Articles

Re; Van Raak (SP) worried nothing will improve. (The Daily Herald, Tuesday, August 25, 2009, page 5)

Dear Mr. VAN RAAK,

We have taken serious notice of your concerns as published in the Daily Herald as mentioned above.

For the record.

We too have said it many times before, and repeat it here again.

As Antilleans and St. Martiners living on the island, most of us fail to see even the slightest of reason to anticipate, let alone to ‘rejoice’ in the ‘coming’ of the so-called ‘Country St. Maarten’ status, as certain politicians expect by the magical date of ‘10-10-10’.

While the main reason for this skepticism has in the past been a deep lack of trust in government and politicians in general, to date even the current government has not (yet ?) managed to fundamentally create and/or improve conditions for trust in any status change as far as we are concerned.

To the contrary.

It still appears that what most, if not all politicians are concerned about and pre-occupied with, is the creation of a new constitutional ‘structure’ with attractive positions for politicians and their cronies.

At the same time, they seem completely un-concerned about, and insensitive to the need to guarantee the interests and civic-rights of the native St. Martin people and Antilleans residing on the island.

Consequently, our very existence as a people is threatened by ‘genocide by substitution’ under the guise of ‘Country St Maarten status’.

In other words, while priority is given to bring about ‘Country St. Maarten status’, un-controlled immigration, giving all kinds of ‘trumped up’ human rights to immigrants is simply resulting in the native St. Martiners and Antilleans on the island facing their demise as a distinct people.

This should be absolutely un-acceptable within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which prides itself as model for democracy across the globe !

Therefore, inasmuch as the politicians talk about the ‘importance’ of and the ‘priority’ for constitutional change…….

Inasmuch as some of them travel throughout the Caribbean to ‘bring the Caribbean together,’………

And inasmuch as they travel to The Hague ‘demanding’ the new status by ’10-10-10’,

Inasmuch as all of the abovementioned and more, in reality the more desperate in many ways, the situation of the island is becoming by the day for the people of this land.

Indeed one really gets the impression that either the State-secretary, Anke BIJLEVELDT-SCHOUTEN is not fully aware of the dilemma the people are in, or the State-secretary knows the situation, but wants the ‘job done nevertheless’, regardless the consequences.

But guess who will still have to deal with the consequences.

Not only the people of the island, but certainly the Dutch government and Dutch tax-payers as well.

Meanwhile, the ‘clock’ keeps ticking away until such time….

If the 'new status' does not specifically benefit the people of the island and the Antilleans residing here, then what is its purpose ?

To benefit politicians and all others flocking to the 'Friendly island' by all means necessary to discover their 'human-rights' here ?

--

Leopold James

President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia

-------

Dear Mr. CHARLES,

Respectfully, I hereby respond to your letter to the editor entitled, 'Names of letters writers must be included', in the Daily Herald of Saturday, August, 22, 2009.

First of all, I could not agree more with your general reasoning in that particular article and I commend you highly for doing such under your own name.

For your information, I too have publicly expressed, on many occasions my objections to letters by anonymous writers which criticize and condemn others.

In the event you did not know already, few persons have been attacked as often and as mean like I have, by writers whose identity have been conveniently protected by the editors of the local news-papers.

Nevertheless, I have continued expressing myself, in the process very clearly identifying myself, while on many occasions my letters were never published in which I tried to defend myself.

Talking about freedom of expression and democracy for all !

Nevertheless, Mr. CHARLES, while I agree with you and oftentimes can not stand the use of 'obscurity' and 'anonymity' as a 'shield' for certain people to express themselves, I also understand WHY that is the 'modus operandi' at times for certain people.

Therefore, where I disagree with you is on the 'praise' you bestow upon Mr. BIJNSDORP for his 'bravery' in identifying himself when writing his articles.

With all due respect to you and to Mr. BIJNSDORP, I fail to see where he deserves any policy to be named in his honor for this 'bravery'.

Gimme a break, please !

Quite to the contrary.

My position is based on your lack of 'enabling perspective' in concluding the man being 'brave'.

It is well known, that history has created some very 'uneven' and 'unequal' life-determining circumstances for people.

These differences can explain to a great extent a person's and/or a people's behavior and culture.

Whether one wants to acknowledge it or not, it is an undeniably fact that there are very understandable reasons for many of our local St. Martin people, not always identifying themselves when criticizing politicians and others.

The psychological trauma of slavery passed down through many generations is a very potent one for instance.

Being too 'conscious' or too 'brave' then and still in our 'modern times', can carry very 'unattractive' consequences and 'penalties' for an individual, and at times for entire families.

Since too many local St. Martin people have become victim of political victimization, for many therefore, there is not exactly much incentive for being 'brave'.

Now, take your 'brave' Mr. BIJNSDORP now.

He comes from a society of former colonial masters, with a very strong sense 'superiority' versus other cultures and a history of total domination over large portions of the world.( 'We benne klein, maar dapper' )

Just check out the Dutch literature and study the effect of the deeply rooted 'Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet culture'.

In addition, in the Dutch culture being outspoken, knowing one's own rights and freedom has always been encouraged and rewarded as opposed to being persecuted.

Expressing one's self freely, with no limits in a satirical manner, has resulted in a long tradition of well-respected and highly paid 'conferenciers' in the Netherlands.

Therefore, in that larger perspective, there is absolutely no courage necessary for this type of self-expression; niks, nada, niente, zilch.....

Besides, I daresay, that Mr. BIJNSORP, like many of his compatriots full well know that many of us Black people still are troubled with the 'lingering remnants' of feeling inferior to 'White'Man'.

Consequently, many Caucasians make very effective use of that psychological 'edge', even if they are in a predominantly Black environment.

As a matter of fact, some behave like 'Kings in blind man's land' in certain countries, with the exception of course with showing such 'bravery' in so-called fundamental Muslim countries !

So, as long Mr. BIJNSDORP chooses the 'Friendly island' over countries like Yemen, North-Korea etc. to identify himself while criticizing the country's social- and political leaders, his 'bravery' might be nothing more, nothing less than pure opportunism.

In ending, I hope to have brought some 'perspective' and balance in the exercise of 'praising one to the skies', while 'criticizing the other to the ground'.

In my opinion, it would be much more constructive for the media to encourage critical, but rational and intellectual debates about the root-causes of the issues affecting our society and ways to resolve them.

Hopefully this letter could be a very modest beginning.

However, I will patiently await whether or not this letter will 'qualify' and pass the high bar set by the Daily Herald in order to be published.

My website (www.stmartinnation.org) will for sure though,

Leopold JAMES

As always, a proud, conscious native-indigenous St. Martiner, with out any apologies.

Beware of those who are stealing property from property investors with the claim of a verbal contract!

Do you know that a landlord has to support an Antillean or even a St. Maarten Resident if they can not pay rent?

That’s right! it could take up to two years of giving free rent to get them out for not paying.

Further, did you know that they can claim a verbal contract, show no proof and get the police to support them.

That is right, real instances here that are happening here in St. Maarten. As the economy downturn continues. St. Maarten’s prosperity period is over. The building boom is dead. New construction is laying vacant and prices have dropped 35% in places such as Cupe a Coy Yacht Club and other new high end buildings.

There are still buyers who arbitrage the Euro for the Dollar but they too are seeing that the island has big problems for foreign real estate investors that are becoming very visible. Approximately 80% of the real estate in St. Maarten is purchased by foreign investors (i.e. no resident card). Yet this sector has no legal protection and is often the target of harassment. In fact, the tenant laws of St. Maarten prohibit a foreign investor from removing a tenant that has not paid rent. Testimonies on the island claim up to eighteen months or longer and statements from law firms on the island confirm this time frame to remove a non-paying tenant through the legal process.

I own a home near Philipsburg, I rented it to a nice woman from Curacao and her boyfriend. They moved in and all was fine for six months, then she lost her job, the boyfriend who was working construction was then told his project was being put on hold due to the lack of sales. That is bad times that no one wants. I sympathized but I also have bills and live off the rental income generated by this apartment and two others.

What surprised me was that when the couple became two months behind in rent, I pressed them for some payment and told them they would have to move out if they did not pay. They called the police on me! That is right, my non paying tenants threatened me! The police showed up, no RST told me in a threatening and argumentative manner that I could not ask or force the non-paying tenant to leave. When do police make such house calls?

So I called my lawyer and he explained the tenant law to me. The law protects the tenants not the land owners when they do not pay!!! Can you imagine the shock my wife and I had! We were being harassed by police in our own yard because the tenants owned us money. We were also told by the police that we can not enter the tenants property \without their approval? THE TENANTS PROPERTY!!! Where in the world does that make any sense?

This law has to change to protect what is probably the first or second largest source of foreign investment on the island. IF it does not I suggest the Island Government provide rental compensation to property owners for just such events. How can any Government turn to a private individual and demand that they must provide free housing without any compensation from that Government?

Times are tough all around the world, this little island haven where my mother was born (but I was born in England) is not forcing me to adopt a policy to rent only to non-residents and vacationers. And with this decision comes another problem, with the excess of short term rental property on the market combined with the reduced number of visitors to St. Maarten, the short term rental market is just not very good and prices have dropped there also. Plus renting to weekly visitors has a higher cost of both advertising and turnover.

So the only logical answer is to rent to illegal residents. This way if they do not pay, I can call immigration on them at least. Is this really where the Island Government wants their Tenant law to go? I do insert that possibility that the Island Government is not responsible for the Tenant law and it was adopted from Curacao or Holland itself, so while I have not confirmed the origin, I have confirmed the impact. So should I sell and move to Curacao where my parents now live or to the States where the laws of most states protect the landholder or back to England? Leaving behind vacant unrented property for friends and family to use? Or can legal protection be put in place to protect real estate investors and those who be honest hard working and successful rather than those who know how to take advantage of the system and milk me for free rent.

I know from talking with friends and other home owners that the same thing has happen to others. Some have turned off GEBE and the tenants continue to live in a home with no water or electricity. Then they go to GEBE who tells the owner, they can not turn off the utilities if someone is living in there. BUT GEBE can turn them off if someone is living there for non-payment. So the only way to get utilities turned off is to not pay the bill, but if the tenant walks in and pays, GEBE will turn the utilities back on for them even against the owners instructions!

Perhaps GEBE should provide free utilities to non paying tenants?

THE NEXT FEAR FOR PROPERTY OWNERS IS ANOTHER ANTIQUE LAW - THE VERBAL CONTRACT. The worst that I have heard of is a tenant that claimed the owner promised to sell them the property below market rate. The tenant who stopped paying rent already, then somehow had the money to file a legal action against the property owners, claiming Verbal Contract to Purchase the Property. Now there is no proof on either side but the tenant has managed to remain in the property while the case has gone to court. Verbal agreement to purchase property? Worse is that the tenant claims the discussions were over the phone with the owner in Canada.

How can that even hold up in court but in St. Maarten apparently it is law and other way for foreign investors to be threatened. I am never the one to complain without a solution. So be my thoughts on how to fix this. Strike the tenant law off the books and strike the antiquated verbal contract from the books, get up with the modernt times. Protect the land owner and provide some form of payment to people who loose their job from SVB or other sources to pay rent (BUT do not give the money to the tenants). In many countries it is common for the land owner to agree to a reduced rent of say 20% lower, paid to them directly by the government for a period of time not to exceed six months. If the tenants have not found a job by then they must go on welfare and move to government housing or the street.

Sounds tough but welcome to the world economy people are loosing cars, homes and more because they were over leveraged and they lost their jobs. Heck even the banks in the US have gone bankrupt and needed to be bailed out.

I invite The Daily Herald to publish an article entitled The FACTS OF TENANT LAW and VERBAL CONTRACT IN ST. MAARTEN. I challenge real estate companies to produce a fact sheet to inform new and current investors. I pray for the judges to consider the justice of the current laws and see past the antiquated and determine true justice, and I beg the law makers to consider getting these two laws stricken or revised.

A Property Owner like many others who is tired of being taken advantage of by those who abuse the system and who is concerned for all property owners and the long term health and attraction of investment to St. Maarten.

J.A. Wentworth

Delegates attending the 34th Biennial Conference of the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) at the Grenada Grand Beach resort, made a strident call for the positive

Transformation of the classroom of the regions’ schools to meet the Challenges of tomorrow’s world.

Under the theme, “Transforming today’s Classroom for Today’s World,”

The delegates unanimously agreed that for Quality Education to be effectively delivered, student centered technology-based interactive teaching must play a major role in the delivery of instruction in Schools in the Caribbean.

The tone of the Conference was set by President Roustan Job when he delivered the keynote address. He emphatically stated, “Survival demands that we decide on

Educational programmes and techniques that will take us forward.” He

Further added, “Transforming today’s classroom for tomorrow’s world we

need more than anything else, an all-embracing ideology that can ensure love for country and region among our people.”

Several recommendations were made concerning issues surrounding Caribbean teachers. There were also discussions on sub themes: Information Communication Technology in the Classroom, Managing Diversity in the Classroom and the Role of the Trade Union in Classroom Transformation.

Willemstad – Even on his last day as Minister of Justice, David Dick still managed to sign an important financial agreement with the implementing body of the foundation for the development of the Netherlands Antilles (USONA). By this agreement, three million guilders has been made available for the finishing stages of the police cells on St.Maarten and renovation and furnishing of the police offices.

The cellblock at the police station in Philipsburg will be finished by the end of this year. Developer Pream Architects estimates the time of construction to be 85 working days. The contractors will take care of the renovation for both the head office of the police force in Philipsburg as well as the office in Simpson Bay.

The expansion of the head office of the police force consists of a cellblock with a capacity for 35 detainees. The entire building will be equipped with security cameras. From within the surveillance room, the guards will have direct supervision on the cells.

During their arrest, the suspects will be checked by a doctor, who will have a separate doctor’s room in the building at his disposal. The new building meets the requirements of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), which means that it has sufficient lighting, cooling and space in the cells. There will be adequate sanitation to guarantee hygiene. The entire terrain will be locked off and optimally secured.

Members of Parliament Erno Labega of the Democratic Party (DP) and Rodolphe Samuel of the national Alliance (NA) were witness to the signing of the financing agreement on Curacao. This document was signed by the Minister of Justice and Frans Versteeg, the managing director of USONA; the organization, which allocates the funds from the Netherlands for, projects supporting the development of the Netherlands Antilles. In the area of Justice, projects are financed in the framework of the Security Plan Netherlands Antilles (PVNA). The project leader of Housing of PVNA, Ivan Fraites, has prepared the tender for the projects on St.Maarten. The financing was established through talks with Secretary of State of Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld. “I am very pleased that I was still able to do this,” says Minister David Dick. “St.Maarten deserves these new facilities. The Corps of the Leeward Islands is currently going through a complex reorganization development process, which makes it vital to be able to have access to an adequate working environment. This contributes to the many positive changes happening within the Corps. For me, the signing of this agreement was a matter of principle. I will not leave St.Maarten in the lurch.”

Great Bay:----Recently, Nakita Nicholls a HAVO 5 student attending M.P.C. was interviewed by Desiree Webster ( GIS Summer Intern) on her participation in the Business Outreach & Placement Program (BOPP).

Nakita is currently doing her job training program at the Finance Department of the Island Government of St. Maarten, under the supervision of Alex Richardson a Section Head at the department of Finance for a period of six weeks.

Nakita said, “I decided to participate in this program because I wanted a summer job and I wanted to gain work experience, while making some extra money.”

Before Nakita could start her job training, she had an interview with her supervisor and took part in a two-day workshop as part of the BOPP, where she learned how to conduct herself in a professional manner with the right work ethic.

“It took me about a week to settle in at the job because I first needed to learn how to do my job efficiently,” Nakita said. In her time there, she has learned how to work with Quick Books, do data entry, answer phone calls, and send faxes among other things.

She also expressed her feelings of comfort at her work place. When asked about the relationship between her and her colleagues she replied, “We get along good, they are very nice people, and they explain the work very well. I am enjoying my time there.”

Nakita also gave good compliments to the organizers of the BOPP program and said that they should continue with it, additionally the organizers should try to get more small businesses involved.

In her final words, she encouraged more students to take part in the BOPP program and motivated them to do their best because this is a very good program that can benefit them when looking for a job in the future.

This interview can be seen in its entirety on the upcoming GIS BULLETIN news program, Monday 10th on SXM Cable TV 15 at 7 PM.

Pointe Blanche:--- Reliable information reaching SMN News indicated that the police just moments ago arrested the wanted gun man in the Maho robbery. The suspect Louis Albert Alexis, also known as “Sticky.” Was arrested somewhere around the harbor. On Friday Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein said the Prosecutors Offices of the Netherlands Antilles promises a reward of Naf 3000 for the person that provides information leading directly to the arrest of Louis Albert Alexis, also known as “Sticky.”

No information has been released yet on the arrest and if someone led to police to the suspect who was considered to be armed and dangerous.

SIMPSON BAY – Approximately 50 boats and barges including vessels from surrounding islands sought shelter in the Simpson Bay Lagoon due to the threat posed by now downgraded Tropical Storm Ana.

Ana was classified as a Tropical Depression on Sunday afternoon.

Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation Managing Director Russell Voges says that the bridge opened from Thursday to accommodate mariners who were seeking safe shelter in the lagoon. The additional openings carried out during the past days went without any major hick-ups.

Voges added that even during times of scheduled bridge repairs, emergency openings due to a tropical storm/hurricane threat is always included in the planning of these civil works activities.

Civil works for a two week period planned for Monday, August 17 is still on track. The Simpson Bay Bridge will be closed to maritime traffic for a two-week period to facilitate the additional repair work.

Once the weather subsides, the bridge will open during the civil works period to allow vessels to leave the Lagoon.

The main contractor Hofman Sliedrecht will work on the replacement of the traffic barrier boxes and booms; installing new traffic lights and installing a new electrical control cabinet for the bridge.

All the repairs to the Simpson Bay Bridge are based on the recommendations made by Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch Authority for Waterworks and Bridges. They are done to ensure the durability and longevity of the bridge structure.

Philipsburg:---Laugh out Loud Productions is on the move again with hosting a Rapping show on Saturday August 29th at the Philipsburg Cultural Center starting at 8:00pm. In a press release from LOL Coordinator Alida Brown Henry says the show will showcase 10 rappers performing for fans showing off their rap talent. Freestyle focuses on highlighting individual talent during this show,

The artists will go head to head in a freestyle battle for bragging rights to be crowed the Freestyle King 2009 champion, Henry Brown also stated that individual dancers do not get enough lime light this is why we decided to showcase them. The raping on the island has slowed down over the years. The show is being organized with the Cultural Center who says they are happy to be apart of this project. Several guest performers will also perform during the show including the dancer who won the 2008 competition and 3 modeling groups. The competition consist of 3 sections, the first one the rappers will perform their own song, second round they will have to rap about an object given to them on that night and the final round comprises of a freestyle battle. The show is hosted by Yarlin Woodly and a special guest host. Music will be provided by Dj Vlaun winner of the 2009 rock the House Dj Competition. Tickets are available at Van Dorp and participants of the show for only $10. For more information on the show call 5562522.

Great Bay, -On Saturday, August 22 persons in the field of health care ranging from general practitioners, laboratory personnel, social workers, nurses and more attended the kick-off meeting of the three month HIV[℮]Education course by Health[℮]Foundation.

We briefly spoke with Esther Erwteman, Project Manager for the Caribbean region and Gonneke Hermanides, Project Manager based in Curacao regarding the three month course. Esther mentioned that during the kick-off it was important to get feed back from the participants as to what they want to get out of the program.

“We will have group leaders to assist persons, and if the problem cannot be solved then I can be contacted via the e-tutor button,” said Esther. “Each morning when I log on, I can see exactly how far each participant is,” said Esther.

Based on a research project that was done by Gonneke in Curacao, which entailed HIV care in a small Caribbean setting, it was discovered that often the burden of HIV care is on one physician.

“The aim is to have a multi-disciplinary approach to HIV care, to the point where it needs to be decentralized,” said Gonneke. “We discussed this situation with Suzette Moses, and decided that we would develop a plan that the entire country can make use of,” Gonneke continued.

Gonneke told us that this course is unique, because the information is being brought to the participants, and they have a lifetime worth of information via their memory sticks, as the information is continuously being upgraded.

“It is not like a text book that sits on the shelf and after a period of time the information becomes outdated,” said Gonneke.

The entire training will be done via computer online with a USB stick. This group of participants will be eligible for other programs that Health[℮]Foundation offers. At the end of the three-month course the possibility is there to offer a train the trainer’s course, where three to five persons can follow the mentor program, and pass on the knowledge.

“Follow-up is very important,” said Esther.

This entire training is extremely important as a means of promoting the development of improved social services programmes, care, and treatment for persons living with HIV/AIDS and to develop a care and treatment plan.

The aim of HIV[e]Education is to provide healthcare workers with complete and updated information on all aspects of treatment and care for patients with HIV/AIDS. These courses will be done via USB sticks and the internet, and is being done by Health[e] Foundation, a non-profit organization based in the Netherlands.

Willemstad/ Philipsburg:---The renewed discussions on dollarization make it imperative for St. Maarten to re-establish its position on the choice for a monetary system and currency.

After initially weighing the different options in 2000/2001, including dollarization, the choice of St. Maarten was one for its own central bank system and currency.

With the subsequent agreement that St. Maarten and Curacao would have a joint central bank, the position regarding St. Maarten’s own currency was maintained, however this currency and central bank would be a joint undertaking with Curacao.

This agreement entailed a replacement for the Antillean guilder and a Central Bank in which both entities would participate.

From all indications, this position was one shared by the Central Bank of the Netherlands Antilles until now.

With the Bank’s recent announcement that dollarization is worth serious consideration by the new countries of Curacao and St. Maarten, we are in essence being called upon to state (or re-state) our position on the central bank/currency issue.

While the conference on dollarization on August 24th was surely informative, it can be safely concluded that there is no “one size fits all” solution and no template to be copied and applied.

At the end of the day, this is a matter for each entity to assess on its own. Time is of essence and the question would be if at this stage and the many priorities on our plates, whether we have the time and resources to dedicate to such an assessment.

But one thing stood out clearly and cannot be emphasized enough if we wish to entertain the proposal of dollarization for St. Maarten and that is that this concept requires a strict fiscal discipline. Without some type of supervisory body, the matter of fiscal discipline is paramount.

With respect to the compelling argument of a deficit in the balance of payments on the current accounts of the Netherlands Antilles, St. Maarten must also determine for itself how we fare as an island in this respect.

In my opinion, this matter of the monetary system can not be seen separately and should not be tackled separately from the fiscal regime and in particular the tax system to be considered for country Sint Maarten.

Finally, the discussion on “to dollarize or not” must be started post haste on Sint Maarten and not only in the board rooms, but even more so in the wider community. Something that the Democratic Party is committed to.

Philipsburg:---The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise at its weekly member’s breakfast meeting at Air Lekker bek on Tuesday August 25, 2009 presented to Mr. Donevan Froston (Founder) and Mr. Clinton Spring (member) of Foundation for Hope and Music Development a donation of a Yamaha Electronic Key Board towards its efforts of establishing a Music Academy for the youth of St. Maarten/St. Martin. Classes for this Music Academy are scheduled to begin in September and as Rotary is celebrating “New Generation Month” in September therefore the presentation to the Foundation is in keeping with Rotary’s aim.

The Foundation for Hope and Music Development, established in 2008, objectives are to:

• Train children, youth and adults to play one or more musical instruments;

• Develop and implement a program of music education that will cater to the development of the musical talents and abilities of any child, youth or adult on St. Martin (North & South);

• Recognize and honor identified persons in the St. Martin communities for outstanding contributions towards the growth and development of the community in particular and the island in general;

• Provide social service through mentoring, counseling etc.'

• Restore, preserve, maintain national pride, cultural heritage, and sound moral values.

Donevan Froston a true son of St. Maarten’s soil shared his story at the Club Meeting, of how the unconditional love and perseverance of his now deceased mother provided the much needed will power that helped free him from the grips of substance abuse. Today Mr. Froston has devoted his life through his personal testimony and musical abilities to help others, especially the youth, who are faced with similar addictions.

The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise was pleased to be able to contribute this instrument to boost the Foundation for Hope and Music Development in its quest of providing a positive community environment for the people of St. Maarten/St. Martin.

The Club wishes to thank the local businesses and visitors who continue to contribute, as without their generosity, these opportunities will not be possible.

GREAT BAY— On Friday August 28th the Sister Basilia Center in South Reward celebrated 25 years of existence. A church service was kept in the nearby Catholic Church and the clients of the center entertained their guests at a small celebration ceremony at the center. The Leader of Government William Marlin was on hand to say a few words of congratulations and present a gift (a brand new television) of appreciation to the Sister Basilia Center on behalf of Office World. The Leader of Government told the gathering that a Country can only consider itself to be great when it can take care of all it’s people not only the strong but also those with special needs.

Frans Mulder speaking on behalf of the White & Yellow Cross Foundation thanked those who were in attendance and expressed the desire to expand the present facilities by erecting a new building close to the St Rose Facility in St. John’s in the near future.

GREAT BAY:--- – The week of August 31 marks the final week to register for courses in the field of electrician, maritime assistant and care giver.

The Milton Peters College (MPC) is offering two courses, namely Electro Level 2 (electrician) second year, for persons who already graduated with a PKL (theoretical stream) diploma and Maritime Assistant Level 1. The latter is related to the maintenance of boats, engines and water related activities in the tourism sector.

SIFMA still has limited space available for SPW Level 2: Care Givers for Young People. Those who can enrol in the aforementioned must be a graduate of a PBL (practical stream) diploma.

The three aforementioned courses are offered at the advanced secondary vocational education level (SBO). It is an opportunity being offered to those who already have a diploma at the preparatory level.

SBO education is very important in improving and further developing the skills of the nation’s youth and at the same time creating opportunities to join the labour force.

Those who require additional information about the courses at MPC should drop in and see one of the following persons: Vital Carty, Rien Korteknie or Sonali Maccou in South Reward or call 548-3776 or 548-3511.

SIFMA contact particulars where one can get information about their course on offer can stop in and see Bernadette Boasman at the Lion’s Building next to the Shell Gas Station in Suckergarden, or call 543-7299.

For those seeking general information about SBO education, you can contact the SBO Service Center located on the Walter J. Nisbeth Road #55 (Above the Glass Shop), or call 542-1064.

Other partners in SBO education are SMITH and SVOBE/Sundial School.

Philipsburg: --- Contractors will begin working on the unfinished police cells as of Monday next week. The contracts and further discussion on the work that is to begin was thoroughly discussed on Thursday with the management team of the police force.

A press release from the police department stated that on Thursday August 6 2009, discussions to finalize and upgrade the existing detention cells at the Philipsburg Police Station, took place.

The contract was signed on Monday August 3 by the outgoing Minister Justice Mr. David Dick. The discussions and signing of contracts took place at the Philipsburg Police Station between the contractors and the Police management Team, headed by Acting Chief of Police Commissioner Ademar Doran.

Work on the cells is to commence on Monday August 10 2009 and hope to finalize within 85 working days. The consultant for this construction is Pream N.V. and contractors are: WECC, CECC, and Collaborative N.V. headed by Mr. George GUNN.

The Acting Chief of Police Mr. Ademar DORAN on behalf of the members of the Police Department of Sint Maarten will like to thank those in authority who in one way or the other have made the finalizing of this project possible.

GREAT BAY,– Residents are advised to take preventative measures against mosquito breeding as we move further into the 2009 hurricane season where tropical weather systems will become more prominent bringing rain showers.

Based on preliminary research, there has been no increase in dengue cases on Dutch St. Maarten. However, the Preventive Health Department, advise all to take actions to prevent mosquito breeding.

Contractors on job sites are advised to empty buckets and cover water storage drums and have the site cleaned up at the end of the work day of anything that can hold water even plastic bags.

A special appeal is going out to owners of plots of land to have these checked and cleaned of all overgrown vegetation and debris/old containers that were dumped there and due to the overgrown vegetation cannot be seen. These could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Measures that residents must take to prevent mosquito breeding are:

Debris, old tires, and stagnant water in yards are the source or can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes bringing about an increased risk of mosquito-borne diseases.

Residents are therefore strongly advised to take action making sure that there is no stagnant water in their yards and roof spouts; and disposing responsibly old tires, empty drums, buckets, jars, birdbaths, boats, plant containers, paint cans, and other items that can collect water around their homes and businesses.

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

Persons or businesses making use of the landfill in Philipsburg for the dumping of barrels, buckets or anything that can hold water should cut holes into the items to avoid the accumulation of water.

INSTALLATION OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE YEAR 2009/2010 HELD AT WESTIN DAWN BEACH RESORT & SPA ON AUGUST 1ST, 2009.

From left to Right:

Bernadette Davis: Secretary-President Elect

Marcellia Henry: Vocational Service Director

Claret Connor: Community Service Director/Immediate Past President

Meredith Boekhoudt: Fundraising Director

Martha Pouchie: Club Service Director

Angela Gordon: Sergeant at Arms

Cookie Biljani: Treasurer

Keturah Deweever: Vice President

Peter Dialani: President

Not in Photo: Joseanne Peterson: International Service Director

Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise would like to thank all Sponsors and Rotarians involved in the organization of the Change of Board Ceremony.

The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise 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

Philipsburg. Founder of the Peridot Foundation Gracita Arrindell, stated “As our foundation promised last May, 2009, Barbara Washington- Franklin, Attorney-At-Law and author of the bestsellers inspirational book; ‘When You’re Down to Nothing, God is up to Something’ is scheduled to arrive next Thursday August 20th and will be speaking the following evening, Friday, August 21st at 8:00 PM sharp at the BelAir Community Center in Cay Hill. The program is ready and will include a choir presentation by the well known and popular local Total Praise Ministries, opening prayers by Pastor Edwin Arrindell and singing of the Sint Maarten Song by the lovely and talented Miss Tatiana Gibs.”

Arrindell said she read the book carefully and was very much inspired by what she read. The stories are based on anyone’s day-to-day life’s experience and she must say often when reading it, the content brought a broad smile to her face and warmed and uplifted her spirits in facing the challenges of daily life. This experience is worth sharing with anyone who is open to the good news of the Holy Book.”

“Barbara is a top attorney and outstanding business woman and has been featured in several newspapers and magazines among others, Washington Women Magazine, Ebony Magazine, Vogue Magazine as well as the Washington Afro- American Newspaper. The author will also do a book signing at the upcoming event. “We have received many positive responses to our posters located at several locations on Sint Maarten and are expecting a good turn out.” Books will be available for sale and signed by the author. We take this opportunity to thank our sponsors who without their generous support, this exciting event would not have been possible. Peridot will provide its heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors during program. We urge everyone to please come on time. Remember, let us combat the hate and violence together and continue to ‘Guard those we may lose.’

Philipsburg:--- St. Maarten: NAGICO Insurances provided a donation to the Cole Bay Rangers Pathfinder Club so that they may attend the World International Pathfinder Camporee held in Oshkosk Wisconsin which started on August 11th and will run through to August 15th, 2009. The donation, made on August 3rd, 2009 at NAGICO head office allowed twelve (12) pathfinders and five (5) counselors to attend the event. According to the Cole Bay Rangers Director Jacklin Standford, “We were very excited to hear that NAGICO would provide the Pathfinders with financial assistance for this trip.”

The International Pathfinder Camporee only takes place once every five years and is one of the largest youth gatherings for teens worldwide. Approximately 30,000 youth and young adults were expected to gather from over 200 countries for this unique opportunity to have fun and fellowship together. Deputy Director of the Pathfinders Mr. Terry Peterson stated, “The Pathfinders are very pleased with the donation that NAGICO has been able to provide. NAGICO understands that social responsibility within a community is very important. They understand that this event will be a life changing, and that it will not only benefit the participants but the entire community.

The theme for the International Pathfinder Camporee was “Courage to Stand” and included daytime activities and positive night time programs. Community service which is one of the pillars of the Pathfinder organization will also be focused on.

GREAT BAY– At 5.00pm the National Hurricane Center out of Miami has downgraded Tropical Storm Ana from a storm to a depression.

The Netherlands Antilles & Aruba Weather Service stated at 4.00pm that the Tropical Storm Watch for St. Maarten may be discontinued Sunday night or Monday morning.

The decision taken at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) earlier Sunday afternoon to keep schools closed on Monday, August 17 as a precautionary measure remains in effect. Schools are to open on Tuesday, August 18. According to the Netherlands Antilles & Aruba Weather Service, there should be an increase in clouds, winds and sea conditions tonight and early morning hours of Monday. A small craft warning has been issued for the islands.

Businesses can operate as usual and all government offices will be open for business. Motorists are requested to exercise a level of caution due to the possibility of localized flooding in low lying areas. Residents living in hill side areas should be vigilant for rock falls that may be caused by any heavy rainfall.

The Public Works Department has been busy clearing waterways, gutters and drainage areas in preparation for any likely flooding. An artificial waterway will be created at the Great Bay beach near the Fresh Water Pond. Water levels in the Salt Pond are at a sufficient level to accommodate additional runoff water.

Former Tropical Storm Ana on Sunday at 8.00pm was located approximately 85 miles East of Dominica. Maximum wind speeds are near 35 miles per hour with higher gusts. The depression is rapidly moving Westward at 25 miles per hour.

Little change in strength during the next 24 hours is not expected and the poorly organized depression could even become a Tropical Wave later tonight.

Tropical Storm Bill as of 5.00pm this afternoon has strengthened further and is located about 1440 miles East of the island chain with maximum wind speeds of 65 miles per hour. This system does not form any threat to the island at this point in time. Bill is moving West North West at 16 miles per hour. Bill could become a hurricane tonight or on Monday.

PHILIPSBURG— On the 12 and 13 of August 2009 a AGO start conference was held for the St. Maarten Vocational Training School. The Department of Educational Research Policy in collaboration with the Insular Department of Education; USONA; Fide, Curacao and the SMVTS organized this conference.

The main objective of the start conference was to appraise every stakeholder of the developments pertaining to the Arbeidsgericht Onderwijs (AGO) program and what this means for the SMVTS. The English translation of AGO is Labor Market Oriented Education (LMOE). In essence, this program is a very practical program that targets a specific group of students. This group of students will receive a hands-on education in small groups geared at preparing them for immediate entrance to the labor market.

