home the suspects claimed they threw it away on the French side, while Jeremiah Mills kept Thelma King's iPhone. It is through wire tap police managed to locate Johnson and Mills shortly after the crime was committed. Woolford was arrested 10 days later when he escaped to the US Virgin Islands but was brought back to St. Maarten shortly after he landed there.

The Prosecution asked the Court to sentence Johnson to life imprisonment for the cold blooded murder of Micheal and Thelma King as well as the other crimes associated with the robbery of the Happy Star Restaurant and the robbery committed at the homes of the Kings prior to them being murdered by Meyshane Kemar Johnson. The Prosecution said Woolford and Mills tied Thelma King to a chair and blind folded her after she opened the safe and gave them the monies they had in a safe and a grey bag containing jewelry. Johnson headlocked Micheal King whom they found sleeping on a sofa and held a sharp knife to his neck while Mills and Woolford looked for valuables, they found the iPhone and laptop on a table inside the house but that was not enough so they poked Micheal King twice to wake him up and asked him to hand over all the monies he had. The prosecution said that Micheal told the suspects that his wife was upstairs sleeping and that there were monies in the safe. According to the statements given by the suspects, Thelma King panicked when she was awakened by Mills and Woolford but she managed to open the safe after several attempts. Mills told the court that Thelma King begged him not to hurt her and he promised her that he would not have done so if she cooperated and gave them what they wanted. After taking the monies and a grey bag they brought Thelma King downstairs where Johnson was holding her husband at knife point.

The session started off with Judge Tamara Tyghuis reading the suspects their rights then she posed several questions to the suspects on their role in the robbery of the Happy Star Restaurant on Cannegieter Street and the brutal killing of the Kings later that same night. Judge Tyghuis asked Johnson several questions as to what he did that night but Johnson kept saying he could not remember anything despite giving the police a detailed statement on the robbery of Happy Star Restaurant and the robbery and murder of Micheal and Thelma King on September 19th, 2012. Johnson made his statement to police on October 2nd, 2012 when he told police that he was at the Happy Star Restaurant earlier that day with Mills drinking, later he left the restaurant when his friend Peter Hunt called him to repair his car. Johnson later returned to the Happy Star Restaurant and then left with Mills to pick up Woolford at his home. The trio then returned and robbed the Happy Star Restaurant. During the robbery at Happy Star Restaurant, Johnson stayed in the car while Mills and Woolford robbed the business establishment.

Despite the statements given by the three suspects where they each confessed their roles in the two robberies and killing of the Kings; on Monday during the trial they all changed their stories. Meyshane Kemar Johnson told Judge repeatedly that he could not remember anything because he consumed a lot of alcohol that day. During the questioning, Attorney Brenda Brooks asked the judge for a brief recess so she could speak with her client Meyshane Kemar Johnson. Even when responding to the questions Brooks posed to Johnson he said he could not remember.

Background information on Meyshane Kemar Johnson.

Meyshane Kemar Johnson, the oldest of the three suspects was born in Jamaica where he attended school but left early to work so that he could assist his family financially. He worked in the construction field, as a mechanic, and also did agriculture in his homeland. Johnson then migrated to St. Maarten where he did odd jobs as a mechanic. In 2007, Johnson had a run in with the police due to his psychiatric and delusional condition and he was deported back to Jamaica but Johnson returned to St. Maarten that same year. In 2011, he began working at Checkmate Security as a security guard until the time of his arrest.

The psychiatric report issued by Dr. Gaudutrag of the Mental Health Foundation and a statement from Johnson's mother states that Johnson began consuming alcohol at a very young age (10 to 12 years old). Johnson also had two episodes of psychotic and delusional illness, once when he was in Jamaica and once in St. Maarten. On both occasions, Johnson was admitted to an institution in Jamaica where he received treatment. The report further stated that Johnson abused the use of alcohol but even though he drank heavily on September 19th, 2012, he knew exactly what he was doing when he went to pick up Woolford so that he and Jeremiah Mills could rob Happy Star Restaurant. Johnson is the father of three children all of whom are residing in Jamaica. He told the court he regretted his actions, he said that if he was conscious of his actions he would not have been in court charged with the crimes he committed. One of his wishes is to be able to see and care for his children. He also wants to know how long he has to remain in prison because his intention is to work while in prison.

Jeremiah Chevon Mills --- A Youngster with a monstrous record.

Jeremiah Chevon Mills (18) was convicted twice for robbery. In 2010, Mills was convicted for robbery and at that time he was sentenced to serve community service, but that did not work because in 2011 Mills was arrested again for theft. He was sentenced to 18 months, 15 months suspended sentence and two years probation but Mills still did not understand the consequences of his actions because by September 2012 he was back in prison for the armed robbery that was committed at the Happy Star Restaurant and the brutal murder of the Kings. Mills did not seem to be afraid of the justice system because of the way he answered some of the questions. At one point, he said that just by looking at the Kings house he knew they had money. He also told the court he wanted a "blow job" and the prostitute in Casa Blanca did not give it to him. Yet he stayed there from 12 to 2am when they left to take Woolford home and went back to the house of prostitution for more fun and pleasure.

Mills told the court that on the day he committed the robberies at Happy Star and at the Kings residence he was stoned. "I was popping pills, smoking marijuana, and drinking alcohol all day." When he was asked by the judge if he was ever at Happy Star Restaurant he told the court he did not even know where Happy Star Restaurant is located, but his cousin Meyshane Kemar Johnson told the court that both he and Mills were at Happy Star drinking on September 19th, 2012.

The Prosecution believes that the two suspects went to Happy Star to scout and plan the robbery they committed later that evening. Mills told Judge Tyhuis that the grey bag he took from the Kings' safe had one kilo of cocaine inside and he sold it for several thousand dollars, but he could not remember exactly how much money he sold the drugs for. He also told the court and police that he buried the monies in his yard but that money was never found. Mills even attacked the forensic evidence gathered by police which showed that there were no drugs in the safe. "If the forensic people did their job correctly they would have seen that drugs were inside that safe." Prosecutor Dounia Benammar asked Mills if he knew how much is one kilo of cocaine, he responded in the affirmative saying he knew because he sells it and the prosecutor should know that drugs can be compressed and she should not be fooled by the size of the safe.

The court was told that Jeremiah Mills had a rocky childhood because at age five his mother sent him to Jamaica to live with her sister because she was working two jobs. This according to the prosecution affected Jeremiah, his mother brought him back to St. Maarten when she learnt he was using marijuana but when his mother could not control him she sent him to his father who is living in Grenada. "That was the first time Jeremiah saw his father and the two could not get along so he returned to St. Maarten but the relationship between Jeremiah and his mother never got better."

Mills told the court that he went to Cupe Coy Beach prior to September 19th because he sells drugs there but maintained he did not know the Kings and the robbery and killings they committed that night were not planned. He said they went into the Kings house because a light was on and the shutters were not closed therefore they had easy access to the home.

Jamal Jefferson Woolford --- An Independent young man.

The court was told that Woolford was born in Guyana, he never knew his biological father but he said that he did not lack anything. He received his elementary education in Guyana and his secondary education on St. Maarten. Woolford worked at Bobby's Marina for two years. The prosecution told the court that they interviewed Woolford's mother and up to now his mother cannot understand how her son got himself into trouble, especially a case of such magnitude. Woolford was an independent young man who went to live on his own when he made 18 years old. He also told the court that he had lots of debts like paying his rent and having a pregnant girlfriend and that is what led him to commit the crimes even though he did not know what Johnson and Mills picked him up for that evening. It should be noted that Woolford worked for Topper's Restaurant but maintained that he did not know the victims. He told the court that he worked at the restaurant on the beach and he did not pay keen attention to the patrons or friends of Toppers. It should be noted that Toppers and the Kings had signed a business deal two days prior to their brutal murder. They intended to open a rum factory on St. Maarten.

Prosecutor Dounia Benammar told the court that the three suspects acted out of greed all because they wanted quick money. The killing of the Kings left the entire community in shock; the relatives of the Kings still cannot understand why the suspects killed Micheal and Thelma King because they got the monies and other valuable items they went to look for. Prosecutor Benammar and Judge Tyhuis asked the suspects why killed them, and why they did not leave when they got the monies and the grey bag they took out of the Kings safe. Woolford told the police and the court that he told the Jamaican (Johnson) not to kill them, he said he saw what Johnson wanted to do so he left the house and went on the porch and then to the beach. Mills said he did not participate in the killings but Johnson said that Mills gave him a second knife because when he (Johnson) cut Michael's throat he was suffering and he wanted to make his death easy so he stabbed him in his back and the knife blade broke inside of the victim. "At that point he asked for another knife and Mills took a second knife from the kitchen and gave it to Johnson. Johnson used that knife to inflict a few more stab wounds on Michael. By then Mills had left the house and Johnson then decided to kill Thelma when she called out for her husband. Johnson told police that he killed Thelma because he did not want her to suffer because he had killed her husband, the other thing he feared is that Thelma would have alerted the security and police so to cover up their crimes he stayed in the house and slashed Thelma King throat twice, cutting her wind pipe and main arteries causing her death almost instantly. The trial continues on Wednesday at 8:30 am. Judge Tyhuis told the court that Attorney at Law Brenda Brooks will start the proceedings on Wednesday morning. Three lawyers will be defending their clients on Wednesday then the Prosecution will begin with rebuttals. The last word she said will end with the three suspects.

Click here to view more photos of the Kings Murder Trail on Tuesday.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Hon. Silveria Jacobs extends her best wishes and encouragement to the students who will be sitting the Foundation Based Education (FBE) Exit Exams.

During the next four days students will be tested in General Knowledge, Math, English and Dutch. Contrary to the previous years, students will not have to sit separate entrance exams for the various secondary schools as the FBE exit exam is a comprehensive one which reflects the FBE curriculum.

The scores achieved in the exam as well as the Educational report, which includes grades of the last two years will determine which type of secondary school the students will be qualified to attend.

The criteria and norms for the exit exam for entrance into the different types of high schools were set by a committee which consisted of representatives of the School boards and was facilitated by the Ministry.

The Minister commends the parents, teachers, school managers and staff for all their hard work in preparing the students for their exams.

Minister Jacobs also thanks the Division Exams and all others involved whose collaborative efforts and hard work contributed to the preparation of these exams.

Minister Hon. Silveria Jacobs encourages all students sitting the exams to stay focused, remain calm and to do their best, "Your teachers have prepared you to the best of their abilities and now it is time to put all your acquired knowledge to the test. Your hard work will definitely bring success for you. All the best on your exams!"

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Culture Hon. Silveria Jacobs attempted to meet with the management of the Divi Little Bay Hotel to clear up issues pertaining to placement of gates at the entrance to Fort Amsterdam with signage claiming that it was a restricted area and that visitors would require written permission from the hotel to enter.

However no such meeting was forthcoming, although a press release was promised by the North Carolina based headquarters.

The Minister was shocked to learn of this development early Monday morning. The general public has been quite vocal in supporting the government's quest to revitalize our cultural heritage.

Many feel that the attention now being paid to this the only area zoned and protected as a monument is long overdue. In this respect the Department of Culture is actively working towards getting the site recognized globally as a World Heritage Site. This would bring much needed funds for the restoration of the area and give residents and visitors alike the opportunity to learn more of our country's history.

Public access to this heritage site is part of the agreement which has to be honored by the resort as stipulated by the court.

There are already two security checkpoints that visitors must pass in order to walk up to the historical Fort Amsterdam ruins. As such Minister Jacobs considers this latest move totally unnecessary and unacceptable and strongly urges the Divi Little Bay Resort to rectify this situation immediately.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Windward Islands Bank Ltd. (WIB) made a financial contribution to Scouting Antiano, Mohican Scout Group I to attend the 13th Caribbean Cuboree. The event will be held on July 21st until July 28th, 2013 in Surinam.

The Caribbean Cuboree is a gathering for cub scouts to come together from various Caribbean countries and is held every four years. The purpose of a Cuboree is to provide an opportunity for boys and girls ages seven to eleven to interact, experience different cultures, foster lasting friendships, and experience the full meaning of scouting. These are all tools that can last a lifetime.

WIB supports Scouting Antiano, Mohican Scout Group I to attend the 13th Caribbean Cuboree and wishes them much success, growth and knowledge in Suriname and for the rest of their lives.

Always, Your Partner in Progress.

Marigot:--- The Louis Constant Fleming hospital on the French side of St. Martin recently opened a brand new wing for psychiatric care. The SVP-CN (Stichting Verslavingszorg en Psychiatrie Caribisch Nederland) for the BES Islands has a care agreement for psychiatric care with the Mental Health Foundation on St. Maarten and in relation to that the initiative was taken to meet and discuss cooperation opportunities.

Dr. Roland Toussaint Director of the Hospital and Psychiatrist Grau-Espel Françoise explained how they work on the French side to Eric Jansen director SVP-CN, Kenneth Cuvalay Social Psychiatric Nurse for Saba and St. Eustatius as well as to the Psychiatrist Sachin Gandotra and Jatinder Kaur, including the Director of MHF Eileen Healy.

Possibilities such as EEG (Electro Encephalogram) and other tests can be done in the hospital.

Agreed is that the group would maintain contact with each other and further develop cooperation options. The group toured the impressive new facilities and met with the staff of the psychiatric ward of the hospital.

MHF Press Release

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams inspected the ranks of the Fire Department on Friday as part of Fireman's week. After the inspection of the ranks the members of the Fire Department held a march through Philipsburg accompanied by the VKS Drum Band.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

PHILIPSBURG:--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), is in the process of updating their database of contractors on Sint Maarten.