The structure, procedures, and methods used in this program are different than those used at a traditional Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education (PSVE) and as such, additional information was needed for the school. How these two educational programs will interact at the SMVTS was also a point of discussion during the conference.

An evaluation of this conference has shown that the start conference was in general well received by the staff of the SMVTS. Staff members said they left the conference armed with new information and a will to work on the implementation of this new educational program.

This start conference was the first step taken in tackling the challenge of gaining proper accreditation for the SMVTS. In the future, the school will be working on both the LMOE and PSVE programs to be implemented at the school, seeking temporary status, and working out other challenges on the educational, organizational, and infrastructural front. The SMVTS is not the only one with work ahead; the island government has also some work to do in order to adequately usher in this new educational system for the SMVTS. A collaboration of efforts from the school itself, DERPI and FIDE, Curaçao will be necessary to bring these future plans to realization.

Pointe Blanche:-- The captain of the Carnival Glory departed the St. Maarten Cruise facility less than two hours after it anchored. Keith Franka Director of the St. Maarten Port Services said the captain took the decision due to rough seas.

Franka said due to hurricane bill the swells at the Great Bay harbor were very high and the captain felt leaving St. Maarten was in the best interest for ship and its passengers.

St. Kitts:---Leader of the Peoples Action Movement (PAM) Lindsay Grant has made a stinging accusation against the Federation’s Prime Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas accusing him and his administration as acting like vultures picking at the flesh of a dying nation. Grant said that his observation of this action has been further confirmed by the conduct of the Prime Minister and his allies over the past several weeks and more recently during the current ongoing court battle, citing what he sees as the wanton abuse of the Federation’s finances as a point of reference.

He also made a passionate appeal to all for civil disobedience and for the various constituencies in the federation to mobilize and commence their own struggles in a serious bid to rid the Federation urgently and immediately of the injustices being perpetrated against society by the Douglas led administration.

Grant assured that he nor his PAM party has no intentions of retracting noting that they will continue to execute their house to house visits in an effort to ensure that all are made aware of what is happening. He also suggested that his party is contemplating preparing a petition that will be taken to several international organizations such as the United Nations of which St Kitts and Nevis is a signatory to many of its convention.

Grant said that of the fifteen year of Denzil Douglas rule, “and in particular the years, 1995 to 2009, Kittitians and Nevisisians must seriously ask the question, how much better off are we as a people while we see the Prime Minister owing some 15 odd properties thus he being able to claim that its Working while the ordinary man and woman are hurting.”

The PAM leader said there is no country that is going to create wealth if its leaders “exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or if civil servants can be bought off by its leaders who are known to be involved in questionable deals and acts.”

He noted that no business would want to invest in a place where there is widespread corruption citing a recent US advisory to the citizens of the United States of America which warned its people and others to desist from investing and or conducting business in St Kitts and Nevis. “This is certainly a sign that not only the local and regional communities are aware of what is happening but also the international community is cognizant of the corrupt practices and bad governance of Dr Douglas and his team,” Grant declared.

“No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery while for the past 15 years we have not been able to see Law and Order Working.” According to Grant, who will be contesting the parliamentary seat of number four his current struggle in Sty Kitts and Nevis was in his capacity as a citizen who has and still continues to contribute significantly to the social and economical sectors and that 15 years is a more than significantly adequate marking period to determine the effectiveness of the St Kitts and Nevis Labour party’s management of the Federation’s resources.

“The scorecard shows embarrassing failure, particularly from 2000 to present…In the education system those with parochial custody would not allow their charge a term or two of failure, without instituting corrective measures to halt their decline…Appropriate measures would be taken, for without remedial action, failure becomes the defining characteristic and is coupled alongside lost opportunities,” the PAM leader stressed.

Grant questioned what “we as a people do in light of a failing state, an immoral, lawless government that continues to see the prime Minister publicly claiming that he is 10 man in one and has demonstrated it is prepared to have relationships with known questionable characters; a government that is prepared to transgress the constitution; disrespect the court and its orders, discriminate and victimized because of one’s political; conviction.”

According to Grant, the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis has had a proud history of struggle from the era of chattel slavery to independence status and “as a people, we have struggled against previous regimes, from colonial to local…By comparison these look like angels to what we currently face.”

The PAM leader posited that what has changed in St Kitts and Nevis from 1995 to now is, “our will to resist, unifying against oppressive forces, to recognize the enemy of the PAM man is also the enemy of the Labour man, the CCM, NRP and all others in St Kitts and Nevis.”

Philipsburg:--- The Windward Island of Chamber of Labour Unions met over the weekend to further discuss the situation regarding pensioners. In a press release, the unions said even though long overdue, it was very nice to hear that senior citizens will soon be entitled to Health Care Coverage through the SVB.

The fact that this new law is being proposed at the eve of “separate status” we must consider its potential implications for country St. Maarten. Along these lines, the Windward Islands Chamber of Labor Unions (W.I.C.L.U.) met in an urgent meeting over the weekend to which Mr. Neil Henderson was an invitee, particularly since the subject matter is one of Insurance.

In the meeting, it became evident that some key questions must be answered by Parliament.

Based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) 2009, the Netherlands Antilles has 29.228 senior citizens.

To name a few questions that should be answered prior passing this Law are;

A. What is the projected premium income for the coming 20 years?

B. What are the projected expenses over the coming 20 years?

Lets’ all consider the following math.

Say, we have 30.000 senior citizens in the Netherlands Antilles.

- Say the average AOV income is Nafls.500.= per month (since we need to live 45 years in the Neth. Ant. to qualify for the max. AOV income, which is currently Nafls.726.-)

- Say the premium is 10.4% of Nafls.500.- = Nafls.52.= per insured p/m.

- Say the annual premium income is 30.000.x 52 = 1.560.000,00 p/m.x 12 months = 18.720.000.00 p/y

- Say, statistically we live up to age 76 in the N.A. it will mean that we should calculate having to pay premium for a period of 16 years.

This will result in 16 yrs. x 18.720.000.00 = 299.520.000.00

When St. Maarten goes “Separate Status” in a few months, how do we secure that the premiums are collected (should the S.V.B. seize to exist in its current form?

To give an example of the financial responsibilities towards the Senior citizens, only (thus excluding the employees and their dependants whom must also receive benefits):

- If each senior citizen consumes an average of Nafls.9.000.00 in health care services per year we must secure the funds based on this simple math:

- 30.000.00 Senior Citizens x Nafls. 9000 = 27.000.000.000.00 x 16yrs. = 432.000.000.00

When St. Maarten goes “Separate Status” in a few months, how much of this debt will we be responsible for?

We must make it perfectly clear that ABSOLUTELY no one is against the senior citizen having medical coverage, FORTHWITH.

However, let us also give due consideration to make good on these promises to:

- The senior citizen,

- The employees under S.V.B. level and their families as well as,

- The sole proprietor, which include bus and taxi drivers

Our senior citizens have been faced with embarrassing situations in distant and recent past where medical benefits have been denied. In addition, we recently had a Court ruling that basically justifies care being denied if the insurer falls short of certain obligations.

We are sure that everyone would like to know if this Law is going to be revisited in an effort to avoid recurrences.

This article is not per say scientific but merely a means of provoking each stakeholder and/or beneficiary of SVB medical coverage to start thinking hard.

In fairness to the beneficiaries of this proposed new Law, it is the firm believes of the W.I. Chamber of labor unions that Parliament holds information sessions in St. Maarten and allows all stakeholders and beneficiaries to not only understand the TOTAL implications of this proposed Law but more importantly give their input.

We also feel that due consideration must be given to the possibility of allowing St. Maarten the option to take care of its own senior citizens.

This is we believe is a justifiable option since we only have 2693 senior citizens.

Windward Island Chamber of Labour Unions

GREAT BAY:---– The Preventive Health Department (PHD) has changed its protocols of operation related to Influenza A Pandemic (H1N1) virus. Some of these changes are in line with international World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in managing the treatment of patients infected with the virus.

Persons suspected of having the pandemic H1N1 virus are requested to refrain from visiting the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) Emergency Room, and should remain at home. You should call your family physician who will advise you further and as a last resort you can call the PHD.

The second change in protocol is that the anti-viral medication Tami flu will only be given to certain classic risk groups also identified as persons with an underlying medical condition, namely pregnant women in the third trimester; persons with severe immune deficiency who are at an increased risk for complications of flu; persons with a heart condition; persons with a more severe/complicated course of disease and or/who are admitted to hospital; and children younger than two-year-of age. Once it is suspected that a person from a risk group has pandemic H1N1, they will receive treatment.

On August 21, the WHO issued guidelines for the use of antiviral medication. The guidelines represent the consensus reached by an international panel of experts who reviewed all available studies on the safety and effectiveness of these drugs.

Worldwide, most patients infected with the pandemic virus continue to experience typical influenza symptoms and fully recover within a week, even without any form of medical treatment.

Healthy patients with uncomplicated illness need not be treated with antivirals. On an individual patient basis, initial treatment decisions should be based on clinical assessment and knowledge about the presence of the virus in the community.

Worldwide, around 40 per cent of severe cases are now occurring in previously healthy children and adults, usually under the age of 50 years. Some of these patients experience a sudden and very rapid deterioration in their clinical condition, usually on day five or six following the onset of symptoms.

The PHD is urging those who travel abroad on vacation or for business, and return with a flu-like-illness to remain at home and contact their family physician immediately. They should not engage in any community activities such as working, shopping or participating in any mass/social activities.

This will help minimize the risk of infecting those around you, especially people who are at a higher risk of severe illness and complications from influenza.

Tourists are hereby advised if they develop a flu-like illness while vacationing on the island, to contact the PHD immediately.

The symptoms of Influenza A (H1N1) flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with the virus.

Persons seeking additional information should contact PHD at telephone numbers: 542-3003 or 542-3553 or visit the following websites: www.cdc.gov/swineflu or www.who.int. for more information on Influenza A(H1N1) virus also referred to as swine flu.

TA number of persons representing Civil; Society, Non Governmental Organizations and various Political parties in St Kitts and Nevis have condemned St Kitts and Nevis Labour Spokesman reporter Lesroy Williams.

They have all issued a passionate appeal to the Leader of the St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party, Dr Denzil Douglas and Williams employer, the Hon Nigel Carty to immediately address the situation noting that Williams has and severely continues to abuse and bypass all the various decency and tenancy of basic journalism.

A joint statement issued by several media practitioners issued independently stated, “We fellow media operatives of St Kitts Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, St Maarten, St Lucia, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines are shocked, horrified and saddened at the notorious and reprehensible unethical conduct of Lesroy Williams who should be operating as a journalist, they said in a statement sent to the St Kitts Nevis Insider last evening.

The media practitioners reiterates that such behavior is a stranger to what is usually and acceptably practiced by media workers here and throughout the region and in no way speaks to its character, the statement said.

A number of representatives from various political parties including the Peoples Action Movement (PAM), Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) and the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) have indicated this utter disgust and dissatisfaction by the relevant persons in cautioning Williams over his unprofessional conduct.

A number of persons from civil society have called for immediate action to be taken by the Government and more so, the St Kitts Nevis Labour party and urged that the party undertake rigorous internal scrutiny to prevent the reoccurrence of such behavior by Williams and or any other individual in the employ of the party.

Meanwhile, contrary to continuous reports being peddled by Williams and the St Kitts Nevis Labour party, the Peoples Action Movement (PAM) wishes to categorically state that the allegations being made against two of its candidates in Ronald ‘Lui’ Williams and Roy Fleming stating that they are holders of triple and dual citizenship respectively are false and without substance.

The party wishes to state that neither Williams nor Fleming has veer held or currently holds citizenship for any other country outside of St Kitts and Nevis. In the past, operatives of the St Kitts and Nevis Labour party has publicized, printed and circulated information which sought to misguide and mislead the public deliberately.

This, the party said was done despite the lack of evidence to support their reportage. Though requested, there was no retraction or end of those reports by the Public Relations team of the St Kitts Nevis Labour party and some of its candidates.

Once again, PAM wishes to reiterate that the Labour Spokesman and Lesroy Williams are misleading the public through the publication and dissemination of information, which is totally devoid of any evidence. The party wishes to reiterate that both Williams and Fleming does not hold triple or dual citizenship and therefore under the circumstances, PAM is requesting that the Labour Spokesman and Lesroy Williams prints and disseminate a full retraction of the scurrilous information in the article.

“The deliberate and ‘unilateral’ approach being taken by the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, the Hon Dr Denzil Douglas must be seen as the latest evidence that the Douglas led Labour administration is determined to undermine the electoral and democratic process in the federation in his effort to remain in power, Political Leader of the Peoples Action Movement (PAM), Lindsay Grant said yesterday.

Grant in expressing his party’s disgust in the manner on which the federation’s affairs are being handled said that this is viewed as a ‘unilateral imposition of undemocratic by Prime Minister Douglas stressing that the Prime Minister is aware that the public has lost faith and hope in his leadership.

Grant said that its time that the Prime Minister respects the rights and wishes of the people that he claims he loves thus ensuring that a government of the people’s choice is elected. He stressed that workers are hard pressed as they seek to make ends meet while battling social, economical, and political challenges as many civil servants are grossly underpaid despite being hardworking.

Grant pointed out that his party has been calling for a more accountable approach by the Government in addressing national issues. He noted that it is total ‘injustice’ and an insult to impose on the residents and citizens of the federation a dictatorial approach which saw strong resistance from former Government Minister the Hon Dwyer Astaphan who stepped down last year while there are reportedly infightings within the party as Ministers Dr Timothy Harris and Sam Condor attempts to resist the style of leadership of the Prime Minister.

Grant noted that his party hopes that the Denzil Douglas led administration will see the light and recognize that the public truly deserve mature, responsible, accountable and creative leadership as they join in battling the many ills facing the worked today.

The PAM leader said that despite the effects of the global financial and economic crisis the Peoples Action Movement had already devised a plan of action, which he said, would have brought significant benefits to all concern. Grant stressed that tourism and financial services, which are significant revenue earners and job providers in the federation, have been severely affected by the crisis. He said that his partly due to a lack of vision and foresight by the current administration noting that creative and innovative style of leadership is not being explored.

Grant stressed that people in the federation are undergoing severe and harsh crisis due to the current economic depression noting that the irresponsible and unaccountable leadership of the Prime Minister. He noted that the real sector has been affected, as a fall in finances in many sector has resulted in less revenue for the federation.

The PAM leader recommended the government should respect the wishes of the people and as such, calls federal elections noting that the longer the PM takes to announce elections will see further depression and frustration by the people.

Philipsburg:---On Thursday August 27 and Friday August 28 a meeting was convened on Sint Maarten to discuss a European Commission funded project for disaster management. This project called Regional Risk Reduction Initiative (R3I) will benefit the Dutch and British Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT’s). The project is being coordinated by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) office in Barbados and was launched in March 2009 in Barbados. The present meeting is being held to discuss the project document and the annual work plan. Furthermore a project board is selected and working groups installed.

The objective of the project is to “develop the local capacities of the overseas countries and territories and provide them with tools (special data infrastructure and models) and best practices to support a comprehensive disaster risk management approach” and “capacity building in disaster risk management”. The project provides 4.9 million Euro for joint projects for the Dutch and British OCT’s.

Main project outputs will be:

- hazard mapping and vulnerability assessments;

- early warning systems;

- capacity building in response, rescue and recovery;

- technical assistance to OCT’s;

- coordination, training and dissemination.

Sint Maarten is very proud to be able to host this two day meeting at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort. Fire Chief and Disaster Coordinator Winston Salomon addressed the gathering during the opening session on behalf of the Island Territory of Sint Maarten. Mr. Salomon welcomes this initiative and is looking forward to more regional cooperation in the field of disaster management. With the transition to Country Sint Maarten cooperation with the region is deemed extremely important. The following OCT’s are in attendance: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands; Sint Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles, Aruba, Sint Maarten, Turks & Caicos Islands and Montserrat. Representatives from regional and international organizations are also attending.

SIMPSON BAY - Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation Managing Director Russell Voges, announced that repair works at the bridge have been completed and that regular opening for maritime traffic resumed on Saturday, August 29.

The first vessel to enter the lagoon was the Netherlands Antilles/Aruba Coast Guard Vessel Poema. This was a special opening that took place on Friday after the pontoon was removed from under the bridge deck.

The normal three-times per day openings are 9.30am, 11.30am and 5.30pm.

Motorists are advised that they should carefully observe the traffic lights that have been installed to increase vehicular safety in and around the bridge especially when it comes to alerting drivers to stop in an orderly manner in order to facilitate the opening of the bridge. Cars are required to stop as soon as the green light jumps to yellow and then to red.

Small craft are required to make use of the port channel. Jet Ski’s are not allowed to pass under the main bridge channel with their waterspout up as this causes serious corrosion of the steel structure. Jet Ski riders must turn down their water spouts and pass through the port channel.

Considerable investments have been made to the bridge and everyone has a role to play in the longevity and safety of the bridge structure including those who transit in and out of the lagoon.

Hofman Sliedrecht NV will be back in November to carry out inspections to the bridge structure to make sure that everything is in order for the 2009/2010 mega-yacht season.

“The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority would like to thank the public, motorists, captains and owners of vessels for their endurance during the repair period.

“I would also like to thank the following companies for their contribution in the repair work of the bridge, Hofman Sliedrecht NV, St. Maarten Marine Services NV, Seacure Marine Construction NV, Hismar NV, Djindja NV, C&H Electrical Construction and Electec NV,” Voges stated on Saturday.

This afternoon Com. Mr. Hyacinth Richardson and the Interim Manager of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr. Raphael Boasman and the employees of said department held a farewell party at the “La Cabana Lounge-Royal Palm Hotel” in honor of the section head for Care (Zorg) Ms. Elvia Guy, who has been a civil servant for 32 years and have perform her task to the highest satisfaction of her Dept. Also retiring with her, after 22 years of service, is Social worker-Mrs. Elencia Baptiste-Boasman. Both ladies were highly praised for their excellence of service by Mr. Boasman and Mr. Richardson and would be very much missed by their colleagues and the general public for their service.

We all join in tanking you for a job well done, and hope that you will find your place as we prepare for our new country status.

May God Bless you as you further your journey in life.

O’Neil Richardson (G.I.S.)

GREAT BAY (GIS)—On Friday, Commissioner Blackman and his financial advisors had an informative and introductory meeting with St Maarten’s representative on the “College financieel toezicht” (Cft[translated: Council on financial supervision]), Mr. Roland Tuitt. During the meeting, the 2010 budget, corporate governance, and other related matters were discussed.

Within short, Commissioner Blackman will also meet with other board members of the Cft and the Cft’s Secretariat on Curacao. A meeting between the Cft and the entire Executive Council is expected to take place during the Cft’s next visit to the islands in the fall.

Commissioner of Education, Mr. William Marlin and his adviser, Mrs. R. Hughes-Coram met with the Management of Public Education, Mrs. G. Davis-Holiday and Mr. Q. Harrigan to discuss important matters pertaining to Public Education.

GREAT BAY—The production crew that will be producing a new promotional video and other types of advertising for St. Maarten left the island on Friday, August 14, 2009, but their work for the Tourism Bureau and by extension the community of St. Maarten will hopefully be remembered by visitors and locals alike.

Tambourin, the Ad agency executing the Marketing and Branding aspect of Tourism Marketing for St. Maarten, along with Kahn Travel Communications, who is the Public relations arm, will be producing 3 promotional videos consisting of one 30-second ad, one 60-second ad, and one 3 ½ minute feature ad.

The group also took a customized image while on St. Maarten to be used in brochures and other promotional materials.

“The aim of the project is to get a feel of St. Maarten,” said Rafael Cardozo, President of Tambourin. “We are not here to do a documentary type of promotion, but to create a feeling of being here. St. Maarten has a very glamorous aspect, which we are trying to high light in the marketing and branding.”

It takes a lot of work, and a team to put something like this together. In this respect, Cardozo commended the Tourism Bureau for contributing in the many ways that they did. “We could not have done what we did without their invaluable assistance. We requested a lot of items to use in our video productions, and we requested interesting locations to make St. Maarten unique, the Tourism Bureau assisted in every way.”

Tambourin, formerly known as Gideon Cardozo Communications, had a production crew of 20 people, including 12 local models, who worked 20-hour days. The video and photo crew was at times divided in two teams to maximize the short period of one week.

Cardozo said that he was impressed with the beauty and talent that St. Maarten has. It is important to invest in the community, as well as to use the human resources that are here, he said. For this assignment, we chose individuals that reflect the diversity of St. Maarten.

In addition, Cardozo said he wanted to approach this assignment from different angles—the North American, South American, and the European; so by reflecting the different types of groups and cultural traditions, makes the material was inviting to different target markets.

I hope the St. Maarten people will be proud of the work, Cardozo said, for external marketing is just as important as internal marketing.

Tambourin has been in existence since 1982 and has been working with Caribbean Islands for over 20 years.

GREAT BAY--- Governor Franklyn Richards commends law enforcement agencies and the St. Maarten community for a job well done in the apprehension of the suspects allegedly involved in the violent robbery at Maho Reef Shopping Center several weeks ago.

One suspect was detained by the combined resources of the Netherlands Antilles/Aruba Coast Guard and the Arrest Team over a week ago.

“I would like to commend law enforcement management as well as the men and women who have been able to put the pieces together during their investigations which led to the successful apprehension of these dangerous persons.

“I also commend the St. Maarten community for whatever role they have played in providing tips and information to the investigative teams that were deployed to bring these persons to justice. Combating crime is a community effort and not only that of law enforcement agencies.

“As a community we must continue to work together to prevent crime, increase community safety and revitalize neighborhoods. This can only be done by working together with residents in communities and other stakeholders to develop solutions that deter crime, promote economic growth, and enhance quality of life,” Governor Richards told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Sunday.

The Peoples Action Movement (PAM) through its political leader, Lindsay Grant has once again condemned the country’s Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas for statements he and some of his government ministers have been making with regards to PAM’s Deputy Political Leader, Eugene Hamilton while also condemning the Prime Minister on his handling on the country’s already escalated crime situation. The federation has reported 19 murders for the year with four of those murders occurring so far in August.

In extending sympathy to the relatives to the latest victim, Grant expressed the view that when his party takes office a moiré concerted and effective crime-fighting plan would be implemented so as to tackle the alarming murder rate. He called the attacks on his party candidates more in particular on Eugene Hamilton, Shawn Richards and himself as an attempt to divert attention from what Grant said as the recent disclosure by Clico in Barbados over allegations that Dr Douglas was part of a ring of persons who benefited significantly from flying around the world and other numerous benefits of the company’s private jet which according to the report was paid for by monies collected from subscribers.

Grant declared that PAM has been on “on target” regarding bad governance, inefficiencies and the Clico issue and the implications which that would have for thousands of persons and the Peoples Action Movement views the Prime Minster’s remarks as an attempt to divert their attention from exposing what is going on within Government. He declared that the party will not be distracted by the antics and unjustified ramblings of the Prime Minister and or his government Ministers.

Dr Douglas in recent statements have accused Hamilton of not being worthy of ever holding public office he had also accused both Grant and Richards of attempting to use their recent courts actions as a means of stalling the electoral process expressing the view that the Peoples Action Movement was afraid of losing for a fourth consecutive term.

He blamed the current financial woes experienced by Clico and British American by the decisions of CL Financial Board among them being Lawrence Duprey of Trinidad and Leroy Parris of Barbados.

He said that part of the problems surrounded huge investments around developments that these two individuals made in projects in Florida by CL financial and members of its group, which he said, resulted in a number of investments going sour.

“From all appearances the development company in Florida was owned by Lawrence Duprey and two other partners under a company named D Y L . Therefore, I want to say that British American and Clico are in very much the same position being subsidiaries of CL Financial however you do not hear accusations about Clico and its management team in St Kitts,” Grant said. He questioned if this is because Hamilton is not at the helm of Clico.

However, in some stinging accusations Grant stated that a 2007 report by Clico have shown that some 9 million United States dollars were spent on private jets and leasing of the company jets to travel to various parts around the world, which he noted, included the federation’s Prime Minister.

“The media needs to ask the Prime Minister to state how many times he has flown on jets owned and leased by Clico through friends and associates Duprey and Paris. When can the country expect him to withdraw the honorary consul status that Paris currently enjoys despite being at the centre of the Clico fiasco,” he said.

Grant said that the Prime Minister and his government love to accuse the Peoples Action Movement for a lot of things but go quiet sometimes; he suggested that the government has a lot to hide. Grant demanded that the Prime Minister should provide the public with the many answers that they seek in an attempt to demonstrate his honesty by revealing all information to the public.

Grant said that PAM views with disgust the “totally false and reckless statements” made by the Prime Minister who he said should know better and declared that tie will reveal all hidden information that the government has been hiding. Grant further noted that the Party finds it strange that as election nears, the Prime Minister, as he grapples with the economic and crime challenges would use this as a diversionary tactic. “We wish to state that while the Prime Minister has gone on unwarranted attacks on Mr. Hamilton and other party members critical and pertinent issues are being ignored as he (Dr Douglas) desperately seeks to manipulate the electoral system.”

“The statements made by the federation’s Prime Minister are reckless, irresponsible, and without foundation and any merit whatsoever but because it was made by the Prime Minister, PAM is requesting that Dr Douglas hands over whatever information that he has to the public”, Grant declared.

SIMPSON BAY - Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation Managing Director Russell Voges, announced on Wednesday that repair works at the bridge should be completed over the weekend and that regular opening for maritime traffic is anticipated on Sunday, August 30.

There was a special opening on Wednesday where the Coast Guard vessel Poema left port as well as a dredge.

Sunday openings will be 9.30am, 11.30am and 5.30pm.

If bridge maintenance activities are completed earlier than scheduled, the bridge will open earlier than Sunday, however this will be announced.

Motorists are advised that they should carefully observe the traffic lights that have been installed for the bridge openings. Cars are required to stop as soon as the green light jumps to yellow.

The maintenance repair work at the bridge entails rewiring of the electrical system and the installation of new traffic barriers.

Boat owners and captains were informed several weeks ago about the two-week closure of the bridge in order to facilitate the necessary maintenance repairs. These repairs started on August 17.

All the repairs to the Simpson Bay Bridge are based on the recommendations made by Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch Authority for Waterworks and Bridges.

The USS DOYLE (FFG-39) will arrive in Curacao for a port visit on 28 August, 2009. The ship is participating in the Southern Seas Deployment 2009, an annual naval deployment to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean that provides opportunities for participating nations to train and learn from each other. The ship is part of Task Group 40.0.

While in Curacao, the USS DOYLE crew will be conducting professional exchanges with sailors from the Royal Dutch Navy. In addition, USS DOYLE sailors will participate in community relations projects.

“Theater Security Cooperation visits like these are very important to these sailors and the U.S .Navy as a whole” said Captain Rodelio Laco, Commander of Task Group 40.0.

The U.S. and Dutch Navies have a strong working relationship, often participating in bilateral and multilateral exercises that provide humanitarian assistance throughout the region.

USS DOYLE is home ported in Mayport, Florida and is commanded by Commander John Zuzich. The ship was commissioned in 1983 and has a crew of approximately 190 officers and enlisted personnel. For more information on USS DOYLE, please visit their webpage at: http://www.doyle.navy.mil.

Airport: --- On Sunday August 30, a group of 18 recruits traveled on Insel Air to Curacao to attend the Police Academy in Curacao, where they will be training to become Immigration officers. Eight recruits are from the sister island of St Eustatius and ten are from St Maarten.

The training will have duration of approximately six months, which will take place in Curacao for the entire duration. On Friday the Acting Chief of Police Commissioner Ademar Doran, in the presence of the Coordinator of the recruitment program Chief Inspector Carl John and Inspector Ricardo Henson, spoke to the recruits regarding to their training and what is expected of them. Doran also gave them many words of encouragement and wished them much success.

The names of the recruits are: From Sint Eustatius: A.A. Dormoy, I.M. Courtar, P. Lijfrock, S.N.D. Brown, R.N. Duinkerk, H.T. Mithchell, A.S. Brown, M.S. Girigorie.

Those from St. Maarten are S.N. Sanwirjatmo, J.G.M. Richardson, S.A.

Jermin, R.R. Pantophlet, V.VGumbs, K.L. Baptist, R.J.

Brooks, A.E.A. Blijden, S.A. Alexander, and R.S.M. Rommy.

Philipsburg: --- The police are busy investigating a shooting incident, which took place sometime on Sunday afternoon in the vicinity of Le Petit Chateau on Salt Rock Road.

Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson in a press release identified the victim of the shooting as R.A U 39 years old from the Dominican Republic. The police spokesman police encountered the victim who was bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound to his right thigh.

According to witnesses on the scene, two groups of totaling about six, came to the scene in two separate vehicles and for no apparent reason started shooting at the clients who were at the time sitting in the Carmita Bar. The victim who was also in the bar was hit by one of the bullets. After committing their act, the suspects fled the scene. The victim was treated on the scene by paramedics and then taken to the St Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. The detectives are busy questioning witnesses to determine exactly what happened because it is still very unclear what happened and why. The victim was treated at the hospital for his wounds and was allowed to leave after his treatment.

Then investigation is in full swing.

In recognition of their sterling, continuous, and significant contributions to the continued growth and development of the airline, staff initiatives and the communities that they serve two of Winair’s most senior employees were honored Sunday during the airline’s first annual Family Fun Day held at Emilio Wilson Park, St Maarten.

The employees, Managing Director, Edwin Hodge and VP of Marketing, Claudio Buncamper were fittingly recognized by the organizing committee who praised both Hodge and Buncamper for the current success that the newly formed Winair Activities Committee was enjoying.

However, it was a double for Hodge also who was also honored by the I Can Foundation, a locally based Non Governmental organization that caters for abused, underprivileged children living within the St Maarten‘s community.

Receiving their awards both Hodge and Buncamper expressed their appreciation and thanks to the staff for honoring them reiterating their commitment to continue supporting staff related initiatives.

Buncamper said that he saw it as important to lend his unwavering support and assistance reminding staff that it was some eight years ago that activities of this nature had gone dormant. He recollected that during years gone by the staff were more united crediting it with the many opportunities that they had in getting to know each other while being able to build stronger bond and relationships through the many opportunities of interaction.

“He noted that the award is a symbol to remind him that staff unity and interaction are critical tools in better marketing and promoting the airline so as to maintain the high level of service that the airline has been giving over its 47 odd years of operation.

“This award is special as it has been given to me from the staff of the airline in recognition of my support and assistance. I am very grateful and thankful to the committee and staff members for honoring me today and would like to say that I am very appreciative of their gesture,” Buncamper said.

Meanwhile, MD Hodge in accepting his award thanked the staff for what he described as being their creative and innovative initiative. He expressed excitement from management to have been supporting such an activity, which was solely conceptualized and executed by b the staff noting that it demonstrates that staff can continue to achieve success within the airline.

Hodge also gave his company’s assurance that future initiatives and activities will continue to receive support and assistance from the airline. He stressed that despite the challenges faced by the company as a direct result of the world’s financial crisis Winair will continue to strive in ensuring that opportunities are provided for staff development and enhancement so as to continue aiding in delivering service of high quality and value to the travelling public.

“Despite the many challenges that we face today we can ill afford to sit back waiting on things to happen and through activities like these we are confident that it will help in uniting employees more thus ensuring that they can continue to function at a high level thus we the management will continue to support,” Hodge declared.

Hodge was also recognized by the I Can Foundation for his continued support and assistance to community development more in particular the Ngo who noted that his significant support has tremendously helped in enhancing the lives of the children that resides at the home.

CAY BAY / PHILIPSBURG— Power production and office operations were disrupted on Wednesday as a result of a mechanical failure at the power plant and an IT system failure. The incidents were unrelated.

The GEBE Power Plant experienced some mechanical problems with its production diesel generator DG #9 resulting in load shedding. DG#9 was stopped in order for the GEBE power plant technicians to perform some emergency repairs. As a consequence, the distribution grid experienced a shortage of approximately 5 MW resulting in load shedding. The technicians at the power plant were able to minimize the effect of the outage by bringing a smaller engine, DG#3, that was being repaired online thereby reducing the number of areas that would have been affected. Several areas experienced power outages that lasted just over an hour. Power was expected to be restored by 17:00.

GEBE is already operating on a tight electricity production with just enough capacity to meet the current demand. Any mechanical problems may lead to short power interruptions. GEBE power plant is already being expanded with the two new 11.3 MW generators that arrived on the island last month. The engines are currently being installed and are scheduled to be commissioned by the end of December 2009. The addition of the 22.6 MW will stabilize the generation capacity.

GEBE customers were also not able to pay their bills due to an IT systems failure. Cashiers and customer service personnel were not able to access the administrative system. Despite the valiant efforts by the ICT staff to get the system back up and running, the customer service desks remained closed to the general public so the necessary repairs could be made to the system. GEBE expects to resume regular office operations by tomorrow.

GEBE apologizes to its customers for the interruptions in services and the inconvenience caused.

Philipsburg:----The Sint Maarten PRIDE foundation will be coordinating a cleanup of the Cul de Sac cemetery this coming Saturday from 8am-10am.

PRIDE is asking all community minded groups and individuals to join in this very worthwhile venture as the historic graveyard is in a deplorable state.

Bottles, cans, and other trash are littered between graves and many of the graves are covered with over grown bush and trees.

The Cul de Sac cemetery located across from the TEXACO gas station and Le Grand Marche on Bush road is on the Monument List of protected monuments.

Many notable Sint Maarteners dating back to the early 1800's are buried there. Families such as the once powerful Von Romondts can all be found there, as well as Sint Maarteners that have contributed to our society, the likes of the Nisbets, Waymouths, Hazels. Sint Maarten's first Commander John Philips, named after our Capital is buried there, as well as Sint Maarten's first botanist Dr. Hendrik van Rijgersma who's work is on display at the Swedish Museum of Natural History to this day.

Sint Maarten PRIDE foundation is looking forward to broad support from the community for this cleanup, and the foundation is appealing to the public to pay more respect to our heritage and monuments and treat them with the respect they deserve.

On August 13, 2009, an historic anchor was found by divers during the sea bottom cleaning operations in preparation for the Great Bay dredging. Upon realization of the importance of the find, Deon Swarts, director of Aquatic Solutions, called in the discovery to Lievense project director Rogier Brans, who then contacted Paul Martens of the Fire Department. Mr. Martens called the St. Maarten Museum director, Elsje Bosch and the SIMARC president (and Archaeology authority for VROM), Dr. Jay Haviser, who both immediately went to see the artifact on one of the diving boats. Onboard they saw that this is a large (3.5 meter long) historic anchor covered with coral and barnacles, often referred to as a ‘Fisherman’s type’ anchor, which probably dates from the 19th century.