The Ministry is inviting all general contractors and heavy equipment owners interested in participating in any upcoming clean-up projects to an informative meeting on Friday, April 19 at the Ministry VROMI, Savance Building (next to Carl's & Sons on the Pondfill), starting at 9:00am.

Information will be provided about preparations for the 2013 Hurricane Season.

Contractors and heavy equipment owners are requested to bring along their equipment list, crib number of their company as well as contact information. The information is very important in the event Ministry VROMI needs to call on contractors before or after a storm.

Ministry VROMI Operations Manager Eldemiro Jansen and Project Manager Hensley Kwidama will be present for the meeting.

For those who need additional information, you can call Eldemiro Jansen at Tel. 542-4289 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, is monitoring developments with respect to a new strain of influenza A (H7H9) that has been observed in China in order to ensure that public health is safeguarded.

Last week the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an epidemiological alert calling on Member States to maintain the capacity to detect any unusual health event, including those that may be associated with a new subtype of influenza A.

PAHO also advised states to update and implement the relevant components of multi-risk plans for preparedness and response to public health events.

Persons traveling to China are advised to remain vigilant and observe measures recommended by local Chinese health authorities. The World Health Organization (WHO) does not advise against travel to China at this point in time, as there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus.

Influenza A (H7N9) is known to affect wild birds and poultry. The cases in China are the first known cases of H7N9 infection in humans. China reported a total of 16 cases of human infections, including six deaths up to April 5 in Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

To date, the current cases of human infection in China appear to be sporadic and isolated.

Returning travelers from affected areas in China should look out for signs and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as fever and cough, and seek early medical attention if they are will with such symptoms.

The Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius De Weever 'Get Checked' campaign emphasizes the importance of individuals informing their doctors of their travel history, should they develop these symptoms after returning to Sint Maarten.

Travelers to China should observe the following measures: avoid direct contact with poultry, birds or their droppings, and if contact is made, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water; Cook poultry and eggs thoroughly before eating; Wash hands frequently with soap and water (e.g. before handling food or eating, after going to the toilet, or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretion after coughing or sneezing).

Also while in China avoid crowded places and contact with sick people with fever, and wear a mask when you have respiratory symptoms or are feeling unwell.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A plenary session of Parliament regarding the draft 2013 country budget is scheduled for April 15.

The plenary public meeting will be on Monday at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend the national deliberations with respect to the country's draft budget.

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

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

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports (Ministry ECYS) Inspection Division is inviting School Bus Owners and Drivers to a meeting on Thursday, April 11.

School Bus Owners and Drivers at the meeting will be informed about certain changes that have taken place. As of April 1, 2013, the Ministry ECYS has taken over the financial administration of the school bus transportation system.

During the Thursday evening meeting which will take place at the Brooks Tower, Suite #3, Harbour View, Philipsburg from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, school bus owners and drivers will be introduced to the team at the Inspectorate Division who will be directly involved in collecting and processing data.

The Inspectorate Division is looking forward to meeting with the School Bus Owners and Drivers on Thursday evening, and towards an informative and productive meeting.

Those requiring additional information can call the Inspectorate at 542-3479 or 542-3182.

Pond Island:--- Organizers of Saturday's Fun Park event wish to thank the entire St. Maarten community, along with a stream of volunteers, for helping to make the TelEm Group event a runaway success.
Despite some anxious moments the night before, the weather held up and turned the Fun Park into a magical wonderland for thousands of visitors.

"We could not have done it without the help we received from our team of volunteers and the thousands of boys and girls who came along to see Mickey, Dora and just plain out take part in some fun activities," said one of the co-organizers, Angel Richardson.
Angel says one measure of the success of the event was the selling out of all food and drinks. Another was the decision to keep the show rolling for an extra two hours so that, especially the younger boys and girls, could take part in all the activities.
She said an unexpected large turnout meant long lines of visitors waited to be served with tickets or to take their turn on an activity, however extra time was allowed so that there would be few disappointments.
"The face-painting was very popular and the cartoon characters were the hit of the day," said Angel.
Talks have already started with TelEm Group management to have a repeat of the Family Fun Park event before the end of the year based on the positive response from visitors to the first Fun Park event.
"Parents were extremely pleased that there was something fun, different and safe that they could take part in with their children. The whole event had a magical Disney feel about it which visitors really appreciated," continued Angel on behalf of TelEm Group.

Telem Press Release

Great Bay:--- The Ministry of Public Health Social Development & Labor section Collective Preventive Services are making preparations for the eleventh celebration of Vaccination Week of the Americas(VWA), which runs from April 20-27, 2013. Various activities, such as a carnival troupe and community outreach will be the activities to bring about awareness regarding the importance of immunization and to keep the topic on the forefront of political agendas.

Last year an open house was kept at the Festival Village, and a team chaired by Anita Priest took care of the organization of the activity. This year there is a new chair to head the activities for 2013, which is Anuska Gibbs.

Minister of Public Health Social Development & Labor, Cornelius De Weever stated that it is very important for each country to adhere to the required immunization requirements and for parents to ensure that their children are immunized. "On government's end we are offering all school-going children the opportunity to get vaccinated through the school vaccination program."

VWA is an extraordinary effort led by countries and territories of the region to advance equity and access to vaccination. VWA activities strengthen the national immunization programs in the Americas by reaching out to populations with little access to regular health services. Since its inception in 2003, more than 410 million individuals of all ages have been vaccinated during campaigns conducted under the framework of VWA.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Women's Desk proudly announces the starting of the following support groups for women effective April 8.

The following organizations are providing support group activities/sessions for women, Women of Destiny, P2R, Cancer Foundation and Prominent Women.

Women of Destiny support group for single mothers meets every 2nd Monday of the month at Community Help Desk (CHD) Dutch Quarter at 7pm. The next meeting will be on May 13th.

P2R support CHD group for women battling drugs meets every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at Hope Estate at 7pm. The next session will be on April 15th.

The Cancer support group meets every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month at CHD Hope Estate at 7pm. The next session will be on April 19th.

Prominent women support group for married women meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at CHD Dutch Quarter 7pm.

More information can be found on the government information page, or interested persons can contact Women's Desk at Tel. 542-79 40.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL:--- IGY Marinas has recently appointed Lee Hicks, the former dockmaster from Yacht Haven Grande Marina in St. Thomas as the new general manager of American Yacht Harbor located on the east end of the island.

A former captain and co-pilot, Lee Hicks' strengths lie in customer service, staff management and berthing occupancy, making him the ideal candidate for the Red Hook-based property. American Yacht Harbor has 126 slips for yachts up to 110 feet. As the premier sportfish destination in the region, the marina plays host to 4 USVI tournaments and is the most centrally located marina to the North Drop. Popular species include Atlantic blue marlin, white marlin, yellowfin tuna, dolphin, wahoo and more. Additionally, the marina is home to many sportfish charters. Amenities at American Yacht Harbor include an array of retail shops, bars and restaurants, adding the conveniences of entertainment, dining and shopping right on property.

"We are very excited to once again promote from within our company; this is something we take great pride in. Our exceptional staff and management work extremely hard to bring customers the best service the industry has to offer and IGY recognizes and rewards its employees for their efforts," said Kenny Jones MBE, CMM and Executive Vice President of Operations for IGY.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten/St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow (SMART) continues to get smarter and attract more travel wholesalers keen on offering the best of the Northeastern Caribbean to discerning travelers.

SMART 2013 is set to take place at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino from May 15-17. Registrations from both suppliers (e.g. hotels, activities and events) and buyers (wholesalers and travel partners) are flowing in on a daily basis.

"We will have buyers from the tip of South America to the open spaces of North America and the highlands of Europe. People from all of these places are looking for a Caribbean paradise vacation and SMART will showcase the best there is" said organizers St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, L'Office du Tourisme de St. Martin, St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association, and L'Association des Hoteliers de St. Martin.

Over a dozen international travel wholesalers have already committed to attend SMART and their representatives are eager to meet with the hotel and activities officials from St. Maarten/St. Martin and surrounding islands. Buyers are coming from the Caribbean's main market of North America, the growing European market and the again budding South American market.

The St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, in cooperation with its South American representatives and Copa Airlines, have invited a select group of South American travel wholesalers to visit the island for site inspections prior and following SMART, starting on May 12 and ending May 19, 2013.The group will also attend SMART 2013 to cement contacts with travel accommodation suppliers.

Our Tourist Office representative in The Netherlands - Island Reps – has encouraged a number of European travel wholesalers to cross the Atlantic Ocean to attend SMART. Wholesalers from The Netherlands, Sweden and even Poland have been showing increased interest in coming to the "Friendly Island".

"The number of travel wholesalers/partners at SMART 2013 will be double or even triple the number of past years, a reason for those hoteliers that have not registered as yet, from St. Maarten and from surrounding islands, to do so as soon as possible in order to ensure a booth at the trade show as space is limited" said organizers.

Another incentive for hoteliers and guesthouse operators in the region to be part of SMART is the increased interest and registration of hotel supply companies. They will be displaying their product lines and offering hoteliers attractive buying options and cost effective products.

Are you a hotel, a guesthouse, or an offshore activities company and have not as yet registered for SMART? Then please contact us right away! Registration information and forms are available on our website at www.shta.com, click on "SMART", or just e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

The Middle Region Defiance Community Council is organizing a Candle light Silent March in honor of the two young lives that were sadly taken away through an act of violence. The recent passing of Kimberly Illidge who was only 17 years old and Mark Reid Jr. at a tender age of 2 months old, both took place in the district of Middle Region. We as a community are very saddened by these tragedies and would like to join with each other to support the families of the deceased. We would also like to provide the rest of the community the opportunity to join forces with us because we feel that not only our community but the whole island was affected by these losses. This March will not be a platform to cry for justice on the culprits or promote any hate, but rather to show the family and friends that we care.
Ms. Annelies van den Assem, who is a resident of Defiance, said that she was deeply touched when she read the news of what transpired with these two young souls. She felt the immediate need to mourn this loss not only to the community of Middle Region and Defiance, but also as St. Maarten as a whole. As she has grown to know and appreciate the community of St. Maarten as a community that has a tradition of caring for each other, of paying respect in such grieving moments she felt compelled to approach the Community Council Middle Region Defiance. The Community Council as she learned was already brainstorming on an event, which has led to initiative of holding a "Silent March".

The March will be held on Wednesday April 10, commencing at 7:00pm at the AT. Illidge Road and Middle Region junction under the Tamarind tree. The general public is urged to come out with a lit candle.

The Middle Region Defiance Community Council announces that in compliance with traffic regulations, persons attending the Silent March honoring Kimberly Illidge and Mark Reid Jr. scheduled for April 10th, 2013 are asked to not park their vehicles alongside the road at the AT Illidge Road/ Middle Region junction.

Parking will be available at the March ending point (parking lot in front Calabash Lounge Bar and Restaurant). A shuttle bus will be provided to transport persons from the parking lot to the commencement point.
We are seeking your cooperation and understanding.

Philipsburg:--- The three suspects that were arrested early October 2012 for the brutal slayings of American citizens Michael and Thelma King who were brutally murdered in their Cupe Coy condominium on September 19th, 2012 will be having their day in the Court of First Instance on Tuesday and Wednesday (April 9th and 10th, 2013).

Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos confirmed that there are about 20 relatives of the Kings who are already on the island to witness the two day proceedings. Charged with the brutal slaying of the Kings is Meyshane Kemar Johnson (29), a national of Jamaica who was residing and working on the island illegally. Johnson already confessed to police while in pre-trail detention that he stabbed the Kings to death while attempting to rob their home. The second suspect is a Dutch national of Jamaican parentage Jeremiah Chevon Mills (17), while the third suspect is Guyanese national Jamal Jefferson Woolford (20). Woolford was arrested by the FBI in St. Thomas when he tried to escape from St. Maarten. The three suspects are also charged with robbing the Happy Star Chinese Restaurant located on Cannegieter Street, Philipsburg.

Police managed to track down the Kings' killers because they shot at the vehicle the three suspects used to rob Happy Star Chinese Restaurant before they slaughtered the Kings. When Police recovered the vehicle they shot at they found credit cards and a cellular phone belonging to the Kings. However, the bodies of the Kings were found two days later on September 21st, 2012 when their friend and business partner could not reach them by phone.

While the official trial starts on Tuesday, this is not the first time the suspects have appeared in the Court of First Instance. The main suspect Meyshane Kemar Johnson appeared several times and even before the Appeals Court fighting for his freedom because the Prosecutor's Office made several blunders when they served him with at least three summons to appear in front of the judge in the pro-forma hearing.

The suspects also attended a closed door session when Police and the judge in the case conducted a re-enactment of the killings at the home of the Kings.

While the Prosecution has already dotted the I's and crossed the T's on the case they intend to bring before the court on Tuesday, Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said that his office still had to take a decision on what amount of time they will ask the court to impose on the three suspects. Mos said that decision will be taken on Monday afternoon. Mos further stated that the death penalty has not yet been ruled out.

Philipsburg:--- Residents of Brill's Drive, Middle Region were shocked and amazed at the huge marijuana plantation they discovered on Brill's Drive on Sunday. According to a resident of Brill's Drive, his girlfriend saw a man running from the area and became afraid because of a false BlackBerry message that is circulating claiming that an HIV positive criminal had escaped from the prison in Curacao and is currently on St. Maarten hiding out. Despite the fear, the woman and other residents of the area went towards the area where they saw the man running from and it was then they discovered a huge marijuana plantation among the bushes. They said the plantation is guarded by four heavily built pit bull dogs.
According to the residents of Middle Region, they called the police and alerted them of their find and the police told them to leave the farm untouched since they have plans to raid the area on Monday.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson confirmed on Monday that the police was aware of the marijuana plantation and they are busy organizing the raid. However, Henson wanted to know how SMN News reporter got the information instead of saying when the police would excute the raid they promised the residents of Brill's Drive, Middle Region. It should be noted that Inspector Ricardo Henson is also the acting head of the Philipsburg Surveillance Divsion which is also supervised by Commissioner of Police Carl John.
Shortly after SMN News released this news item, several police officers raced to Brill's Drive to conduct the raid. A resident of the area said that even though police raced to the scene in large numbers, they did not manage to apprehend the marijuana cultivators who were sitting not far away. "All the guys run away and the police did not even catch one of them, the officers then decided to uproot all the plants. While I was there they already had over 10 large garbage bags filled with marijuana trees."

MARIJUANA PLANTATION RAIDED.

On Monday April 8th, 2013 at approximately 12:30pm, the Police Department conducted a raid in the thick bushes on the hill between Brills Drive in Middle Region and Gibbs Drive in Dutch Quarter after receiving information of a large marijuana plantation that was located in that area. The police not being acquainted with area had to take time to plan the raid and not go into the area not knowing what to expect. Going blindly into any type of raid without a plan and the necessary equipment, the chances are that the officers are confronted with the unexpected and could even end up getting injured. Approximately 20 police officers participated in the operation which took approximately four and a half hours. At the site, the investigating officers located several plots of the land that were prepared for planting and several plots of land on which a very large amount of marijuana plants were already growing. The entire plantation was quite large and was well taken care of on a daily basis. The caretakers would spend the whole day working, cooking, and sleeping on the plantation. On the arrival of the officers the caretakers had already left the scene. Several fully grown pit-bull dogs were used to protect the plantation; however a police dog handler dealt with them during the operation and they posed no threat. The garden hoses lead the investigating officers to an apartment building on Gibb's Drive in Dutch Quarter where one man with the initials Z.D.A. from Jamaica was arrested as a suspect in this case. A wooden structure located in the vicinity of Romeo Drive on that same property was searched, a shotgun and bullets were found and confiscated. Over 3000 marijuana plants, garden hoses, fertilizer, and other garden equipment were also confiscated.
This case is under investigation by the Narcotics Department.

KPSM Police Report

Radio Show One on One with the Prime Minister to Continue to Inform the Public

Philipsburg:--- Last Friday the Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams launched the first installment of her radio program One on One with the Prime Minister on 98.1 Pearl FM. The program, hosted by Cedric Peterson, is specifically geared towards bringing over information from the Prime Minister on matters concerning her Cabinet and Government in general to the People of St. Maarten.

During the show the Prime Minister discussed various topics related to pertinent matters in the community and made herself available to the public for questions they may have for the Prime Minister in General or with regards to Government more specifically.

The PM started the program by outlining her role both as Prime Minister and as Minister of General Affairs; "The Prime Minister is responsible for the overall responsibilities with regards to Government. These responsibilities are related but not limited to the overall unity and functioning of Government and the execution of Government Policies," explained the PM. Prime Minister Wescot-Williams stated that often times the role of the Prime Minister and her function was not clear to the community and that was one of the reasons why she thought it important to explain what those roles, and that of Minister of General Affairs, really are. " The Prime Minister, assisted by the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, is responsible for the follow-up and execution of the decisions taken by the Council of Ministers. In addition, if there is a matter that concerns another Minister, and which should be brought to the attention of the Council of Ministers, and if this is not done by the responsible Minister it is then my task as Prime Minister to propose and table these matters to the Council of Ministers."

The PM also explained that she is also responsible for matters pertaining to government on which there is not yet political agreement. "The Minister in charge of the responsibilities and executions of the Council of Ministers is the Prime Minister who also has the task of chairing the Council of Ministers meetings."

The Prime Minister also gave an explanation on her function as the Minister of General Affairs; "Several Governmental Departments as well as execution agencies fall under the auspices of the Minister of General Affairs. The Fire Department for example, as an executing department, falls under my Ministry as the Minister of General Affairs. This also applies to the Census Office, the Department of Communication, and Technology etc., which also all fall under the Minister of General Affairs. Additionally Internal Matters and Kingdom Relations, Foreign Affairs and Legal Matters also all fall under the auspices of the Minister of General Affairs. I am therefore also responsible for disaster matters, defense and the matters of national security," explained the PM.

The weekly program will continue this Friday and will allow listeners the opportunity to do exactly what the title of the show suggests; to go One on One with the Prime Minister on various pertinent topics within the community and government and allows the listener to ask questions. The show will air weekly ever Friday from nine to ten on 98.1 Pearl FM and callers can call in on 5430462 or via sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with their questions.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- During her weekly radio show, the Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams commented on the ongoing ORCA Investigation, or the Bada Bing case as it is widely known, and the steps Government has undertaken to ensure integrity across the board for all institutions on the island. The Prime Minister also commented on the contact that was established with the Global Anti Corruption Organization Transparency International (TI) with regards to the Development of a National Integrity System. "The contact that has been established by myself with TI, while I think that it is a good thing that that announcement was made recently, has not been done because of the investigations which are currently taking place. The contact with TI is part of the Integrity Program with Government that has been ongoing since even before we became a country. The contact was to establish the feasibility of TI as the agency which can do an assessment of the National Integrity System of St Maarten," commented the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister stressed that the Integrity Program initiated by her Government is focused on the totality of matters that deal with integrity across the board; "This does not only apply to government but also to all the systems that St Maarten has in place. There have been some voices within the community since the ORCA Investigation asking of the Prime Minister and other members of Government to say more than has been stated until now. But I have always placed the focus on the fact that yes, there are allegations, yes we have seen the images, and so it is now up to the judicial authorities and the legal system to deal with these allegations and that has been and will be my statement. As far as I am concerned and as far as the promotion of Good Governance is concerned the actions of this Government speaks louder than words. We have been on a trajectory since before and since 101010 to ensure that the checks and balances are in place to ensure that our young democracy can function and that the integrity of our systems are guaranteed. Integrity is about combating corruption, illegal practices, abuse of power and so on. The integrity program that we have since started encompasses creating the awareness about integrity and starting in every level of government. Wherever you have power it needs to be checked. Those that exercise power need to give account to the people. In our system you see several of these types of regulatory agencies such as the Ombudsman, the Council of Advice etcetera that give this balance.

"I am going to focus on the areas of integrity within Government and will leave the legal system do its work with regards to corruption allegations. We will continue to solidify the basis of this country which is one of integrity and checks and balances." Concluded the PM. The Prime Minister will be opening a new series of Integrity Workshops for Government Agencies this Monday at the University of St. Maarten.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Cuts made across the Board to Ensure a Clear and Balanced Budget Taking into Considerations Plans of Approach

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams commented recently on the various budget reductions, in particular within the Ministry of Justice as it relates to the plans of approach for Government Ministries.

During her weekly radio show One on One with the Prime Minister, the Honorable Wescot-Williams addressed the criticisms which has been reaching her from the community with regards to these budget cuts; "There has been some criticism regarding some cuts in the Ministry of Justice budget. Some have taken it so far in saying that these cuts will result in the judicial authorities not being able to execute their tasks. Some persons have questions whether the cuts have been done deliberately to thwart the current ongoing ORCA Investigations. Amongst other agencies whose budgets have been cut was the office of the Public Prosecutor and this has raised some questions in the community," commented the Prime Minister.

With regards to these questions the Prime Minister explained that the budgetary process always starts with the various Ministries submitting their budgetary desires and the associated costs. "This can be quite a significant amount when you take all Ministries together for a particular year. The next step would be to look at the income of Government for that particular year as well. After this the process starts of basically cutting and trimming the budget in order to arrive at a balanced budget which is a requirement and an agreed to item between the Government of St. Maarten and the partners in the Kingdom in accordance to the Kingdom laws with regards to financial supervision. Additionally you have the CFT which is the monitoring agency to look at the Budget and give its opinion on the various expectations. Taking all of this into consideration all Ministries needed to make some cuts in their budgets this year to bring it to where it is today where a balanced budget taking the CFT recommendations into consideration has been submitted to Parliament.

The Prime Minister explained that the Ministry of Justice is one of the bigger Ministries and therefore the cuts seem larger. "As part of the agreement when St Maarten became a country that Government needed extra support with regards to things which needed to be done. In the case of the Justice Ministry there was a significant plan of approach which needed to be developed which was quite expensive. These plans of approach were an agreed to approach to meet certain targets to reach to the level where we need to get to as a country. There is a monitoring committee created as a law between the government of St. Maarten and the Kingdom Government with St Maarten has a member. The Kingdom Government and St. Maarten receives the reports from the Ministries in terms of how they have been able to meet the targets set. These reports are submitted to the Minister of Kingdom Relations and Interior Affairs and the Prime Minister of the respective country which in this case is the Prime Minister of Country St. Maarten. We then meet and look at those reports to see whether those things are on track. Based on that report we come up with administrative decisions which are crucial and necessary. In the case of the justice ministry it required a lot of money to do the things within the time frame to do the things set from them. That money comes from the budget of St. Maarten. For example it takes a lot to get the police force up to the level where it should be at in terms of manpower. Clearly when we became country our police force was not up to par and we have worked hard to bring that force up to the level where it should be. And therefore we had to make the cuts necessary to present a balanced budget, as we had to do with all Ministries," commented the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will be in Parliament on Monday for the Budget deliberations.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

Philipsburg:--- On Saturday April 6th at approximately 8:00pm, a phone call came into the Central Police Dispatch informing them, that three armed masked men had stormed into the Golden Alley Bar and restaurant located in Philipsburg and robbed the establishment. After committing this act, the suspects fled the scene on foot. Immediately all patrols on the streets were informed of what had taken place and started to search for the suspects. Shortly after, two of the suspects were spotted based on the description that was given through the Central Dispatch. The suspects took off running in different directions through the dark alleys and streets and jumping fences when they noticed they were chased by the police. During this chase two shots were fired. One suspect with the initials D.L. (25) was caught on the Cannegieter Street. In his possession the suspect had a substantial amount of cash, numerous pre-paid phone cards, a back-pack containing several cellular telephones, and another back-pack containing a pistol and a pair of gloves. The suspect was arrested on the spot and all items found in his possession were confiscated for further investigation. He was taken to the Philipsburg Police Station where he was turned over to the Special Robbery Unit for further investigation. The two other suspects however were not arrested. The investigation is ongoing.

KPSM Police Report

Philipsburg:--- On Saturday April 6th at approximately 1:00pm, a man with initials N.F. (26) born in Haiti was arrested suspected of ill-treatment with a weapon, threats, and possession of an illegal fire-arm. During a search of his home, a 9 millimeter Mini Glock was found and confiscated. The suspect was turned over to the Detective Department and remains in custody for further investigation.

KPSM Police Report

Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA), the largest private business representative on the island, has serious questions about the cut in the Draft Tourism Budget. Cutting the expenditures of the Tourism Office by NAf. 2.4 million (20.9% reduction from last year) can only be seen as a totally inappropriate effort to balance the 2013 budget. Our island depends on tourism, it is our main source of income, without tourism the inflow of monies to our island will be severely reduced, having an unavoidable impact on all sectors.
The SHTA cannot imagine that these cuts have been run through the Macro Economic Model developed by USONA, to see what impact it would have on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). SHTA's quick and rough calculations show a 5% drop in the stay-over arrivals at PJIA will result in a 3% drop in hotel occupancy equivalent to a loss of 104,000 room nights a year. Due to the domino effect, this would impact the GDP by about 1% which comes to about NAf. 20 million of which NAf. 3 million alone in direct and indirect taxes. Were the marketing effort to be lowered by the 20.9% mentioned in the draft budget, we can only hope that tourism does not decline at a similar rate.

So, what would it take to make up for the 5% drop in stay-over tourism as mentioned above? It will take most likely 2 charters per week, carrying tourists destined for resorts on St. Maarten.

Unfortunately, the Tourism industry on St Maarten has seen its high seasons get shorter and its low seasons get longer and deeper, consequently because of its interdependency, the whole economy follows the same trajectory. Adding to this, the current situation in Europe and the United States of America, where most of our tourists come from, the SHTA fears that these budget cuts are going to create an even larger deficit and further weaken the economy of the island. It will take combined public – private sector efforts, the necessary marketing fund and a dedication from the government of St. Maarten to attract more tourists to the island. The SHTA would like to urge the Ministry of Finance to revisit the current budget cuts and make the necessary changes so that we do not kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Instead of cutting the tourism budget we should really be looking at increasing and optimizing our marketing efforts in order to generate the necessary influx of monies. Stakeholders should be consulted in these matters and decisions of government should not only look at short term planning but also, envision what is best for St. Maarten in the mid and long term and what we want for our children and their children.

The SHTA is dedicated to bringing quality to all aspects of life on St. Maarten by promoting sustainable economic development for its members in cooperation with the social partners and the creation of a fair marketplace. For more information please contact our offices at 542-0108 or visit our website at www.shta.com.

SHTA Press Release

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Baby Wellness Clinic from the Collective Prevention Service (CPS), a Department at the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, hereby informs its clients that the Clinic will be closed during the afternoon hours as of April 8 for the next two weeks.

The afternoon hour closure will run up until and including April 19. The Baby Wellness Clinic will remain open during the morning hours of 8:00am to 2:00pm. There will be an extra nurse available during this period to help clients who were scheduled during the afternoon hours.

The Youth Health Care (YHC) physician will not be available between April 8th to the 12th due to a training session.

YHC services for children age four (4) and up will continue according to the regular schedule with the opening hours for the public in the afternoon. Nurses will also be visiting school during the morning hours according to their schedules.