This quick response cooperation between Lievense, Aquatic Solutions divers, Fire department, VROM, St. Marten Museum and SIMARC, shows a responsible procedure being conducted during the operations in Great Bay, with regard to archaeological / historic artifacts found. Indeed, this case is a very good example of efficient application of the Malta Treaty international requirements for the proper deposit of historic objects, which are found under the sea and must be provided to the related government authorities. The Netherlands Antilles ratified the Malta Treaty in 2007, thus its application to St. Maarten also applies. As well, the SIMARC already does conduct periodic walking surveys of the sand dredged from the bay, to investigate what materials are found and to make artifact collections if necessary.

This historic anchor will now be deposited at the SIMARC archaeological facility for about a month, to have the SIMARC students carefully remove the coral and barnacles. After that cleaning, the anchor must be submerged in fresh water for about a year to remove the chloride from the seawater imbedded in the iron. After that soaking, the anchor will be treated with specific chemicals for preservation, and then it can be displayed for the public. The location of display will be decided at a later date, closer to the time the SIMARC conservation measures are finished.

GREAT BAY– The Office of Disaster Management & Preparedness (ODMP), calls on residents to continue monitoring the progress of the season’s first hurricane, Bill which is located several hundred miles east of the islands.

Bill continues on a West North-West track which would keep it well away from the island as it continues on that forecasted direction at 16 miles per hour.

Hurricane Bill at 5.00pm on Tuesday had wind speeds of 110 miles per hour making it a Category 2 hurricane. Bill is expected to become the first major hurricane category 3 for the 2009 hurricane season, either Tuesday night or on Wednesday.

“Residents should continue to maintain vigilance. The system according to the National Hurricane Center is forecasted to pass well to the North East of the islands late Wednesday night and early Thursday.

“Until Bill clears the area, monitoring the hurricanes progress is necessary. For residents who have not yet made preparations for this hurricane season, please do so. It’s better to be safe than sorry later. Remember our theme for the season, ‘It Only Takes One’,” Fire Commander/Disaster Coordinator Winston Salomon told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Tuesday.

National Alliance Senator/councilman George says that he is not an economist and cannot give a concrete explanation on the consequences of dollarization. Some of the discussions mentioned such as St. Maarten’s major use of the currency (US tourism) and the fact that Saba St. Eustatius and Bonaire have already opted for the dollar are valid ones. What was not mentioned thus far and maybe this will take place on Curacao during a presentation given on dollarization on Monday August 24 at the Central Bank building next week is the issue of seigniorage. For example the cost of paying to have the money printed since it is not our currency, the fact that the interest rates on savings in guilders at present are much higher than in dollars.

Furthermore what are the requirements going to be that will be set by the Federal Reserve and can we meet them? Another important factor that should be looked into has to do what happened in the Netherlands with the introduction of the Euro. There were numerous complaints from the public of businesses and other organizations changing the sign in front of the products etc. from Hfls. to Euros. Also how will the salaries be calculated? Will someone who at present is earning Nafls.3 600, be earning $3600,- or will they be earning $2000 instead? At present most rents are charged in dollars so that will not be a major problem. But, will this mean no central Banks for the countries to be? Pantophlet said he is almost sure that these have been addressed by the experts but one never knows things can be overlooked at times.

It is good that government will be present to hear what the probable consequences are going to be. Because we should not forget that a political decision was taken to have one Central Bank with equal authority and a rotating president. It will be interesting to hear what discussions will be taken in the future on this matter.

Philipsburg: --- The new Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba, who visited St. Maarten on her first official visit on Monday, was confronted with a group of disgruntled police officers. Jacoba arrived on the island just after midday with her delegation and former Minister of Justice David Dick. On her first official visit she was supposed to meet with the management team of the police force but several officers of the police force captured the new minister’s attention the moment she stepped foot on St. Maarten. After a brief meeting with the island’s chief of police and was updated on the situation regarding the police Jacoba decided to meet with the officers briefly where a list of their grievances was presented to her prior to meeting with the management team of the police force.

She immediately met with the management team who also briefed her on the management of the Police Force. The minister then entered into another meeting with the police officers and their union representatives who itemized their grievances. ABVO representative Mr. Josepha said they were not happy with how the meeting ended because the Minister needed time to study their case, since only recently she took office. He said the police on St. Maarten are constantly asked to wait and no one wants to take their concerns into consideration, as such, they plan to continue their protest action on Tuesday. Josepha made clear that even though they are protesting safety and security on St. Maarten is under control.

In an invited comment, the Minister of Justice said she asked the police to give her a fair chance since she only took office a week ago and this is her first visit to St. Maarten. She said the police are asking for fair treatment and she believes that they should also give her a fair chance. Jacoba said she intends to look in the matter and decide what has to be dealt with as she intends to pick up where from where the former Minister left off. Asked if she felt the St. Maarten Police Force has been neglected by the Central Government.” With all that, I am told that is going on within the police force I do not think they have been neglected. I believe the officers just need to exercise patience.” Minister Jacoba said she believes that the police have to also exercise some patience since they have been waiting according to them a long time and few more days would not change anything. The Minister is scheduled to leave St. Maarten on Wednesday where she would be visiting Saba and Statia on Thursday. She is to return to Curacao on Friday.

Several police officers from the police force KPSSS walked out of the police station as they stage a protest against what they described as unfair treatment. The walk out took place on Monday the same day the new Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba arrived on the island.

The protest was led by Officer Giovanni Sprott and union representative from the ABVO Mr. Josepha. Sprott in a short statement to reporters said they gathered in front of the Government Administration Building because the police on St. Maarten are faced with some grievances over the last years. Sprott said while the Central Government has been providing Curacao, Bonaire and the other islands with their needs St. Maarten had been neglected. He said the sergeants in the police force are the ones who decided to protest because officers of the same rank were promoted to either major or inspectors while those on St. Maarten did not see or hear anything about their promotion, which has been pending for a number of years. He said the officers on St. Maarten are not even getting the opportunity to upgrade themselves with the training courses that are being provided, while they are now faced with a situation where officers from other islands are coming to St. Maarten with these higher ranks.

The veteran police officer who is no stranger to prosecution said the officers believe that other people are now reaping the benefit from their hard labour, which is no longer acceptable. Sprott said they submitted a document to the management team of the police force, the NAPB, and the Chief of Police Franklyn Richards.

The police are also calling on their elected officials especially the executive council to look into their grievances especially since they are soon to be going into a new status.

The officers felt that even though they have a number of years in service they are forgotten by the Central Government and this would no longer be accepted at least by the St. Maarten Police Force.

Also addressing reporters was ABVO representative Officer Josepha who also participated in the walk out. Josepha said he personally participated in number of meetings regarding their promotion and felt those responsible have taken them for granted. He said even though they are protesting the police are still on duty since they do not intend to sacrifice the community. Josepha said all three unions, the NAPB, the ABVO, and the WICSU were informed of their plans, but somehow the WICSU did not show up to represent the police. Good to note is the vice president of the Windward Island Civil Servant Union Lourdes Lake is part of the management team of the police force. Asked about this issue, which is clearly a conflict of interest, Josepha said the unions already discussed the matter with the WICSU president, however, he said the matter is internal and they intend to further discuss it.

NAPB representative Norwin Villarreal joined the officers shortly after the walk out where he was briefed. The NAPB representative quickly took over and went to deliver a letter, which was prepared for the Chief of Police he also participated in the meetings with the Minister.

Chief of Police Franklyn Richards who also participated in the short meeting said they did not expect the police to react in such a way since he was not informed prior to the Minister’s arrival. Richards acknowledged receipt of a copy of the letter, which was sent to the acting chief police commissioner Ademar Doran.

SIMPSON BAY - Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation Managing Director Russell, announced on Sunday that repairs activities at the bridge is progressing well.

A pontoon is currently located under the bridge, which is being used to implement repair work under the bridge deck.

Current repair works denote that no maritime traffic can enter or leave the Simpson Bay Lagoon. The bridge according to Managing Director Voges will only be opened during a weather emergency such as a storm or hurricane threat as was the case when Tropical Storm Ana and Hurricane Bill had posed a possible threat to the island.

“The pontoon will remain under the bridge until Thursday most probably. Most of the vessels that sought shelter in the lagoon from the inclement weather have already left.

“The maintenance repair work at the bridge entails rewiring of the electrical system and the installation of new traffic barriers. The latter have already been installed on both sides,” Voges explained on Sunday in a press release.

Boat owners and captains were informed several weeks ago about the two-week closure of the bridge in order to facilitate the necessary maintenance repairs. These repairs started on August 17.

All the repairs to the Simpson Bay Bridge are based on the recommendations made by Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch Authority for Waterworks and Bridges.

Philipsburg: --- The New Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba who arrived on St. Maarten on Monday on her first working visit was given a tour of the new immigration and naturalization department on Tuesday. Among the delegation that toured the building were former Justice Minister Mr. David Dick, Junior Minister Mr. Ernie Simmons, Acting Chief of Police Commissioner Ademar Doran, and Chief Inspector Robert Barby who will be heading the department.

In an invited comment former Minister of Justice David Dick said that when he published the Brooks Tower Accord based on an discussion with the incoming Minister Magali Jacoba.

In the meantime, Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba said she intends to implement the Brooks Tower Accord, which was part of the plan of the former Minister of Justice. Jacoba said when the new immigration and naturalization department opens her office would see to it that the policy which is aimed at regulating the undocumented is implemented.

Philipsburg:--- The police in a press release have sent out an appeal to parents and guardians of students attending school. In a press release police spokesman Ricardo Henson said since the opening of the new school year the police department have received several calls from concerned citizens and persons in the community and from at least one schoolteacher informing them that there are some serious rumors circulating, that several unknown individuals or a group or groups of youngsters possibly attending school in the Sint Peters/ South Reward area are intending to restart the fighting among each other.

One of these reports came in to the police as recently as Wednesday morning. For some time now these fights have constantly been monitored and prevented by the police in order make sure that the area is safe for all students and of course the community in general and will continue to do so.

The police are doing their utmost to prevent these types of incidents from happening, but they cannot do it alone. The police department is therefore asking the parents of these children to do their part in preventing these incidents . Speak to your children about the negative impact these incidents have and if their children are involved in any such type incidents to avoid doing that. Pick up your children on time so that they do not have to hang around the school area unnecessarily. This is not only a police problem but also a community problem. We all have to give a helping hand to solve this matter.

GREAT BAY– A number of Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) met in the conference room at the Cay Hill Fire & Ambulance Department Building last week Tuesday to discuss preparations and get an update on the current state of affairs in preparation for the peak period of the 2009 hurricane season.

The month of September and the first two weeks of October fall within the peak period of the hurricane season when most hurricane formation activity takes place.

Chairing the Tuesday meeting was Disaster Coordinator Fire Commander Winston Salomon.

A number of issues were discussed such as flood prone areas like Beacon Hill and Cay Bay, and what solutions could be developed to deal with these challenges.

A representative from the Public Works Department pointed out that they are still finding garbage and other debris in trenches and are appealing to the public to refrain from throwing garbage and other waste in the culverts and water ways. The debris will create blockage and cause flooding of surrounding areas.

Disaster Coordinator Fire Commander Winston Salomon is once again appealing to residents not to throw debris and garbage into trenches and to also take preparations for the hurricane season serious.

The flood gates and the Sucker Garden Pump Station; nation-wide curfew preparations and implementation procedures, the role of the Royal Dutch Marines and the St. Maarten Voluntary Korps; shuttering of government offices and buildings; and a review of back-up generators, were all areas touched upon during the meeting.

The Police informed the group that they are currently on standby and ready to uphold public order before, during and after a hurricane strike.

Those present for the meeting were representatives from the Public Works Department, Government Facilities Management, Police, Tourist Office, Fire Department, and the Government Information Service (GIS).

The hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

The Social Formation Program for out of school youths has gone through a transformation and re-emerged as the St. Maarten Youth Development Program. On April 2nd 2009, USONA approved the project proposal for the pilot phase of the implementation of the Youth Development Program of St. Maarten. The program has been added to the “Onderwijs & Jongeren Programma” that is managed by the Department of Educational Research, Policy and Innovations (DERPI) of Island Government.

Under the new slogan “Your second chance to a more promising tomorrow”, the program will be targeting young persons between the ages of 16 and 24 years who have left secondary school without a diploma, to obtain the start qualification they need to enter the job market. Additionally, with the Youth Development Program working closely with Advanced Secondary Vocational Education (also known as SBO or ASVE), it will provide these young persons with the opportunity to stream from the Youth Development Program into ASVE.

The new project coordinator, Janelle Presentacion, has been given the task of setting up the program. “As a young St. Maartener, I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to coordinate a program of this calibre that will not only help young people in our society but plays an integral part in poverty alleviation in St. Maarten,” said Presentacion.

Registration is open from August 3rd until September 4th, 2009. Persons interested in registering can do so at the Youth Development Program and ASVE office upstairs Carl and Son’s Bakery on the Pondfill. The office is open Monday thru Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. All you need to register is a copy of your I.D. For more information, you can contact coordinator Janelle Presentacion at 543-0497.

We are urging persons in the community, especially parents, to play an important part in our registration drive by encouraging young persons who have not completed secondary education to visit our office and discuss with us how this program can be beneficial to them. Just by doing this little gesture, we can already begin to affect change in our community” coordinator Janelle Presentacion concluded.

Biennial Conference

Delegates attending the 34th Biennial Conference of the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) at the Grenada Grand Beach Resort, made a strident call for the positive transformation of the classroom of the region’s schools to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s world. The Spice Island of Grenada was the perfect setting for the Conference which attracted approximately 150 delegates, observers and camp followers from Bermuda and the Bahamas in the North to Guyana in the South, St. Croix, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, the belt of island from the east of the Caribbean Region to Belize in the west on the continent of Central America.

Under the theme, “Transforming Today’s Classroom for Tomorrow’s World.” the delegates from 18 units of the CUT, unanimously agreed that for Quality Education to be effectively delivered, student centered technology-based interactive teaching must play a major role in the delivery of instruction in schools in the Caribbean.

The tone of the Conference was set by President of the CUT, Mr. Roustan Job, when he delivered his Opening Address. He emphatically stated, “Survival demands that we decide on educational programmes and techniques that will take us forward.” He further added, “Transforming today’s classroom for tomorrow’s world we need more than anything else, an all embracing ideology which can ensure love for country and region among our people”

Education International (E.I)

The Theme Address was delivered after the official Opening by Mr. Dennis Sinyolo, from Educational International in Brussels and a native of Zimbabwe, Africa.

Discussions were also held on the following sub-themes: Information Communication Technology in the classroom, Managing Diversity in the Classroom and the Role of the Trade Union in Classroom Transformation.

Mr. Reg Weaver, Vice president of E.I. also made an arousing presentation as he took the center stage at the second day of the Conference when he spoke to the delegates on their role.

Mrs. Virginia Poyotte-Virginia, E.I ‘s Regional coordinator also gave a presentation of the activities held in the biennium, the missions conducted in the region like Haiti and Suriname.

The workshop held by various units and funded by the E.I. was also highlighted.

WOMEN’S CONFERENCE.

The Caribbean Union of Teachers Women’s Committee held its 5th Conference to start the activities of the 34th, Biennial Conference. Addressing this Conference were, the Hon. Glennis Roberts, Minister of Social Affairs & Gender, President of CUT, President Roustan Job and Ms. Elizabeth Forsyth, Past General Secretary of G.U.T., Mrs. Virginia Poyotte-Albert-E.I. Regional Coordinator, who was also the inspirational pioneer of formation of this committee.

Mrs. Elaine Henry-Mc. Queen, a pioneer of the CUT Women’s Committee spoke on the theme, Transforming Today’s Classroom for Tomorrow’s World: Violence Free. This was also 10 years since this Women’s committee was established. Congratulations to them for all the work they have done and will continue to do in training and preparing women to train others in becoming tomorrow’s leaders in our community

A report was presented by Indra Ramsingh-Geoffrroy of TTUTA –Trinidad on the Fifty-third session of the Commission on the Status of Women held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York May 2-13th 2009

WITU PLANS FOR THE NEW BIENIUM.(2009-2011)

-To participate in training and workshops that would strengthen the human resources in our organization.

-To host the CUT Executive meeting to be held in December 2010 in collaboration with the Anguilla’s Teachers’ Union in St. Maarten.

-To plan, select and assist young athletes from St. Maarten schools in participating in the 13th Biennial Students’ Athletic Track and Field Championships to be hosted by the St. Kitts Teachers’ Union in July 2010 in St. Kitts

-To promote and establish the formation of a teachers cricket team and assist this team in the participation of the Les Harris Cricket Tournament to be held in April 2011.

-To establish a “ Status of the Women’s Committee” in March 2010. The objectives of this Women’s Committee:

-to sensitize both women and men teachers on gender related issues.

-to train a core of women TEACHERS to become active in the work of the teachers union

in addition, to gain confidence to assume leadership positions.

-to provide opportunities for women teachers to develop the necessary skills to conduct

workshops.

-to help women teachers develop the art of public speaking.

-to produce materials highlighting the work and achievements of women and girls.

REPORTS:

Reports were given to each member units from the activities of the biennial of each member unit of the CUT. In addition, reports were given by the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Vice Presidents of CUT on the different meetings and support programs that they attended during their term of office. A report was also given of the 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia June 15th-18th 2009. Recommendations of the 4th Biennial Education Conference held in Barbados, December 3rd-5th2008 were compiled and published in a colorful tri-fold leaflet as the “Bridgetown Communiqué .”

The Conference concluded on Friday evening with an Award Ceremony, where a number of persons were honored for their contribution to education in their country and the CUT.

The recipients hailed from Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica.

National Alliance Senator George Pantophlet said the coalition met on Monday August 2, 2009 to discuss some very important issues.

The discussions surrounded the millions UTS has been experiencing in losses over the last years up to 2007. Thus far some 30 million guilders has been lost on the International markets while on the local markets (Netherlands Antilles) according to the Minister of Telecommunications

things have gone extremely well. Government is waiting on the financial report for 2008 to determine the way forward. There are times when in the beginning a business starts to lose money but then recovers and becomes profitable in the future. However, we need to see the plan of action of the company to see how they plan to solve this problem.

Another point discussed was persons who were insured by SVB and upon reaching the age of 60 lose their insurance card. Of course when they meet the required criteria they can receive a PP card from government. One being, collecting less than the minimum wage. What I found out during the coalition meeting was that since 2001 government was working on legislation to deal with this problem. Draft legislation has been submitted for advice in January of this year to the Advisory council.

We are awaiting their response. What should be noted is that Parliament is trying among others to include sole proprietors in the legislation. It is the intention that as many pensioners are covered by this insurance.

An additional agenda point which was added had to do with a Brazilian Airlines that is trying to establish themselves in the Netherlands Antilles specifically on Curacao. However there is a problem with the issue of reciprocity and whether local persons will be employed. Furthermore if this airline is given the authority to fly it will mean a change in our open skies policies. The US has already expressed their concerns. What has added to the dilemma is the fact that there is a matter of difference of approach between the central government and the island government of Curacao. A meeting will be convened with both parties in an attempt to synchronize matters.

GREAT BAY, – On Thursday, the Preventive Health Department (PHD) confirmed that the island now has its 15th and 16th confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) virus. Both persons, tourists, have been treated with anti-viral medications.

The National Epidemiologist of the Netherlands Antilles Izzy Gertsenbluth confirmed the cases on August 5. Both persons, a 58-year-old male for Baltimore, U.S. and a 29-year-old female from New Jersey, U.S., arrived on the island July 25.

The 58-year-old complained of a flu-like illness and samples were collected on July 31. He was admitted to the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) and placed in isolation and treated with the anti-viral medication tamilfu. He was discharged from SMMC on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old’s sample was collected on July 31. She was isolated in her hotel room and received anti-viral medication. After treatment, she was able to resume her travels.

On Thursday afternoon, two samples were taken from persons who had traveled and these will be forwarded on to the lab for further analysis.

The PHD in collaboration with the GIS is utilizing various communication avenues to get the message to the public about Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

These communications include radio and television information spots, cell phone text messages, radio interviews, press releases, and advertisements. Additional communications will be an email and a St. Maarten Cable TV Community Billboard Notice.

The PHD is urging those who travel abroad on vacation or for business, and return with flu-like-illness to remain at home and contact their family physician immediately. They should not engage in any community activities such as working, shopping or participating in any mass/social activities. This would limit the risk of community spread.

This will help minimize the risk of infecting those around you, especially people who are at a higher risk of severe illness and complications from influenza.

Persons who develop flu-like symptoms a week after returning from a vacation abroad should take the same recommended action as noted above.

Tourists are hereby advised if they develop a flu-like illness while vacationing on the island, to contact the PHD immediately.

The severity of the disease at this point in time remains relatively mild. In the past, all confirmed cases have recovered fully.

The symptoms of Influenza A (H1N1) flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with the virus.

Persons seeking additional information should contact PHD at telephone numbers: 542-3003 or 542-3553 or visit the following websites: www.cdc.gov/swineflu or www.who.int. for more information on Influenza A(H1N1) virus also referred to as swine flu.

Philipsburg:---The Police Department is hereby informing the general public, that all persons who had their scooter, motorcycle or bicycle, confiscated or taken away by the police and impounded at the Philipsburg police station can come and pick-up their belongings. You are required to bring along written proof of ownership of the vehicle you intend to pick-up.

No vehicle will be given back without proof of ownership. The opportunity to pick-up your vehicle will from Monday August 10 2009 until Friday August 14 2009 during office hours. Persons who did not pick-up their vehicle during this period will not be able to do so at any other time. These vehicles will then be properly disposed of by the police department.

Philipsburg: ---- Police arrested the second suspect in the robbery of early Sunday morning, which took place at the El Polito Bar in Sucker Garden. Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard said police arrested R.G.H 20 years old from Jamaica at his work place in Low Lands on Monday. The arrest he said took place somewhere in the midday hours. The suspect has been charged with armed robbery and possession of a firearm.

R.G.H along with another Jamaican national who was accosted and arrested early Sunday morning entered the establishment twice, before holding one of the clients at gunpoint with an intention to commit a robbery. The owner of the bar with the help of a client accosted one of their attackers who at some point fired a gunshot and injured one of the clients in the bar. Arrested on Sunday is D.A.B the alleged gunman and the weapon used was also confiscated. Leonard said the Armed Robbery Unit is busy investigating the case.

Pointe Blanche: -- Over the last few days, police found at least three stolen vehicles at a location in Pointe Blanche.

Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard said the latest vehicle found was a silver color Suzuki Swift bearing French license plate ZBA 971 255. Leonard said the vehicle was found on four blocks and was partly stripped when it was recovered. The police spokesman explained that it seems as if the location in Pointe Blanche is the new dumping ground for these stolen vehicles. The vehicles he said was found on Humming Bird Road Pointe Blanche in the vicinity of the GEBE watertanks.

Philipsburg:--- Island Council lady Maria Buncamper Molanus has presented two letters to the chairman of the island council where she requested information from the council. Buncamper Molanus requested from the island council the transcripts of the June 8 island council meeting. The island council member wanted the transcripts of the statements made by island councilman Louie Laveist and Commissioner Hyacinth Richardson. She officially received those transcripts last Monday, which she said she already studied and is now requesting more answers pertaining to statements Laveist made during that meeting.

In her letter to the council, she said, “While I do not consider it at all proper to delve into the details of any benefits being received by any citizen on St. Maarten, I am compelled to make an exception as serious accusations were levied against me using this subject matter as the basis of these accusations. Therefore it can only be considered fair to all concerned that the requested information be provided including the supporting evidence.”

Buncamper Molanus wants to know if the Mrs. Laveist mother is receiving social or any other monetary benefits from the Island Government of St. Maarten. If the answer to question one is yes, then please answer the following questions:

1. Since when is the mother of Councilman Louie Laveist receiving this benefit?

2. Has the benefit ever been interrupted?

3. Has the benefit ever been stopped?

4. Has the benefit ever been reduced and if the answer is yes, under which circumstances?

5. In the case of a senior citizen’s request for social welfare:

a. what is the procedure to obtain and renew this benefit;

b. what is the maximum benefit for which the senior citizen is eligible.

c. How is this benefit calculated

6. Who has the authority to decide on who receives a social benefit or not?

7. Does the mother of Councilman Louie Laveist receive a medical expense benefit commonly referred to as a Government Doctor’s card?

If the answer to question 8 is yes, please answer the following questions:

8. As of which date was this doctor’s card issued?

9. Was the doctor’s card ever suspended?

10. What is the procedure to obtain and renew the Government doctor’s card.

11. Who has the authority to decide on who receives a doctor’s card?

Buncamper Molanus in her second letter to the chairman is requesting information pertaining to the passenger arrival from both aircraft and cruise ship.

The council lady said based on an article published in the Daily Herald of July 21 it stated that there is a decline in cruise passenger arrivals. The article mentioned reads

" The cruise sector has seen a double-digit decline in passenger arrivals in the past months. St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies estimates that economic recovery will come in the next twelve to eighteen months. Harbour Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo and Chief Operations Officer (COO) Keith Franca gave their views on the recovery of business from the global economic crisis to Economic Affairs Commissioner Frans Richardson recently."

In order to get a more in-depth view of the situation, kindly provide the following information per quarter:

PJIA:

1. The number of passenger arrivals at PJIA in 2009, during the first two quarters and the projected passenger arrivals for the last two quarters.

2. The projected number of passenger arrivals at PJIA for 2010 per quarter.

3. The number of aircrafts , which arrived at PJIA 2009, during the first and second quarter and the projected aircraft arrivals for the last two quarters of 2009.

4. The projected number of aircraft arrivals at PJIA in 2010.

SMPA

1. The number of cruise passenger arrivals at SMPA in 2009, during the first two quarters and the projected cruise passenger arrivals for the last two quarters.

2. The projected number of cruise passenger arrivals at SMPA for 2010 per quarter.

3. The number of cruise ships calling at SMPA 2009, during the first and second quarter and the projected cruise ship calls at SMPA for the last two quarters of 2009.

4. The projected number of cruise ship calls at SMPA in 2010.

GREAT BAY,– The Preventive Health Department (PHD) is appealing to parents/guardians to remind their kids to continue to practice cough etiquettes and good hygiene even when back at school.

Teachers, parents and guardians are role models and should demonstrate these behaviors which are a tool to prevent the spread of Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

On Monday, August 17 thousands of school children will return to school. The well-being of students, teachers and other teaching staff is of utmost importance.

Schools have a central mission of educating children and adolescents. It is crucial not to interrupt the learning process without due cause. Illness may be a cause, and schools and communities have a responsibility to balance the risks of illness among students and staff with the benefits of keeping students in school.

Children should know to wash their hands frequently with soap and water; cough and sneeze into a tissue or into the inside of your elbow/sleeve; dispose of used tissue paper in the trash properly; stay at least six feet away from people who are sick.

Children who are sick should be kept at home and away from school or day care centers until they recover. Parents and guardians should make sure your child remains healthy by giving them a lot of fluids, eat healthy and have plenty of rest. Monitor their temperature and symptoms; ensure your child’s health is in good condition.

Give your child medication prescribed by your family physician or ensure that medicines are child age appropriate. Do not give young children medicines for adults or teenagers. Keep tissues close to them and have a trash bag within reach for disposing used tissues.

The symptoms for children with Influenza A (H1N1) flu virus are similar to that of adults. The symptoms include high fever, a runny nose, cough, sore throat and body aches. At times these can be accompanies by, diarrhoea, breathlessness and dizziness.

School principals also have a role to play to ensure that their school remain healthy and the sick population on the school grounds attributed to flu remains to a minimum. Minimizing the spread of H1N1 virus within our community calls for us to work together.

Persons seeking additional information should contact PHD at telephone numbers: 542-3003 or 542-3553 or visit the following websites: www.cdc.gov/swineflu or www.who.int. for more information on Influenza A(H1N1) virus also referred to as swine flu.

PHILIPSBURG – Twenty years is a milestone and an eventful year for the University of St. Martin (USM).

The higher learning institution will be commemorating its 20th Anniversary on September 5th, 2009 with an evening full of activities at its campus in Philipsburg.

USM was formally established in 1989 with an inauguration ceremony and classes beginning in September of that year in a building that was originally designed to house Public Works.

“The twentieth anniversary is going to be a remarkable and historic event, one which my staff and I are very proud to be associated with in these challenging, and at the same time very dynamic times. As president my role is a very complex one, however, I feel very fortunate to be able to contribute at this level of human capacity building for country St. Maarten. We have come very far since 1989 and we want our public to see with their own eyes what we have achieved,” “USM President Josianne Fleming-Artsen stated.

The 20th Anniversary celebrations include speeches and presentations honoring founders the late Dr. Claude Wathey and Dr. Hushang Ansary. Especially important in the evening’s event will be the expression of gratitude to all of the donors that have helped to make the second floor of the current building a reality. The second floor consists of five new classrooms and office and other space, including a new teacher’s lounge, conference room and office spaces for Board of Directors and the Student Government Association (SGA). In addition, as part of the Open House, in many of the new classrooms there will be Powerpoint and pictorial presentations. Some of these presentations include: 20 years of history of USM, and degree programs offered by the institution. The USM students, the alumni of USM, the USM faculty and a program of the Fundraising and construction of the second floor of the building will also be featured. Guests can visit each of the classrooms to view the presentations.

“USM has grown in different ways and has evolved into a learning institution for this community. There is never a dull moment at USM as change is an experience we undergo on a daily basis. We have gone through an experience of metamorphosis and have become an institution to reckon with. We do have long roads to travel but like a butterfly with wings and the ability to fly, we are processing all our challenges to ensure our flight. Our students remain our top priority and we are doing all that is necessary to ensure that we accommodate their needs,” President Fleming Artsen said.

Invitations have been sent to the minister of education and leader of government/commissioner of education and deputy leader, respectively, and various stakeholders in the community.

The Foundation of the University of St. Martin, Board of Directors (BOD) will also be unveiling special plaques and donor boards at the institution. The Partners in Education, the Classroom Sponsors, the Patrons and friends of the University will be honored for their generous contributions.

The President of the Board Dr. Lockie Johnson expressed that “USM has doubled in size due to the donations from the community and USONA and USM accepts the challenge to double in quality.”

The celebrations are expected to get underway at 6:00pm. Music will be provided by a steel pan player and a local string band.

“Particularly, I am grateful to our hard working staff and faculty and all those who help to provide along with me leadership on a daily basis. Our gratitude goes to the Foundation of the University of St. Martin, the Building and Fundraising Committee whose voluntarism is beyond words. The Foundation has realized the dream and we are grateful,” President Fleming-Artsen stated.

The University of St. Martin is the only institution of higher learning on the island offering several associate degrees in business and general liberal arts, bachelor degrees in business, education, and hospitality and one master’s degree, in education, in addition to several non degree programs such as the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) Tutorial and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs.

Two of the bachelor programs and the master program are offered in conjunction with other universities, namely Mount St. Vincent University and the University of the Virgin Islands. USM has been recognized as the teachers training institution for the Windward Islands. The institution also works in collaboration with Curacao Institute for Social and Economic Sciences (CURISES) for its Hospitality and Tourism Management program.

USM has more than 550 alumni many of whom have gone on to work internationally and locally in various sectors.

GREAT BAY:--– The Preventive Health Department (PHD) confirmed on Monday the island’s 22nd confirmed case of Influenza A (H1N1) virus, a 56-year-old woman who was part of a family reunion event that took place earlier this month on the French side.

The ladies sample was taken on August 14 and confirmed on August 17. The 56-year-old has been given the anti-viral medication Tami Flu and is under isolation.

Four members of this reunion, an eight-year-old female, an 11-year-old male, a 16-year-old male, and a 36-year-old female, attended a family reunion on the French side of the island on August 6.

Improvements have been noted in these cases but they still have the cough.

Two additional samples have been taken over the weekend from children, and the PHD is awaiting these results.

The PHD is urging those who travel abroad on vacation or for business, and return with a flu-like-illness to remain at home and contact their family physician immediately. They should not engage in any community activities such as working, shopping or participating in any mass/social activities. This would limit the risk of community spread.

This will help minimize the risk of infecting those around you, especially people who are at a higher risk of severe illness and complications from influenza.

Persons who develop flu-like symptoms a week after returning from a vacation abroad should take the same recommended action as noted above.

Tourists are hereby advised if they develop a flu-like illness while vacationing on the island, to contact the PHD immediately.

The severity of the disease at this point in time remains relatively mild. In the past all confirmed cases have recovered fully.

The symptoms of Influenza A (H1N1) flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with the virus.

Persons seeking additional information should contact PHD at telephone numbers: 542-3003 or 542-3553 or visit the following websites: www.cdc.gov/swineflu or www.who.int. for more information on Influenza A(H1N1) virus also referred to as swine flu.

Philipsburg:--- Island Councilman and senator George Pantophlet said the oppostion in the island council namely the Democratic Party is exemplary in their commitment to frustrate the process of constitutional change and prevent the people of St. Maarten from attaining its status change under the National Alliance led government.

Pantophlet said during Thursday’s Island Council meeting the opposition choose to walk out of the meeting instead of remaining in the legislative hall to represent the people who elected them.

The island councilman and senator called the situation unfortunate because the process of constitutional change is not a party issue but the mandate from the people of St. Maarten which was given to elected officials when they voted on June 23, 2000 almost 10 years ago to leave the constellation of the Netherlands Antilles but remain within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Why did the members of the minority government walk out? It was not because they had to wait on several adjournments which are nothing new because the National Alliance have had to endure many adjournments which sometimes kept them into the late hours of the night.

He said the only reason the DP walked out is because they know the National Alliance/Heyliger and Laveist government knew they were needed to give a quorom also knowing that one of the requirements in the agreement signed with the Netherlands was that of good corporate governance a process which they started but could not complete.