The closure of the Baby Wellness Clinic during the afternoon hours is in connection with preparations for the upcoming Vaccination Week of the Americas (VWA).

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius De Weever 'Get Checked' campaign emphasizes the importance of having children immunized, and Minister De Weever calls on parents and guardians to ensure that their children are vaccinated.

VWA runs from April 20-27. Various activities are being planned, such as a carnival troupe and community outreach in order to bring about additional awareness concerning the importance of immunization.

Philipsburg:--- Zaya Records & OMC Music are pleased to announce to the public that tickets for the Zouk Kompas Bouyon Fest are now available at all ticket outlets from Saturday April 6th to April 18th for USD $35.

"We are also happy to say that Sunny Food has come onboard our great event as a partner. We will be selling tickets at Sunny Food on Saturday April 6th and Sunday April 7th. So meet us at Sunny Food this Saturday and Sunday and you could probably win yourself a complimentary ticket while you do your shopping.

Promoters are also reminding the public about their ongoing Facebook Promo; log on to Zouk Kompas Bouyon Fest for more details.

Zouk Kompas Bouyon Fest; featuring Kassav - Carimi - Asa Banton on Saturday April 20th Live at 8pm sharp. Be on time or you will miss the show.

Ticket outlets:

Dutch side: Van Dorp (both locations), DVD Express, Vernon's Hang Out Spot, Fun Miles, Sol/Tackling Cole Bay.

French side: Eye Light (Bellevue), Urban Vibez (St.James), Music Caraibes, FaxInfo, MSR Cable TV, Nayah's Boutique (across from Rainbow Restaurant in Grand Case).

Infoline: +1 721 5263047/0690 882090

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Member of the Settlement Committee Jean James was invited by the Council of Ministers (COM) to give an update on the activities of the committee. This was done on Thursday where COM was appraised about current as well as outstanding matters.

The Committee was established in accordance with Article 38 of the Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands via a mutual regulation of which Article 7 specifies the different aspects of the Settlement Committee.

The Committee consists of four members among which an independent chairperson Faroe Betry, and representatives of each country, supported administratively by Robert Cornax.

Jean James represents Sint Maarten. The members have been appointed for a three year period and their term will end on January 1, 2014.

The main goal of the commission is to streamline the process of the liquidation of all remaining assets and inventories, claims and liquid assets of the former Netherlands Antilles between the countries Curacao, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands which represents the BES Islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba).

The committee meets every two months.

Pond Island:--- The Boardwalk "Road to Carnival" event was a big hit Thursday evening as TelEm Group and St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) continued to hype up the 2013 pre-carnival buzz.

According to our "on-the-road reveller" Jesus Richardson, the carnival extravaganza was held at the St. Rose Arcade on the Boardwalk with many carnival fans and members of the public present along with Senior Carnival Queen and Miss Mature contestants.

Jesus writes: - "The MC for the evening was King Beau Beau with entertainment by the Impakt band and later by the Mighty Dow, ensuring a festive and fun evening," said Jesus.

"The highlight of the evening was an "Orange Dance" contest in which winner Ursel Biabiany (pictured above) won a 3G phone package. Other prizes of a Carnival 2013 season pass, sponsored by the SCDF and a one week stay in a US resort, courtesy of SDI Tours, were won by other prize-winners," said Jesus.

Jesus says the Road to Carnival event continues tonight (Friday April 5th) with a block party at Shieka's Bistro on Backstreet.

He says all party-goers and carnival lovers are welcome.

Telem Press Release

Philipsburg:--- Deputy Attorney General Taco Stein confirmed on Friday that his office did receive a complaint that Member of Parliament Romain Laville filed against the leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger. Last week when SMN News asked Stein about the complaint filed by Laville, Stein said everyone has a right to file complaint and he would not comment on it. Stein also maintained his position that Heyliger was not questioned a second time neither was he questioned on the complaint that Member of Parliament Romain Laville filed with the National Detectives.

When asked by SMN News if the complaint Romain Laville filed against the UP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister would become part of the ORCA (Bada Bing) investigation, Stein said the National Detectives are busy studying the contents of the complaint and they are yet to decide if the complaint would warrant a criminal investigation against the UP Leader. Stein made clear that the complaint filed by MP Laville has nothing to do with the ORCA investigation which is ongoing. Laville has said several times that the UP Leader Theodore Heyliger offered him a $350,000.00 bribe to stay with the UP party and he refused the money. Laville was at loggerheads with the UP leader and MP Jules James who was the manager of two companies at Pelican Resort. MP James, a legislator and pastor, also fired 183 permanent workers of the Pelican Resort, something Member of Parliament Romain Laville openly criticized and gave his support to the workers who are still jobless despite several court battles.

The National Detectives also have the Election Fraud case sitting on their desk involving the UP and some police officers who received bribes from Heyliger in exchange for their votes in 2010.

Marigot:--- The owners of Bikini Beach and Kontiki Beach are still waiting on a response from the Collectivity of St. Martin regarding a letter their lawyer send to Territorial Council of St. Martin on April 2nd, 2013 asking that the council intervene and stop the owner of SINDEXTOUR from evicting them from their business place situated on AW33 Orient Bay. Bikini Beach has been operating on Orient Beach for the past 20 years while Kontiki Beach has been operating at the location for 7 years, the open letter states.

The court of commerce in Basse Terre, Guadeloupe ruled in favor of SINDEXTOUR who filed an injunction requesting that the court grant him permission to evict the two businesses from the parcel of land that the Collectivity of St. Martin granted an AOT to SINDEXTOUR for while refusing to recognize and treat the request that was submitted by Bikini and Kontiki Beach.

The two business persons filed a complaint against the Collectivity of St. Martin and the owner of SINDEXTOUR who are now before the Criminal Courts of St. Martin regarding the AOT that was granted to Norbert Luftman, owner of SINDEXTOUR.

It should also be noted that while three persons namely Third Vice President Guillaume Arnel, Jose Carti (Former Head of Urban Planning), and the owner of SINDEXTOUR are scheduled to appear before the criminal courts on September 19th, 2013 regarding the AOT that was granted to SINDEXTOUR, the heirs of Daniel Beauperthuy, the legitimate owner of AW33, are also contesting the courts for the property that was given to the State while the property belongs to the Beauperthuy families. It is not yet clear when the Supreme Court in France will render its verdict on the Beauperthuy's claim.

Click here to view the Open letter sent to the COM.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- World Health Day 2013 will be observed globally on Sunday, April 7 and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) urges individuals to "know your numbers" and health providers to take every opportunity to measure patients' blood pressure.

The Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius De Weever 'Get Checked' campaign emphasizes the importance of individuals 'knowing their numbers' (blood pressure) by visiting their family physician regularly to ensure that all is well.

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

The study also showed that the population of Sint Maarten leads a sedentary lifestyle with only 24% of all participants practicing any kind of physical activity or sport regularly (at least once a week).

In addition, the eating habits left much to be desired. Almost one third does not have breakfast daily, even though it is the most important meal of the day. Two thirds of the population does not have fruits and vegetables daily, 15% does not consider 'Use little salt' important and 19% add extra salt to prepared food. 17% of the participants do not consider 'Use little sugar or products containing sugar' important and 34% add extra sugar to prepared drinks.

When we look at the weight the results are alarming, the study showed that among both sexes more than 50% of the participants are overweight or obese.

High blood pressure, equal to or above 140/90 mmHg, increases one's risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

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

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

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

Marigot:--- The Territorial Council of St. Martin that is led by the RRR Party submitted an undated motion to the Senator of St. Martin Louis Constant Fleming who will be presenting the motion against the law for same sex marriage which will be discussed in the senate next week.

SMN News managed to obtain a copy of the motion which has been highly motivated by the Members of the Territorial Council. However, some of the council members such as Rosette Gumbs-Lake, Maude Ascent Gibbs, Dominque Aubert, and the Deputy of St. Martin Daniel Gibbs did not sign the motion that was sent to Senator Fleming. There is a clear indication that Members of the Territorial Council of St. Martin are not in agreement with the new law that will affect everyone living in France and its overseas territories.

The law on same sex marriage (Mariage pour tous) was proposed by the Minister of Justice, Mme. Christaine Taubira.

The Members of the Territorial Council of St. Martin in their motion which is strongly against the adoption of same sex marriage states several factors which they believe that Senate must consider. The first argument states that the Minister of Justice Mme. Christaine Taubira formulated the law without having any discussion with the Minister of Social Affairs, Minister of Education, Minister representing women's affairs, Minister in charge of reforms, the Minister of Sports, Youths, and Associative life of the population. Furthermore, the Minister of Justice did not discuss the proposed law with the Minister of Overseas Affairs.

The TC of St. Martin also states in their motion that the French civil code already has three types of marriages, one of which they believe should be modified. A copy of the motion can be viewed beneath this article.

The TC said same sex marriages will affect several dimensions of life such as religious, physiologic, ethics, and social morals.

Another argument is that such marriages will affect children who will be raised by the same sex couples. Children raised by such families will have a problem distinguishing who is their mother and who is their father. Another argument brought forward by the TC of St. Martin is that there are social and cultural differences in the Antilles (Overseas Territories). They also mentioned that when the same sex law was presented in the National Assembly on February 12th, 2013 which consists of 26 deputies of the overseas Territories only the 10 deputies from the left that forms part of the majority voted in favor of this law.

The enactment of the same sex marriage was discussed in the Senate, Senator Louis Constant Fleming UMP will submit the motion presented by the Territorial Council St. Martin who strongly opposes to the application of this text to St Martin.

The Motion was filed with the Chairman of the UMP Senator Christian Baudin, the President of the Senate Mr. Jean Pierre Bel, Attorney Ms. Christiane Taubira and rapporteur Senator Jean-Pierre Michel. In his letter accompanying the Motion of the Territorial Council of St. Martin, Senator Louis Constant Fleming stated that "Overseas Territories, although of course, part of the national territory and, as such, subject to the varying degrees to the national legislation, have different customs related to their specific geographical, historical, and cultural attributes." Senator Fleming also referred to the second paragraph of Article 4a of the bill, which plans to allow the Government to take measures by ordinance to make the necessary adjustments regarding the Overseas Collectivities. Senator Louis Constant Fleming requested that it be made ​​a present to St. Martin.
Senator Louis Constant Fleming, intends to vote against this bill from his UMP party but also the co-seven amendments to the 200 presented by the UMP group.

Click here to view the motion Against Same Sex Marriage.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Seven newly recruited teachers from the Netherlands recently signed their contracts at the Sint Maarten House, The Hague, in the presence of the Executive Director of SVOBE Drs. Joseph Rogers and the General Director of Milton Peters College (MPC) and Sundial School Wim de Visser. Minister Plenipotentiary Hon. Mathias Voges was also present for the signing.

Minister Voges gave a short history about Sint Maarten and encouraged the teachers to get involved in youth community projects on the island during their tenure.

Rogers and Visser traveled to the Netherlands in search of teachers for MPC and Sundial School for the subjects M&M, Dutch, English, French, and Cultural Arts. They carried out a number of interviews in the Soualiga Room at the Sint Maarten House, a service rendered by Minister Plenipotentiary to Government institutions and Sint Maarten Non-Governmental Organizations.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports (Ministry ECYS) Inspection Division is inviting School Bus Owners and Drivers to a meeting on Friday, April 5.

School Bus Owners and Drivers at the meeting will be informed about certain changes that have taken place. As of April 1, 2013, the Ministry ECYS has taken over the financial administration of the school bus transportation system.

During the Friday afternoon meeting which will take place at the Brooks Tower, Suite #3, Harbour View, Philipsburg from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, school bus owners and drivers will be introduced to the team at the Inspectorate Division who will be directly involved in collecting and processing data.

The Inspectorate Division is looking forward to meeting with the School Bus Owners and Drivers on Friday afternoon, and towards an informative and productive meeting.

Those requiring additional information can call the Inspectorate at 542-3479 or 542-3182.

Philipsburg:--- The National Detectives that are working on the ORCA investigation, famously known as the Bada Bing corruption case are currently reviewing documents they received from various banks.

Deputy Attorney General Taco Stein said in an invited comment on Thursday that the investigation picked up speed on Tuesday when the detectives returned to work after the Easter Holidays and they are now studying the documents they recovered during the house and office searches that were conducted while they are also reviewing documents they received from several of the banks on the island. Stein said the national detectives requested documents from several of the banks and those documents were turned over to them and they are now reviewing all the documents they received before they can take a decision on how to move forward.

When SMN News asked Stein if anymore witnesses were heard just prior to the Easter holidays and the earlier part of this week, Stein said that no more witnesses were heard. He said that he held a discussion with the National Detectives on Thursday afternoon and they concluded that there is no more information that can be released now to the media, but assured that the investigation is moving forward.

It should be noted that while the ORCA investigation has become the talk of the Kingdom and its overseas countries, the National Detectives chose to delay the investigation during the Easter Holidays. Stein also confirmed to SMN News that all the other investigations including the Piranha Investigation which involves the former Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto are now placed on the back burner because the ORCA investigation has taken priority.

The ORCA investigation started some weeks ago when a videotape surfaced showing the owner of the Bada Bing strip club Jaap van den Heuvel giving what looks like a bribe to Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge. Since the revelation of the videotape, the owner of Bada Bing claimed he taped MP Illidge while he was paying back a loan he borrowed from Illidge during his divorce procedures in 2011. Van den Heuvel also claimed that the leader of the United People's Party Theodore Heyliger asked him to make the videotape in order for Heyliger to blackmail MP Illidge.

Sandy Ground:--- Traffic backed up on both sides of Sandy Ground Bridge Thursday afternoon when a boat that was going through the bridge struck it and caused some damages to the bridge. Vehicle owners lined up on both sides of the bridge waiting patiently for the workmen and operators of the bridge to fix the damage so that the bridge could be brought down for repairs. Up to press time, no information on the status of the bridge was made available.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday April 6, at 10:00am, the Philipsburg Jubilee Library will continue its series of educational presentations and information sessions around its Solar Energy Project in the library hall.
Experts from Caribbean Energy Store and Archyon Integrated Solutions will be available to explain the details of the libraries solar system as well as the advantages of solar energy. During these sessions, the solar energy experts will answer any questions you may have about implementing solar energy at your home or business.
At 11:00 am, a presentation will be given about the sun and its capabilities to create electrical power. Also up for discussion this Saturday will be the possibilities of the so-called micro inverters for small installations.
The libraries next scheduled session will be held on Saturday, April 20 with "Lighting Facts" as the main discussion point. The general public is invited to attend these very informative solar energy sessions.

Philipsburg:--- Chippie and RiddimBox Entertainment announce their strategic marketing alliance in presenting an international carnival show on the premiere night of the 2013 carnival season. The show will be dubbed The Main Event and is presented by RiddimBox and strategic partner Chippie. The international show, scheduled at the Festival Village on Saturday, April 27 will feature a host of high-profile international performers, ranging from Dancehall to Soca to Hip-Hop. Dancehall sensation RDX and veteran performer Lady Saw will be representing the Dancehall portion of the evening, bringing both old and new hits to the table to entertain the reggae-dancehall lovers. The Soca representation for the evening will be Teri Lyons, Nadia Batson & Tallpree; All seasoned performers with a string of high energy soca hits to their credit. Headlining the show will be international Hip-Hop super-star Busta Rhymes. The multi-talented hip hop performer is guaranteed to deliver a performance that is just as fast-paced and action-packed as his lyrics. "We are thrilled to be working with RiddimBox again," says UTS Marketing and Communications Officer, Ivy Lambert. "We have worked together on a string of projects in the past, with our most recent collaboration being only a few months ago bringing Dancehall artist Konshens to the island. We look forward to working with this team of professionals again whom have shown us they have what it takes to work with us in putting together a premium night of entertainment. We will also be doing our part in making it easier for the general public to attend The Main Event by offering a number of ways to obtain tickets. Whether its by winning tickets or receiving tickets as part of a package, combined with Chippie or CaribServe products and services. So keep an eye out for our various offers that may just be your ticket to this power-house of a show," Lambert continued. RiddimBox representative Randy Piper states: "As usual we promise the people a night packed with entertainment which will definitely be the hottest night of the 2013 carnival season. Please buy your tickets early and be at the Festival Village on time, because it will be hit after hit of explosive talents on-stage. We have a packed line-up and the show promises to be epic. As usual, we like to take things to another level and will be bringing in a surprise guest artist to top it all off," Piper continued. The Main Event is scheduled for Saturday, April 27th in the Festival Village. Tickets will be on sale starting next week Tuesday for $30 at all three UTS store locations in Philipsburg, Cole Bay and Marigot and will sell for $40 at the gate.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In the night of Saturday April 6th to Sunday April 7th, Fun Miles will upgrade to a new data system. This is a huge step forward for the Caribbean's biggest customer reward program. With advanced new possibilities in the area of mobile and online technology, the system will make Fun Miles even better, safer and more fun. During the night of the upgrade the system will be offline between 10.30PM Saturday until 06.00am Sunday. Fun Miles wants to apologize for possible inconvenience.

STAYING AHEAD OF THE PACK
This year, Fun Miles is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary. From the start, the system has been running on its current computer system, which has long been considered highly advanced, even by global standards. Cardholders could directly save and redeem Fun Miles with their magnetic swipe card, but they could also, for example, request their balance via SMS and Internet. The system has always provided a solid and enjoyable user experience to the many cardholders and partners on different islands. During the last few years, however, technology has leaped forward at a dazzling rate. To stay ahead of the pack, Fun Miles has developed a brand new system, in cooperation with cutting-edge companies such as Intersolve, m-wise, Mobilem and Thought Focus.

NEW POSSIBILITIES
The new system is even more safe and fun to work with than the previous one. In addition, it offers highly futuristic possibilities in the areas of mobile technology, Internet, market research and a personalized user experience. During the coming period, cardholders will discover many exciting new advantages and possibilities. With regard to the upgrade in the night of 6 to 7 April, there is no action required on their part. They can continue enjoying Fun Miles like they are used to. The new dimension of fun presented by the upgraded system will gradually manifest itself.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The general public are reminded that a Central Committee of Parliament meeting is scheduled for April 08 about the draft 2013 country budget.

The central committee will meet on Monday at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend the national deliberations with respect to the country's draft budget.

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

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

PHILIPSBURG:--- During the penultimate weekend of March, Fun Miles, its partners, and hundreds of visitors enjoyed St. Maarten's first Fun Expo held at Kooyman Megastore. The Fun Expo – part of Fun Miles' 15th anniversary celebrations – was a three-day event where the public had the opportunity to experience the full potential of Fun Miles all in one place. There were booths, freebies, specials, exciting showcases, a kids' corner, food, drinks, and many happy prizewinners. The organization looks back on a successful, fun gathering with a turnout that exceeded all expectations. Fun Miles is the Caribbean's most popular customer reward program.

ABOUT THE FUN EXPO
More and more consumers own a Fun Miles card. The Fun Expo offered them a bird's-eye view of all the exciting things that they can enjoy by using it. Many partner companies were present to display and explain their regular Fun Miles offers, as well as some unique Fun Expo specials, which included giveaways and prizes. The Fun Miles Partners in attendance were Budget Marine, Divico Cash & Carry, DVD Express, ENNIA, Indulgence by the Sea Spa, International Liquors and Tobacco, Keijzer Computer Systems, KFC, Pizza Hut, Kooyman, OMNI, Penny's Department Store, St. Maarten Building Supplies, St. Maarten Veterinary Clinic, Sunny Foods, The Windward Island Bank, Travel Planners, TropiGas and UTS.

PLENTY OF PRESENTS AND PRIZES
As one visitor described it, the Fun Expo was "paradise if you like free stuff!" Keijzer Computers gave away vouchers for triple Fun Miles, as well as 2 prizes of 5,000 Fun Miles each to Michael Atmopawiro and Cornelis Huisintveld. The Windward Island Bank and Travel Planners generously gave out Bonus Miles. UTS had a number of popular offers that involved free scratch cards, free OneNet minutes, free Bonus Miles, and several devices for low amounts of Fun Miles. SXM Vet Clinic raffled off prizes ranging from a free pet bath to no less than 20,000 Fun Miles, which were won by Everard John Peter. ENNIA stunted with a prize of no less than 25,000 Fun Miles, picked up by Venacio Saunders, and Budget Marine treated its winners Jeff Oliver, Wilbert Ambrosina, and Fitzroy Silcott to 5000 Fun Miles each. Travel Planners made two winners happy with travel vouchers, and Kooyman gave away sixteen parasols as door prizes. The lucky ones were: Velma Winderfelde, Edna Rijkaard, Henri Lobato, Cheryl Rismay, Suresh Alwani, Aruska Marlin Bell, Maria Cox, Kirti Babani, Leopold Mathew, Jacqueline Evers, Margriet Richardson, Silvia Carty, and Cherisma Rismay. In addition, tickets to the Antillean and Zouk Carnival Nights on April 19 and 20, were sold which will feature performances by such greats as Le Groove, Carimi and Kassav. These tickets are still available at the Fun Miles office for low amounts of Fun Miles (while supplies last).

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

Simpson Bay:--- A combined total of 48 entries were received as the deadline for the submission of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the new concessions at SXM Airport closed at 4 PM, Monday, March 25, 2013.

Assisting with the opening of all bids were Civil Law Notary Marlene Mingo, and Charlise Philips, both of the Notary firm Gijsbertha.

Among the selection evaluation criteria are: Height of concession percentage (per category); Business plan: financials. Investment, forecast, NPV; Degree of local employment/involvement; and Store, category and logistics plan.

Other evaluation criteria include: Marketing plan; Management /Human resource plan and Sense of place/design/brand and appearance.

The entire process of evaluation has begun and will continue through this week.

The Request For Proposal (RFP) course of action originally began on January 8, 2013 with the Expression of Interest process. A Site Tour and Information Presentation was held for all the companies/concessionaires who were short-listed after submitting their Expression of Interest Documents on February 26, 2013.

There are 24 concession packages, one for each individual concession, including a 1,000sq. meter large walk-through duty-free store.

Further information related to the process can be obtained from the following members of the Core Team at SXM: Robert Brown, at 546-7555 or 520-7721, or Suzy Kartokromo, at 546-7544 or 520-3044.

PM to Discuss Topics Ranging from Integrity in Government to the Justice System

The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams will be covering topics ranging from transparency and integrity within Government, the ongoing discussion regarding dollarization and items elated to Justice and the plans of approach as it relates to the budget on One on One with the Prime Minister on 98.1 Pearl FM starting this Friday at Nine in the morning.

"With all that has been happening I again would like to encourage the community to listen into the program and have your questions on the topics we will be discussing from beforehand. If you feel uncomfortable calling in you can email your questions in and I will make sure to answer them," commented the Prime Minister.

The weekly program will allow listeners to opportunity to do exactly what the title of the show suggests; to go One on One with the Prime Minister on various pertinent topics within the community and government and allows the listener to ask questions. The show will air weekly ever Friday from nine to ten on 98.1 Pearl FM and callers can call in on 5430462 or via sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

The elected RRR majority members learn with amazement the very severe ruling of the reporter to the State Council against President Alain Richardson, who had been unanimously elected by the territorial council of Saint-Martin on April 1, 2012. The State
Council, which was called to attention by the National Commission of campaign accounts which had rejected the RRR Campaign accounts, met on March 27, 2013, and has put its decision under advisement in one month's period of time.

It is neither the sincerity of accounts, nor the completeness or the traceability of incomings and expenditure of the campaign, nor compliance with the maximum, nor a failure or delay in the filing of the campaign accounts which are put in question, but only the fact that the financial agent has opened, at the same time and in the same bank, two dedicated and fungible accounts one in Euros and the other in Dollars. The Commission considered this contrary to the texts in force, without taking into account the monetary, financial, banking and economic reality of St-Martin, on the one hand, or the constant jurisprudence of the State Council and the Constitutional Council, on the other hand.

The sub-account in Dollars has worked as alternately to the euro account, and this for the single settlement of two bills which the net pay was denominated in Dollars, the primary supplier having wished to be paid in that currency.

Neither the campaign accounts Commission nor even the Reporter of the State Council blame President Alain Richardson for some fraudulent intent.
It should be recalled that Saint-Martin is the only community of France to be located both in the Euro and in the Dollar zone and that most banking and financial institutions locally systematically offer their customers accounts in Euros and in Dollars, to take into account the economic interdependence of the Franco-Dutch island of Saint-Martin, which specificities are totally ignored by a vast majority of the central services of the State.

The elected representatives which form the majority of the territorial Council have confidence in Justice and lend all their support to their President Alain Richardson in this new challenge. They are calmly waiting and looking forward to the conclusions of the State Council in this case, hoping that these conclusions will align on the constant jurisprudence, and this for the proper functioning of our institutions and the general interest of the development of our community.

The Elected RRH representatives of the Territorial Council of Saint-Martin

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Philipsburg Jubilee Library in collaboration with the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise held their annual award ceremony on March 27, 2013 at 6pm at the library in recognition of its outstanding "Readers are Leaders" participants.
The goal of "Readers are Leaders" is to promote literacy specifically among high school students and to encourage readers to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas through writing. The participants are challenged to read a number of books and submit reports about the books they read.
This year, a large number of students participated in the challenge to read at least 2 books per month, either individually at the Library or through their advisors for "Readers are Leaders" program at St. Maarten Academy (PSVE and Academic Sections), Sundial School and the St. Maarten Vocational Training School. The board of the reading club recently organized other events such as their annual black history month cultural event and poetry evening.
As an added incentive to encourage participants to continue reading, special prizes are awarded to the most avid readers. This year's winners were: Suekishana Bera of St. Maarten Academy PSVE (1st prize winner); Tiffany Seebaran and Windey Charles of St. Maarten Vocational Training School (tied for 2nd place); Mayra Raphaela of St. Dominic High (3rd place) and Shamar Wallace of St. Marten Academy PSVE (4th place). During the Award Ceremony at the Library, the top 3 winners were presented with tablets, while the 3rd and 4th place winners were given $50 gift certificates. The library also donated free computer hours to each winner in the reading competition.
All participants were rewarded with goodie bags and pizza to close off the evening (thanks to the contributions of DHL, Western Union, Nagico Insurances, RBC Royal Bank, Pretty Good T-Shirts and Domino's Pizza).
The Philipsburg Jubilee Library and the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Sunrise wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the following business and high school representatives, who were instrumental to the success of this project: Mr. Kenny Parwani of Pretty Good Wholesale and Retail, Big Sale, Jewelry Avenue, Seven Seas, Michelle Richardson-Artsen, Zeynep Sabahoglu, and Lavern Nelson (St. Maarten Academy PSVE), Yadira Pierre-Boston (St. Maarten Vocational Training School), Jacky Morrison (Sundial)and Susan van Mierloo (St. Maarten Academy Academic).

Trip Giveaways, Prizes and Raffles for Attendees

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Tourist Bureau will be conducting a product launch at the Palm Courtyard of the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre in Holetown, Barbados from April 11-12, 2013 to highlight the unique attributes and offerings of the island, with hotel stays, giveaways, prizes and more, making it a must-see event.