The councilman said with this kind of behavior they have proven that when it comes to good governance they are still lagging behind. He asked if the people remember the proposal of the Ombudsman brought forward by former Island council member Drs. Gracita Arrindell? What was the D.P.’s response.It was left hanging for almost four years. And how can anyone forget Rules of Order which has been waiting for almost five years? And suddenly the minority government realizes that it exists. He said they need not remind the former D.P. government of the many times when it came especially to constitutional matters that the National Alliance as representatives of the people of St. Maarten were the ones who signed in to ensure that there was a quorum for the meetings to proceed. The minutes of these meetings are there as proof. Now because of their lack of good governance another week will be wasted. Bravo D.P. good job. Country above self.

Philipsburg: --- The Jamaican man identified as L.D accused of raping or molesting a 10-year old child is yet to be arrested even though police have an official report against the culprit. The case was not discussed with the prosecutors office on Tuesday either.

SMN News was reliably informed that the man allegedly attempted to rape the child while her grandmother was asleep over the weekend.

The source said the child identified as J.A screamed when the man who is accustomed of molesting her approached her that night alerting her grandmother of the incident. It is understood that the relatives immediately reported the incident even though they assaulted him. SMN News understands that L.D filed an official complaint and charges against the child’s mother for assault.

On Monday the grandmother, including the child mother and other relatives were at the police station seeking to file a complaint against the predator. The child was also taken to see a doctor whom this media house understands confirmed that the child had been sexually molested on more than one occasion. SMN News understands that the man was arrested and released since there was no juvenile detective on duty over the weekend. Even though not divulging any information on the case Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Ademar refuted the allegations.

His release the source said has caused an outrage among the relatives including his wife since the man allegedly confessed to her about his actions.

In an invited comment, Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein maintained that his office has no information on the case. Stein said when someone is arrested the police has full control over the first six hours. He said if the relatives of the victim is not content with how the case was handled they needed to file a complaint.

It is not clear on what charge the police arrested the L.D over the weekend since law enforcement cannot arrest a person twice for the same act, unless there is new evidence.

Willemstad/Philipsburg: --- St. Maarten Island Council should take a decision now to leave the Netherlands Antilles just as Aruba did years ago say Minister of Constitutional Affairs Roland Duncan. Duncan reacted to the announcement made by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles Emily de Jongh-Elhage that the parliamentary elections for the Netherland Antilles would have to take place in January despite the constitutional process.

He said it is his personal belief that the Prime Minister is acting emotional because the council of ministers did not take a decision on this matter, furthermore, the Prime Minister he said has not consulted with any of the islands. Duncan said should this happen, it would slow down the constitutional process. He said Curacao wants to maintain control of the Netherlands Antilles and the only and best thing to do right now is to leave and deal directly with Holland on separate status.

The Minister who is presently in Curacao and is scheduled to return to St. Maarten on Friday to attend the National Alliance retreat said he intends to advise his party not to participate in the upcoming elections instead they need to take a decision to leave the Netherlands Antilles. Duncan said the people of St. Maarten voted for separate status some nine years ago and it is high time their wishes are respected.

In the meantime, leader of government William Marlin at a press conference on Wednesday shared the same sentiments. Marlin said his party would be discussing this matter on Saturday and only after then he would be able to say exactly what position his coalition government would be taking. The leader of government said he is already hearing that the PAR in Curacao has said they would be participating in the upcoming elections.

Already the advisory council has given their advice, which is against postponing the elections. Marlin said should this happen it would put the two islands in a very awkward situation since they are busy with the dismantling process. “We are busy building countries Curacao and St. Maarten and at the same time we are dismantling the Netherlands Antilles.” By January 2010, the responsibilities of the central government will be transferred to country St. Maarten and future country Curacao, so having an election in January is for a countries that are being dismantled. Marlin said rather than focusing on the ‘new house” Country St. Maarten they are still going to have an election which would only be for legal and democratic purposes. Should a new election be held Marlin said the parliament would only sit in March 26. The island leader said that the following month they would also have to begin postulation for the election for country St. Maarten that is supposedly be going into effect by October 2010.

GREAT BAY----The Executive council has taken a decision to purchase the Hope Estate for the construction for more homes announced Commissioner of Housing William Marlin. The commissioner met with the St. Maarten Development Housing Foundation on Tuesday where the plans were discussed. Marlin said the intention of government is to enter into an agreement with the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation where the Island Government will secure the funding for the project.

The idea is that government will be providing financial support (subsidies) annually which will be used to pay off the loan the foundation has. The foundation would be charged with building a number of homes mostly likely two and three bedrooms, which will be sold to potential buyers who can secure 100% financing.

Marlin said the foundation would not be building one home but instead when a group of people is qualified by the bank then the homes would be built.

The leader of government said when he was in government in a previously government had purchased the Hope Estate and according the plans, but after he left office the government who was in office for ten years left it dormant.

He said that there was a project to build some 96 two and three bedroom apartments on the property but this initiative was stopped by the previous government. Right now there are some 72 low income units on one half of the property while the other half remained unoccupied. According to Marlin he was informed that the low income united would be rented for a maximum of Naf. 500. It was stated that the low cost housing units are being built for some senior citizens who are living at the Sis Bassilica Center and capable of living on their own.

Marlin said the St. Maarten Development Foundation is confronted with a situation where they are unable to repair the Belvedere Duplex homes which created numerous substandard living conditions.

He mentioned that even though there are persons who are interested in purchasing the homes the foundation finds itself in an awkward situation since the persons who live in these homes are the “money makers” for the foundation. He stressed that the residents of the duplex homes are “the less delinquent” tenants and selling these homes would be a loss of revenue for the foundation would remain with its overhead expenses.

Marlin said if the homes are sold then the banks would hold at least 65% of the funds since there are still outstanding loans.

Philipsburg: -- The man accused of raping an 11-year-old girl on a number of occasions has surrendered to police on Thursday. SMN News understands the suspect identified as L.D from Jamaica decided to surrender after meeting with an attorney on Wednesday. SMN News further understands that the suspect and his boss told his lawyer that three “rasta looking” men showed up at his place of employment in Middle Region to settle the score with him. It is understood the suspect is maintaining his innocence saying he is no rapist; instead, he is a man of God.

The source said because of this the man’s employer who was also a witness when he was beaten up by a neighbor at his work place for raping the minor girl wanted to know if he should follow his wife’s instruction and skip the island.

The child’s mother is also changing her story saying that this is a mere mistake and that they the family is doing all that are necessary to make sure the man is punished. The young woman also went to her sister’s house where the child was placed by the court of guardianship to see if she can physically remove the child on Thursday afternoon. Her efforts however, failed since the other family members vowed to protect the youth. Speaking to SMN News the aunt of the child said she loves her niece and she is the one meeting all the financial obligations for the child. The aunt said that even though the child lives with her godmother she is the one who is providing food, clothing, and all other necessities for her niece, simply because she loves her. The young woman said her sister has never been there for her daughter instead she spent almost 8 years in a US prison.

The aunt said that she was even forced to buy new school uniform on Wednesday to make sure the child who is presently in the sixth grade attend school because her self-appointed guardian refused to give up her belongings. It is the guardian that is receiving monies from Social Welfare for the child.

In an invited comment Joel Arrindell, head of the Court of Guardianship said the child has been placed by her aunt on the French side temporarily until they can gather all evidence. Arrindell said when the evidence is gathered from the police and the doctor they are going to place the child in protective custody. He advised the aunt to call the gendarmes or the police if the mother tries to remove the child from her care. Arrindell said both the gendarmes and the police were informed about the case.

Great Bay -- The Consulate General of Colombia in Curacao will visit Saint Martin this weekend, to offer a variety of consular services to Colombia nationals residing in the Windward Islands. The services include the issuance of ID cards, passports and other official documents, said Mrs. Stella Blandon, the local liaison for the Colombian consulate.

Colombian consul-general Dr. Ricardo Andres Giraldo Alzate and executive administrative secretary Mrs. Luz Stella Jimenez Mira will be providing consular services here on Saturday, August 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Venue for the consular services is the office of Maximo Castro, Director of the Spanish-language weekly "Vocero Latino", at Johan Vermeer Street # 55. The office is located on the second floor of the building housing Cake House supermarket at Amsterdam Shopping Center, Madame Estate.

The Colombian Consulate will also be finalizing the process started in 2007 with regards to new ID cards for Colombian nationals.

Persons who have been awaiting their new ID card are asked to bring along their passports or proper form of identification when claiming their new ID cards.

For appointments and information, contact Stella Blandon at 523-8506.

MARIGOT— The gendarmes said they due to their investigation into the fatal accident on the Wednesday evening claiming the life of a 23-year old man has now been solved as they managed to identify the persons that were involved in the fatal collision. The accident occurred at the entrance of Orient Bay.

The gendarmes also said that they identified a 25 year old man has been detained on Thursday as the suspect in the shooting and wounding of a 30-year-old man in Fleming’s Carpet in French Quarter. The suspect is due to be transferred to the court in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe on Saturday.

The Gendarmerie’s investigation determined that the two men knew each other and the shooting stemmed from an argument.

PHILIPSBURG – The WIFOL union and the University of St. Martin have reached an agreement concerning the functioning of the Management Team. This agreement came two weeks ago, on August 13, after several meetings, and through the intervention of the central government mediator, Mr. Kenneth Lopes and Management Team lawyer Peggy Ann Brandon. The Foundation of the University of St. Martin expressed its position that the Management Team should resume functioning under the President of USM.

The Management Team is comprised of the following positions at USM: President of the University, Dean of Academic Affairs, Registrar, Admissions Director, Marketing Director, and Student Counselor. The President is the appointed chair of the Management Team and is ultimately responsible for all decisions.

With this agreement, the Management Team was expanded to also include the IT Network Specialist and the new CFO. An outline of the scope of work has been tentatively agreed upon within this operational team. Additionally, some adjustments to the organizational structure await formalization in an upcoming Quarterly Board meeting. All parties agreed upon the operational scope and the minor adjustments of the organizational chart in the meeting held on August 13, 2009. The agreement was reached in the presence of the mediator Mr. Kenneth Lopes, who dealt with all discussions and amendments.

In essence, the Management Team scope of responsibilities remains unchanged. The concept has been in place for at least 10 years and has always been under the direction of the USM President. The responsibilities of the Management Team stretch from ensuring the smooth running of the operations to recommending proposals.

According to WIFOL President, Theophilus Thompson, “We are now looking for a formal MOU to be signed and expect the CLA to follow suit within short.” Thompson commended the USM Foundation for acknowledging the importance of the Management Team and its reinstatement and noted that the team comprised of “young, talented professionals” who remained focused and persistent in ensuring that their rights were not compromised throughout the process and hope that this steadfastness remain for the upcoming negotiation between WIFOL and USM for the CLA.

President Fleming is pleased with the outcome and is grateful to all parties, in particular Mr. Lopes, who objectively brought this matter to a close so that all could get back to work to move the University forward. The results are a win-win for all, she said.

“USM has a bright future ahead of it and it is wonderful that the feeling of a team has re-emerged as this will ensure the success of USM,” said the President of the Board, Lockie Johnson. A date has yet to be set for the first Management Team meeting.

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten – A St. Maarten delegation led by tourism commissioner Frans Richardson, was in Florida recently, exploring, among others, the potential for marketing the island and to address airlift issues.

The delegation was updated about trends in airlift bookings and hotel reservations, tracking developments as of 2007.

The island government of St. Maarten is presently awaiting proposals with regards to marketing the island for the remainder of 2009.

Talks were conducted with senior executives of Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Spirit Airlines and American Airlines, during the recent visit.

The meeting with Expedia, St. Maarten’s largest online wholesaler, was of an introductory nature, with the commissioner being briefed on St. Maarten’s performance.

One reason mentioned for a decline in tourist arrivals is the lack of an island wide promotional effort as compared to, for instance, St. Lucia which does have such an initiative ongoing.

Proposals of how this can still be achieved for St. Maarten is presently being awaited.

Officials of Travelocity confirmed the decline in bookings as well the practice of visitors booking their flights much closer to the date of travel as compared to the 30 to 45 day booking window, previously experienced.

The meeting with Spirit Airlines served to obtain a commitment from the carrier that service would be maintained for St. Maarten.

The meeting with American Airlines was particularly encouraging, with American Airlines Vice President Peter Dolara sharing views with the commissioner regarding strategies to secure St. Maarten’s place in the tourism market place. This considering the fact that St. Maarten has gone from a clear trendsetter to a destination facing notable competition, more and more from other Caribbean destinations, as well.

Introductory discussions were additionally conducted with Kahn Communications, a PR firm representing St. Maarten. Among topics discussed were strategies for a coordinated effort at marketing the island.

The companies with which talks were conducted are all major online operators, where visitors go to for the purpose of booking flights and other travel needs.

Philipsburg:--- The Democratic Party faction members namely Sarah Wescot Williams and Petrus De Weever has submitted a request to the Island Lt. Governor requesting that he call an island council meeting as early as possible.

The sole agenda point for the meeting is the position of the executive council on the Social and Economic Consequences of the labour policy.

The Democratic Party has been speaking out against the withdrawal of the policy by the National Alliance.

Philipsburg:--- Several reports has indicated that the former Minister of Justice David Dick as appointed Aruba’s Police Chief Peter de Witte as St. Maarten’s new police chief.

SMN News understands de Witte who hails from Holland has been having some problems in Aruba and he wants to leave that island. De Witte worked quite some years in the Caribbean islands including the Coast Guard of the Netherlands Antilles. De Witte left the Coast Guard in November 2006 to begin working as the appointed Chief of Police in Aruba.

When contacted on Thursday Dick said he never discussed the position with de Witte, he said he had intended to make the position available so that interested candidates can apply for the position which has been vacated by Chief Commissioner of Police Derrick Holiday almost two years ago. Asked how possible it is to open the position when Mr. Holiday’s case is still in the Supreme Court.

Dick said the Central Government is not obligated to wait until Holiday case is over, the former justice Minister made clear that the police force on St. Maarten could not continue the way it is and if he was still holding the position as Minister of Justice he would have made the position available for people to apply. Dick made clear that this was one of his recommendations to the new and incoming Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba. “The Central Government has enough in their files to renounce Mr. Holiday and that is exactly what will be done. No one person can hold back a police force.” Dick said.

SMN News further understands that several persons made contact with de Witte and they are making him other offers including the government of Aruba who also offered him another job.

The source said de Witte already indicated to Aruba that he is coming to St. Maarten to fill the vacancy of police Chief on St. Maarten, which means someone indicated to him that he would be the most likely candidate to fill the position and if he applied, the job will be given to him.

La Savanne: -- The newly appointed captain of the gendarmerie has arrived on the island earlier this week. Captain Stephanne Brunet, 33 years old is married and has two children.

The young father said he has a 9-year old son and 7-year old daughter who all came to the island with him as he takes up his new post. Brunet told reporters on Friday it’s the first time he has been in the French Caribbean and right now, they are trying to adjust to their new environment. “Its indeed new to us and we have to now adjust, St. Martin is indeed special, especially having such a small island with two governments, amazing is the cooperation that existed between the two sides.” Brunet said.

Speaking about his job, he said he is busy observing the way the gendarmes function here on an island, which he concluded, as being really specific. The new captain already made acquaintance with those at the Collectivity and he even began walking around in certain areas of the community to familiarize himself with the island and its people.

Brunet is expected to meet his Dutch counterparts sometime next week.

Already the newly appointed captain said he find the people of St. Martin to be friendly and always smiling, for him that is a big plus because it’s not the same way in France. Asked if he requested to serve on St. Martin Brunet said, he requested a transfer to the Caribbean after severing for four years as the head of the gendarmes mobile.

Philipsburg: ---On Wednesday August at approximately 07.25 p.m. the police department and detectives were sent to Backstreet to "Caribbean Choice" for an armed robbery. On the scene, the investigating officers spoke to a lady with initials M.B. who stated that shortly before her husband had called their daughter informing her that he was a victim of an armed robbery. However, this was not the case. She further stated that her husband was pulling a prank or a joke on his daughter.

All persons involved in this case were taken to the police station a severely reprimanded about this type of irresponsible behavior and the negative consequences it could have. Innocent persons could get hurt. The detective and police have much more important things to do.

GREAT BAY– The 2009 Hurricane Season is starting to get busy with the formation of several tropical wave and depression weather systems. This is one reason why the community should not become complacent, Fire Commander/Disaster Chief Winston Salomon stated on Wednesday.

“The 2009 season has taken off from a slow start this year without having one named storm to date, however this may change soon when we look at Tropical Depression #2 in the far Atlantic Ocean.

“I call on the community to make sure you have everything in place and your storm ready. Everybody must take the required actions to minimize the risk of injury and damage to property in case there is a hurricane strike, and the time to act is now if you haven’t already. Remember our theme for the season, ‘It only takes one – Be Prepared’,” Fire Commander Salomon told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Wednesday.

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

Residents, business owners, and contractors have been advised from the beginning of the season to draft plans that would protect their families, business operations, and construction sites. When a hurricane threatens our island, what is left for residents, businesses and contractors to do to prepare should be minimal.

The hurricane season runs through November 30.

SIMPSON BAY - Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation hereby announces that as of Monday, August 17 the Simpson Bay Bridge will be close to maritime traffic for a two-week period to facilitate additional repair work.

Boat owners and captains therefore must decide whether they will leave their vessel in the lagoon or in the bay. The last bridge openings will be on Sunday, August 16 for inbound and outbound vessels.

The main contractor Hofman Sliedrecht will work on the replacement of the traffic barrier boxes and booms; installing new traffic lights and installing a new electrical control cabinet for the bridge.

All the repairs to the Simpson Bay Bridge are based on the recommendations made by Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch Authority for Waterworks and Bridges. They are done to ensure the durability and longevity of the bridge structure.

In August 2009 Inspectors of Rijkswaterstaat will once more asses the condition of the bridge after all the improvements and will submit a report to the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority.

Philipsburg:--Monday, August 17th it will be back to school again for thousands of students, and back to work for school managers, teachers and other school administrators.

Allow me on behalf of the Executive Council of St. Maarten, and as Commissioner of Education, in particular, to avail myself of this opportunity to extend the very best wishes to all Students, School Directors, School Managers, Teachers, and all other persons directly or indirectly involved in Education, whether public or private, for a very productive school year 2009-2010.

The beginning of the school year is often filled with heightened expectations and of great things to come. This heightened expectation is usually tainted with nervousness, fear of the unknown and apprehension.

The life of a teacher is to elevate hope and confidence above cynicism and despair, if only by the slightest measure. As educators, we have the responsibility to educate and inspire the whole child, socially, emotionally, physically, academically, and spiritually. (mind, heart and soul).

Over the past years education has been going through innovations at all levels, from elementary to secondary. I am fully aware of the sacrifice our educators are making to fulfill the requirements of these innovations, with the numerous workshop sessions and with the “TRUP” Program the Teacher’s Retraining & Upgrading Program.

The long hours the assignments that had to be completed alongside your regular responsibilities in the classroom. As well as sacrifices that your families have had to endure during this process.

I want to let you know that we appreciate all the sacrifices that you have made. We are grateful and are extremely confident that the good results of our students will be our reward in the future; when our students are productive citizens, ready to take up their responsibilities in country St. Maarten.

As this new academic year begins, I wish to assure our educators that education, as a whole, has my attention and is of the highest priority. Teachers have an awesome responsibility to prepare our students today for the future.

On Thursday morning, I had the privilege to sign contracts for three important school projects related to the construction of a new school in Cay Hill, the expansion of the Genevieve de Weever School and the Sister Magda School, and there are more to come.

This school year the Government will begin with the introduction of compulsory education. It is the intention, that every child living on St. Maarten between the ages of 4 and 6 will be given access to one of our schools. Not only Public Schools but to private schools as well.

The Executive Council has requested the cooperation of all other school boards, in insuring that there is a seat for every 4, 5 and 6 year old this year.

Lastly, I appeal to the parents not to sit idly by, get involved in your child’s education. Get to know your child’s teacher. Don’t wait to be called, go in. Get involved in all aspects of your child’s education. Remember education begins at home. Parents are the children’s fist teacher. Do not relinquish your right. Home and school must work together, if our children are to be successful, we need your involvement now more than ever.

Once again, to all School Boards; Public as well as Private, Directors, School Managers, teachers, support staff, students and parents, I wish you a smooth start to the school year 2009-2010.

I wish you much strength, patience and a very successful school year 2009-2010.

Philipsburg:---Members of the Emerging Global Leaders Program, SIMARC students, the Youth Link Foundation, VKS volunteers, Rotaractors, well-known radio personality Elektra, Clean St Maarten N.V., St. Maarten Pride volunteers, other residents and even two visitors from the United States carried out a very successful clean-up of the Cul-de-Sac Cemetery on Saturday August 15th, 2009.

The Clean-up was facilitated by St. Maarten Pride Foundation and attracted some 55 volunteers who managed to fill 80 garbage bags which were subsequently transported to the landfill by Clean St. Maarten N.V. Saturday’s Clean-up provided volunteers (many of whom had never been to the Cemetery) with the opportunity to visit graves of ancestors and notable St. Maarten Families dating back to the 18th and 19 century.

Volunteers expressed a sense of inspiration by the day’s activities and mentioned that many of St. Maarten’s residents drive or walk by the Cul-de-Sac Cemetery every day without knowing that the area, which has been placed on the island’s monument list, holds such history.

St. Maarten Pride Foundation is calling on the island’s residents to respect the resting place of our ancestors by contributing to keeping it clean. The Foundation urges Government to allocate funds to and carry-out immediate and continuous beautification and protection of the Historic Cul-de-Sac burial grounds.

Pride Foundation would hereby like to thank all the Volunteers, who came out and made the event a success, for their tireless efforts.

Cay Hill: -- Construction work halted at a construction site yesterday in the Cay Hill area after controllers from the Social Insurance Bank (SVB) immigration and zero tolerance raided the site. The controllers found 19 persons working at the location two of which ran away while 17 was taken to the SVB head office where they were interviewed.

Head of SVB Reginald Williamsburg said one company was found working at the site with some 19 workers. Of the total, only two of them were insured at the Social Insurance Bank while the others were not. Willemsberg said 12 of the workers were detained by the immigration department because they were all residing and working on the island illegally.

On the scene, working was Walters Electrical NV owned by Nathaniel Walters and his brother a registered contractor. The company may have to end up paying close to Naf: 60,000 for hiring of illegal workers.

While an un-determined amount of monies would have to be paid to SVB. The Social Insurance Bank would also issue a fine to the company for not declaring their workers.

The controls Willemsberg said would continue during the week.

SMN News understands the controllers also visited a garage in Arch Road but found no one due to heavy rain. At that location, a dwelling is under construction.

Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard said 15 persons were taken to the police station. He said 12 of them were handed over to immigration for processing and four were later released, three Haitians and one Guyanese. While eight are presently in custody pending deportation, seven of the detained are from Jamaica and one from the island of Dominica. Leonard said he could not say if fines were issued to the employer.

In an invited comment, Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein said his office is yet to receive the report that is to be made up by the police. Stein said based on the law the employer would be fined Naf.5000, 00 for each undocumented worker.

Commissioner Frans Richardson speaks to the group of travel writers during the media luncheon.

Fernando William, Advisor to the Commissioner; Regina Labega, Director of Tourism; Chad Meyerson, Director of Sales for the Caribbean & Latin America, JetBlue; Kirstin Frazell, Manager of Advertising, JetBlue; Commissioner Frans Richardson; Dennis Corrigan, Vice President, Revenue Management, JetBlue; and Dave Clark, Director of Route Planning, JetBlue.

Philipsburg: ---- The management team of the Police Force of St. Maarten is the ones to be blamed for not complying with their duties to have the officers who are now protesting upgraded. So said members of the union when questions were posed to them by SMN News, ABVO representative Officer Josepha said police officers cannot submit themselves for promotion instead that lies with the management team of the local police force. Josepha admitted that the battle they are fighting today is not a matter that just surfaced but this has been an issue for at least 16 years. Josepha said the management team has to submit the recommendations to the Minister of Justice who would then execute by having a decree for the promotion. Unless that is done, the Minister of Justice cannot promote anyone. Josepha said there are officers who are working for the police force for over 16 years and is still in the same rank today, while officers in Curacao with less years than those in St. Maarten already has a higher rank. He said the same goes for Bonaire while the three islands, St. Maarten, Saba and Statia remains the same. He said the KPSSS has sergeants, then there is an open space, which has to be filed with majors following inspectors, and chief inspectors, something they said are a plight of the officers. Officer Carlyle Rogers from the NAPB said one of the things he wants to make clear is that the former Minister of Justice David Dick never promised them anything. He said that on the contrary, the matter was raised in several meetings but Dick maintained that he would not be sitting in the seats of the Chief Commissioners of police who are given a task. Rogers said Dick made clear that unless he gets the proposals he would not be able to promote anyone.

Dick calls Protest Unfair.

Former Minister of Justice David Dick who is also on the island in a statement to reporters said the police officers of KPSSS treated the new minister of justice rather unfair. Dick said a walk out is not a way to welcome anyone and its not a way to do business, instead the local police should have welcomed the new minister and sit around a table with her to discuss their grievances. His main concern is why the KPSSS officers did not take action earlier, why is it they did not do this three weeks ago he asked? Dick said the actions of the police on Monday and Tuesday gave a very bad image of the local police force. In his opinion, he said the unions and their members need to discuss the matter and if the officers are entitled to something then it would be given to them. He said if the management team had submitted a formal proposal then the officers would have been promoted. Asked if this matter was tabled during his tenure, Dick said the matter was raised but no formal request was ever given to him for promotion.

Dick disagreed with statements made by the unions who said that the officers from the other islands were upgraded while St. Maarten was not, he said everybody knows of the court cases and the complaints that were made by the other islands that were officially dealt with. Dick said if St. Maarten had raised their concern’s they too would have been dealt with but the (KPSSS) has lots of chiefs but no Indian.

Police Officers from KPSSS continued their daylong meetings on Tuesday with their unions and other representatives. The officers started their meeting at the office of the Windward Island Civil Servant Union.

They then entered into a meeting with members of the executive council along with the Chief of Police prior to their scheduled meeting with the Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba.

In the meeting with the executive council SMN News learnt that the officers mostly sergeants who have been waiting for their promotion for almost 16 years expressed their grievances. Addressing the officers who met at the A.C Wathey Legislative Hall was leader of Government William Marlin.

In a statement to reporters members of the union said, they were satisfied with the outcome of the meetings. Carlyle Rogers member of the NAPB said the meeting with the executive council went terrific, as they were able to lay out their grievances on the table. He said the chief of police (Lt. Governor) Franklyn Richards has promised to look into the matter while the executive council was extremely happy to learn of the situation. Rogers said the answers given to them were fruitful and it is what they had expected to hear from their leaders. Asked what can the executive council do to improve or regulate their situation Rogers said one of the ‘sticking points” for separate status is justice and that means that the police force has to be in order, he said the leaders who are pursuing the new status need to know what type of police force they have and what would be needed in the new setting.

Rogers said the mere fact the executive council lend a listening ear to the grievances of the police is a step in the right direction especially when it comes to country St. Maarten. ABVO representative Josepha said in that meeting they were able to outline their grievances and it was only then the Chief of Police said he would deal with the matter with the management team of the police force.

He said regarding the meeting held with the Minister and State Secretary the answers were fruitful. Rogers further explained that what took place on Monday was indeed an unfortunate situation for the new Minister of Justice. He said Jacoba not only hit the ground running but she hit it in the battlefield. Rogers said they promised to have fruitful discussions in the future prior to taking action, while the Minister also guaranteed them she was going to look into the matter.

Rogers agreed the Minister only had one week in office and she needed to be given the benefit of the doubt. He said that while the unions did not put an ultimatum to the Minister they are expecting her to take actions in record time. Rogers could not say if the police would return to normal duty on Wednesday but said they would make a decision after meeting with their members.

In an invited comment the Minister of Justice said the officers promised to return to work on Wednesday, asked about the meeting she held with the unions, she said that was part of her program and that the leader of government William Marlin and the Lt. Governor seems to have addressed the issues the police has.

French Quarter: ---A 30-year-old man identified as B.R who went to do business at the Fleming’s Carpet in French Quarter had to be taken to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital after a gunman walked into the store and shot the customer twice in his leg area.

SMN News has learnt that the shooting took place in the office area of the store in the presence of children.

On the scene yesterday were a number of gendarmes who were conducting the investigation.

Bystanders at the scene identified the gunman as D. SMN News has learnt that both the victim and the suspect who is now on the run are working at the Princess Juliana International Airport. Sources told this media house that the two has an ongoing dispute, which began at their place of employment. Several bystanders and witnesses to the shooting said the gunman a known person in French Quarter did not have on a mask when he committed his actions. The victim is a well-known man is also living in the French Quarter had to undergo emergency surgery at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital.

The gendarmes in a press release said that so far they have not determined the cause of the shooting but confirmed that no robbery has taken place. An investigation into the case is underway.

Philipsburg:-----Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) will be offering free educational presentations for schools, clubs, and civic groups during October and November 2009 as part of the Love the Lagoon program. The theme of these presentations will be the importance of wetlands, such as the Simpson Bay Lagoon and salt ponds, and their role in our environment and society.

Visiting environmental education specialist Andrea Beauchamp will provide hands-on, interactive learning experiences for audiences of all ages. In addition to her current tenure as a middle school teacher in the United States, Mrs. Beauchamp teaches at a residential summer science center for gifted and talented students as well as conducting summer school science lessons for at-risk youth. Her extensive experience both in and out of the classroom setting will be of great benefit to all participants.

Classroom presentations may be augmented by field trips to nearby wetlands. To schedule presentations, phone Love the Lagoon Project Manager Rueben Thompson at 545-3009.

Philipsburg: --- The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) is informing their members that the periodic increase that was due to be applied to their salaries as of August 1st 2009 has not been applied across the board. The union is presently investigating which school boards have not complied with the New Salary Scale System for Education on St. Maarten.

According to the agreement in the New Salary Scale System, teachers will be evaluated according to guidelines formulated and approved by the Executive Council. As long as these evaluation guidelines are not implemented for teachers, all teachers will receive a periodic increase on August 1st of each school year. So far, we have received confirmation from two school boards that they have applied the necessary changes to their teachers’ salaries. Our complaints were mainly from Public School teachers. WITU will continue to investigate which other school boards are in non-compliance with the New Salary Scale System. WITU is working diligently to speedily resolve this issue.

Cole Bay:---The Head of the Police Traffic Department Inspector Alexander is hereby informing the general public that in connection with the paving of the streets at the Kruythoff round a bout in Cole Bay. Traffic will be temporarily be re-routed. On Saturday August 29th and Sunday August 30th 2009 between 07.00 a.m. and 05.00 p.m and on Monday August 31st 2009 from 08.00 p.m. to 06.00 a.m. all traffic from Philipsburg going to Cole bay should use the Lexy Arnell road and not the A.J.C. Brouwers road. Traffic coming from Cole Bay and coming towards Philipsburg will use the A.J.C. Brouwersroad.

The general public is required to use all necessary precautions when using these streets during the period mentioned.

GREAT-BAY (GIS)- On Wednesday, July 29th 2009, eighteen year old Courtney Willock was interviewed about her travelling abroad to further her studies. Courtney attended the Caribbean International Academy, and is now going to be furthering her studies in Miami at Johnson’s & Wales University to study fashion merchandising.

At a young age, Courtney always aspired to be a great fashion designer, remained with those dreams for years, and wants to open her own store someday. “I hope that I settle in well at my new school” Courtney says. She will be living on campus with three roommates from two different countries and expects them to all get along very well. Courtney desires that the school is not a party school and that she could get her work done. “I am very excited to attend the school” she said “not only because I liked what they had to offer but because it was the only school I applied for and was happy that I got accepted”. Courtney hopes to gain knowledge about the fashion world, and hopes to get her Bachelors degree in four years.

Courtney is a little sad and depressed to leave because she is her mother’s one and only child and finds it hard to leave her behind. With all the advice and all, that her mom thought her Courtney thinks that she is independent enough to go on her own. To the youths that are next in line to leave the island Courtney says,” keep up the hard work and do your best in school”.

Maho: -- A police officer Isel Doran and brother of assistant chief commissioner of police Ademar Doran barely escaped death on Saturday midday when the suspects of an armed robbery fired shots at him as he approached the scene of the crime.

At least four armed bandits wearing helmets entered into Gold Creations in Maho, where they held the storekeepers at gun point prior to breaking the glass case with a hammer and stealing an undisclosed amount of jewelry.

According to eyewitnesses, a female tourist flagged down the cop who was passing through Maho at the time and informed him that an armed robbery was in progress. The officer whom this reporter learned was working alone at the Simpson Bay outpost immediately turned around to intercept the robbers when he was confronted with the shots.

Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard who was on the scene said one of the robbers who was standing at the door saw the police pick up and he began pounding on the door to inform those inside that police was in the area. Leonard said when the two bandits inside saw the police they immediately fired two shots at the officer. One of the bullets grazed the vehicle while the other shot barely missed him and landed on the showcase of Riveria Too Ice Cream parlour shattering the glass case. Leonard said back up officers arrived on the scene and managed to arrest three of the suspects who initially escaped from the first officer. Leonard did not release the identity or nationality of the suspects on Saturday. The police spokesman said one of the culprits locked himself in the bathroom in the La Terrasse Hotel.

Police managed to get the suspect out and arrested him, while the second suspect Leonard said jumped off the second floor of the Maho parking lot breaking both his legs. The young man the police spokesman said is from St. Maarten and he was taken to the St. Maarten Medical Center under police guard while a third suspect was caught as he tried to escape in a get away car, police is on the hunt for a fourth and possible fifth suspect the police spokesman explained.

According to an eyewitness and visitor to the island said, she saw the entire ordeal, which left her shaken. The woman said it has been years she has not had a vacation and she came here to relax with her family only to be confronted with a near death situation. She said they saw when the robbers enter in the jewelry store, they literally saw when the shots were fired, and they ran for cover. The woman said she was with her son and his girlfriend who began running when they saw the robbers began firing shots at the police officer, she said they even jumped over a wall to avoid being shot at.

The owner of a nearby business said he was standing outside of his shop and he noticed two black men wearing helmets entering the shop. The businessman said shortly after he heard the men saying, “Move” and within seconds, he heard a huge bang. “When I heard that I immediately realized what was happening so I went back into my shop and pulled the shutters down. I then called one of the employees of Gold Creations who confirmed to me that they are being held up at gunpoint. I immediately hung up and called police.”