Nine hoteliers and several Tourist Board representatives from both the Dutch and French sides of St. Maarten will be on hand to meet and network with members of the tourism and travel trade industry in Barbados, as well as the general public.

The product launch will kick-off with a marketplace event on Thursday, April 11 geared toward the travel and trade industry, with a cocktail reception for the trade and industry partners in the evening at the roof garden at the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre. The show will continue on Friday, April 12 with a focus on consumers, however industry contacts are welcome if they were unable to attend the day prior.

For more information on St. Maarten, visit the official site of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau at www.VacationStMaarten.com.

Philipsburg:--- Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot-Williams told reporters on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers' weekly press briefing that the Ministers and Parliamentarians in the Kingdom can scream until doomsday regarding the Bada Bing Investigation. Wescot Williams said that the Kingdom Council of Ministers' meetings are normally confidential (closed door) meetings and since some Ministers from the Kingdom chose to speak about a meeting they held on March 28th, 2013 where the law and order on St. Maarten was discussed and the Dutch Ministers expressed concerns regarding Bada Bing investigation. Wescot Williams said that St. Maarten's Minister of Plenipotentiary Mathias Voges had updated her on what was discussed in the Kingdom Council of Ministers' meeting. She said Minister Voges told her that some Ministers expressed their concerns especially regarding the Bada Bing investigation. "Prior to this meeting being held, I had informed the Minister of Plenipotentiary of the general information I got from the Prosecutor's Office regarding the Bada Bing investigation (ORCA). That general information is that the investigation was progressing." Wescot Williams said unless she received other information which contradicts what she was told, due course will be followed and the justice systems are working notwithstanding what is being said by the Dutch politicians. Wescot Williams said that the information she received and passed on to St. Maarten's Minister of Plenipotentiary was conveyed to the Kingdom Council of Ministers.

Minister of Justice Position Remains in Tact.

The Prime Minister said with regards to the position of the Minister of Justice Roland Duncan, discussions were held and she in particular held discussions regarding the allegations (rumors) against the Minister of Justice which state that the Minister of Justice has other activities than the position he holds as Minister of Justice. "Until the Minister of Justice indicates to me that there is some truth to the allegations (rumors) regarding his other activities only then I will hold discussions with the Minister of Justice regarding his other activities and what we will do about these other activities. I do not have that information and I will leave it up to the Minister of Justice to divulge any other information if he feels it is necessary. As Prime Minister, I do not have any other information that would make it necessary for me and the Minister of Justice to hold any discussion on any other activity or side activity."

Wescot Williams said that the Kingdom Council of Ministers can discuss matters relating to St. Maarten, Aruba, or Curacao. "I want to inform the Members of the Kingdom Council of Ministers who feel that things on St. Maarten are going hay-wire, it is not the case and they need to allow the system to do its work. The Judicial authorities have indicated that these particular allegations are being investigated and they need to let the investigation take its course. There is a Government of St. Maarten, The Parliament of St. Maarten, and the Judicial System. "Democracy is based on the separation of powers. Government should not be doing Parliament work and vise versa, neither can government do judicial work. In other words, I cannot wear the cap of the Prosecutor and the Prosecutor cannot sit on Government seat or Parliament. Unless these systems begin to crisscross then the system would have to continue doing its work."

The Prime Minister made clear that no one will put undue pressure on the Government of St. Maarten to do things that are not their responsibility. Wescot Williams said that she is not generalizing the Dutch but there are Dutch politicians that were against St. Maarten becoming a country, therefore every opportunity to undermine St. Maarten is being used by some Dutch politicians. Wescot Williams said that good and bad things happen all over the world including in the Dutch Government.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Windward Islands Bank Ltd. (WIB) intends to bring more awareness to St. Maarten's Carnival, via a cross-island initiative with its parent bank Maduro & Curiel's Bank N.V. (MCB) in Curacao. This initiative involves inserting a specially designed carnival card stuffer in 16,500 Kompa Leon credit card statements of MCB's credit card customers. WIB will also offer one lucky winner visiting from Curacao, the opportunity to win NAF. 1,000.00 for making purchases in St. Maarten, using their Kompa Leon credit card during Carnival season. The campaign begins on April 6th and ends on May 2nd, 2013.

The card stuffers welcome guests on one side with images of places to go and things to do in St. Maarten in Papiamentu. It also displays all business areas where Kompa Leon is accepted and the opportunity to win NAF. 1,000.00 with Kompa Leon. Information on events and images of Carnival, including Carnival merchandise like t-shirts and mugs, which are provided by St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation, are displayed on the reverse side of the statement.

Kompa Leon Credit Card is the only locally owned card throughout the Dutch Caribbean that offers 1% cash back on all purchases where Kompa Leon is accepted. Don't forget to visit the WIB ATM located in the Festival Village or any of our conveniently located ATM. Most major businesses are powered by WIB's merchant terminals for safe and secure payments.

WIB welcomes all visitors to St. Maarten for Carnival to "WIB's Kompa Leon for SXM Carnival". Jump-start Carnival by joining us on April 26th for WIB's Block Party.

Printing of our tickets got delayed over the Easter weekend; they are expected to be on island by Thursday/Friday of this week; we will update the public via the general media as soon as the tickets have arrived!

Ticket outlets will be: Van Dorp (Both Locations), DVD Express (Yogesh Building), SOL/Tackling Cole Bay, Vernon's Hang Out Spot (Orange Grove), and Fun Miles.

French side: Eye Light (Bellevue), Urban Vibez (St.James), MSR Cable TV (all locations), Faxinfo and Music Caraibes (both are across from the Marigot Ballfield), and Nayah's Boutique (located in Grand Case across from Rainbow Restaurant).

Ticket prices will be $35 until April 15th!

V.I.P seating is also available

For more infos: FB : Zouk Kompas Bouyon Fest

Infolines: 721 5263047 - 0690 882090

Pond Island:--- Organizers of the TelEm Group's Fun Park event that was postponed Easter Sunday due to inclement weather, have announced a new date for the event to be staged.
The Fun Park will now open as planned on Saturday, April 6 at the same venue – The TelEm Group parking lot - starting at 12:00 noon.
Unfortunately, due to last Sunday's postponement, some of the jugglers and fun performers from abroad had to leave the island to perform in other shows and will not be appearing this Saturday, however the organizers are busy finding replacement acts to add to the host of fun activities.
"We are happy to announce that our cartoon characters, Spongebob Squarepants, Dora and Mickey will still be joining in the fun Saturday upcoming along with some additional characters, " said event coordinator, Angel Richardson.
She says all the characters are looking forward to meeting with and entertaining St. Maarten's boys and girls.
Ms. Richardson said a search to find some novel new entertainers for Saturday's event is going well and assured that advertised activities at the Fun Park, such as rock climbing, face painting, bungee jumping and spray painting will take place as planned.

Also, the art contest, being held in collaboration with the Sint Maarten PRIDE Foundation, will also take place Saturday upcoming.
"We are very disappointed and would like to apologize to the public for postponing the Family Fun Park event on Sunday due to bad weather the previous night and a waterlogged grounds," said Ms. Richardson.
She said in the end considerations of safety were a priority and the organizers decided to postpone the event to a later date.
Since the event was planned to be held around the Easter holiday break, and has Easter as its theme, the organizers say it would not be practical to hold it any later than the weekend upcoming – hence Saturday's date.

Telem Press Release

BAIE-MAHAULT, Guadeloupe:--- The third International Congress of Caribbean Writers will take place at the Langley Resort Fort Royal in Deshaies, Guadeloupe, French West Indies, from April 10 to 13, 2013.

Held under the theme "Our Fight for Freedom, A Collective Epic", the prestigious event takes places every two years under the auspices of the Regional Council of Guadeloupe and the Association of Caribbean Writers.

The meeting attracts numerous renowned writers from the French, English, Dutch and Spanish speaking Caribbean. Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guyana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela will have representatives.

With participants drawn from so many countries in the Caribbean and Latin America organizers welcome an extraordinary diversity of cultural heritage on display, comprising the backbone of the common Caribbean existence.

Following appearances by St. Lucia's Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott for the first edition, and noted writer Marcio Veloz Maggliolo of the Dominican Republic for the second, American novelist, short story writer and poet, Russell Banks will be the guest of honour at the third meeting this month. A committed man of letters, Banks is a prolific, award-winning writer of fiction and lectures in contemporary literature at Princeton University in New Jersey.

Banks will also lead the opening session on Thursday, April 11, with a debate about 'The historic truth or romantic fiction of Caribbean literature'.

Over the four days of the writers congress, in addition to the intensive writing workshops, author meeting exchanges with the public, including school children, will take place.

The main objectives of the event include increasing the awareness and adding channels for the distribution of Caribbean literature across language barriers, within and beyond the region.

"The spirit of the Congress of Caribbean Writers is that the greater sharing of our experiences and our cultural heritage remains the best way of communicating with the world. We also believe that the presentations of literary work and strengthening of the Caribbean writers network will contribute to economic development within the region and the cultural sector in particular," the organizers report.

CAY HILL:--- The Supervisory Council of St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) is pleased to announce that Mrs. Yvonne van Ameijden has been appointed as the Interim Financial Director and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of SMMC as of April 1, 2013.
Mrs. Van Ameijden holds a masters degree in Strategic Business Administration. She has a vast experience in top management positions in various health care organizations including a nurse care and home care organization with over 1200 employees and being the operations manager for the laboratories and pharmacy division of the university hospital of Utrecht in the Netherlands as well as holding a position as interim manager at ADC in Curacao from 2002 to 2003. As interim manager she has assisted diverse organizations with the development of quality improvements, cost reductions and development and implementation of strategic policy measures.
"After executing an extensive interview process with several candidates we believe that Mrs. van Ameijden is a good fit for the interim position at the SMMC and we are very pleased that she has accepted," said dr. Izzy Gerstenbluth Chairman of the Supervisor Council of SMMC.
The review of the organizational structure is one of the priorities of the St. Maarten Medical Center. Mid last year, SMMC has commissioned an independent agency to conduct an organizational scan of the hospital. Based on that the Supervisory Council has decided to fill the Board of Directors with two positions: a Financial Director and a Medical Director.
Currently the open recruitment process to fill said position in the Board of Directors for the long term is ongoing. This is a separate process that is not connected to the interim position.
St. Maarten Medical Center will continue as usual, to work towards improving the level and quality of care for the benefit of all the residents of St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius and surrounding islands. We look forward to doing so in collaboration with our stakeholders.

The Supervisory Council of the SMMC

Philipsburg:--- A Guyanese national identified as Nandrai Avinash Singh is now in police custody as he is accused of stealing tools from Bobby's Marina Boatyard on Thursday. Robert Velasquez told SMN News that Singh was working for him in the boatyard for quite some years now. The businessman said it's been some time now that they have been missing tools from the boatyard and while they suspected two of the workers they had no solid proof until last Thursday. Velasquez said that on Thursday he and two of his managers caught Singh red-handed when he tried to remove a bag that had a number of tools belonging to the boatyard. "I personally screamed out at Singh when I saw him putting the bag over a fence. When Singh realized that I saw he began running and two of my managers Eric Koning (Yard Manager) and Frans Niewenhoven (General Manager) started to run behind Singh so that they could have stopped him." Velasquez said at some point Singh got into a car and he tried to run over Eric Knoning. "I fired Singh on the spot because everything is on tape which was turned over to the police on Thursday, the police visited my business place shortly after the incident and viewed the tape."

The businessman is more upset because he assisted Singh when he was locked up by police when his seven year old son shot his baby daughter with a flare gun and killed her two years ago. "I paid the lawyer's fee and assisted Singh's wife when they were having problems after the death of his daughter and he chose to repay me by stealing all my tools which he is working with in Anguilla after hours. Recently, Singh has been reporting sick almost two days a week because he is going over to Anguilla to work." The businessman further explained that another employee whom he fired about two weeks ago is also involved in stealing from his business place.

SMN News learnt that Singh was arrested on Tuesday when he went to the police station to file report against his employers.

Prosecutor Dounia Benammar confirmed that suspect was arrested on Tuesday on the suspicion of theft.

Pond Island:--- Following the Easter holiday break, TelEm Group technicians will be resuming emergency repair work on a main line cable in the Pelican area, Thursday, April 4th, 2013.
Two sections of the main cable were successfully repaired before the Easter holiday break and this has already improved communication to some parts of Pelican.
Another major section of the cable will be disconnected, repaired and reconnected to residential and business clients between 6:00 am and 12:00 noon, Thursday.
As a result of the repair works there will be no telecommunication services to business and residential clients in the Pelican area between the aforementioned hours.
TelEm Group management apologizes to customers in the Pelican area for any inconvenience caused while these very important emergency repair works are being carried out.

Telem Press Release

Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA), the largest private business representative on the island, representing a broad range of companies including amongst others: the hotel, restaurant, catering and entertainment industry, wholesalers, retailers, real estate, marine trade, financial and legal services, taxi associations, car rentals, construction companies, and environmental organizations; would like to recognize and appreciate that the wheels of Justice in St. Maarten are turning slowly but deliberately with regards to the recent investigation into a potential bribery incident. This demonstrates that St. Maarten has a fully functioning and independent justice system which is critical to any democracy. While it is important that the investigation completes its process, the SHTA believes that there is an even more critical and fundamental issue which should be the creation of a political system which is transparent and serves the people.

Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, the ultimate goal should be to have a political system that is less susceptible to manipulation by individuals. When individual gain becomes the measure by which decisions are made, the interests of the country and the people that live here become secondary, or worse, irrelevant. Every decision made for personal gain, means that there was one less decision made based on merits.

According to www.transparency.org "CORRUPTION IS THE ABUSE OF ENTRUSTED POWER FOR PRIVATE GAIN. IT HURTS EVERYONE WHO DEPENDS ON THE INTEGRITY OF PEOPLE IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY".

It is under this light that the SHTA reiterates its position that the debate on Electoral Reform is critical for country St. Maarten to develop a culture of transparency and good governance that will allow the island to prosper. Some may consider Electoral Reform idealistic and naïve. Others will claim that expecting the beneficiaries of a system susceptible to corruption, to change that system, is unrealistic. Ultimately, it is up to the people of St. Maarten to determine the environment in which they choose to live. According to Alexis de Toqueville (a French political thinker and historian best known for his work Democracy in America), "In a democracy, people get the government they deserve."

SHTA's suggestions for debate on Electoral Reform:

1. Campaign Finance Reform
   
   Individuals that are campaigning should be required to make public certain information as it pertains to the election process, including sources and amounts of campaign donations in cash, services and in kind. Candidates should make public their business interests and either take positions that don't have conflicts of interest or dissociate from those investments prior to taking office. Candidates should declare after the election how the money was spent.
   
   
2. Delegate Authority
   
   In order to prevent the use of contracts, agreements and permits of all kinds as currency to encourage political supporters, the authority to issue individual licenses, work permits, building permits, bus licenses, taxi licenses, contracts for services, scholarships, land, and housing should be delegated to civil servants under strict guidelines and systems of checks and balances. Elected officials should be focused on developing criteria, transparency, policy, legislation, and oversight instead of actually approving or rejecting individual permits. Appeals could still be handled by elected officials, which would still give them possibilities to intervene when special attention is required. Additionally, this would create a feedback loop whereby policies could be adjusted when necessary.

Citizens interested in voicing their opinions directly to Parliament should do so via their website http://www.sxmparliament.org and go to the contact section or directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. All emails are officially logged by parliament as incoming mail. Please feel free to copy the SHTA at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The SHTA is dedicated to bringing quality to all aspects of life on St. Maarten by promoting sustainable economic development for its members in cooperation with the social partners and the creation of a fair marketplace. For more information please contact our offices at 542-0108 or visit our website at www.shta.com.

Great Bay:--- The Ministry of Public Health Social Development & Labor section Collective Preventive Services are making preparations for the eleventh celebration of Vaccination Week of the Americas(VWA), which runs from April 20-27, 2013. Various activities, such as a carnival troupe and community outreach will be the activities to bring about awareness regarding the importance of immunization and to keep the topic on the forefront of political agendas.
Last year an open house was kept at the Festival Village, and a team chaired by Anita Priest took care of the organization of the activity. This year there is a new chair to head the activities for 2013, which is Anuska Gibbs.
Minister of Public Health Social Development & Labor, Cornelius De Weever stated that it is very important for each country to adhere to the required immunization requirements and for parents to ensure that their children are immunized. "On government's end we are offering all school-going children the opportunity to get vaccinated through the school vaccination program."
VWA is an extraordinary effort led by countries and territories of the region to advance equity and access to vaccination. VWA activities strengthen the national immunization programs in the Americas by reaching out to populations with little access to regular health services. Since its inception in 2003, more than 410 million individuals of all ages have been vaccinated during campaigns conducted under the framework of VWA.

Philipsburg:--- The murder of two months old baby Mark Reid of Middle Region has left the entire community in shock and despair. Residents of Middle Region told SMN News that they do not know how to describe the murder of baby Reid because the accident involving the main murder suspect Dalton Le Blanc took place a good distance from where the Reids live. According to information reaching SMN News, the suspect Dalton Le Blanc was involved in an accident not far away from Wing Li Supermarket on Middle Region main road. Le Blanc then left the scene of the accident and went behind Wing Li Supermarket where the Reids live and broke into their home which is located on the lower flat of a two storey house. Based on the information provided to SMN News, Le Blanc broke a glass window next to the main entrance door and entered the apartment where baby Reid and his mother were sleeping. At the time of the incident, the woman and her baby were alone at home since her partner was at work. SMN News learnt that the baby's mother woke up and saw the man inside her house and she left the apartment in order to seek help to get Le Blanc out of her home but by the time she returned to the apartment Le Blanc had already snatched the baby who was asleep and killed him on the main road not far from the accident scene. It is reported that the suspect (Le Blanc) was at the Defiance Heaven Night Club where he had an altercation. However, management of Defiance Haven Night Club said in an invited comment that the man (Le Blanc) broke the back gate of the establishment and went inside the club and stayed for about two to three minutes. According to the camera surveillance system and a security guard at Defiance Heaven, Le Blanc broke the padlock and entered the property at 11:12 pm. The man did not have on any shirt when he entered the property and it appeared as though he was running from someone. A member of the management team said that the man already had a black eye; he did not have on a shirt when he entered the club and his skin was untidy. "When the man was leaving, the security guard at Defiance Heaven Night Club approached the man and asked him what he was doing there and he ran to his car and drove off at high speed. It appears as though Le Blanc was running from someone or he fought with someone because it is also rumored that he was at the L' Esperansa Bar in Middle Region."
SMN News reporter visited the home of the Reids on Wednesday and saw the broken window where the suspect gained entry to the home but the parents of baby Reid were not home to comment on the gruesome murder of their child.
It is believed that Le Blanc must have flipped or lost his mind Tuesday night but that could not be ascertained.

Murder Suspect has no Mental Illness Background --- Reliable Sources.

The man who killed baby Reid around midnight Tuesday has been identified as Dalton Le Blanc, a St. Maartener with Dominican parentage who works as a security guard for Sheriff Security for the past seven years. SMN News has been reliably informed that Le Blanc was stationed at the Simpson Bay Yacht Club for a long period of time because the management of the Yacht Club requested that he be placed there permanently due to his good performance. Sources close to Sheriff Security said that Le Blanc is known to be a quiet and respectable worker and has never shown any signs of violence or erratic behavior. "His actions have left the entire community of St. Maarten, especially his co-workers and those at Simpson Bay Yacht Club in severe shock. No one seems to understand what happened to Le Blanc."
While it is widely reported that the suspect might be suffering from some sort of mental disease, SMN News learnt that Le Blanc went through a series a physiological and psychiatric tests in the Dominican Republic so that he could obtain custody of his child that was living in that country.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Police Department in conjunction with the Prosecutor's Office issued the following press release.

Man arrested in connection with the death of a baby.

On Tuesday April 2nd at approximately 11:30pm, several police patrols were sent to Basseterre Drive for a home break-in. On the scene the investigating officers were informed that the suspect had fled the scene possibly in a vehicle.
While on the scene, the officers heard a very loud sound coming from the Middle region road. They immediately went to Middle Region road where the loud sound came from and encountered a white Toyota vehicle that had struck and destroyed the concrete wall of a house on that road next to a Supermarket.
During the investigation of the traffic accident, the police saw a man approaching them who was possibly the driver of the vehicle. The officers noticed also that this man was carrying something in his hand but because of the darkness they could not identify what this object was. The object turned out to be a baby. The baby at that moment was not giving any sign of life.
Immediately the officers struggled with this man to subdue him. The Police Central Dispatch was informed of the situation and the Paramedics were immediately sent to treat the infant who was already not showing any sign of life. The suspect with initials D. Le B. from the island of Dominica (26) was arrested on the scene and taken to the police department in Philipsburg. The Detective Department and Forensic Department were informed of the situation and immediately came to the scene and started to collect evidence on the scene. Dr. Douglas who arrived shortly after pronounced the death of the victim. The body of the infant victim with initials M.A.R. Jr., two months old was confiscated for further investigation.
This case is still in its preliminary stages and is being investigated by the Detective Department who along with the Forensic Department are putting the pieces together. At this time we cannot give any more information and when it becomes available the media will be informed.

KPSM Police Report

"It is Important that you get a first hand account so you can form own opinion."

Philipsburg:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams reminds the general public to tune into One on One with the Prime Minister on 98.1 Pearl FM starting this Friday at Nine in the morning.

"I encourage the community to tune into this important radio program where you can not only get information about my function within Government but also regarding current affairs and information. It is important that you get a first hand account and information so you can form your own informed opinion," commented the Prime Minister.

The Radio Program will also feature a call-in segment where the population can call in with questions. There is also a website available for those who prefer to email their questions instead of call in on air. The email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

SIMPSON BAY:--- Meals on Wheels Foundation is the latest recipient of a donation made by Seven Seas Water (St. Maarten).

The donation was made to Mrs. Mary Bryson, who is president of the foundation which was founded in the aftermath of devastating hurricane Luis in 1995.

Presenting the cheque was Seven Seas Water (St. Maarten) managing director Franklyn Richards, who remarked that the company is "happy to bridge the gap between the needy and those that are in a position to contribute, by recognizing that any contribution can do much to really make a difference in the lives of others".

He added that "our senior citizens and our children are, sometimes, vulnerable groups in society and the target groups serviced by the foundation. For this reason alone, Seven Seas Water is honored to support this organization's poverty program".

The Meals on Wheels Foundation president expressed gratitude for the gesture and indicated that the contribution would be used to pay for the Meals on Wheels booth which provides hot nutritional meals on a daily basis.

To identify risk factors that foster corruption and identify medium and long term solutions to help reduce risks

While St. Maarten was celebrating the Easter Holidays this past weekend, the Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams revealed that contact has been made with international transparency and anti-corruption body Transparency International regarding conducting a National Integrity System (NIS) assessment.

Initial contact was made about 2 weeks ago and follow up is expected to take place this week.

Prime minister Wescot is responsible for the workings of government, the so-called Internal Affairs, under which the Integrity program falls.

During last year's budget handling in Parliament, the Prime Minister already announced that a NIS would be conducted as part of the Integrity Program.

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

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

Transparency International developed the National Integrity System approach as a comprehensive means of assessing a country's anti-corruption efficacy sector by sector. It allows a nuanced analysis of national efforts to stamp out corruption.

PILLARS OF NATIONAL INTEGRITY

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

When all the pillars in a National Integrity System are functioning well, corruption remains in check. If some or all of the pillars wobble, these weaknesses can allow corruption to thrive and damage a society.

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

NATIONAL INTEGRITY SYSTEM ASSESSMENTS

A National Integrity System assessment examines both the formal framework of each pillar and the actual institutional practice. The analysis highlights discrepancies between the formal provisions and reality on the ground, making it clear where there is room for improvement.

The analysis is undertaken via a consultative approach, involving the key anti-corruption agents in government, civil society, the business community and other sectors.

Conclusions are drawn together in a comprehensive national report to build momentum, political will and civic pressure for relevant reform initiatives.

According to the TI site the program will ultimately result in a strengthening the National Integrity System promotes better governance across all aspects of a society and contributes to a more just society overall.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Youth Extravaganza for Carnival 2013 just got a little bigger. Already one of Carnival's largest local nights, the event will be headlined by hip hop star Ace Hood for Carnival 2013.

The format of the Youth Extravaganza will include local youth showcasing their various talents followed by Ace Hood who will close off the night performing hits like Hustle Hard and his latest single Bugatti which is tearing up the Hip Hop charts.

The promoter and SCDf will announce ticket prices and promo specials later this week. Both parties are excited about putting one of the up and coming hip hop stars on stage for Carnival.

Born Antoine McColister in Port St. Lucie, Florida, Ace Hood was raised by his mother in Deerfield Beach, twenty miles north of Miami. Rap music became his full-time obsession after he suffered a football injury in the tenth grade, effectively putting the kibosh on any professional sports career.

By age 17, he was recording tracks for local imprint Dollaz & Dealz and had a few street singles put out. In November of the following year, Ace maneuvered his way into meeting DJ Khaled at local radio station 99 Jamz and handed the Miami mixtape DJ his demo.

Within a matter of weeks, DJ Khaled signed Ace, then 19 years old, as the first artist to his newly formed We the Best Music, which obtained distribution through Def Jam a few weeks after that. Ace's Def Jam debut single, the Runners-produced "Cash Flow," featuring Rick Ross and ubiquitous hook singer T-Pain, arrived in early 2008 and turned out to be a smash hit on South Florida radio.

A few mixtapes and guest appearances later, he released his first full-length, Gutta, in summer 2008. Ruthless followed the next year and, like its predecessor, peaked at number five on Billboard's R&B albums chart. Two years would pass before the ambitious Blood Sweat & Tears arrived, featuring some of Hood's best work to date.

Seminar Will Address Issues of Transborder Crime and Migration

The Website for the International Civil Aviation Organization Regional Seminar to be held on St. Maarten from the ninth until eleventh of July. The website link is http://www.icao.int/Meetings/mrtd-SintMaarten2013 and offers stakeholders important information on the important Civil Aviation Seminar to be held on St. Maarten. The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honourable Sarah Wescot-Williams held a first planning session with the Ad-Hoc Committee established to organize the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regional seminar in early March. The Ad Hoc committee includes representatives from the Department of General Affairs, the Justice Ministry, the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Tourism and Transportation and from PJIAE. The main goal of the seminar will be to assist States in the region with challenges related to cross border immigration within the Caribbean Region.

The Government of St. Maarten and the ICAO will host the Regional Seminar in conjunction with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UN CTED), the INTERPOL to build on, and contribute to, the ongoing efforts and to emphasize the importance of promoting travel document security, particularly in regard to insuring the integrity of the systems through which these documents are issued and the inspection, verification and examination of such documents. Different aspects of travel document security will be covered as outlined below, with the objective of identifying existing gaps, outlining the use of tools such as biometrics, best practices using national programs to exemplify, and when identifying vulnerabilities, taking measures to effect improvements.