The businessman expressed his concerns and fears for their safety he said the incident occurred just around midday on Saturday when there is a lot of people moving around in the Maho area. He said the bandits are vey brave and they are not even looking to rob people in secluded areas anymore, these thieves are attacking during high day and in busy areas.

On the scene were several detectives investigating the case including head of detectives Krips were seen picking up spent shells in Riveria Too Ice Cream Parlour. Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard said police confiscated two motor cycles that were parked in the parking lot of the Maho Sonesta Hotel, they also managed to recover some of the stolen jewelry, which was in the pockets of the suspect that jumped off the second floor of the parking lot. Police also recovered the hammer that was used to break open the glass case, as well as the car that was used as the gateway car. The police spokesman is expected to release more information on his case sometime over the weekend.

Philipsburg: --- The Windward Island Civil Servants Union (WICSU/PSU) is calling on the island government to take responsibility and intervene in the FZOG and St. Maarten Medical Center saga.

At a press conference on Saturday representatives of the ABVO Ethelwoldus Josepha, William Reed from the WICSU and Raymond Jesserun also from the ABVO pensioners union told reporters that they sent a letter to the island government some three weeks ago requesting a meeting.

The unions said they outlined the problems pensioners are faced with at the St. Maarten Medical Center and they felt that it is necessary for the local government to do something.

Josepha considered it shameful that government sat by and said nothing about the entire ordeal even though those suffering today are former civil servants. The unionist said what is more shameful is that government also did not have the common courtesy to respond to their letter of July 10.

Right now, the unions have drafted a letter, which will be sent to the Kingdom outlining the breach of basic human rights towards the pensioners. Jesserun said the Kingdom already intervened in situations where human rights are being breached and they took responsibility for it. One such case is the benefits and conditions that were restored for prisoners of the Pointe Blance prison and Bon Futuro in Curacao. The unions also highly condemned the actions of the medical director of the St. Maarten Medical Center Dr. George Scot who continues to refuse the FZOG cards for pensioners. Jesserun said the hospital director is acting illegally and he is targeting the wrong people for payments owed to the institution.

William Reed said another option the unions have to send their letter to the Public Servants International, which he sure would pick up their case.

Asked why the unions have not chosen to take the St. Maarten Medical Center to court of the FZOG if they feel so threatened. Josepha said they know exactly what the judge would say and instead of spending monies to start a court case they are trying to get everyone around the table to work out the matter.

Airport – On Saturday August 1, 2009, as a result of a technical problem the EDS machines, these are the equipment, which electronically screens all checked luggage, failed. Our technicians have to date been unable to remedy the problem and our technical support service providers are expected to be on site by midweek to assist with the repairs. We expect to have the systems fully operational shortly thereafter. As a result, we have instituted and will continue to execute the back-up plan for events such as these.

After a challenging start up of the plan on Saturday, the plan has been working relatively smoothly since Sunday. We regret any inconvenience to our passengers and airline customers and shall continue to do everything necessary to ensure efficient and smooth operations. We wish to thank the airlines, the handling companies and their staff as well as our employees for their continued cooperation.

Philipsburg:--- The Simpson Bay patrol will begin another type of control as of this Thursday says police spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard. The police spokesman said the patrols will be removing all persons loitering around mini marts and supermarkets as well as along side the road. Parents are advised to warn their teenage children who are presently on vacation to stay away from roadside loitering. The police would also be paying special attention to scooter riders who are performing wheelies the on public road. Scooter riders who are caught in the act would loose their scooters and they would have to pay a fine or spend some days behind bars. Leonard said just last week a youth was transported to the St. Maarten Medical Center in serious condition and that victim has now lost one of his legs. The accident had occurred on Airport Boulevard. Leonard also reminded the public of an accident that occurred on the French side of the island where the victim in this case has been declared brain dead.

The patrols he said would also focus on cars that are parked alongside the public roads. Any vehicle that is parked longer than 2x 24 hours will be towed away at owner’s expense. Persons who leave their vehicles along side the public road with for sale signs would face a fine for vending without a license. Anyone who wishes to sell a vehicle and wants to park it alongside the road needs to obtain a permit to do so the police spokesman said. Persons who are caught obstructing traffic would also be fined while those acting suspiciously would be arrested.

GREAT BAY:---– Head of the Census Office Leona Marlin, informed the Government Information Service (GIS) on Thursday that the Identification (ID) Card machine is out of service until further notice.

Due to the incompatibility of software, the system is rendered useless until further notice. The community will be notified once this software issue has been resolved.

ID cards are required by law. If you don’t have one, inquire at the Census Office once the ID card machine is in operation.

The administrative cost for a new ID card is Naf.35 and for senior citizens (60+) Naf.15.

The ID card is legal proof of identity. It is used to open bank accounts or other types of services that requires some form of identification.

The ID card is also a required document for some government procedures and services.

The law requires that a person carries some form of identification with them at all times and the ID card is the handiest one and preferred method of formal identification.

Failure to produce the card may result in being denied access to premises or attainment of goods and services.

Those who require further information can call the Census Office at 542-2457 or 542-5375.

Sandy Ground: --- Relatives of Ricardo Gumbs are now mourning their loss, Gumbs passed away just around the midday hours on Thursday confirmed his aunt Ginette Gumbs. The 21-year-old young man was knocked off his motor cycle on Friday evening near US imports in Sandy Ground. He suffered massive head injuries as well as to his body including punctured lungs.

The accident victim was flown to Martinique on Saturday morning but was sent back to his native island on Tuesday. Doctors on that island concluded that there is nothing else they could have done to safe his life. Gumbs was declared fully brain dead on Tuesday. He passed away peacefully on Thursday midday at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital.

Eyewitnesses say they saw a Black KIA bearing Dutch number plates hit Gumbs off his motorcycle. The driver did not stop to offer any assistance to the young man who went airborne after he was struck. Due to the impact, the motor cycle burst into flames creating a panic on the scene, relatives of the now deceased young man provided a video to SMN News to show what the situation was like when the accident occurred.

On August 06, another road accident occurred on Bellevue main road leaving a 20-year old man badly injured. A press release from the gendarmes indicated that the driver ended his race along the Bellevue Road in a wall. The accident occurred around 04:00 in the morning.

Marigot:--- The Prefecture of St. Martin in a press release said the spread of the influenza H1N1 appeared to be limited on the French side of the island. So far, there have been some eight confirmed cases, which were tested at a laboratory in French Guyana. Of the eight cases four came from one family, two cases was referred from a general practitioner, one case was diagnosed from the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital and the other person was infected in Martinique. The patients are recovering well.

The release said the testing on influenza A H1N1 is not systematic any more: they are conducted when there are three or more cases in one area. General practitioners would decide if their influenza patients are to be tested for H1NI if there is an increased amount of patients..These tests would identify the presence of the virus on the territory and the level of viral circulation has increased. .

Influenza A H1N1 evolves in a moderate manner nowadays just like a seasonal influenza. Taken medical measurements are the same that for a classical influenza. The bet under treatment of antiviral is not systematic and automatic: it is prescribed by the general practitioner.

It says that it was confirmed a worldwide extension of the epidemic of influenza virus H1N1, the WHO being crossed in stage 6 of its influenza plan of pandemic: it is confirmed the circulation of this virus at worldwide level. The actual strictness of new influenza is softened.

The situation in France evolves towards a local pollution of persons, not having travelled out of necessity next months. France stays in stage 5 of its influenza plan of pandemic at the moment.

The island of saint Martin refreshed of the whole implement of conflict against the development of influenza A H1N1 and collaborates for several months with the health authorities of Sint Maarten.

Saint Martin disposes 15 of a network of general practitioner and a consultation devoted to the hospital of Saint Martin for cases orientated by or by a general practitioner. The population is called to remain vigilant faced with this new influenza virus with moderate character. Every person infected with the virus would notice the following symptoms.

• violent high-pitched respiratory Syndrome,

• the upper Fever in 38 ° either ache or debility,

• respiratory Signs: cough or shortness of breath.

Every person introducing evocative signs must consult his medicated doctor.

Simple gestures to restrict risks of pollution are:

• washing regular of the hands several times a day, during at least 30 seconds,

• Throw your handkerchiefs into a garbage can and wash hands you having blown,

• If you are sick, to carry a surgical mask sold in chemist's shop to protect your fellows.

Philipsburg:--- Parents of some 83 students who registered to enter public or government subsidized schools earlier this year are still without placement. Acting Sector Director Qunicy Harrigan in an interview with Government Information Service said they were in meetings up until Thursday with the government subidized schools looking to see if those schools would assist in placing the students now that compulsory education has been implemented.

Of the 141, four to six year old that registerd with the education department only 56 of them were placed in the public schools Harrigan said. Harrigan said if the students cannot be placed in the government subsidized schools then government would have to begin creating space at the public schools for them.

The Acting Sector Director said they also noticed that some parents registered their children at more than one location and those are some of the things they need to sort out. Students who are not placed can expect to be out of school for the next two weeks as government tries to find a solution to the problem.

Harrigan said they are also confronted with a situation where locals and persons who are residing on the island legally are only now coming forward to register their children, all of which is creating some set backs. Parents are now advised to register their children at schools in their district and not the education department. Harrigan said the major problem facing them right now is the lack of qualified and competent teachers for the students that are not being placed. He said so far there is enough furnitures and locations for the additional students but teachers he said cannot be found. One of options the department of education has to hire more teachers but that Harrigan said would be the final alternative.

During these two weeks students who are going to be accepted by the government subsidized schools would have to be tested so that they can be placed according to their level of education.

Harrigan there has been a flurry of school registration at different school locations by parents of undocumented students, age 4-6 years old. This has caused a burden on the schools administration as a result the placement of these students has been delayed 1 – 2 weeks.

Philipsburg: ---The Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutors Offices of the Netherlands Antilles promises a reward of Naf 3000 for the person that provides information leading directly to the arrest of Louis Albert Alexis, also known as “Sticky.”

Louis Albert Alexis is suspected of several armed robberies. Anyone seeing this person or know where he can be located should contact the police at telephone number 599 5813674.All information will be dealt with carefully and confidentially.

SMN News has learnt that the suspect is the main suspect in the Gold Creations Robbery which took place two Saturdays ago in Maho. It is also understood that Sticky was the gunman who shot at Officer Isel Doran.

Philipsburg: --- Leader of Government William Marlin has condemned the actions of the Democratic Party Faction who chose to walk out of the island council meeting on Thursday. Marlin described the actions of the DP faction as that of a group of spoil brats meaning that if they were not able to accomplish something, no one else can. He said when the DP was in charge of the constitutional change the National Alliance was a loyal member of team St. Maarten.

The leader of the National Alliance Faction said they did any and everything in order to support St. Maarten with its constitutional change. He said Thursday’s island council meeting was to deal with the code of conduct on cooperate governance which is part of the agreement with the Netherlands. Marlin said the reason this is part of the agreement is due to occurrences with the Democratic Party, He reminded of the blatant conflict of interest regarding former commissioner Maria Buncamper Molanus who found herself with the Sky is Limit Foundation President and her husband on the Telem Board including the $25,000 donation which is still on the minds of the Dutch Politicians including the State Secretary of Kingdom Relations.

Marlin said that incident including others was why the Dutch insisted in having this in the agreement prior to St. Maarten gaining its country status.

Regarding the walk out he said was because the meeting had to be adjourned at least three times, Marlin said if his faction had done that in the past then they would have been walking out of practically every meeting of the Island Council because of constant adjournments on several occasions without notifications.

The island leader said the actions of the Democratic Party on Thursday had nothing to do with respect instead if the executive council is not ready the meeting can be adjourned for as long as three weeks.

Marlin further explained that what took place on Thursday was that procedures were not properly followed because the chairman of the island council had to make sure the councilors vote and if there were not sufficient votes casted then he would declare the vote null and void for a lack of quorum.

Marlin said there are times when councilors would hurriedly go back to their places to vote because on several occasions they probably left their seat to go the bathroom, on the porch or even sit in the public tribune. He said the fact councilman Roy Marlin called for “hoofdelijstemming” individual voting and walk out does not constitute a lack of quorum. He said it is remarkable that the chairman of the island council did not allow the voting to take place and he also refused to adjourn the meeting claiming it was not possible.

Marlin said has nothing to do with the lack of respect instead its the Democratic Party he said is trying their best to obstruct the process of constitutional change because they know that based on the agreements the code of conduct on cooperate governance had to be implemented by August 1.

The leader of the National Alliance Leader said Thursday was indeed a sad day for St. Maarten and the Democratic Party has declared war on the people on St. Maarten with their constitutional change. He said during elections there would people who would be putting up huge bill boards with “country above self” but the display of the Democratic Party clearly shows that it is the Democratic Party above country because the code of conduct on cooperate governance does not belong to the National Alliance/ Theo Heyliger or any politician instead in the interest of St. Maarten achieving what the people voted for nine years ago which is to become country.

Philipsburg: --- Even though the leader of the National Alliance and government of St. Maarten William Marlin refuted the story published some days ago in one of the daily newspapers pertaining to the replacement of the acting Lt. Governor Millicent de Weever. Island councilman Roy Marlin said where there is fire there is smoke. Marlin said he read carefully the reaction of the leader of government who said the local coalition did not forward any documents to have the acting Lt. Governor replaced.

The island councilman said everyone knows how it works in the Central government who has the authority to remove and install the acting. Lt. Governors.

Marlin said when one is in coalition in the federal government they do not necessarily have to put anything on paper to get the process moving. The island councilman said the process could begin with a simple close door discussion.

He said what is now termed as a rumor has to have some sort of truth because matters such as these does not spring up like that. “For me where there is fire there is smoke” Marlin said he believed that those supporting the central government has prompted the central government to look at the removal because during an island council meeting two weeks ago the acting Lt. Governor allowed him to give a statement after the vote.

Philipsburg: --- Employees of the St. Maarten Tender Services on Monday approached their boss demanding that the union dues, which were taken out of their salaries for the Windward Island Civil Servants and PSU, (WICSU/PSU) be returned to them. Speaking to SMN News on behalf of the employees is Sandra Blaize. Blaize said the general manager of the company had ordered the secretary not to take out any dues from the employees who are presently at odds with their union but the secretary she said still took out the dues. The long time worker said the company promised to return the monies that was deducted from their salaries. Blaize also made clear that the St. Maarten Tender Services do not have 34 workers as was reported before. She said the workers in the office are part of management while some other workers are on contract. She further explained that management is trying to mislead the public with the figure they released earlier since if all the workers were added together they still would not amount to 34. According to Blaize there are only 18 employees of the St. Maarten Tender Services all of whom she is said works on the boats.

The workers of the St. Maarten Tender Services have decided to change their union claiming that the president of the WICSU/ PSU has failed to adequately represent them. The workers already approached the Union Federation Union where they are seeking representation. A request for a referendum has been submitted to the Federal Labour Department.

Philipsburg:--- The relatives of an 11-year old child are furious with police whom they said arrested a Jamaican national who allegedly raped the child. The relatives who spoke to SMN News on the condition of anonymity said the incident occurred Saturday evening and the man as well as the child’s mother was arrested after she assaulted him.

However, police did not take a statement from the mother over the weekend since according to them there was no juvenile detective on duty. The young mother was asked to report to the police station on Monday, which she did, the child was taken to a medical doctor where a rape kit was taken. The relatives identified the alleged rapist as L.D and they said that he has been molesting the child over three years now. According to the aunt of the child, her sister was not living on St. Maarten when the abuse was taken place but sometime last year, she filed a report against the man because he molested her child and she had also assaulted him. The relatives claimed that the child’s guardian as well as her grandmother with whom she is living has been covering up for her husband. They said the woman told the child not to tell police all that happened because she preferred the alleged rapist be deported and not face criminal charges for his act. To date the prosecutor’s office has no information on the case, even though Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran said they have an official report against the suspect and action would soon be taken.

Philipsburg: --- While being very reserved finance commissioner Xavier Blackman said dollarization for the Curacao and St. Maarten remains an option. Blackman said there were a number of case studies that were presented during the conference. He said based on these case studies it was revealed that only countries that were in a crisis dollarize. Most of the Latin Countries that dollarize followed recommendations from the IMF.

Blackman said the Director of the Central Bank Emsley Tromp said the reason he believes it was necessary to dollarize was because of the deteriorating balance of payments of the Netherlands Antilles, and given that, if another crisis was to occur then it would hit the islands harder.

Blackman said assuming that the financial situation will improve when the islands take on country status, since the federal government layer will be removed, which would allow both future countries to keep their revenues.

When that happens then these countries would no longer have their revenue spread out especially to the BES islands and when that happens then their should be a healthier finances which would ensure a healthier balance of payments. Blackman said in his opinion if the above is acquired then the argument given by the Central Bank would become obsolete. He said he is not sure if dollarization would address the problems.

However, the finance commissioner agreed that there should be more discussions including the broader community. He said government is busy preparing to hold information sessions on the matter to look at the future monetary system for the countries.

The commissioner said he also believes that the public has to be involved in this process since the people need to know what would happen to their money. Asked if he has preference on the matter, he said his official position on the issue is that St. Maarten and Curacao is working on creating a common currency for the future countries, while his personal position on dollarization is that is has pros and cons.

However, he said the list of cons is just as long as the list of pros. He said while one would said that it is more practical but admitted that this is a very hard decision to make. He queried why fix something that is not broken and one has to be very careful when fixing or changing something that is working.

Great Bay:---- – It’s now official: St. Maarten/St. Martin has been certified by Modern Bride as one of the top 50 Best Honeymoon spots in the world. In a letter to the island’s tourism authorities announcing this, Publisher of Modern Bride, Jennifer Hicks, disclosed that the honor was conferred by “a panel of Virtuoso travel specialists.”

“Each year, Modern Bride has a signature editorial feature that announces the 50 Best Places to honeymoon worldwide,” Hicks explained.

“In determining the winners,” she continued, “Virtuoso experts look at a variety of criteria: factors that establish a place as a really hot destination for newly weds. A romantic backdrop, great beaches, adventurous activities, superb nightlife, and opportunity for seclusion… our expert panel narrows down the top choices in all these categories.”

St. Maarten/St. Martin was ranked 45th out of the 50 Best Honeymoon destinations in the entire world by Modern Bride. The publication receives over three million impressions a year for its much-anticipated annual feature.

Commissioner of Tourism, Frans Richardson is thrilled by the news. Just back from New York where he led a St. Maarten delegation to meet with travel writers from various trade and consumer publications that included Bride's, For the Bride, and Wedding Dresses Magazine among others, the Commissioner said being chosen by such a prestigious magazine as Modern Bride among the Top 50 Honeymoon spots in the world was a huge honor.

“The wedding and honeymoon segment is a growing niche market which we are also focusing on because of the potential it presents for us. This honor presents a unique opportunity for us to further target this segment,” Commissioner Frans Richardson remarked.

“It is a publicity windfall which will boost our current marketing efforts even more,” he added, noting that he is keen on taking full advantage of opportunities like this to brand the island as a desirable destination “for romance as well.”

MARIGOT—A drug mule was sentenced to two years in jail, one of which is suspended reported the gendarmes. The unnamed suspect was caught when he attempted to transport more than a kilo of cocaine to St. Barths from St. Martin. The reports states that when the trafficker disembarked on St. Barths last Sunday he was detained after being suspected of having illicit drugs in his possession. After a search, the culprit was to have in his possession over 1 kilo of cocaine, 2 grams of cannabis and an undisclosed amount of money. A search was also conducted at the suspect’s residence, which yielded more money and 24 grams of cannabis. He was handed over to the gendarmes on St. Martin.

The gendarmes also managed to apprehend a man who slashed a youth in his face as he was riding a bicycle in Sandy Ground. According to the report the driver of a car slashed the youth in his face, witnesses called the gendarmes who later managed to apprehend the suspect. He is to appear in court sometime in December to answer charges of assault.

Sandy Ground:-- A 21-year-old young man identified as Ricardo Gumbs was flown to Martinique on Saturday morning in critical conditions after an unknown vehicle hit him off his scooter. The accident occurred around 10 pm Friday night.

The young man’s aunt who was very shaken on Saturday told this reporter that her nephew left his home around 9:30pm and shortly after she received, a call from her daughter who told her “Tony” got into an accident. Ginnette Gumbs said she did not have her car at the time and she walked to the scene of the accident, which was in the vicinity of US Imports. Gumbs said when she reached the scene the ambulance had already taken her nephew to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital while the firemen was on the scene trying to put out the fire from the motor bike.

The woman said according to information reaching the family a car (Black KIA) hit her nephew and did not stop. She said up to press time they did not know who the car belonged to neither do they know who was the driver. The impact from the hit she said left her nephew with severe head injuries, as well as abdominal injuries. The motor cycle she said caught fire due to the impact.

The relative said based on eyewitnesses when the gendarmes reached the scene they met her nephew on the ground and the bike, which was very close to him on fire, but the gendarmes did not do anything to offer help. She said several residents questioned the actions of the gendarmes because they did not even try to move the victim away from the fire neither did they try to put the fire out. She said they even asked the gendarmes if they did not have fire extinguishers in their vehicle and the gendarmes they said asked them if they wanted them to take their monies to equip the vehicles.

Gumbs said it is her son and another bystander who moved the burning motor bike away and they are the ones who looked for sand and put the blaze out while the gendarmes stood up looking. The woman said she confronted the gendarmes at the hospital and they confirmed to her that they did not have fire extinguishers in their vehicle.

Another concern for the woman is the fact that the radiology in Marigot is in operational. Gumbs said her nephew was taken to the radiology in Concordia and it was then the hospital was notified that the scanner is not working. She said the doctors had to contact the Dutch side to get an emergency scan because they wanted to know the extent of the injuries. “It was after 1 am in the morning the victim was taken to the Dutch side where the much needed scans were done. Gumbs said after that the doctors at the LC Fleming had to cut open her nephew to see if he was having internal bleeding. She said doctors discovered that the both of the youth’s lungs have perforated while he has some injuries to his abdomen as well as severe head injuries. Gumbs said the head doctor whom she does not know took the decision on Saturday morning to fly the youth to Martinique where he would be able to get the necessary testing as well as treatment for the injuries he sustained.

Airport: -- Relatives and friends of three athletes who represented St. Maarten at the Kingdom Games in Aruba greeted them at the airport on Sunday midday. Among them was senator and Island Council man Rudulph Samuel who along with his wife and son were proud to receive his son Johanathan (Johnny) Samuel with his silver medal in tae kwon do. Among those at the airport to welcome the youths who all preformed extremely well was Althea Richardson from the office of the commissioner of sports Frans Richardson.

Coach with the travelling team Jason Juliet said he is proud of his athletes whom he said went through a difficult time in Cuba as well as Curacao. Juliet said he is especially proud of “Johnny” whom he said listened to him and despite been worn out from the training managed to handle his opponent well. He said the youths that represented St. Maarten trained hard and if given the opportunity would excel to greater heights.

The youths that represented St. Maarten St. Maarten athletes who participated with the 2009 Kingdom Games on Aruba from July 25 until July 31, 2009. Miss Emmy Fraenk: Track & Field and Mr. Jonathan Samuel: Tae-Kwon-Do. Ms. Thamyra York: Softball, Ms. Naomie Korstanje: Swimming, Mr. Luis Francisco Gonzales Tejada, and Mr. David van Heyningen: Baseball will be arriving on the island on a later date.

Addressing those that arrived on Sunday on behalf of the sports commissioner Althea Richardson said she was happy to be part of the delegation that travelled to Aruba to witness this spectacular event. “I felt very proud and honored to see our very own athletes partake in this memorable event.” Richardson said.

MARIGOT: --- Leader of the Union Pour le Progress and senator of St. Martin Louis Constant Fleming in an interview with SMN News late last week confirmed that the one-year sanction he received from the State Council last July is officially over on July 25. Fleming said that since the people elected him he felt it was necessary for him to give them an update on some of the progress he has been making in the State.

One of his achievements is the fact that he managed to get the European Union to accept St. Martin as an Ultra Peripheral Status, which allowed the fiscal policies of St. Martin to be conformed as of June 4. Fleming said the discussions on St. Martin began some two years ago when the EU had declared the island a “No Man’s Land.”

The Senator said he is rather pleased with the results, which he believed was achieved in record time.

Fleming said St. Martin also made progress in improving its justice system over the last two years since the third judge is expected to arrive on the island within short. When this happens, Fleming said several persons who committed crimes will be tried locally, something he felt would restore justice the island’s people.

Regarding the organic law which the senator said was not written in marble since there will be other organic laws. He said very soon St. Martin would be proposing a new organic law, which would deal with a number of issues such fiscal while others are technical, which would also clean up the current organic law.

The senator said the organic law that is to be proposed would be a ‘projet de loi and not a proposition du loi”. Fleming said the reason he chose to accept a projet du loi, which is proposed by the government, is because there are going to be both fiscal and financial instances. Fleming said laws that have financial matters inside which would affect the State budget then it has to be proposed by the government if not it would face throwing out by the Constitutional Council.

Fleming further explained that St. Martin would have total competences on all fiscal matters as of 2010. “In the beginning the government had wanted to exclude persons not living on the island but owns apartments here all of which was regulated as of June 9.

All of that has changed for the up coming year.” One of the visions of the president is to build a university on St. Martin that would give students the opportunity to further their education locally.

Fleming said that people may not agree with him but he felt that the students who are presently in school should get a chance to further their education at less cost to their parents. Fleming also explained that they are looking into having an Institute of Regional Administration(IRA )to further upgrade the 850 staff of the Collectivity. Fleming said they are going to reassess the entire human resource since these people have to be trained. Several persons he said will be moved from their present function and some would be promoted. The UPP led government he said wants to give each employee the opportunity to upgrade himself or herself since it is their objective is to offer the best opportunities to everyone which would keep them motivated.

With regards to the justice system, he said there is an urgent need for people who are willing to work in the police force. “We need people who are career minded and dedicated to their job” if not St. Martin would have to go for a commissariat of police since there are enough inhabitants living on St. Martin. He said that right now, there is a gross lack of manpower in the Territorial Police and if there were enough people to fill the vacancies then he would have to opt for latter even though the island has avoided that route to prevent an influx of people from Guadeloupe and France.

Marigot:--- The Sandy Ground accident victim Ricardo Gumbs was flown back to St. Martin on Tuesday. SMN News learnt that the young man arrived at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital sometime in the afternoon on Tuesday. According to information received earlier this week the hospital that Gumbs was in Martinique said they were unable to do anything to save the young man’s life.

Ricardo Gumbs was struck off his motor cycle on Friday evening near US Imports by a hit and run driver. The gendarmes have since opened an investigation into the accident. No detail on the vehicle or driver have been released. Eyewitnesses say they saw when a Black KIA with Dutch License plate hit the motorist but no one managed to see the number plate of the vehicle that hit the young man. The scooter on which Gumbs was riding exploded into flames due to the impact. A video of the horrific scene can be viewed on SXMTUBE.

Relatives of Gumbs said that while the young man is at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital, no one is allowed to visit him. The hospital is only allowing close members of the family to be with the young man during these critical hours.

Philipsburg:--- Robbery suspect 18 year old St. Lucian born K.I who is seen laughing in this photograph would spend the next eight days behind bars as police continue to investigate the daring daylight robbery. Chief Public Prosecutor Taco Stein confirmed that the young man’s time has been extended.

Stein said they have released the two suspects who were arrested in a boat trying to leave St. Maarten with four persons on board the boat. Stein said for now they do not believe the two persons that were arrested on Monday had anything to do with Saturday’s robbery. Asked if any of the five suspects between Saturday to Monday has been released or if any of them were turned over to immigration Stein said he does not think so because he did not order the release of any of the suspects.

Port of Spain, Trinidad:---- During a busy second day in Trinidad Minister Duncan met with the ECLAC (Economic Commission for Latin America & the Caribbean), the ACS (Association of Caribbean States), and the ILO (International Labor Organization).

Yesterday Minister Duncan was warmly received by the technical staff of the ECLAC, the coordinator of statistical and social development Mr. S. Roberts and the coordinator of program support Mr. S. Dookie.

Staff members showed great interest in the constitutional process of the Netherlands Antilles, questioned whether the Antillean flag would be replaced, and inquired how the dismantling would affect each island. During the meeting, it was established that ECLAC is prepared to assist with technical support and seeks to make this proposal available to the individual islands.

Mr. Luis Fernando Andrade Falla, Secretary General of the ACS welcomed the Minister and his delegation and strongly encouraged the Minister to suggest that the islands use the ACS platform to strengthen cooperation in the region in various areas such as aviation. The multilingual culture of the Netherlands Antilles is an asset and particularly Spanish is a very important link to Central and South America. The Secretary General went on to say that, he viewed Minister Duncan’s trip as a positive step in the process of ensuring the strengthening and broadening of the relationship with the new countries.

Minister Duncan concluded his eventful day with a meeting with the ILO where he spoke with the Director Dr. Ana Teresa Romero, and other specialists in the field of HIV/AIDS, Social Dialogue and Labor Administration programs. During this visit, Minister Duncan was honored to receive the first HIV/AIDS awareness poster in Dutch. The ILO encouraged the Netherlands Antilles to make the most of its membership by utilizing the expertise of the organization when putting together the governmental structures in the new countries.

Brief presentations were made at the three organizations on the process of the political structure in the Antilles and Duncan stressed the desire of Curacao and St. Maarten to continue and strengthen where necessary the existing ties with these organizations. The members of all three organizations were interested in the constitutional process especially as it relates to future participation of the new countries.

The Minister responded to several questions posed by the ILO concerning the schedule implementation of the constitutional changes and the expected impact these changes would have on government organizations and workers.

During these meetings, Minister Duncan was assisted by the Mrs. Louise De Bode-Olton, representative of the Netherlands Antilles at the Dutch embassy in Trinidad and Ms. Ivy Lo Tam Soen acting director of Administrative and Constitutional Affairs.

For more information please contact Ms. Ari Sutton at the Ministry of Constitutional and Home Affairs at Brooks Towers, Phone 542-9081.

Philipsburg:--- The executive council it is understood has offered a package to head of Public Works Joseph Dollison. The offer is for Dollison to vacate his position as head of the department. Dollison who is presently on vacation SMN News understands made several phone calls to the office of the Commissioner of Public Works on Friday. It is not clear, if Dollison would accept the offer or if he plans to contest it. Sources say the executive council basically asked Dollison to step aside now or to face legal embarrassments when the final reports are submitted.

This comes on the heels of the investigation presently taking place by SOAB. Some two months ago the SOAB delivered a preliminary report to the island’s Lt. Governor and executive council advising them to hire an interim manager due to the fact that both Dollison and his subordinate has no control over the day to day management of the department. Also on its way is a technical report, which would define some of the wrong doings of Dollison.

Even though the final report on the three-month investigation is not yet finalized, the SOAB along with assistance from the department of ROB (Curacao) visited several buildings on the island earlier this week. SMN News understands that most of the buildings that were visited by the investigating team acquired building permits that were signed by either Dollison or his subordinate Claudius Buncamper.

The inspectors and investigating team visited a building owned by the head of ROB Joseph Dollison, that building is located on LB Scot Road. Sources close to the team said they were busy measuring the doors, windows, and toilet spaces to see if the building is in compliance to the building codes of the Netherlands Antilles. It is said the inspectors even checked the thickness of the concrete and the parking spaces for the three-story building.

In the preliminary report submitted to government some two months ago the SOAB said there is no clear mandate given by the executive council to the director of ROB. Secondly the SOAB determined that based on the analysis between the residential and commercial projects the director of ROB categorized some million guilders project as residential so that he could sign off on the building permits instead of the executive council. The director of ROB had the mandate to sign off on projects, which are to the value of NAf.500, 000, or less but during the investigation, the inspectors found Dollison as well as his subordinate signed off on projects, which valued more than a Naf. 1,000,000.

According to the report, the investigators found that instead of these top civil servants uphold the law they were busy assisting the developers by finding loopholes in the law.

The inspectors found several buildings that are not up to par and in accordance of their building permits, and it was clear that the inspectors of ROB (St. Maarten) did not perform their duty since they did not conduct measurements.

The investigators are yet to find the guidelines or definitions that are to be used by the department internally. They also found that the director would remove certain requests from the normal procedures.

Cul de Sac: --- St. Maarten Pride Foundation will carryout a clean up of the Cul-de-Sac Cemetery on this coming Saturday August 15, 2009 from 8am until 10:30 am. The cemetery is currently littered with bottles, cups, plastic bags and other garbage. Pride plans to focus this initial clean up on the lower section of the cemetery and will facilitate additional clean-ups in the near future if necessary.

Pride Foundation is hereby requesting the General Public, Church Groups, Community councils, Service clubs, businesses, Government departments as well as any other groups, organizations, foundations and individuals to come and assist in the clean-up of the historic Cul-de-Sac Cemetery.

Pride Foundation will provide garbage bags, rakes, and gloves.

Philipsburg: ---The island council unanimously approved the decision taken by the Executive council to deny the request of a director’s license, which was submitted by Crew Nest Bar and Restaurant N.V. The owner of this establishment had filed an appeal with the executive council who once denied his request.

In the appeal submitted to government the businessman quoted the friendship treaty signed between the Netherlands and the United States of America. This treaty is also applicable to the Netherlands Antilles.

Commissioner of Economic Affairs Frans Richardson in his presentation to the island council advised the council to reject the appeal for the second time since the company is considered one of limited liability.

Richardson said the applicant Mr. Le Blanc has been living and working on St. Maarten illegally since 2004 and requesting a director’s license is a form of abuse to obtain a residence permit. Richardson said the current executive council had sought legal advice before taking a decision since the applicant not only used the US/Dutch treaty but he also made mentioned of a verdict taken in Aruba. However, neither document could have been used in the case of LeBlanc. The US/Dutch treaty states that an American citizen who makes considerable investments in the Kingdom and its dependents should have equal treatment to the Dutch citizens. However, the executive council has determined that having a restaurant and bar is not considerable investment on the island.

One of the arguments used by legal counsel for The Crew’s Nest Bar & Restaurant is that related to the person in question being beneficiary of a March 27, 1956 “Treaty of Friendship, commerce and Navigation between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States of America.

That treaty says The Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States of America, desirous of strengthening the bonds of peace and friendship traditionally existing between them and of encouraging closer economic and cultural relations between their peoples, and being cognizant of the contributions which may be made toward these ends by arrangements promoting mutually advantageous commercial intercourse, encouraging mutually beneficial investments, and establishing mutual rights and privileges.

Nationals of either Party within the territories of the other Party shall be free from molestations of every kind, and shall receive the most constant protection and security. They shall be accorded in like circumstances treatment no less favorable than that accorded nationals of such other party for the protection and security of their persons and their rights. The treatment accorded in this respect shall in no case be less favorable than that accorded nationals of any third country or that required by international law”…and so forth and so on.

Referring to the applicant Mr. LeBlanc intends to work as a bartender as well as the captain of his boat that according to the executive council can be done by anyone else. Richardson said the applicant applied for wrong permit and he could have gone through the regular process of applying for a work permit.

Richardson also mentioned the fact that the Brooks Tower Accord, which was recently published, will go into effect and LeBlanc could now use it to his advantage.

Richardson said the reason the Brooks Tower Accord was drafted by the former Minister of Justice was to put an end to the misuse and abuse to the director’s and business license to obtain residence permit.

Philipsburg: --- A couple identified as R.M.M and M.D.M residing at Madame Estate has filed an official complaint with the Arm Robbery Unit on Friday after they were robbed under threat. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said according to the couple they were sitting on the steps leading to their apartment when two men of dark complexion attacked them. The couple reported that both their attackers had their faces covered with their tee shirt while one of them had a pointed object wrapped in a cloth. The attackers forced their victims inside their apartment where they ransacked and robbed them of a number of electronic equipments including a laptop and cellular phones. The Armed Robbery Unit is busy investigating.

Also on Friday, a bus driver identified as J. A reported that on Thursday evening while driving along L.B Scot Road he picked up two unknown men in the vicinity of Cake House Supermarket. The bus driver said when he reached Cannegitter Street one of the men stepped out of the bus and remained at the door while the other man who was still in the bus pulled out a knife at him in attempt to rob him. The bus driver said he retaliated by pulling at the suspects shirt. The bus driver said that at that point his attacker swung his knife at him cutting him in the forehead, after committing the act both men ran away. The driver was attended to by paramedics before taken to the St. Maarten Medical Center.

Philipsburg– WINAIR has announced that it wishes to advise the public that it will continue to operate normal with the exception of Saba as the cross winds are very strong.

Please be advised that the airline is monitoring the passage of Hurricane Bill and passengers will be advised by 12.00 noon today of adjustments to the schedule.

It is important to note that we are monitoring Hurricane Bill and services might be disrupted as the hurricane comes closer.

Passengers are advised to contact their local airports and continue monitoring radio stations for further updates.

Philipsburg: -----Adviser to the United Federation Union Willy Haize did not mingle with words when he reacted to statements made by president of the Windward Island Civil Servant Union (WICSU) William Reed who accused him of conspiracy.

Haize said Reed is angry because the workers of St. Maarten Tender Services (SMTS) sent a letter to their employer informing him that he should no longer pay their union dues to the WICSU/PSU alleging that the WICSU/PSU has failed to properly represent them. Haize also provided a letter that Reed drafted and gave one of the employees of SMTS to sign, where the employee is apologizing to her employer considering that she worked for the company for over 20 years. According to Haize, the long time employee refused to sign the letter drafted by Reed and as such, their working relationship has deteriorated. Haize also provided the list of grievances the workers have with the WICSU/PSU, which was signed by the shop stewards. According to the grievances Reed told the workers, they needed to protect their jobs because they are foreigners, and that they needed to better budget their monies. The SMTS workers are asking management to increase their hourly rate from $3.00 to $5.00 considering the fact that their has been an increase in cost of living. They claim Reed called a strike and to date they do not know the legal consequences of their actions. The workers also claimed that Reed has been an embarrassment to them and has been holding private meetings with their employer. The workers said that Reed made an agreement with management of SMTS for their retroactive pay without their permission and instead of receiving the $2000.00 they are owed they received a mere $800 which was sent to the Union’s account. The SMTS workers are now demanding to know where the balance of their monies is and who kept it.

Haize said when the SMTS workers approached him he personally called Reed and offered to assist him with the conflict but Reed he said told him that the workers at SMTS are foreigners and there is no need to fight for them. Haize also provided documents submitted to him by the SMTS shop stewards who said that Reed made the same argument when they expressed their concerns to him. The shop stewards also alleged that Reed is never prepared and does not even go into negotiations with agenda points. They further alleged that Reed signed a Collective Labour Agreement with their employer without their permission all of which they are asking the UFA to contest.

Haize said that he hopes that Reed can support his statements when it comes to the tip box and the amount of monies the SMTS workers are collecting. The UFA adviser said Reed does not know anything about unionism and he should stay in the kitchen as a cook. As per the conspiracy theory brought forward by Reed, Haize said he wears two caps, one for the United Front where he represents heavy equipments and the other as an advisor to the UFA. Haize made clear that he has never represented Connecting Waves and felt that Reed should get his facts straight.

Haize said the WICSU/PSU president began campaigning for the referendum which is yet to be decided on. The UFA advisor said he is giving Reed a long rope because has information where the WICSU/PSU has been losing its members on all three of the islands for the lack of representation. The unionist said the WICSU/PSU is having internal problems and as such, they are not able to adequately represent their members. Haize also accused Reed of making deals with the employers that would personally benefit him instead of his members from whom he is collecting dues.

Philipsburg:--- Police arrested three persons identified as K.C. from Jamaica, T.R.A. and I.G.L. from the U.S.A. after they were spotted acting suspiciously. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson in his police report said police from the Simpson Bay outpost spotted the three men standing next to a red car carrying French license plate on the crossing of Windsor road/ Olive drive in Cole Bay.

When the suspects saw the police approaching, they became quite nervous and started to behave suspicious. One of the men who had a black plastic bag in his hand stuck the bag between his legs in the attempt to hide it from the police. The driver of the car tried drive away but he was stopped by the patrol.

The driver attempted to run away from the scene with the black plastic bag, but after a short foot chase by the police, he was arrested. The plastic bag contained three other plastic bags containing pressed marijuana. The marijuana was confiscated for further investigation.

Police also arrested the second suspect in a robbery attempt, which took place on August 9 2009 at El Pollito Bar in Sucker Garden. During the attempted robbery, one man was shot in his right shoulder. However, the wound was not life, threatening and he (the victim) went home after treatment at the Sint Maarten Medical Center.

The second suspect in this case has been identified with initials A.G. from Jamaica. The arrest took place in Cole Bay where the suspect has been hiding out since the robbery attempt.

Police also arrested another suspect who was involved in a shooting incident. The suspect that was arrested has been identified ad C.J.C. The shooting took place on August 9 on the Rock Salt road. One person was injured during this incident. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said police is still looking for the other suspects involved in the case.

Philipsburg--- Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams is also questioning the decision of the chairman of the island council Franklyn Richards who postpone the voting on the code of conduct on cooperate governance on Thursday. Wescot Williams said based on the rules of order the Chairman of the island council can make a proposal but postponing or adjourning is not up to him. She said Richards had to allow the voting to take place and when the votes are counted then he can determine if there was a lack of quorum, but doing that ahead of voting is not proper. “Only when the votes are counted and it shows less than half of the island council voted then he can declare the vote null and void for a lack or quorum.”

Wescot Williams said her faction has no intention of arguing with the Lt. Governor and Chairman of the island council, but she already had suggested to that, the island council should have met and debated the new draft rules of order, and allow the island council to make the necessary amendments.

The DP faction is now suggesting to the governor that the matter be tabled again since there are amendments pending. She said of the things she believe is frustrating to the leader of the National Alliance is that her faction is now using the time allotted for notices to bring up important issues and not just expressing birthday wishes. She said the ‘notices” was only for the use of the Lt. Governor but they have a ‘gentleman’s agreement which allows every member of the council to utilize this time. She said being accused of misusing the rules of order is totally ridiculous instead; it seems as if the executive council has an issue with the Democratic Party raising issues in the island council. “If this is so then we would be having an issue at each island council meeting because the National Alliance/ Heyliger/ Laveist government would not shut up the Democratic Party.” Wescot Williams said.

Another concern for the DP leader is how would the meeting be reconvened, and if members of the island council would be given the opportunity to again debate the issues at hand or if they are only going to be called to vote. The sentiments of the leader of the DP were made at a press conference on Friday at the Parliament Building.

Wescot Williams also said she is wondering how important is the topic of cooperate governance to the present government. She reminded that the topic was to be discussed on August 13, which had to be postponed due to travel plans of the leader of government William Marlin. Wescot Williams said that even though the meeting was abruptly adjourned on August 13 because Marlin had to leave the island he still had enough time to hold a press conference to rebut prior statements. The DP leader said in her opinion if the executive council was serious in handling the people’s business they would have allowed the opposition to pose their questions, which would have given them enough time to prepare.

As for Thursday’s island council meeting where the same agenda point was to be discussed, the meeting had to be adjourned a number of times because the leader of government was nowhere to be found. Wescot Williams said she also wants to know what is wrong with the other full-fledged commissioners in the executive council and if one of them was not in position to read out the answers that were prepared by the advisors. Wescot Williams also refuted the excuse given to the island council that it took over three hours to prepare the answers to their questions.

Wescot Williams made clear that the DP faction is not concerned on how the National Alliance acted as opposition but right now, there is a new opposition that takes their role serious and the present government would have to be content with the way they work.

Wescot Williams said the Democratic Party is not going to accept any blame from the National Alliance leader because he failed to get the work done. She said after all the adjournments and to hear the spin put on the issue that the Democratic Party has declared war on the constitutional process will not be accepted. She said if cooperate governance was important to the National Alliance/ Heyliger government then the agenda point would have been dealt with on August 13 since the leader of government had to know his travel plans prior to August 13.

Reacting to the statements made by the leader of government who said the DP faction has declared war on the constitutional process and they are considered to be spoil brats. Island council man Roy Marlin said ‘Today is spoil brats, last week was shut up and go home, few weeks before that we were little boys” statements all made by the leader of government either in the island council or elsewhere is a total lack of respect for the voters of St. Maarten. The island councilman said each and every member of the island council has been elected and each time the leader of government levels his insults he is directing it to the voters of St. Maarten who elected them.

As per the declaration of war, Marlin said on May 21 the State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Mrs. Anke Bijleveld-Schouten sent a response on the ordinance on cooperate governance and to date the executive council is yet to respond.

The island councilman said during the first meeting of the island council he asked if a response was sent to the State Secretary and was told the governor sent a response, Marlin said he immediately asked if the executive council intended to respond and to date that was not done. He said he learnt another response was sent but that too was sent by the governor and not the executive council even though the agreement clearly states that the executive council and the state secretary should show that by August 1 2009 the code of conduct on cooperate governance is implemented. He said if the leader of government thinks he is going to blame the Democratic Party because they walked out of meeting while he did not have the common decency to respond to one letter then he wants to know exactly who is responsible for declaring war on the constitutional process.

Also reacting to the outcome of Thursday’s Island Council lady Maria Buncamper Molanus who said the leader of government does not only lack respect but there is a lack of political as well as governing maturity. She said she believes that since the NA/ Heyliger lacks maturity it lead to debacle they are faced with today. Buncamper Molanus said as per the agenda point discussed on Thursday they were presented with three letters, which clearly stated that the matter should have been dealt with prior to August 1 2009. She said she wants to know how important this issue to the present government is because they chose to bring the matter to the floor of the island council 20 days late.

She said that because of the lateness the opposition wants to know what would be the consequences of the lateness or tardy decision. She also wants to know if the council on cooperate governance has been established and if not so when would this happen if this matter is of such importance to the present government.

GREAT BAY,– Last week teachers and support staff welcomed thousands of students back to the classroom. As kids settled down for their first week of the new school year 2009-2010, much effort in learning must be made during the new year Commissioner of Education William Marlin said on Sunday.

“Through the individual commitment students, parents and teachers, our students will graduate at the end of the school year having gained the knowledge, skills and values necessary to move them up a grade and on to the next level and of this journey.

“For the 2009-2010 school year, everyone’s goal is increasing learning and achievement for all students. Parents also have a role to play where this is concerned. You have a responsibility in the education process of your child.

“Students and teachers cannot do it alone at this stage of their educational journey, and your input is essential. Students have to be prepared especially those who will complete high school at the end of the school year. They must have the readiness in life after high school in an ever-changing society and economy.

“I reiterate, teachers cannot do it alone. Parent’s commitment to educational excellence is necessary. Parents and community members need to join in this new school year by volunteering in the schools and becoming involved in partnerships to support students.

“Let us look forward together as students, parents and teachers as the second week of the new school year gets underway on Monday, to an outstanding school-year,” Commissioner of Education William Marlin told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Sunday.

Philipsburg: --- The police have arrested a 28-year-old St. Maarten man indentified as R.C for allegedly raping two persons. Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein said R.C was arrested on August 21 and is now in police custody as they continue to investigate the case. No other details on the cases have been released due to its sensitiveness.

Police is also investigating another case of sexual molestation of a minor; SMN News was on the scene yesterday when the mother of the child reacted with screams after she was told by the medical examiner that the child was raped on more than one occasion. According to relatives of the victim, the suspect is the husband of the child’s guardian. They said the woman who was also at police station when the commotion was taking place was allegedly trying to cover up for the man since she works for government. The child was seen at the police station crying uncontrollably as her mother it is understood assaulted the alleged molester. The relatives identified the culprit as L.D of Jamaica. They said police already notified the child’s mother that she would be arrested since L.D has filed charges against her after she assaulted him.

Several family members of both the mother and the young victim said they do not intend to take the matter lightly since the man in question allegedly assaulted the child on more than one occasion. They said the man even told the 10-year old that he was going to give her a $100 to keep quiet.

Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein in an invited comment said he is not aware of the case, since only on Monday the police were taking statements.

Dutch Quarter:--- A man identified as J.W from Dominica is nursing gun shot wounds at the St. Maarten medical center. According to Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson police were called to Lambert drive # 18B in the Zorg en Rust area early Wednesday morning where they met the man with gunshot wounds to the side of his stomach.

The victim who was in a conscious state, with a gunshot wound to left side of his stomach, stated that a short while before he had gone to the nearby bushes to relieve himself when he was suddenly attacked by two masked men.

One of were armed with a shotgun and they both demanded money from the victim while threatening him with the gun.

Henson said when the victim, could not deliver the monies requested by his attackers the suspects started beating him. The man with shotgun then fired a shot a victim from a very close range hitting him in the left side of his body.

According to the victim, the suspects fled the scene. On the scene, the victim was attended to by paramedics and then transported to the St Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. The detectives and the forensic department are presently busy investigating this case because it is still very unclear what exactly happened, why it happened, and who the suspects responsible for this act are.

Philipsburg:-- Several students were arrested while some of them injured when a gang fight broke out in a school bus on Friday. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said this was something waiting to happen and that police were receiving several phone calls alerting them that some students are preparing to fight. Henson said earlier in the week he called on parents to pay keen attention and to monitor their children but several of them had to visit the police station where their children were.

The police spokesman said several police patrol had to respond to Bush Road, where a big gang fight between students from the Sint Maarten Academy and the Milton Peters College was taking place.

The report also indicated that the fight was taking place on a school bus and that weapons like machetes were also involved. On the scene, a patrol learnt that a student involved in the fight had left the scene by taking a bus to Philipsburg.

The bus in which student in question was, was intercepted by a patrol coming from Philipsburg. He was arrested on the scene, however the student resisted heavily against the officers, during his resistance he suffered a minor cut under his chin. He was taken to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for treatment after which he was released in police custody.

According to eyewitnesses, the school bus was attacked on the crossing of Bush Road Zagersgut Road by a large group of young men/students that came out of the Blijdendrive area, some in uniform, and others without uniform.

The students who attacked the bus had their faces covered with blue bandana's to conceal their identity. The attackers started a major fight with several students on board of the bus. During this fight a machete was pulled. According to the bus driver, a window of the bus was destroyed by one of the attackers with a machete. The bus driver also stated that he tried to take away the machete from this person, but was unsuccessful in doing so and suffered minor cuts to his right arm.

Shortly after the attackers exited the bus and ran into Blijdendrive according to statements made by eyewitnesses. Several students who were on the bus and who were involved in the fight were brought to the Philipsburg Police Station to give statements about this incident. However, these students fail to give the necessary information and cooperation to the police in order for them to be able to put together what exactly happened, what was the reason for this unfortunate incident-taking place and who the persons that are responsible for these serious acts. Several parents of students involved in the fight was called to the police station and informed of this very serious situation.

The police during the day continued to receive information that these confrontations or gang fights will continue. For that reason several patrols were sent out to monitor the situations and if necessary act on them.

During controls done by the patrols on the roads, several machetes and items used to strike persons with were found and confiscated. At the Sint Maarten Academy P.S.V.E. in Ebenezer, the security guard on duty found a machete on the premises. This machete was of course confiscated by police

Information coming in to the police indicates that these fights are between several rival gangs from different districts on the island.

Marigot: --- Leader of the Union Pour le Progres and Senator of St. Martin Louis Constant Fleming made his position clear regarding the French Tourist Office. Fleming in an interview with SMN News said he is rather concerned with how the Tourist Office is spending the people’s money and who are being hired to promote tourism on St. Martin.

Fleming said just last week he called in the President of the EPIC Ida Zin Ka Ieu where he had a serious discussion with her pertaining to the Tourist Office, the UPP leader said he does not believe the tourist office is doing a good job marketing the island. “Right now they are acting more like a committee de fete rather than promoting the island overseas.” Fleming explained that there is no need for the tourist office to organise promotional activities on the island instead, they should be working closer with the Dutch side to promote the island overseas.

Another concern for the UPP leader who was given the mandate of the people to govern St. Martin is the amount of foreign workers that are being hired by different sectors of the COM. He said he personally gave Zin Ka Ieu the resume of a very brilliant St. Martiner who could have rejuvenate the working relationship with the Dutch side but the EPIC president did not heed his advise. “I personally advised the EPIC president to call in this person and see what they can offer to St. Martin because the French looks at tourism differently from the Dutch.”

“How can you take on someone that has a handicap in communication with their counterparts as a director and most importantly why St. Martin should hire these young foreigners? He said he is not questioning anyone’s qualification but if that person has a language or cultural barrier then they are no use to the Tourist Office. My objective is to see the see the Office du Tourisme function as a tourist office and not as a committee du fete”.

Fleming said while there are a number of studies made on tourism the monies spent by the tourist office brings back no returns to the island. He admitted that very soon an audit would have to be conducted to see where the two to three million Euros are being spent. He made clear that while there are people who have political responsibilities also have criminal responsibilities. If there is an investigation done they would have to answer to the authorities like everyone else if there is misappropriation of funds.

Fleming said they have agreed that tourism is the common denomination of the two sides and it is imperative for them to work together. He said he particularly told the EPIC president that she cannot fight or cause war with the Dutch side instead the French side has to be humble and admit that the Dutch side has progressed more than the French side of the island. The senator said he is not in a position to judge what took place at the tourist office over the last 20-years but he does know that the island has to move forward.

The senator said it is clear that the Dutch side is ahead of the French side because of their investments while the French side is yet to catch up. He said prior to having major cooperation the two-tourist office must begin to work together on a closer level.

Fleming said that unless the two entities work together the island would not move forward. “It cannot be that the Dutch side is marketing in the US and South America and the French in Europe. It is evident that flights from the US and South America is the easiest to get to the island while the US has more potential for tourism.”

Asked about the amount of monies spent to organize the Caribbean Festival the president said the CTC would have to answer to this also because he himself cannot understand who would organize such an event in July and charge 30 Euros for patrons to attend shows during a recession. Fleming said he has been listening to the radio programs like everyone else and he heard the stories of how many people were not paid also. This he said has to be clarified by the CTC and the Collectivity.

The senator said he already had an experience with the CTC in 2008 when they built a number of booths for the carnival village and gave the COM a bill of Euros 100,000 which had to be paid by the SEMSAMAR. Fleming said right now St. Martin needs money for training of its civil servants and he does not know how to approach the State for this money when the island spent Euros 400,000 on a fete. Another concern for the senator is the promoter that was brought in from Guadeloupe to organise the event. The UPP leader and senator said he is expected to invite all his councillors (majority) to a meeting including the President where they would have to establish their achievements over the last two years. He said election would be in two years and his party would have to show him what they achieved. “When we elected the executive council there were four vice presidents, each of them has responsibilities and they would have to show what they accomplished over the last two years.”

Philipsburg: --- Residents of St. Maarten would be loosing one of their movie theatres as of this Saturday confirmed Jasper Virckx. Virckx said that management decided to close their doors due to the economic recession facing the island and other parts of the world.

Virckx said over the past weeks they noticed a huge decline in their patronage and realised that the economic situation would not get better anytime soon. He said for this reason they have decided to call it quits.

An email was sent out to all patrons of the theatres informing them of the decision taken by management and they made an offer to sell one of the lounge seats to anyone wishing to make the purchase.

Philipsburg: -- Police arrested a fourth suspect on Sunday at the Princess Juliana International Airport as a suspect in Saturday’s armed robbery in Maho.

Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard identified the 28-year old man from Curacao as J.I.L. Leonard said J.I.L was arrested around the midday hours at the Princess Juliana International Airport as he was about to board a flight bound for the United States.

Those arrested on Saturday has been identified as G.H (41) from Curacao, G.H Leonard said is the oldest of all the suspects, and he was the driver of the get away car. The suspect that locked himself up in the bathroom has been identified as S.P.B 21 years old and he is from St. Lucia, while the third suspect has been identified as C.L 32 from St. Maarten.

Police is also on the hunt for at least two more suspects the police spokesman said. Asked if any of the suspects are connected to the robbery that took place last week at Goldfinger store at Marina Royale. The police spokesman said they are also investigating to see if the alleged suspects in custody were involved the robberies committed on the French side of the island as well as other robberies that took place at other locations on the Dutch side of the island.

Philipsburg: -- The police have arrested a fifth suspect who is suspected of being part of Saturday’s armed robbery in Maho. Several police cars including the military helicopter was involved in a high speed chase in the Belair area.

Sources told this media house that police were tipped off that the suspects were hiding in the bushes next to Learning Unlimited School. Police arrested an 18-year-old young man identified as K.I from St. Lucia.

Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein said the police are busy rounding up the rest of the suspects who committed the daring armed robbery on Saturday in Maho.

Several armed bandits entered the Gold Creation Store where they held the employees up at gunpoint before hammering the glass case and stole an undisclosed amount of jewelry. The bandits were intercepted by a lone police officer. Officer Isel Doran was flagged down by a tourist who saw the robbery in process. The alerted cop turned around and as he approached the store, the bandits fired at least two shots at him. Swift acting police officers who were informed of the robbery in progress arrived on the scene minutes later. They managed to capture three of the suspects shortly after while a fourth was arrested on Sunday midday while trying to board a plane bound for the United States.

Port of Spain, Trinidad:--- -Minister of Constitutional and Home Affairs Roland Duncan arrived in Trinidad and Tobago over the weekend from Curacao and was welcomed by the Prime Minister of the twin republic the Honorable Patrick Manning during an introductory meeting in Port of Spain.

The purpose of the visit was to give the Caribbean islands insight on the constitutional changes the Netherlands Antilles are presently undertaking and to explore and strengthen ties in the region. Membership in CARICOM and OECS was also discussed.

The Prime Minister of Trinidad was very interested in the process currently occurring in the Netherlands Antilles and stressed the importance of maintaining contact between the islands. Minister Duncan also indicated that he hoped that Prime Minister Manning would accept the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles for a courtesy visit in the near future.

Later in the day, Minister Duncan met with his counterpart Hazel Manning, Minister of Local Government, at which time Minister Manning’s technical staff made a presentation on local government in Trinidad. Minister Duncan was accompanied by the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. Horbach, the representative of the Netherlands Antilles in Trinidad, Mrs. Louise de Bode-Olton and the acting director of Administrative and Constitutional Affairs Ms. Ivy Lo Tam Soen.

For more information please contact Ms. Ari Sutton at the Ministry of Constitutional and Home Affairs at Brooks Towers, Phone 542-9081.

Willemstad:--– After a thorough analysis together with advisors, Minister of Justice David Dick concluded that information should be given out as to possible solutions for the problem concerning undocumented persons in the Antilles.

This decision was discussed with the future Minister of Justice this week. It was not possible to publish the information earlier seeing as the basic conditions for The Admissions organization had not yet been met. The condition is that the regular service sector is guaranteed before the problem of undocumented persons can be solved. To realize this, a basic provision is needed, consisting of a sound infrastructure with adequate housing, sufficient qualified personnel, and customized ICT.

On Bonaire, the Foreigner Management System (FMS) is already operational. The employees are busy removing pediatric illnesses from the system. Following Bonaire and Curacao, St. Maarten now also has an adequate furnished location on Illidge Road in order to be able to offer regular services, be it within a new organizational structure, the New Admissions organization.

In the meantime, an interim-chief (Robert Barby) has been appointed on St.Maarten. The move to Illidge Road will take place at the end of August, after which the location at Sun Color Building will be furnished so that the project ‘registration and handling undocumented aliens can commence.

In order to also start the project on Curaçao, a suitable location is being looked for in consultation with the Department of Labour Affairs. The offices at the Waaigat will still be used to offer regular services. The negotiations for a new location are in full swing.

It is expected that all infrastructural renovations on all islands will be implemented by mid September, after which the handling of undocumented persons on all of the islands will take place in phases and in an orderly manner. The fact that an alien is considered undocumented as long as he has no legal status, is expressly pointed out.

In the Brooks Tower agreement, which was signed on the 2nd of March 2007 on St.Maarten by the Minister of Justice and the deputies of the five islands, it is described how the problem of the undocumented persons will be dealt with. The aliens are divided into three categories according to the date of arrival. In due time, the Minister of Justice will implement the Brooks Tower agreement in phases. The categories are:

1. Persons who entered the Antilles before the 31st of December 2001;

2. Persons who entered the Antilles between the 1st of January 2002 and the 1st of January 2006.

3. Persons who entered the Antilles after 1st of January 2006.

Persons from group 1 can apply for a permit on their own merits, while the persons from group 2 need their employer to apply for them. Persons from group 3 will be treated humanely, but for them there is no possibility of legalizing their status and they are requested to leave the country. If necessary, they can apply from abroad and await the process of the application in their own country.

The conditions will be published in the media soon and will be available at various embassies and consuls, at the Admissions organizations and the Department of Labour Affairs. The implementation of the project registration and handling of undocumented aliens will be evaluated along the way. In practice, situations will be revealed which were not held into consideration during the development of the policy. If such is the case, then the policy will be adapted. The new project will commence between the 15th and the 20th of September 2009.

Great Bay– Filming will begin in earnest this Friday for a new promotional video for St. Maarten, which will replace the current one in use mainly in the United States market.

The Florida-based production company, Tambourine, has already carried out preliminary preparatory and scouting work, looked at various locations, and auditioned some St. Maarten models who will be featured in the video and photo shoot, along with professional models from abroad.

The 10-man film crew will fly in Friday, and immediately go to work at Tantra where it will capture the thrilling nightlife at this premier entertainment center. Creative Director, Rafael Cardozo, is very excited about the video and photo shoot.

“St. Maarten sells itself. Its breath-taking beauty, its turquoise waters and white sandy beaches, the completely duty free shopping, exhilarating night life, and the numerous activities ranging from water sports to windsurfing… all of these features make the island very unique,” Cardozo said.

“We are bent on making this the best promotional video the island has ever had, and we are sure we are moving in the right direction with the full cooperation of the Commissioner of Tourism, Mr. Frans Richardson, who has expressed personal interest in this video and photo shoot, as well as the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau,” Cardozo added.

“They are sparing no effort in ensuring that we have everything we need to produce a first-class promotional video.”

Commissioner Frans Richardson said the new promotional video and photos is part of his efforts to re-brand the island, and launch a more aggressive advertising and promotional initiative particularly in our main source market, the United States, as well as in other markets.

“This is very necessary especially in these times that we are going through, with the figures showing a huge decrease in the number of tourists we’re receiving at this time of the year,” Commissioner Frans Richardson said.

“The whole world is experiencing a major downturn in tourism performance with the global economic crisis we’re all facing and we cannot afford to fold our arms and do nothing, but be creative and come up with new and appealing ways to market the island,” the Commissioner added.

Director of Tourism, Ms. Regina Labega, in agreeing with the commissioner, added that Tambourine would produce not only a new promotional video for the island, but also new stock photography that can be used in print advertising, etc.

The video and photo shoot will conclude on the island on August 14th while the final product is expected to be ready in time to make a significant impact on the coming high season.

Philipsburg: -- The police have arrested a Jamaican national who attempted to rob a bar at gunpoint early Sunday morning. During the incident, one person was shot and has to undergo surgery to remove the bullet, which is logged in his shoulder. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson said on Sunday August 9 at approximately 12.15 a.m. the Special Robbery Unit and Forensic Department were sent to "El Pollito Bar" located in Sucker garden for and attempted armed robbery.

On the scene detectives learnt from the owner of the bar identified as R.M. that around midnight two suspicious looking men came into the bar ordered two beers and shortly after, after paying for their drinks, walked out of the bar. Approximately 10 minutes after these same two men walked back into the bar, one of the men had a gun in his hand, walked straight to one the clients in the establishment, aimed the gun at him, and demanded he that he handed over his wallet.

The second robber in the meantime stayed at the door on the "lookout.” R.M. saw what was going on and attacked the robber in the attempt to disarm him. A struggle started between him and the armed robber. A client in the bar assisted R.M. in disarming the robber.

When the robber on the "lookout saw what was going on he took off running. At the same time, the robber fired a shot from the gun hitting a client with initials F.L. in his right shoulder. R.M. and F.L. succeeded in disarming the robber and holding him until the police arrived.

The suspect has been identified as D.A.B. from Jamaica was arrested on the spot and taken into custody. The weapon was confiscated for further investigation. The victim was taken to the St Maarten Medical where he would undergo an operation to remove the bullet, which remained logged in his shoulder and is not life threatening. The suspect is not cooperating in the investigation and the police department is asking anyone who may have any information in connection with this case to call the police and give the info that would assist them in solving the case.

Philipsburg: --- Prosecutor Rienk Mud demanded a total of 30 years for 29-year-old Devon Otto who was charged with multiple crimes including murder. Otto appeared in court on Wednesday to answer charges on the murder of Stanley Orlando Gumbs who was killed on March 31 2008.

He was also charged with a number of other heinous crimes. Among some of the crimes committed is the armed robbery of three American tourists near the Bada Bing Night Club in Simpsonbay. Otto fired gunshots at his victims and even hit them in the head with the butt of his gun. He was also involved in another violent exchange during traffic congestion. The Abu Ghazi Shwarma was also a victim of Otto during an armed robbery, he also attempted to kill a police and VKS officer. The judge will issue his verdict in the next three weeks.

Airport: --- An early morning accident on the airport boulevard has left one man severely injured. The victim W.R.G is now nursing severe injuries in the intensive care unit of the St. Maarten Medical Center. Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard said the man is supposed to undergo surgery but because of other complications that could not take place on Thursday.

According to reports reaching SMN News two SUVs has had a head on collision in the vicinity of Budget Car Rental, which Leonard confirmed. The police spokesman said the driver of M 6330 was heading towards the road to go to Philipsburg when the driver of P 225 R.G hit him as he was overtaking other vehicles. W.G.R Leonard said suffered several types of injuries including broken ribs, and knee which requires surgery. The traffic department Leonard said is still busy investigating the case.

GREAT BAY:---– The Office of Disaster Management & Preparedness (ODMP) would hereby like to inform the community that St. Maarten remains under a Tropical Storm Watch according to the Netherlands Antilles & Aruba Weather Service, as Tropical Storm Ana makes its way towards the Eastern Caribbean island chain.

Tropical Storm Ana on Sunday at 8.00 am was located approximately 470 miles East-Southeast of the islands. Maximum wind speeds are near 40 miles per hour. Ana is rapidly moving Westward at 20 miles per hour.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that there is a possible threat of tropical storm conditions within the next 36 hours while a Tropical Storm Warning is an indication that storm conditions can be expected within 24 hours.

Residents should use Sunday to prepare for tropical storm conditions, which are expected early Monday when weather conditions are expected to deteriorate.

Additional information will be issued by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Sunday afternoon after an emergency meeting of key disaster management entities, which is scheduled at 1.00pm.

This information will entail the national state of preparedness of disaster management entities; whether schools will open for the first day of the 2009-2010 school years; and the status of business openings for Monday.

Tropical Storm Bill as of 5.00am this morning has strengthened a little and is located about 1640 miles East of the island chain and has maximum wind speeds of 45 miles per hour. This system does not form any threat to the island at this point in time. Bill is moving Westward at 13 miles per hour and is expected to make a gradual turn toward the West North West in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Residents are strongly advised to continue to monitor radio and TV reports throughout Sunday, as more advisories will be issued by the Office of Disaster Management & Preparedness with respect to the progress of Tropical Storm Ana and Tropical Storm Bill.

EOC meeting decides Schools Closed on Monday as precautionary measure; Tropical storm conditions anticipated from Tropical Storm Ana; St. Maarten remains under Tropical Storm Watch.

Philipsburg: --- Armed robbery suspect Louis Albert Alexis RICHARDSON a.k.a 'STICKY" from St Maarten, was arrested late Saturday night as he attempted to leave the island by boat to Dominica. Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson in his police report said at approximately 09:45 pm the wanted man was arrested during a joint operation involving members of the RST and Coast Guard and the local police Arrest Team on board a cargo vessel, “East Pac” which had just left the Philipsburg Harbour.

The vessel was intercepted by the Coast Guard while still in the territorial waters of St Maarten and boarded in the dark of night by members of the Coast Guard and Arrest team during an undetected surprise approach.

The suspect during his arrest resisted heavily, however he was overpowered by members of the Arrest-Team.

A bulletin was issued for the wanted man on Friday by the prosecutor’s office where a Naf. 3000. reward was offered.

"STICKY" is been sought for, as a suspect in several armed robberies and is the main suspect in the armed robbery at Gold Creation in Maho Reef. He is suspected to be the one that fired at least two shots at the police vehicle during his escape.