A particular challenge that will be addressed during the meeting is related to the Caribbean region containing a considerable number of Dutch, British and French overseas territories. While not part of major regional cooperation frameworks (e.g., the Caricom), those islands are nevertheless part of the overall illegal migration and trans-border crime dynamics in the Caribbean and face common security challenges along with other Caribbean States. The proposed ICAO MRTD Regional Seminar in Sint Maarten presents a step forward in addressing those challenges in a coordinated regional manner in the spirit of inclusion and cooperation.

From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister

The National Committee Inauguration designed an orange bow as the official recognition for festive activities throughout the Kingdom. As part of the activities marking the inauguration of King Willem Alexander, five persons, associations and/or organizations locally will be rewarded with an orange bow to recognize their activities to mark this historical event. Each country within the Kingdom will be recognizing five initiatives. His Excellency, the Governor of St. Maarten Drs. Eugene Holiday will bestow this special recognition to the respective persons, associations and/or organizations.
To qualify for an orange bow persons, associations and/or organizations must meet the following requirements:

1. The activity must be original, positive, and authentic
2. It must speak to a wide audience
3. The activity must fit within the theme "My dream for our country, inspiration for our King."

If your association qualifies for the recognition of an "orange bow", or if you want to submit the name of an association that meets the criteria, kindly submit your activity to the following email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Friday, April 5, 2013, under the subject "Orange Bow".
Please state:

1. Name of organization
2. Name of activity
3. Description of activity
4. Why your activity qualifies for an orange bow
5. Your contact information

Qualifying associations will be informed by April 17, 2013. Selected organizations may use the logo in their publications to display their support to the National Committee Inauguration in their festive activities. The logo however may not be used for commercial purposes.
For more ideas and suggestions, visit the website: http://www.mijndroomvooronsland.nl/nl-NL/4/oranje-strik.

PHILIPSBURG:--- During a number of controls that have been carried out by Police and officials from the Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), it was noticed that the management of a number of businesses (bars and restaurants) have placed objects, such as plants (flower pots), benches, chairs, umbrellas, signs etc., out in front of their businesses along the public roads.

The Police would like to point out to everyone that this is not permitted without the written consent of the Minister in charge of Ministry VROMI.

The aforementioned is a breach of Article 8 (a) of the "Algemene Politie Keur Sint Maarten".

It is stated in the abovementioned article that it is prohibited, without the permission of the Minister of VROMI, to plant, place, extend, hang, fasten, expand, store, dry, ventilate and or drag absolutely anything, in, on or over the public road.

It is also advised that besides the fact that these actions are prohibited by law, this can also lead to dangerous situations. For example, bars and restaurants are placing chairs and tables within one (1) meter of the roadside where traffic is passing at high speed.

It has also been observed that umbrellas are placed too close along the road and with a gust of wind; they could land on the public road.

This can cause a serious threat not only to motorists and pedestrians, but to the clients of these establishments as well.

It is for that reason, that the police in collaboration with the Ministry of VROMI will take action against these situations by enforcement of the legislation.

To start off, offenders will receive a written notice in which instructions are given to remove objects along the public roads within seven (7) days of the notice. Failure to do so within the given timeframe will result in the objects being removed at owner's expense.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Finance informs the community that the Tax Administration Sint Maarten Inspectorate Department will have the 2012 Income Tax Return Form available as of April 5, 2013.

Based on Article 7, Section 1 of the General Ordinance on Federal taxes, the tax return has to be submitted to the Inspector of Taxes within two months after the April 5, 2013 date of issue which falls on June 5, 2013.

A request for extension must be submitted before June 5, 2013, and a valid reason should be stated in the request.

This year the Income Tax Return Form is also available via the online services of the Government of St. Maarten: http://onlineservices.sintmaartengov.org. Persons should also note that the 2012 Income Tax Return Form cannot be filed online.

Persons who do not have access to the internet can pass at the Tax Administration, Vineyard Building for assistance in obtaining the 2012 Income Tax Return Form.

An information session with respect to the procedure to request an E-login and how to download the Income Tax Return form, will take place on Thursday, April 4 at the Belair Community Center, Cay Hill, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Additional sessions will be held.

You are requested to apply for an E-login as follow:

1) Go to http://onlineservices.sintmaartengov.org,

2) Select the E-login request in the upper right hand corner,

3) Complete the E-login request: For the field, select your account type, you have to select "person".

After which you will fill in the remaining fields. The * will indicate the required fields.

4) After the request is completed, press "Submit Request",

5) If the request was successfully submitted, you will see the following message: "You have successfully submitted your request for an e-login, you will receive an mail in order to enable your account". The email which you will receive will be from the Public Service Center and will be sent to the email address which you have stated in the E-login request.

How to download the 2012 Income Tax Return Form:

1) In the email you will receive your username and password.

2) Click on "click here" where it is stated in the email in order to complete the registration.

This takes you to the login screen.

3) Type in your password and press "Log in now".

4) Select: Download declaration forms.

5) Fill in CRIB nr. and Surname; Select year (which is 2012) ; Select: Income Tax and press "Search" .

6) Press on the "pdf file" and download form.

The form will be downloaded with your name and CRIB nr.

Those who would like additional information can call: 520-4643 or 520-4640.

A new community service program developed in part by students at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) aims to promote good health for residents of Sint Maarten.

Project HELP (Health Education Literacy and Prevention) was started by physicians-in-training Nimish Sudan and Malary Mani, in collaboration with the Sint Maarten Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor. Project HELP plans to hold monthly health events throughout Sint Maarten, where AUC students will gain valuable hands-on experience assisting local physicians with screenings for heart health and blood pressure, as well as eye and ear checks and educational workshops on diet and exercise. These health checks will also provide the Department of Public Health with a more informed view of the health of the Sint Maarten population and promote health awareness.

"The study of medicine is a great privilege with an accompanying social responsibility to patient-centered research, public health and community service," said Dr. Ronald Testa, AUC dean of medical sciences. "In its goal to educate uninsured and underserved residents about health risks and indicators, as well as prevention of illness, Project HELP exemplifies AUC's core mission."

The first Project HELP event will be held on Saturday, April 6, 10:00am - 1:00pm at the Dutch Quarter Clinic - Community Help Desk in the Dutch Quarter. Screenings are complimentary.

PHILIPSBURG:--- As part of the efforts to upgrade and improve the professionalism of the Police Department in dealing with situations concerning "Relational and Domestic Violence", a request by the Police Management was made to the Peridot Foundation to have a lecture given to all its workers concerning this issue. Seeing the necessity to have this lecture given to the Police Department which is confronted with these types of situations on a daily basis, the President and Founder of the Peridot Foundation Drs. Gracita Arrindell, Honorable Member of Parliament, has provided the department with four dates during the month of March on which she gave these lectures. All lectures were attended to capacity and many issues were brought forward and discussed. Topics such as: revised legislation, cooperation between stakeholders and information to employees, a sound process description through new legislation and policies by the Public Prosecutor's Office, an efficient Management and Information System, relational and domestic violence hidden within the organization, prevention internally and externally, training of employees, establishing a victim assistance agency and a social worker or psychiatrist available to the police were discussed.
These lectures were very informative for the workers of the Police Department and gave them a better insight on this topic and how to better deal with these type of situations.
At the end of the last lecture Drs. Gracita Arrindell was presented with a small token and certificate of appreciation. The workers of the police force expressed their gratitude.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Zaya Records & OMC Music, the organizers of the "Zouk Kompas Bouyon Fest" that is expected to rip open Carnival Village on Saturday April 20th, have made it easy for a few internet savvy Zouk lovers to attend their show. "Like our Facebook page (Zouk Kompas Bouyon fest) post a picture of yourself with your ticket and you might win your ticket money back," the promoters said. Not a big gamble, they figure, because everybody is on Facebook.

The "Zouk Kompas Bouyon Fest" will feature an impressive line-up of headliners in three genres of music: the legendary complete Zouk band Kassav, the definitive kings of Kompas CARIMI, and the undisputed Prince of Bouyon music, young sensation Asa Banton.

"We're excited about this and we're sure the public is too. We thought, why not make it interesting," said the organizers. "Practically everybody has a Facebook page today. It will be interesting to see if people are paying attention."

The inventive raffle enables people who have already secured their entree at one of the ticket points, to post a photo of themselves online with, with the ticket clearly displayed. Every week, until the 18th, three pictures will be chosen and the winners announced on our Facebook page and in the local media. "We also suggest that people keep their eyes on our page, because we might come up with some other possibilities for them to attend this show for free," the promoters said.

The show is definitely a must-do during this year's Carnival season, they say. "The three acts are sure to bring an explosive night of musical entertainment."

Promoters are reaffirming to the general public that Kassav band will be here for the show with all members on stage that night.

"Our $20 ticket promo was very successful and regular tickets will go on sale sometime this week; we will inform the public via the press when that is done. See our Facebook page (Zouk Kompas Bouyon fest) for more details". "Beginning this week tickets will be USD $35 until April 15th."

Formed in 1979, Kassav' was the leading band to emerge from the formative years of zouk. Most authors credit Décimus, his brother Georges, the band's bassist and Desvarieux as its inventors. Their first album, Love and Ka Dance (1980), established the new sound of zouk, a Parisian concoction unlike anything else, island-based or otherwise to come onto the global scene. The band gained popularity in their much-heralded live performances in Paris's Club Zenith and toured widely.
Kassav' continued to gain popularity both as a group and by several members' solo recordings, eventually peaking in 1985 with Yélélé, which featured the international hit "Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni" (meaning "Zouk is the only medicine we have" in French Antillean Creole).

Receiving accolades from the International music scene, including Best Album Of The Year, Carimi has risen to the top of the charts across Billboards best in Haiti, Guadeloupe, Paris, French Guyana, Canada, and parts of Europe.
The music industry is now ready to acknowledge the world's best Haitian Kompa band to ever come out of Haiti and has been openly welcomed by music lovers even those who do not like much Kompa genre. After 10 years, Carimi Band is not just popular but have become a music icon in the country of Haiti representing the Kompas genre of music throughout the world.

Asa Banton is blowing up all over the world and fast becoming the Prince of Bouyon music. Asa first appeared with Jah Crew from grand Bay Dominica. The "tell it like it is" child of Grandbay exploded in 2009 with the hit "Grandbay", following up with many other hits like "Spray D Bagon Kill D Cockroach".
Working with Le Vadore Concept out of Guadeloupe Asa has collaborated with Suppa and R.E.C. (Red Eye Crew) and have done numerous shows in Guadeloupe and France. One of his latest hits is the single "I know people that know people".

Capital Improvement Projects, Departure Fee to BES islands

Simpson Bay:--- The Representative of the Netherlands (VNP) in St. Maarten, Gert Versluis, last Thursday paid a courtesy visit to SXM Airport Managing Director, Regina LaBega. It was his first official visit to the airport. SXM Airport Marketing Manager, Kalifa Hickinson sat in at the meeting.

LaBega briefed the Dutch Representative about the several ongoing Capital Development Projects the airport has embarked on, including the Runway Rehabilitation Project, the new retail strategy, acquisition of properties and other strategic initiatives aimed at expanding the facilities and services of the airport and to maintain its all-important hub function.

The meeting, which lasted about an hour was, according to LaBega, "cordial and pleasant."

"It was quite interesting to note that Mr. Versluis has had some experience in the industry," she said. "This made the discussions even more focused and meaningful."

Regarding the runway, LaBega disclosed that the rehabilitation project is now in progress and is scheduled to be completed in the first week of October 2013.

She also indicated that the implementation of the new retail strategy is in full swing, the objective being to increase non-aeronautical revenue and boost earnings for the concessionaires at the same time, while improving passenger experience.

Versluis mentioned that at Schiphol, non-aeronautical revenue is more than revenue derived from aeronautical sources. In actual fact, it represents some 70% of total revenue. For SXM, the goal is to raise non-aeronautical revenue to about 28% of its total income.

The Dutch Representative then brought up the issue of the airport departure fees (ADF) for the BES islands, particularly Saba and St. Eustatius, which he termed "unreasonable."

LaBega strongly contested this, pointing out with facts and figures that not only are they reasonable but that Saba and St. Eustatius are still treated preferentially compared to the departure tax paid by passengers to St. Barths and Anguilla.

With the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010, what used to be considered "domestic" flights ceased to exist. However, the former "domestic" passengers pay a departure tax of US$20 compared to US$35 paid by those bound for St. Barths and Anguilla even though the latter two destinations combined make up about 15% of the total passenger movement at SXM, while passengers to Saba and St. Eustatius account for less than a quarter of one percent.

Stressing the hub function of SXM, LaBega said the airport strives to serve its clients optimally, while maintaining and even expanding market share, which are defined by financial performance and customer satisfaction.

The need to maintain market share is underlined by the recent loss of Fixed Base Operation (FBO) business to St. Kitts due to inadequate parking space for private jets at SXM as well as challenges in the supply of fuel. LaBega explained that the planned relocation of the current FBO building and of the fuel farm is aimed also at ameliorating the situation.

She further discussed the acquisition of new property, indicating that an environmental impact study was conducted to determine the opportunity to further acquire property, given that like most airports, improvements and expansion are critical for which additional property is often required.

For his part, Versluis earlier congratulated the airport for its recent bond issue, which would facilitate all these projects. He indicated also that while at Schiphol, he had experience with Schiphol Self Service Passport Control. This allows passengers holding a biometric passport to process their immigration control themselves.

SXM is interested in making this possible, LaBega stated, in collaboration with the tourism and justice ministries "as it is innovations like these that will enable airports to provide passengers with a relaxed and enjoyable travel experience."

"Quality time and experience at airports are important. Passengers today want to be their own travel managers," LaBega noted.