Reliable information reaching SMN News suggested that Richardson aka Sticky is one of the possible suspects involved in the shooting death of Haresh Dayalani. Asked about that chief prosecutor Taco Stein said he could not confirm the suspect’s involvement in the brutal killing of the businessman but said it has not been ruled out. Sources close to the investigation has informed this media house that this is the second suspect that maybe have been involved in the businessman’s killing and is now in police custody. However, both the police and the prosecutor’s office have remained mum on the investigation.

GREAT BAY:--– The Emergency Radio Broadcast System will be tested on Tuesday, August 18 at 7.15am. Residents can tune in to 107.9 FM.

Radio listeners will first hear a tone followed by a voice message and ending with a tone.

The emergency radio broadcast system is part of the Island Government’s back-up communication system to be used in times of disaster.

The system would be used to communicate with the community after a hurricane strike. Emergency management officials including the Chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Governor Franklyn Richards, would be able to address the nation with respect to issues related to pre and post storm and hurricane strikes.

The emergency test is also being simulcast via the other participating radio stations.

Philipsburg: --- Armed robbery suspect Louis Albert Alexis Richardson aka “Sticky” was shipped out to Curacao on Sunday to avoid him from mingling with his co-conspirators confirmed Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein. Stein said the investigation into the crimes Sticky is suspected of committing is ongoing. The Chief Prosecutor of the Windward Islands refused to divulge any information into the ongoing investigation, which he said, are conducted jointly with the local police and RST.

Stein said Sticky was involved in the robbery two Saturday’s ago in Maho (Gold Creations), while he is also suspected of other robberies. Asked if the suspect is also involved in the shooting death of Marigot businessman Haresh Dayalani, Stein said he would not comment on that since he would not want to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

Stein thanked the media for their assistance on Saturday that led police to the wanted man who was captured the same night his photograph was published.

As for the arrest, Stein said it was made at sea in a joint operation, which involved the Police Force of St Maarten, the Kingdom detectives (RST), the Coast Guard, and the Royal Dutch Navy.

Louis Albert ALEXIS aka “Sticky” was apprehended around 09:40 pm on Saturday August 14. Richardson is suspected to be involved in a number of armed robberies, and was attempting to escape from St Maarten on a cargo boat.

After intensive detective work by the police the escape was prevented, the Coast Guard and the Royal Navy played an important role in capturing the suspect Stein said.

Stein said Her Majesty’s “Amsterdam,” operating for the Coast Guard lay in ambush in a state of total blackout 6 miles off the Philipsburg harbor. When the radar indicated that the suspected vessel was leaving the harbor, a ‘super-RIHB’ was launched with members of the Coast Guard and of the Arrest Team (A-team) of the local Police. The LYNNX helicopter of the Navy gave air support with search light. When the barge was intercepted, the wanted man was found amongst the five-crew members. He was arrested and brought to land for further investigation.

Philipsburg:--- While reports were published in one of the Daily Newspapers indicating that the National Alliance/Heyliger and Laviest Government plans to have their party supporter Roland Tuitt installed as the Acting Lt. Governor. Leader of the National Alliance and leader of government William Marlin denounced the story saying it is false. Marlin said his party members of the executive council never had any discussions on neither replacing nor even adding another assistant to the Lt. Governor cabinet. Marlin said there are reporters on St. Maarten that lack ethics and they are writing stories for their own personal agenda or the agendas of their political supporters.

In an invited comment Tuitt refused to comment on the article in question saying when he is ready to speak out he would. The former commissioner under the SPA led government said he has nothing to say on the article and that questions should be directed to the reporter who chose to write the story.

Some two weeks ago, Marlin told the acting Lt. Governor Millicent de Weever she needed to call the opposition to order as they were abusing the rules of order during an island council meeting. His public statements to the acting Lt. Governor prompted the chairman of the island council and Lt. Governor of the Island Territory Franklyn Richards to call the council to order last week Monday. At a press conference afterwards, Marlin said he had indicated to Richards that de Weever did not seem to know the rules of order and he needed to speak with the opposition about respecting the rules of order. Since then Marlin did not comment on the issue. The leader of government said on Wednesday that the people of St. Maarten would soon realize that the newspaper and the reporter in question are misleading the public with some of the articles that are being published.

SMN News has learnt that Lt- Governor Franklyn Richards has submitted a request for a second acting Lt. Governor since other islands has two acting Lt. Governors. Reliable sources say that over the years Richards was not able to take his vacation or leave the island for extended periods since his acting on several occasions was not available. According to the island regulations, any person that is to be appointed from the private sector as acting Lt. Governor of any island territory has to be approved by the Governor General prior to it being sent to the executive council for approval.

In the meantime, the Democratic Party faction has sent a letter to the executive council posing several questions pertaining to the replacement of the acting Lt. Governor Millicent de Weever.

The letter from the DP faction was submitted on Wednesday and they want to know if the media reports pertaining to this story is true and if so when did the executive council proposed the replacement. The DP faction also wants to know what reasons were given to the central government to have the acting Lt. Governor replaced and how many candidates were submitted. The opposition also wants the names of all the candidates that were submitted and what is the response of the Central Government.

SMN News understands that the opposition faction held a meeting at the faction office on Wednesday morning prior to sending the letter to the executive council.

GREAT BAY:--- – Governor Franklyn Richards chaired an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) meeting on Wednesday afternoon to review national preparations with respect to the passing of Hurricane Bill.

Bill is forecasted to pass well north of the island during the course of Wednesday night and into Thursday.

The meeting included core members of the EOC who determined that since Hurricane Bill does not pose a direct threat to the island, Thursday, August 20 will be a normal school and business day.

The Netherlands Antilles & Aruba Weather Service has issued two advisories namely a, small craft advisory and a high surf warning, both to be in effect until further notice.

Weather conditions expected from Bill in addition to the above are, the development of more clouds and scattered shower activity and possible thunderstorms; sea conditions to gradually become rough along the coasts up to 10 to 12 feet.

Residents living along coastal areas should be vigilant as hazardous conditions are possible along North and East facing shores due to large breaking waves. Areas that may be subjected to high seas are Oyster Pond, Guana Bay, Point Blanche, Beacon Hill/Airport area, Simpson Bay area, and the Philipsburg/Great Bay Beach Promenade. Coastal roads may become impassable due to the sea washing sand on the road, motorists should therefore exercise caution.

The electricity production company GEBE has taken precautions and have plans in place to make sure that electricity production continues uninhibited during the high seas that are expected from the passing of Bill.

Conditions won’t be feasible for recreational swimming and persons are urged to stay onshore to avoid personal injury or death. Some coastal flooding is also possible according to the Antillean & Aruban Weather Service and owners of coastal facilities should protect their possessions against possible destructive waves.

Should coastal roadways become impassable, the Public Works Department will have crews available to re-open the aforementioned roads and any other that would be partially blocked or made impassable.

Low-lying areas could be exposed to flash flooding due to expected locally heavy showers. Expected rainfall is around 10mm to 25mm mainly from Bills feeder bands.

Residents should make sure that their garbage containers are secure so that they don’t fall over and garbage is washed into gutters and culverts thereby clogging up the drainage system and waterways.

Bill is now moving North West according to the National Hurricane Center, which would continue to keep it well away from the island as it continues on that forecasted direction at 20 miles per hour.

Hurricane Bill at 5.00pm on Wednesday had wind speeds of 135 miles per hour making it a Category 4 hurricane. Bill is the first major hurricane for the 2009 hurricane season.

“Remember ‘It Only Takes One.’ That is the theme of the Office of Disaster Management & Preparedness, and all residents should take heed and make sure that they are prepared this hurricane season. Tropical Storm Ana and Hurricane Bill are indicators that you should have everything in place to protect life and property. If you still have not done so already for the season, please make the effort to protect your property and family as it only takes one,” Governor Richards Chairman of the EOC told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Wednesday.

The core members present at the EOC meeting on Wednesday were: Public Works Department, Fire Department/Office of Disaster Management & Preparedness, Netherlands Antilles & Aruba Weather Service, Government Information Service (GIS), and Cabinet of the Governor.

Marigot: -- The gendarmes arrested two persons, for being in possession of hard drugs. According to a press, release the 2 mules, a 21 year old, and a 17 year old were caught in a car during a regular control on rue de St. James. The two were found to have in their possession 10 rocks of crack cocaine and one gram of cocaine.

They were immediately placed in custody. The 21 old is scheduled to appear in courts while the minor would appear in November

The gendarmes also reported that an accident occurred on Wednesday in the Baie Nettle area. It is reported that a pedestrian was overthrown by a vehicle. The victim is this case was not seriously injured. The gendarmes are investigating.

French Quarter: --- The second highest award known in the French Republic “Remise de L’ Ensigne De Chavalier de L’ Ordre National Du Merite” was bestowed upon Vera Arnell on Saturday. Attending the event was several dignitaries from both French and Dutch side. Arnell was awarded for her contributions and commitment to the community especially French Quarter where she lived.

She is known as the retired nurse who dedicated her life to her family and education, and has been used as a living example. Among the dignitaries who always reflected on the life of Vera was Senator Louis Constant Fleming, who told the gathering that he on several occasions used Arnell as an example to others. He said Vera was dedicated and not only that but used education as a tool to place her children in every sector of the community. The senator called on everyone present to use Vera’s achievement and dedication as an example in their own lives.

Another recipient of a similar award was Rose Nicolas who was recognized last year, she said she could clearly remember the strict upbringing Vera had as a child and thus she contributed to the community as a nurse. Other invited guests did not fail to mention that even though strict there was that warmth and love that always precedes Arnell. It is said that Vera’s first priority was education and she was an instrument in providing books to the children of French Quarter. Arnell was also readily available to assist the children in the community with their schoolwork so that they could excel in education.

Arnell instilled moral values in those she met and empowered many pursue their careers. The award was pinned on by Katie Karam.

French- Quarter: -- The man suspected of shooting a 30-year-old man identified as B.R has surrendered to Gendarmes on Thursday. SMN News understands that the suspect identified as D. surrendered just after midday. About 4:30pm, several gendarmes including the suspect returned to the scene where the shooting took place, at Fleming’s Carpet in search of the shotgun that was used.

The gendarmes were seen chopping bushes in the area as the suspect; it is understood throw the weapon in the bushes prior to escaping. The victim is still nursing his wounds at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital.

Philipsburg: --- A 13-year-old boy who is not capable of reading and writing has been in police custody for the past three days. The youth is known for running away from home.

In an interview with SMN News, his mother Myrtle Nicolas said police told her, that her son Marwin Vallet was with some other boys at the Atlantis Casino picking up donations under false pretence.

She said police did not share much information with her but they said the young man committed fraud since he was picking donation for a basketball foundation. Nicolas said police said her son and some other boys who managed to flee from police collected donations from several places and were caught at the Atlantis Casino where they allegedly ran away with a computer and a phone.

The single parent said she has been facing several challenges with her son whom she described a slow learner and one who cannot even read or write properly. Nicolas said she tried seeking psychological help for the youth but that too is a challenge. The woman said she left her son at home, by locking him inside the house and he took his sister keys out of her bag and left. She said she did not file a missing person report because she had to wait until 24 hours elapsed but before that police contacted her saying, she should bring clothes and a towel for him.

Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said the young man was held for some sort of theft, he was in a car with some other boys who managed to run away, however, police is holding him as long as necessary to conduct their investigations. Mos confirmed the young man was taken to court for an extension of time.

Asked if it is practical to have a 13 year old locked up in an adult prison and if it is normal that he be shackled to an adult, Mos said police is allowed to arrest anyone over the age of 12 years. While those 12 and under is not punishable by law, a 13 year old can be held like any other person. He said while it is not correct to hold juveniles with adults, there is nothing else the police can do since there are no separate cells for juvenile at the police station or at the Pointe Blanche Prison.

Marigot: --- The people of St. Martin must become more vigilant and if necessary they must be prepared to take action says senator Louis Constant Fleming. Fleming made a public address to the people on Friday morning on radio St. Martin he subsequently told reporters that he is concerned about the direction in which the island is going. Fleming said should there be the need for some sort of demonstration against the injustices he would be the one leading that demonstration. Just this week the one-year sanction placed on Fleming expired giving him the rights to speak out.

The senator said he already addressed his concerns to the Prefet delegue who recently returned to France and he intends to meet with the incoming Prefet where he would again lay his cards on the table. “There would come a time when our people would have to say enough is enough and take actions” Fleming said St. Martin is not a garbage dump and daily there are more beggars arriving to the island. “Right now the Red Cross and the Manteau de Saint Martin is only catering to these refugees from France instead providing emergency services.

Fleming said while there is no problem with the local government and the state government there seems to be problems with the French administration and the people of St. Martin. He said he wants clarification on the relationship with the government of France and St. Martin.

Fleming said the UMP led government supports St. Martin and they do have access to that government however, he needs to know what relationship the French administration has with St. Martin. Senator Fleming said over the past two years the French administration has been boosted on St. Martin, which is now creating problems. He said that right now the impression given is that St. Martin has become a police state and everyone is being scrutinized and being investigated. The senator said the personnel of the French administration are simple civil servants who do not own anything in their country and the minute they arrive here, they believe everyone is involved in criminal activities. “I am of the opinion that when they see St. Martiners are home owners they become jealous and are treating the islanders as criminals”.

“Recently we have learnt that a number of prominent people are being investigated by the French administration some of whom were placed in garde de vue as they are being interrogated.” According to Fleming, he is of opinion that there is some sort of jealousy existing within the administration.

Senator Fleming said several persons approached him and expressed their experience with law enforcement on the island. He said just recently homes in Lowlands were searched and the people who have a good standing on both St. Martin and the United States were highly intimidated simply because they brought in personnel that is working for them in the United States to work for them on St. Martin. “These people have invested millions on the island and they needed to be treated with respect. Most importantly the agents do not even speak English.”

The senator said while he is not against the law, he felt that homeowners must be notified of the laws that have to be respected. Fleming further explained that that he read some of the declarations, which left him shocked, some of the victims who signed declarations had to go back and sign counter declaration and there is gross abuse of power.

Fleming said the police presence on the French side is presently chasing away tourist from the French side because of the policing which involves the on the spot alcohol testing. He said he wants to know how many people have lost their lives on St. Martin roads because of drunk drivers. He felt law enforcement could be more constructive in solving crimes rather than harassing people on the road.

Senator Fleming said the people should not remain passive and allow this sort of treatment from the State because very soon they might even come in and take over the Collectivity.

Philipsburg:--- Focus should be placed on fixing the existing problems at the Princess Juliana International Aiport (PJIAE) before trying to regulate the issues surrounding labour said President of the Windward Island Civil Servant Union William Reed. Reed said unless these problems are being addressed the situation regarding illegal immigrants on St. Maarten would not change. He said that only last week he met with membership at the Immigration department where these issues were discussed. Reed said the immigration workers are being imposed with a lot of regulations including those that are mandated. The unionist said politics played a very important role in the situation regarding labour since voters are constantly expecting politicians to turn their heads aside in exchange for their votes.

Reed said he intends to put down his foot down so that the central government respects the laws and carriesout the necessary controls regarding immigration if they are to deal with the current situation plaguing St. Maarten. Asked if he felt the Franco Dutch Treaty should be implemented which would assist in controlling the undocumented. Reed said it is the politicians who have refused to have the treaty implemented for their own political gain. The unionists said because of this several policies are being shelved.

Responding to questions posed to him regarding the current vision of expanding the tripartite committee that is currently discussing the revised labour policy and its amendments. Reed said he believes in transparency and said he is the one that recruited advisor of the United Federation Union Willy Haize to be on that committee. Asked if the WICSU/ PSU have a problem having the Comprehensive Business Association (CBA) on the committee. Reed said he would want to know who the CBA is and who they are representing. Reed said Rosario should not represent both businesses and workers in any setting.

CBA Left Out of Negotiations—yet to meet with the Executive Council

President of the Comprehensive Business Association Elco Rosario in an interview with SMN News said to date he has never been invited to discuss the amendments of the revised labour policy. Rosario said he requested to meet with the executive council prior to the island council meeting held last week and to date that meeting was not granted. He said the executive council has chosen to meet with everyone else except the CBA who have given a list of items that has to be amended. He said he has called on the island government to withdraw the policy completely and to make sure the old policy is respected by having constant controls. Rosario said the reason given to the CBA is the lack of a constitution, he said the CBA is a registered association and felt that those rejecting their involvement are total nonsense.

Rosario said the CBA has been representing both businesses and employees, and he shared his information with the labour department. One of the objectives of CBA representation is currently avoiding court cases and undue expenses to both parties.

Rosario said he is amazed with the way the former leader of government Sarah Wescot Williams is speaking. He said when the former leader of government and labour commissioner implemented the revised labour policy she was not saying the same things.

The CBA has made their position clear from day one when it comes to the labour policy, which is they are representing the businesses. He said right now there is much discussion on the labour policy but somehow everyone forgets that the initiative was taken by the CBA.

Asked if the CBA is in favour of the amendments proposed by the executive council. Rosario said he is not totally in favour of the proposed amendments since certain articles in the policy were not touched. One such article he said is article six which he felt must be deleted. He said that article is hurting the already poor economy and it is bent on destroying the island. Rosario said he personally believes that government should stand their ground and withdraw the policy since there are several articles that contradict the civil code. The CBA president said he shared this with everyone including the leader of government prior to the change of government and no one disagrees with him. He said should this article remain effective persons residing on the island especially business owners could file court cases against the island government.

Rosario said revised policy has created confusion and he is ready to debate the issue with anyone including the advisor of the United Federation Union Willy Haize. He agreed that their has been abuse to the old labour policy.

Brooks Tower Accord not Addressing all Issues.

Rosario said while the Brooks Tower Accord, which is to be implemented, next month would address some of the issues surrounding labour and immigration one should not mix up the policies.

The CBA president said more explanation has to be given on the Brooks Tower; he said he wants to know what type of permits those persons who falls on category one will get. Those that are here before 2001 can now sign for themselves but is there a guarantee that the governor is going to grant the applicants a residency permit and if he does what type of permit are they going to get. Is it indefinite, one year, or independent Rosario asked? He felt if the Minister of Justice has to now explain what this policy entails. He said the devil is in the details and that is what needs to be worked out.

Sandy Ground: -- Relatives of 21-year old Ricardo Gumbs are now preparing for the harsh reality of losing a loved one. His aunt Ginette Gumbs in an interview with SMN News said that the families along with staff of the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital are preparing to have the accident victim flown back to St. Martin. Gumbs said she personally spoke to the doctor in Martinique who told her that her nephew arrived in Martinique too late and he is already brain dead. Based on that information the relatives of Ricardo Gumbs have decided to have the hospital fly him back to St. Martin.

The bereaved aunt said since Martinique cannot do anything for her nephew and it is better he is brought back to St. Martin where his relatives are. Gumbs said she does not know when the youth will be brought back since the hospital on St. Martin does not have the life support machine that is needed to transport him back to the island. Gumbs said that right now the LC Fleming hospital is busy making arrangements with the hospital in Martinique for the air evacuation.

Gumbs said some of the hardships the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital faced on Friday evening were the fact that the scanner in Concordia is not working and that Grand Case Airport does not operate at nights. She said an unknown person hit her nephew off of his scooter on Friday evening around 10 pm and ever since they were faced with different hardships prior to her nephew being sent to Martinique. So far the gendarmes has not released any information on the hit and run accident.

Three Car Collision Leaves 2 Badly Injured.

A three-car collision took place on Saturday night and has left at least two persons seriously injured. The accident occurred just before 9pm. According to eyewitnesses on the scene, a car coming from Marigot tried to double another car when he hit head on with the oncoming vehicle.

At least two of the vehicles are total loss while the third vehicle was also badly damaged. Gendarmes on the scene said the injured was taken to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital for treatment. So far, there has not been any information on these accidents.

Willemstad: --- Minister of Justice David Dick has resigned from his position as Minister of Justice and will be sworn in as Commissioner of Economic Affairs on Tuesday evening during an Island Council meeting that is to be convened at 8:30pm. Dick’s successor has been named as Magali Jacoba, a former island council member and current acting Lt. Governor of Curacao. It is not known yet when Jacoba would take the oath in her new position.

Information reaching SMN News states that the PAR board members ratified the changes that were made on Sunday night, while the discussion on the changes was discussed on Monday morning with the PAR dignitaries and board members, a final approval is to be given on Monday night during another meeting.

Commissioner Eugene Rhuggenaath resigned last week for apparent family reasons and the party had to replace that commissioner which is why the changes were made.

The change, which may shock some, is rather logical since Dick has extreme knowledge on the functioning of government as well as the dismantling process, which is underway at this time. In another year, the Antilles would cease to exist and the need for experienced people to be part of the process is of vital importance to the PAR.

In an invited comment, Dick said he is comfortable with the decisions taken by both him and his party. He further explained that there are certain projects he started as justice Minister and would have liked to complete them all but he is also confident that his successor would make sure that happens.

Dick has been highly criticized both here and in Curacao on his performance as justice Minister. He however, said his mission was to get the job done in the best interest of the islands.

Philipsburg:--- The fruits of the labour of Chief Inspector Carl John will soon be seen as the trainers for the bicycle patrol are already here. John and police coach Ronald Dongor had travelled to Suriname last year to see and learn about the bicycle patrol, which is operational in that country.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the three trainers who arrived on the island gave reporters an insight of the bicycle patrol, which is to be launched here in two weeks time. Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran told reporters that the one-week training will begin on August 10 and the project will be launched one week later. Doran said the project has been initiated about a year ago when John and Dongor went to familiarize themselves with the project.

SMN News has been reliably informed that John has been writing all the projects for the police force, including the recruitment drive that is presently underway, the chief inspector also wrote the project on acquiring the new vehicles. Unfortunately, even though sitting in the background during the press conference he was not active during the presentation.

One year later, the St. Maarten Police Force is ready to launch this project. Doran said the management team of the police department believes in the biker’s project simply because this project has been successful in several countries. Doran said the KPSSS wants to be proactive and they believe having patrols on bikes would an asset in combating crime on St.Maarten. The idea of using this project Doran said would allow officers to respond a bit faster to any crime scene. He said the traffic situation on the island obstructs them when driving.

The bikers patrol will be in the Philipsburg, Maho, and Mullet Bay and the Airport area when launched. Some ten officers would be participating in the one-week training, six of which will remain on St. Maarten and four are from Statia Doran said. The bicycle patrols Doran said would be working for 16 hours a day in each area.

Trainer Raoul Tersteeg who hails from the Netherlands said when they started the bike team in 2003 with four bikers and today they have grown to 60 because the project has proven to be rather successful there. Tersteeg said three years later Suriname requested assistance from them to start up their bike team, which is now also very successful in Suriname. Among the three trainers on island is Jermaine Elstromp who hails from Suriname he said he is in one of the instructors of the bike team in Paramaribo where he is currently working.

Also addressing the media on Wednesday is Johan de Grout the first instructor from the Netherlands. De Grout said that some seven years ago one of his colleagues was sent to the United States where he was trained as bike patrol. De Grout said he was lucky to be the first person to receive training from his colleague who studied abroad. De Grout said they even received requests from Copenhagen and Denmark as all these countries are now interested in introducing the bike patrols to combat crime. One of the benefits is that officers can now reach closer to the civilians and they can now speak to each other when it comes to solving crimes.

Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Admar Doran said it has been a few years now they have been focusing on rebuilding and enhancing the police force (KPSSS). He said while the results may not be visible he is happy that after one year they are able to reap the benefits of their labour. Doran said they also have several other projects they are busy working on which he said would be able to comply with the demands of today’s society. Doran promised to unleash some other projects that would take the KPSSS to the next level.

Airport:---Employees of Windward Islands Airways (Winair) will gather on Sunday, 9th August for a grand family day of fun. The activity, which has been organized by staff of the airline company, is geared towards socializing among colleagues and their families as part of the employees’ development and enhancement programme.

According to one of the organizers, the day of fun has been organized solely by employees without the assistance of management. However, the employee noted that management has offered to lend some financial and other support to the event, which according to the employee had seen a hiatus for some eight years.

“This used to be a regular feature of the company as we used to organize a number of activities among them being beach parties, socials, and day of sports. However over the years it has become somewhat doormat and inactive and therefore we the employees have sought to resuscitate these activities in a more organized and aggressive manner,” the employee said.

She added, “... I am hoping that this will be the start for more regular kind of activities of this nature as the staff recognizes the importance of socializing and mingling with each other as years ago the company had a Winair Fun Club that organized such activities.”

The event will be held at the Emilio Wilson Park from 11AM - 6PM and according to the organizers, there are expected to be games for the kids and adults. Some 110 odd employees and their families are expected to convene on the ground where their primary objective will be to mingle, have fun while getting to know each other. As usual, music will be in attendance.

Expected to be attending the event will be the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Directors, Mr. Fernando William and some of the other board members.

In an invited comment, the Managing Director and his management team congratulated the staff for the initiative noting that it was timely and critically important to the airline’ s development plan noting that any activity and or event that’s seeks to bring employees much closer would be welcome and supported by the company.

Also invited to join in the frolic and fun are the media.

Dutch Quarter: ----- The Special Armed Robbery unit is busy investigating a case of ill-treatment and the use of a firearm. According to police spokesman Ricardo Henson, the team of officers was called to a crack house on Quilletor Drive in Dutch Quarter.

On the scene the detectives encountered a witness who told them that the “victim” with initials H.C.R from the Dominican Republic, was sitting at the house in question, when at a certain moment he got up to go and relieve himself.

At that same time, he saw two unknown men, who were completely dressed in black, approaching the victim. Without any argument or reason to, the two men started hitting and kicking the victim. The victim could not defend himself against his attackers so he decided to run away. According to the eyewitness, when one of the unknown men pulled a firearm and fired at least two shots at the victim.

The suspects then left the scene. The detectives and Forensic department conducted their investigation on the scene. They later learnt the victim in question had shown up at the St Maarten Medical center for treatment, however did not have any gunshot wounds. The case is under investigation.

Philipsburg: --- The Democratic Party faction has raised several questions on the document presented to them on Monday with the amendments of the revised labour policy. Leader of the Democratic Party and former Commissioner of Labour Sarah Wescot Williams said the document was not prepared for the island council and even though it stated the Executive Council they still do not know if the document came from the Executive Council and who prepared it.

Wescot Williams said they do not know whom the document was intended for; furthermore, she wants to know when the executive council ratified the amendments and if these amendments were sanctioned by the tripartite committee. She said the committee as well as the labour commissioner met on Sunday afternoon where the amendments were discussed. “Was this document ratified on Sunday Evening?

The DP leader said she wants to know who stands to loose if the labour permit policy is transparent. She wants to know if persons no longer has to call on others for assistance maybe in exchange for money who are the ones that stand to loose.

Wescot Williams said the objectives of calling an island council meeting to discuss the labor policy were partly met on Monday during the Island Council meeting. She said the main objective for her faction was to have government come clean on the foreign labour policy. She said because her faction called a meeting to discuss the position of government they hastily called a meeting with tripartite committee on Sunday August 9 and there is no way the coalition government can make her faction or the public believe that the anonymous proposal which was presented to the island council on Monday is an official position of the executive council.

Wescot Williams said the document presented to them was rushed because of her faction insisted that government needed to come clean on the issue of the labour policy. The former labour commissioner said they are not convinced that the tripartite committee was consulted on the document presented to them. She felt the statements made by the current commissioner of labor who said that there is no tripartite committee is an insult to the members of the tripartite committee who have been working closely with government on labour matters. She said the executive council needs to prove that the proposal has indeed been adopted or ratified by the executive council and when did they adopt the document.

The executive council also has to prove that true consultations took place with the tripartite committee and that they are not ramming down something down the throats of these committee members. She said if this is left unchallenged then the members of that committee would be held responsible for the so-called amendments.

Wescot Williams said her questions regarding the proposal are who drafted this proposal and for whom is it meant?

Where are the decisions taken by the tripartite committee on August 7th and 9th?

Who else has been consulted on this “proposal”? In addition, what is the budgetary impact of the changes to the work permit policy?

Philipsburg: --- The building stop that was issued to Dedrick Cannigitter has now been lifted by the department of public works, assistant director of the department Claudius Buncamper confirmed that the building stop was lifted on Wednesday. Buncamper explained that a building permit was issued to Cannigitter some two and half years ago and it is one of those that are listed under the ‘red dot.” Buncamper said the department was not aware that there was no access road to the property when the permit was issued and when the owners of the road namely Rita and Russell Hughes approached the department they immediately issued a building stop based on the illegal use of a private road to get to the property.

Buncamper said shortly after that the department discussed the matter with New Works who adjusted the round about so that Cannigitter can have an entrance to his property. That he said was finalized on Tuesday by Windward Roads and the businessman now has access to his property via his own road.

Buncamper said there seems to be another issue developing with the warehouse since James family is now claiming that the building is too close to the bound. Buncamper said he did not handle that part and the only thing he dealt with was the access road. Buncamper said he is the head of New Works and Maintenance, and only acts as the assistant director when the director is absent.

The assistant director made clear that he did not issue the building permit for the warehouses that is now built in a residential area. He said the only reason he has to deal with this problem is that he is deputizing the department in the absence of the director of ROB who is presently on vacation. Asked if he visited the area to get a first hand look at the situation regarding the warehouse Buncamper said he did not personally visit the area but plans to do so on Thursday.

Buncamper said based on the drawings the containers were supposed to be in front of the property and trucks were to be used to transport the materials to the work site. However, when this reporter visited the location there was at least three containers to the back of the warehouse.

Earlier this week the James, Hughes, and Richardson family in an interview said that the owner the warehouse is not respecting the building codes of the island. So far, SMN News understands that these families have not filed an official complaint with the department. The residents said they could not understand how the department of ROB would issue a building permit for warehouses in that area since they are so many children living there.

Philipsburg: --- Chairman of the island council of St. Maarten and Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards had some strong words of caution for members of the island council on Thursday. The Chairman after opening the island council meeting on Thursday cautioned the members of the island council on their rule of conduct. The caution came after the display and use of strong language from leader of Government William Marlin during Monday’s Island Council meeting. Richards said Monday’s display could be considered as a total disregard for the highest body of the island territory of St. Maarten.

The governor also sent a letter to each island council member reminding them of the rules of order which he said must be respected. Richards said for clarity sake, he is addressing all factions represented in the island council thus each individual member of the council, duly elected by the people of this island is to represent their general interest.

He said he felt called upon to do so, in view of what may have been construed as improper during the last island council meeting.

Richards said as chairman, of the island council, it is his duty, occasionally, to share with members of the island council some of his concerns, with an eye on contributing to the best possible functioning of the highest body of the island territory of St. Maarten.

He said it is his belief that as they continue en route to country status, they must, indeed, begin to act and behave in a manner reflecting having matured to a higher level.

It cannot be so that intolerance of opposing views is condoned and that image of lack of political maturity is left behind in the minds of the public, whenever they choose to listen to their elected officials during public meetings.

Aspects of etiquette, adherence to the island regulation Netherlands Antilles, ERNA, respectability should never be too far from their minds, whenever they choose to enter into public debate of topics at hand.

No one faction, no one group of individuals are above suspicion in this regard and they must, collectively, seek to address the shortcomings that they are too often accused of.

The Island Council ought to lead by example, thereby inspiring younger generations of people’s representatives to want to become legislators in a new St. Maarten, Richards said.

St. Maarten have no choice but to strive to attain that level of understanding of political maturity a level of understanding embodied in strict application of rules of order, in even the most trying moments.

He said with all good intentions, submit the argument that the kind of posturing to which they are too often subjected to in this council, can also be construed as a blatant disregard for proper governance or even worse, an apparent rejection of good governance.

As such, that it is in the best interest of the people of this island that they take some time and reflect on how they want to proceed, by the time they are ready to become senators and ministers of the country St. Maarten. The chairman said he sincerely believes that it would benefit good governance, transparency in government and an organized continuation of the daily running of government affairs, if they again, collectively, decide on how they are to conduct themselves.

A well-construed debate is something to be encouraged, not ridiculed; a healthy debate is nowadays a common practice within the framework of good governance.

In order to understand “Good Governance” one has to know the meaning of Governance.

Governance he said means the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented).

Richards said that he has, on at least one occasion noted that good governance has eight major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law. It assures that the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society.

Participation by all concerned is a key cornerstone of good governance. Participation could be either direct or through legitimate intermediate institutions or representatives such as yourselves.

He also pointed out that participation needs to be informed and organized. This means freedom of expression on the one hand and an organized debate on the other hand.

With so much that has come their way in past years, transparency means that decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations. It also means that information is freely available within the limits of the law.

Comprising this island council are 11 representatives of the people; so, in theory there could be as many as 11 viewpoints that can be shared, debated and questioned during public gatherings of this dignified body. “I say ‘dignified’ since I am of the opinion that ever since the establishment of the ‘statuut’, it is the island council which has served as that place where local government on all island territories could play a decisive role in the development of these islands, in a manner which required that respect be shown for its decisions.” Richards said.

The island council remains accountable to the public and to the community stakeholders.

‘Good governance’ entails that the government of St. Maarten carries out policies in a democratic, just and systematic manner, delivering results that are in the general interest of the people.

He said they can speak of a just policy and just governance when government takes into consideration legally prescribed regulations and guidelines pertaining to good governance, such as the principles of good governance, principles of equality and principles of integrity.

The citizen has a right to hear all sides of a debate in a manner becoming elected representatives of the people, even if he or she is in disagreement with government.

He appealed to all of members of the island council, that they take responsibilities seriously; think before you speak and contemplate before acting.

Opposing views ought not to be a reason for deficiencies in ‘politesse’, no matter what the circumstance.

Oyster Pond: -- Two persons have been hospitalized on Wednesday evening after a vehicle lost control on the Oyster Pond Road. Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard said the two men lost control of their Hyundai car and landed in a GEBE meter wall.

SMN News understands that a commotion began at the scene when the ambulance took more than expected time to reach the scene of the accident. It is understood that relatives of the victims who were bleeding profusely began screaming when they realized the ambulance was directed to the wrong location.

The vehicle it was understood burst into flames. Leonard said police found the two unidentified men outside of the vehicle.

GREAT BAY--– A meeting of emergency management officials chaired by Governor Franklyn Richards, Chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), took place Sunday afternoon at the Government Administration Building, to review the approach of Tropical Storm Ana to the islands and to get a status report of national preparations.

During the meeting, it was decided as a precautionary measure to keep schools closed on Monday, August 17. According to the Netherlands Antilles & Aruba Weather Service, weather conditions are expected to deteriorate in the early morning hours of Monday.

Rainfall expected is 20 to 40 mm, which can cause flooding in low, laying areas, which could cause poor road conditions due to lingering weather conditions on Monday as the system passes.

Businesses can operate as usual and all government offices will be open for business. Motorists are requested to exercise a level of caution due to the possibility of localized flooding in low-lying areas. Residents living in hillside areas should be vigilant for rock falls due to heavy rains.

The Public Works Department is busy clearing waterways, gutters, and drainage areas in preparation for any likely flooding. An artificial waterway will be created at the Great Bay beach near the Fresh Water Pond. Water levels in the Salt Pond are at a sufficient level to accommodate additional runoff water.

The Office of Disaster Management & Preparedness (ODMP) would hereby like to inform the community that St. Maarten remains under a Tropical Storm Watch according to the Netherlands Antilles & Aruba Weather Service (check www.meteo.an for weather information).

Tropical Storm Ana on Sunday at 2.00pm was located approximately 240 miles East of Dominica. Maximum wind speeds are near 40 miles per hour. Ana is rapidly moving Westward at 25 miles per hour.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that there is a possible threat of tropical storm conditions within the next 36 hours. The National Hurricane Center out of Miami has described Ana as poorly organized and barely a tropical storm at this point in time.

Tropical Storm Bill as of 11.00 am this morning has strengthened further and is located about 1555 miles East of the island chain and has maximum wind speeds of 60 miles per hour. This system does not form any threat to the island at this point in time. Bill is moving West North West at 16 miles per hour.

Residents are strongly advised to continue to monitor radio and TV reports with respect to the progress of Tropical Storm Ana and Tropical Storm Bill.

GREAT BAY:--– The Preventive Health Department (PHD) confirms that the island now has its 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Four cases are from one family, an eight-year-old female, an 11-year-old male, a 16-year-old male, and a 36-year-old female, were part of a cluster who attended a family reunion on the French side of the island on August 6. Several members of the family were admitted to the French side hospital on August 7.

The family members who attended the family reunion from the Dutch side reported their symptoms on August 10. Samples were collected on that day and the results were confirmed on August 14.

All four persons have been treated. The 11-year-old was hospitalized at the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC).

The fifth confirmed case is a 39-year-old female resident who had traveled to New York City and recently returned to the island. The woman in question later developed symptoms and sought medical treatment.

Several samples were taken from persons on August 13 and these results are pending.

The PHD is urging those who travel abroad on vacation or for business, and return with a flu-like-illness to remain at home and contact their family physician immediately. They should not engage in any community activities such as working, shopping or participating in any mass/social activities. This would limit the risk of community spread.

This will help minimize the risk of infecting those around you, especially people who are at a higher risk of severe illness and complications from influenza.

Persons who develop flu-like symptoms a week after returning from a vacation abroad should take the same recommended action as noted above.

Tourists are hereby advised if they develop a flu-like illness while vacationing on the island, to contact the PHD immediately.

The severity of the disease at this point in time remains relatively mild. In the past, all confirmed cases have recovered fully.

The symptoms of Influenza A (H1N1) flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with the virus.

Persons seeking additional information should contact PHD at telephone numbers: 542-3003 or 542-3553 or visit the following websites: www.cdc.gov/swineflu or www.who.int. for more information on Influenza A (H1N1) virus also referred to as swine flu.

Philipsburg: ---- President of the Windward Island Civil Servant Union (WICSU/PSU) William Reed reacted to information regarding his members at the St. Maarten Tender Services, which he claimed are untrue. Reacting to statements made by the adviser of the United Federation Union (UFA) Willy Haize, Reed denied all allegations made by the UFA and said that Haize is involved in some sort of conspiracy with the owner of Connecting Waves N.V (new tender service company) that is now operating at the harbour. Reed said a good friend of Willy Haize owns Connecting Waves and as such, Haize is now putting pressure on St. Maarten Tender Service, which would eventually benefit his friend Toochie Meyers. Reed said the situation that exists now is that Haize negotiates for Meyers and is now going to be negotiating for Tender Services, which would put additional pressure on the owner of St. Maarten Tender Services Bobby Velasquez.

As per the workers of the St. Maarten Tender Service Reed said, they were demanding a 50% increase, which he explained to them, was virtually impossible. The WICSU/PSU president said the tender services workers mislead him by withholding information from him regarding the benefits they are getting by working with Tender Services. He referred to the “tip box” which the workers of Tender Services are getting on a daily basis; something that was not part of the Collective Labour Agreement neither the retroactive payment, which he said was paid out to all workers as, agreed upon. Reed said based on the insistence of the workers demand of 50% increase the negotiations dragged on for nine months. He said after all of this transpired he was informed by the government mediator that the workers from Tender Services wanted a referendum since they signed up with the UFA.

Reed said the owner of St. Maarten Tender Services Bobby Velasquez made sure his workers have a pension fund, insurance policy reaching up to $100,000. Tender Services also pays for the processing of working permits for its workers without demanding re-imbursement, while the workers have a tip box that is not declared. Reed said there is more in the mortar besides the pisel regarding the workers of Tender Service and what is happening today is completely unethical while there is a conspiracy taking place with the UFA and Connecting Wave.

Asked to explain what the conspiracy between UFA and Connecting Waves is, Reed said the UFA would put undue pressure on St. Maarten Tender Services, which would eventually force the St. Maarten Tender Service out of business. He said he believes that both Haize and Meyers has worked on this plan and is now busy executing it. A referendum is scheduled to be held sometime in September Reed said but no definite date has been fixed yet. Reed said the WICSU/PSU has a three year Collective Labour Agreement with St. Maarten Tender Services.

Non-Payment of Monies

Asked if the statements made by his members regarding the non-payment of monies that was transferred from Bobby’s Marina to the account of WICSU/PSU. Reed said if the workers were not paid then they should challenge him.

Reed said he has list with the names of the workers who all signed for their monies, which he intends to make available to the media. The unionist said he is very disappointed with the members of the Tender Services who have been giving the UFA misleading information. He said his members from Tender Services have no reason to leave but they are now creating reason to leave his union to go to another union for representation.

St. Maarten Tender Service Plans to Lay off Workers

In the meantime, labour mediator Kenneth Lopes has served WICSU/PSU with a letter sent to the Federal Labour Department by the St. Maarten Tender Services that indicated that the company is planning to lay off some its workers.

The letter to the labour department dated August 12th states that since the operation of Connecting Waves (new tender service company) the St. Maarten Tender Service has lost at least 50% of its business, which is now forcing them to lay off some of their workers. The company plans to make up a list with the names of the workers they are planning to lay off due to the lost of business.

In an invited comment, Bobby Velasquez said the company plans to lay off at least 12 out of its 34 workers. Velasquez did not divulge much information due to the fact he did not submit the official list to the labour department. The businessman said he plans to pay out all workers his company intended to lay off according to the island’s labour laws.

SMN News also learnt that St. Maarten Tender Services plans to file a court case against the A.C Wathey Cruise Facility who has taken it upon themselves to divide the amount of passengers that travels with the two tender service companies.

Reed said St. Maarten Tender Services are not able to pay any more over time to its workers due to the recession and shortage of passengers. The unionist said the businessman used to pay his workers for hours they were not working all of which the businessman said cannot continue for the lack of business, which has been reduced by 16%.

Reed said the employer is still paying the workers their regular salaries but indicated that they will no longer be paid over time when they are not scheduled to work.

Philipsburg:--- The National Alliance/Heyliger and Laviest Government have decided last week to appoint Gracita Arrindell in the island secretariat, a letter was sent to Arrindell Wednesday morning informing her of the decision taken by the executive council.

SMN News has been reliably informed that Arrindell did not sign for the letter and instead directed the person delivering the letter to her lawyer’s office.

According to information, reaching SMN News Arrindell is aware of the contents of the letter and the decision taken by the executive council.

In an invited comment, the former island council lady said she will report to the office of the island secretariat on Monday. Arrindell said she received information last week that the executive council has taken a decision to appoint her to a junior position in the island secretariat as a policy worker (BELEIDSADVISEUR). The former island council lady and an adjunct island secretary said she intends to carefully review the decision since the rulings of the court was very clear, which was issued in May, and will expire on August 24 upcoming.

Arrindell said it came to her attention that some weeks ago leader of government William Marlin apparently publicly stated that an offer was made to her but until to date she was never approached officially by anyone in the civil service administration to discuss their proposal.

Arrindell is a scale 15 senior civil servant with almost 23 years of service and experience in administrative as well as constitutional matters. While the position offered is a scale 13, her salary practically remains the same, no mention is made of her other benefits as a senior civil servant. Arrindell stated that, she is hopeful that this is an honest oversight and she is looking forward to working with the civil service and government on the many issues facing St Maarten. ‘I am hopeful that in the end, government will resolve this and any other matter that is unclear or unjust not addressed in the courts ruling. It is a pity it took so long’ she said.

The former island council lady did not want to deny nor confirm that she expressed her desire to take up the position as director of support services since that position has been vacant for quite some time. It is worth noticing that constitutional affairs bureau also falls under this sector among other departments such as GIS and judicial affairs.

Asked if she was offered the position to head the department of constitutional affairs Arrindell said she read that in the newspapers and was surprised at the information reported at the time and confirmed that soon after the report she was approached to consider this option on a temporary basis.

SMN News has learnt that the island government has taken a decision to phase out the department of constitutional affairs as they are busy restructuring several departments. This media house was not able to confirm the information pertaining to the department in question.

Pointe Blanche:-- Some eight divers were rescued by the Coast Guard on Wednesday reported Roderick Gouvernor of the Coast Guard. Gouvernor said the eight divers from the French side of the island were diving in the Pointe Blanche area. He said the divers left their boat unattended, which began drifting, as they were underwater.

Two of the eight divers decided to seek assistance by trying to swim ashore but somehow they called a number, which ended up being the coast guard who immediately sent help. Gouvernor said the coast guard rescued the first two divers who could not make it back to shore then they picked up the other six divers. They also used an helicopter and ship that was on St. Maarten to look for the missing boat, which was found and taken to Simpson Bay before it was released to its owners.

Willemstad: --- The parliament of the Netherlands Antilles has given health Minister Omayra Leeflang the green light to keep all pensioners and their families under the Social Insurance Bank fund. A press release from the president of parliament Pedro Attacho states that he already informed the Minister of Public Health during the Central Committee meeting held last Tuesday that a majority of the members went along with her proposal to keep former civil servants and their families who became 60 years old under the Social Insurance Bank fund. (SVB). The members of the central committee accepted the proposal anticipating that there would be a change in the law regarding the issue of health care for the elderly.

This decision is also applicable to persons who, because of the health insurance system in the Netherlands, ceased to have health insurance and that have left the Netherlands and have established themselves in the Netherlands Antilles.

On this issue, a majority of the Members of Parliament present during the meeting of the Central Committee, agreed to have the SVB act accordingly, meaning that the SVB can go ahead with accepting these people in the health insurance fund of the SVB.

Finally, the President of Parliament urged Minister Leeflang to submit the draft of the law to Parliament as soon as possible.

Philipsburg:--- Commissioner of finance Xavier Blackman at a press conference on Thursday said he and the leader of government William Marlin has held a number of meetings both on Curacao and the Netherlands including the CFT as they try to convince their partners that the island needs more time to be able to make its financially sustainable. Blackman said they are busy with a number of trajectories, which is aimed at bridging the gap that currently exists. Blackman said his main message to those he met including the CFT is that St. Maarten needs to have an interim period on which it can balance its budget.

The commissioner said the budgets that were presented in the past by the former government were not balanced when compared to the annual accounts.

Reviewing the overview Blackman said the annual accounts for the year 2000 the annual account was in the negative of 29.2 million guilders, 2002 the deficit was 22.6 million guilders, while in 2003 the deficit stood at 19.2 million. Blackman said even though a balance budget was presented when the annual accounts were made up it showed it was negative.

The commissioner said that St. Maarten is not the only island that has this trend, since the exact same thing happens of the other islands and it is not a unique thing for the Netherlands. He said this shows that it is extremely difficult under the current constellation to have a really balance budget. He said the CFT, forced the island except for the BES to present a balance budget based on the rules of financial supervision.

He said he already made it clear that it is actually impossible for the islands to meet these requirements, which larger countries are not able to do without loans.

In the case of St. Maarten the island is not able to borrow but that is made possible in the rules of the financial supervision, however, based on the stipulations the island cannot borrow enough monies to fully accomplish its missions.

The finance commissioner said the current conditions where the island is preparing itself to take on more tasks and with the global crisis, it is impossible for any government to balance its budget from one year to the next. He said the discussions held on this matter were rather open and frank discussions where the issues were presented so that long-term solutions can be found.

Blackman said the island government would be preparing a document where these issues would be outlined and how government intends to deal with them with their partners. The idea he said is for the island to bridge that gap and to be more financially strong but most importantly to be able to keep its revenue locally. One of the requests made to the Netherlands is to help the island come up with solutions that would deal with the situation within the present constellation and the framework of the financial supervision law.

Blackman said the island government has requested from the CFT and extension of the deadline for the budget of 2010, which was granted. Blackman said the executive council has taken a decision based on the ongoing talks to present a realistic budget with real figures and allow the CFT to deal with the reality of the island’s financial situation.

The commissioner said though they are still trying to cut costs and to see how far down they can bring the deficit, which stands at 50 million. He said that even their other partners are struggling to produce a balance budget and while the government of St. Maarten has chosen a realistic approach, it is not the end of the road. He said the Kingdom partners are willing to discuss this matter now that they are seeing the reality of the matter. Even though they probably had the best of intentions when putting together the law on financial supervision but it is, clear to them that is almost impossible for anyone to fully comply.

Government Concern about Debt Cancellation

Blackman said the government is very much concerned about the debt cancellation. He said the Netherlands has agreed to pay off all debts incurred until December 31 2005. The finance commissioner said they are faced with some challenges getting the figures from their creditors.

The commissioner said he also held discussions with the SOAB who is busy making an overview, which would be sent to the Netherlands for verification, he said the CFT was also requested to see if they are able to assist with the accumulation of the figures, since the process is taking too long something that is a detriment to the island since the island government are still paying the debts.

TAX DEPARTMENT UPGRADE

A kick off session was held not long ago for the tax department and a project leader for the department was appointed who would oversee the process. At that kickoff session, it was agreed that a draft plan of action for all the trajectories including the cleaning up of the backlog be prepared. This plan of action was made up by the project leader that was recently appointed.

Blackman said the Minister of Finance has also agreed and has pledged her support for the cleaning up of the tax department and getting the department up to par. He said a protocol is being worked upon which would regulate the cooperation between the federal receiver’s office and the island receiver’s office. This protocol would also deal with the cooperation between the island and federal government where it concerns the tax department. The idea is for St. Maarten to participate in improving the department.

The island government is also working on a new fiscal framework for country St. Maarten. He said some of the documentation was prepared in the past, which are now being scrutinized and adjusted if needed. One of the focuses would be to take the island’s specifications in consideration while making sure the system that is created would be one that is easy to manage. The idea also would be to make sure that the spread of the tax burden is fair, which would mean all entities would pay their fair share so they can adequately contribute to the economy. The tax system has to also foster and encourage economic growth, which has to be in place in the framework or system. St. Maarten is also working along with Curacao who just recently created a new tax system.

Philipsburg: --- The Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba acknowledges that there is an increase in youth crime and something has to be done rather urgently to address the matter. She also said that the Ministry has to find ways to deal with this issue but when asked if she felt, there is need to have a juvenile delinquency center on St. Maarten. Jacoba said she could say “yes” because it is easy to say but the reality of the matter is there is no policy for such centers or as a matter fact there is no policy on youth delinquency in the Netherlands Antilles.

She said this is something they need to work on. She said they first have to work out what vision they have for the youths and how to deal with them prior to building an institution.

Jacoba said that after the paper trail is worked out definitely the centers would be built because there are too many youths in prison.

Whatever and whenever those institutions come on board it has to better than what is in Curacao because whatever facility is built it must be able to deal with the challenges the youths faced, and to enable them to re-integrate in society.

She stressed that there is absolutely nothing (policies) to addresses these issues and they have to work on that prior to building an institution; she made clear that this would not happen anytime soon.

Philipsburg: --- The Jamaican national identified as L.D appeared in court on Friday so that his pretrial detention can be extended. The man surrendered to police on Thursday after he learnt police was looking for him. L.D is married to a local woman who had custody of her goddaughter.

SMN News learnt the man has been abusing the child over the past three years. Most recently, he allegedly raped the 11-year-old girl early Friday morning.

The Court of Guardianship has placed the child in protective custody pending the outcome of the investigation. She is presently staying in French Quarter with her aunt who lives in a stable home.

Cole Bay: --- Some three families are now protesting the construction of a warehouse in their neighborhood especially since there is no access road leading to the property.

The well-known Cole Bay families in an interview with SMN News said public works department tried tricking them because they know they granted a building permit to someone to build warehouses on a property that has no access road. The Hughes and James families said Public Works began moving some containers next to their property telling them it contained material for the round about.

They said knowing the roundabout is an asset to everyone they did not protest, but while they were not paying attention the owners of the parcel of land which is between the two families began building a warehouse even though they have no access road much less parking.

Rita Hughes said it has been quite sometime now she has been complaining that some the owners of the property next to her has been blocking her view and house with a set of containers. The woman said while these people are the owners of the property placing containers on it is dangerous since many children lives in the neighborhood. Furthermore, she explained that the parcel of land next to her has no access road since she and her brother paid for the road when they purchased the land some years ago. Russell Hughes said ROB or the island government has to provide a road for the developer since they are not willing to sacrifice the lives of the children living in the area. Hughes said on several occasions the persons living in the neighborhood had to run for their lives when the containers are going down their road. He said there is no space for huge vehicles to maneuver on the property and he wants the governor to tell him why he granted a building permit or even a business license to someone to store acid in such a neighborhood. “When Rita and I bought this parcel of land we joined it together with the Hughes and Richardson property to make one road, which we paid for as well as sacrificing the length of or our property for the road.

Rita Hughes said when they noticed that warehouses were being built next to her, she and her brother went to VROM, and two inspectors visited the site, and they said they did not see anything wrong with the ongoing construction. The woman said these inspectors saw the building is on the bound, they saw there is no space for a septic neither space for the run off water, yet they said nothing is wrong. The woman said it was then she and the neighbors in the area decided to put up a bound and stopped the contractors from using their property. “The next thing I saw they went through the James’s property and poured the concrete from over there in one day’s time, I thought the James’s had given permission not realizing they were not aware of what was going on in their neighborhood.” Rita Hughes explained that she believed a building stop was finally issued because they already exposed the situation in the media.

Her brother Russell said that already the acting head of Public Works acknowledged they have a problem on their hand and the governor may have to find a solution to the ongoing dispute. The man said that under no circumstances, they would agree to have a warehouse in the neighborhood and the contractors and owners of the property would not be able to use their road.

“The Hughes and Richardson have a road, while the James’s family owns the other road and the only person who does not have a road is the Cannigitter family.” Hughes said. The landowner said this is not the first time the owner of that property sold the land to other people even though he knows he has no road. “At least three persons had to take back their monies from the person who sold them the property for the lack of an access road. However, this time somebody from Public Works is conspiring with the developer because they know the situation yet still they granted them a building permit.

At the location yesterday was Leopold James, Edwin, and Rodman James who are in support of the Hughes. The James’s took measurements to see if the developer is abiding by the law to build three meters away from his bound. On one side the bound is exactly three meters away but on the other side they are short by two meters. There is no space for parking neither there is space for a cesspit.

Leopold James said he has a daughter who is trying to obtain a building permit to build her house in the same neighborhood and public works is pushing her around even though she meets the requirements. He said he cannot understand what is going on and how government could expect them to tolerate what is taking place in their neighborhood.

Edwin James also expressed the same concerns he said the island government even has to adjust the plans of the roundabout, which is endangering their daily lives. James said he already submitted an objection letter to the executive council outlining his concerns and hopes that the council would intervene.

Philipsburg: --- The new and revised labour policy that was introduced by the former executive council on January 12 has defeated the purpose of an upgraded policy; those were the words of former commissioner of labour Louis Laveist just prior to voting against the motion presented by the Democratic Party Faction. Laveist said the former executive council to which he was part of personally withheld the policy from him even though he was the commissioner of labour under the Democratic Party led government. He further explained that had he seen the policy prior to it being implemented it would not have seen the light of day. Laveist said while in the past executive council he repeatedly asked for the policy so he could have examined it but he was not allowed to see the policy. He said as far as he is concerned he was never the commissioner of labour. Laveist further explained he wanted to make sure his visions for a new policy was in the policy but he was deprived of that opportunity, reasons why he said the policy was introduced after he left his office. The former labour commissioner said the reason he championed a new labour policy was to address the problems with the minimum wage, which was increased. He said an agreement was made on these increases and when it was to take place however, they were not able to escape the abuse of the short term contracts, and other matters such as having the permits issued in a more timely fashion, none of which is addressed in the new policy and the motion presented by the Democratic Party with some amendments on Monday. Laveist said one of the problems of the working permits is that it is activated months before it is granted or picked up. Another issue that had to be addressed is the synchronization of the work and residency permit, which was also not addressed. Laveist said there are several persons living on St. Maarten for as much as 40 years and they are not properly documented, these he said included persons who were born here and have gone to school on St. Martin, the former commissioner with a passion said those were the reasons he championed having a new policy. He said while business and building permits were being issued like peas the labor permits were stagnated. He said another idea was to have an inventory taken on all sectors including education. The idea was to see what kind of foreign labour is needed on St. Maarten. These inventories were to also assist in directing not only the labour policy but also that of education and health. Laveist said the policy was rushed and implemented before proper analysis was made which does not address the issues that are facing the island. ‘

The National Alliance, Heyliger, and Laveist government has already agreed to several amendments to the policy. Articles amended are 4, which stipulated that the old fees for the processing of domestic personnel would remain at Naf. 800 since such jobs do not generate revenue.

The reason the current executive council did not reduce the other fees because it would drastically affect the budget. Article six of the policy that deals with the moratorium on skilled professionals. The council has decided to remove masons, carpenters, and mechanics from the moratorium since such tradesmen cannot be found locally. Amended also is article 7 which deals with the duration of the permit and the fact that these permits will not be issued for more than three years. The amended version now states that the three-year period is only applicably to non-professionals, while professional migrants can have permits for a longer period, those include teachers, nurse’s doctors, and professors. Persons holding a bachelors degree are considered as added value to the St. Maarten community and as such, they can be part of society as nation building. Articles 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16 17, 18, 20 and 21 were also amended.

Commissioner William Marlin and leader of the current government said the Democratic Party faction should shut up when it comes to the labour policy since they are the ones that created the mess today. He said the DP faction while they have a right to speak should not be the ones to cry out loud now that they are in opposition. The island leader said his government does not need any assistance from the DP faction since they already voted on the amendments and it will be sent to the governor general for ratification. He said the former executive council members should remember that the tripartite committee with whom they dialogued wrote them a letter on May 12 asking them to remove the revised labor policy. The committee wanted this policy revised and amended. Marlin said the leader of the Democratic Party felt ashamed of herself as a former labour commissioner and thus she did not present a motion against her own policy instead she asked “one of her boys to do it” he said he believed the island council lady purposely left the meeting before the motion is tabled for voting simply because she could not stand voting on such a motion. Of the nine votes cast, two was for the amendments proposed by the DP faction while seven voted against. The statements made by the island leader caused some confusion at the end of the island council meeting as island councilman Roy Marlin tried to set the records straight. Leader of government William Marlin objected and called on chairlady Millicent De Weever to close the meeting since there was no more agenda points on the floor to be discussed. Marlin made sure he cautioned the chairlady about the constant abuse of the rules of order, which he said, is not acceptable.

Marlin in his presentation explained that the current policies that are still in use have caused a number of problems. He said his government has decided to strike off the acculturation simply because it does not fit into the policy. Housing requirements that is under 11 is also stricken since regulating housing issues cannot be in a labour policy. Marlin said this has to be regulated by properly implementing the building code. Government would also have a study done to determine the exact quotas, which will vary per business. Another article that has to be stricken is 16, which deals with the abuse of the labor policy and the system. Government feels that this can be rectified by controls. Persons caught breaking the law can face jail time or pay a fine of Naf. 100,000. Also revoked is the mandate that was given to department head.

Marlin said it is obvious that the policy was not working favor of the island and those that created the problem are the ones shouting the loudest. He said those who are not aware of the change of government would believe that the DP faction is trying to save immigrant workers. He said the former government denied immigrants and their children even those that were born here access to education. Marlin said the policy was geared at ensuring that immigrants no longer become a permanent part of society. He said living on the island five or ten consecutive years would give people the right to permanent residency.

Presenting the amended portions of the amended policy was the commissioner of labour Hyacinth Richardson, Richardson also answered a few questions in the first round of the island council, but during the second round the labor commissioner did not address any of the questions posed by the DP Faction. Richardson said the executive council has met with the tripartite committee on at least three occasions and they have taken a decision on amending the policy. The commissioner also attacked some of the statements made by the DP faction some of which he said is not true. He said the only reason the DP is throwing wild accusations is because they want to cross the isle and be in government. He criticized the DP faction for not visiting the Blue Mall, which he visited with some workers and the media.

Richardson said his government is there for the people and they are looking out for the people of St. Maarten, while the DP government did nothing in the past to benefit the people. Richardson also refuted certain statements that were published in one of the newspapers when he visited the Blue Mall.

The commissioner said he noticed the DP has slogans 55 years and moving on, he said he wanted to know where the DP is going because they have lost two of their strongest members namely, commissioners Louis Laveist and Theo Heyliger.

Philipsburg:--Two members of the Democratic Party yesterday condemned the conduct of leader of Government William Marlin during Monday’s Island Council meeting. Island Councilman Roy Marlin at a press conference held on Tuesday at the Faction Office said each of the island council members were duly elected by different people in the community, based on that Marlin said each member of the council should do the best they can in representing the island. But “shut up and go home” statements made by the leader of government William Marlin during Monday’s Island Council several times is no conduct for members of the island council.

Marlin said he wants to point out to the leader of the National Alliance that all members of the Democratic Party Faction were duly elected just as him and the other members of the Island Council. Marlin said he wants to remind the NA leader that the 2007 election was won by the Democratic Party with more seats and votes than the National Alliance. Marlin said that the NA leader should realize that his political party never won an election on St. Maarten and the only reason his party is in government is because of the political system which is by virtue of a coo. Marlin said that the leader of government needs to temper his anger when speaking in the legislative hall. His expression to the Democratic Party ‘shut up and go home” to put in mildly not parliamentary language. “Island Council members should at all times exercise proper decorum and conduct when speaking in the island council. We should be examples to the whole community, people are listening on radio, television and the internet, including those in the public tribune”. Marlin said. He continued by saying that they would always have political differences but this should not become insulting and degrading and downright rude. He said the island council is not the place for such behavior.

Marlin said the leader of the National Alliance and leader of government can behave in such a way when he is playing dominoes under the tree, something they all do.

The island councilman said the leader of government and National Alliance had a display, which is consistent of a dictatorial tendency by telling members of the island council to shut up when they are trying to make a particular point. Marlin said island council members should strive to be an example for the youths who would then emulate their leaders. Marlin said the conduct on Monday is no conduct he would want for the younger generation to emulate.

Also condemning the words and action of Marlin is leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams. Wescot Williams said she is disappointed and amazed at the level Marlin sunk to during Monday’s Island Council meeting. She said such a display is a total disrespect for the people’s representatives as well as to the office he holds. Wescot Williams said the people were told that the National Alliance, Heyliger, and Laviest government was a new beginning and indeed, with Monday’s action it is indeed that new beginning. The DP leader said the question now remains how much more lowly this kind of behavior would get. Wescot Williams said that Marlin has to realize that he has been conniving and coercing to get into government, which he has achieved. However, the people is expecting a level of dignity to be displayed by his team. She considered Marlin’s behavior on Monday to be that of ignorance and lack of respect. She warned that the Democratic Party and its members would not be wished away and neither would they be intimidated. She urged Marlin to do some introspection on how he carries the role of leader of government. Wescot Williams said that in a meeting just after the formation of the new coalition government Marlin had warned her that he was now going to be taking off his gloves because according to Marlin she had thrown the first punch at him. She said what is manifesting today “shut up and go home”, tells the DP what Marlin had meant back then. She said Councilman George Pantophlet would not be able to pin the lying from his government on the press since they were caught lying about the retraction of the labour policy. She asked to what length the coalition government would go to silence the opposition.

Philipsburg: --- Leader of Government William Marlin condemned the statements made by the Chairman of the island council on Thursday. Marlin said he took the statements rather serious especially since Richards was not present during the island council meeting on Monday. Marlin explained that he already indicated to the Chairman and Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards that it seemed as if the Acting Chairman of the island council Millicent de Weever does not know the rules of order. He said on several occasions the leader of the Democratic Party has been abusing the rules of order, which is being allowed by the assistant chairlady. The island leader said he personally asked the chairman to speak to the leader of the Democratic Party on respecting the rules of order. He said Richards had promised to speak with his assistant instead of the DP leader prior to him leaving for his vacation, however, he does not know if that ever happened.

Marlin said the island council lady would sign in to speak on the minutes of May and not those of July yet the chair would allow her to speak on agenda points to which she did not even sign in to speak on which he said is completely wrong. Marlin said he did not have any confrontation with any members of the island council on Monday. He said what transpired is when the chair was about to close off the island council meeting at the end of the deliberations island councilman Roy Marlin said he had a point of order and he reminded the chair that his faction leader had notified her she needed to leave the meeting. Marlin said the island councilman said he wanted to set something straight which was not a point of order if not that would cause a back and forth of statements. He said if Roy Marlin had something to say he either had to wait until the next meeting is called or write a letter to the chairman or he could also call a press conference. Marlin said even up to that point he said nothing, but when the island councilman decided to continue he decided that he needed to inform the chairlady that she has to put an end to what was taking place. Marlin said that at no time did he address the island councilman instead; he addressed the chairlady because he felt that the abuse of the rules of order must stop. The leader of government and longest member of the island council said even though he pointed that out to the chair the island councilman wanted to continue and he insisted on the chair to call the island councilman to order which she eventually did and she closed the meeting. Marlin said it his belief that since the DP faction did not get the opportunity to misuse the rules of order they decided to launch an attack via the media on him as if he does not know how to behave. Marlin said he has been a commissioner for five years (1994 to 1999) and he has been a member of the island council since 1987. Marlin said he is the longest serving member of the island council and he has never been accused of having bad conduct or that he does not know how to behave during an island council meeting. Marlin insisted that he did not address any member of the island council during his remarks.

The island leader said that he also addressed the chairlady when he said on numerous occasions that those who have created the problem are the ones screaming the loudest on the floor of the island council to create the impression that they suddenly have solutions to the existing problems. He said in that context he said since these island council members had nothing to contribute they need to shut their mouths and go home. He said he did not take away the opinion of any island council member and had he interrupt them while speaking then the chairman had the right to say they are not allowing the DP faction to voice their opinion. Marlin said if every time the opposition requested a meeting and they are not facilitated then they could be accused of hampering the process of democracy. He said at no point in time did they interrupt any speaker and so far they have not hindered democracy.

Marlin said now that the chairlady is saying that the rules of order has been misused it is the chairlady who did not interpret the rules correctly or simply does not know them.

As for the attack by the Democratic Party Marlin said, the DP faction has begun their political campaign and as such, they are looking for any and everything to turn into a political ball field.

Marlin said that since the formation of his government the Democratic Party has not even given them their preverbal 100 days in office. He said the DP has been on the attack from since day one. He said during his 20+ years in the island council no one ever broke or violated the agreement they had on the recess but the DP did so by calling for meetings on matters they created and are responsible for. He said the Dutch parliament is on recess since July and have not yet returned. Marlin said if the meetings called by the DP faction during the recess were that of an emergency and the island would, stand to loose then their actions would have been understandable. He said if this is, the way they are going to continue then there is no need for a gentleman’s agreement.

Marlin said recently the leader of the Democratic Party has been attacking things that they were responsible for while in government and are pretending as if she does not know what has happened. Marlin explained that Wescot Williams is now questioning things like the Scarlet, which the DP had four months to take a decision, and because they did not it caused the predicament. Another issue that is under questioning is the licenses that were issued by the DP as well as the labour policy, which is now under review. Marlin said the DP had the opportunity to bring changes to this policy and they did not, but now that they have decided to review and amend the policy the DP has decided to bring forward and MOU, which was not even signed by them. Marlin said even the unions in a letter to the DP led government decided they no longer wanted that policy.

Marlin said there is a political hostility on St. Maarten and the Democratic Party is sour on losing their government, which is their good right but they should not take out that bitterness on others or vent their frustration on other people including his faction. He said he kept hearing from the DP that the people have to remember who won the election in 2007. Marlin said the election is over some two years ago. He said he has said on a number of occasions that a “house divided cannot rule” which he is maintaining.

Marlin said due to the division in the Democratic Party it is now crumbling and it is not the National Alliance that has stolen their government, Marlin explained that because Island Council members Louie Laviest and Theo Heyliger resigned from the Democratic Party they are no longer in government. He said the majority of the eleven members in the island council is what formed the government, so for the DP to cry and whine on who won the election is not necessary because there are more people who voted against the DP in the last two island council elections, more than those that supported them. He said the current problem is not about of votes.

Philipsburg:--- Over 3000 persons who have subscribed to the Telcel Light plan will be affected come September 15. Management of St. Maarten Telephone Company (TELEM Group) has decided as of September 15 customers of TELCEL light would now have 500 minutes to call from Telcel to Telcel instead of their unlimited. Customers would then be charged Naf. 0.29 cents for every additional minute. Customers received notification on their last July phone bill.

SMN News have learnt that the company has decided to implement the new procedures after they discovered businesses such as RBTT bank and hotels have been using the services through a PBX box to make calls to other phones such as land lines. Sources told this media house that with the PBX boxes the businesses pay a mere $45 per month for each chip instead of a monthly bill to TELEM. Large companies they said bought five chips to service their business.

SMN News understands that the staff of TELEM advised management not to take away the services from all their clients since they can be taken to court for breaking the contract between the client and the company, but management has refused to adhere to advice of their employees.

The source said certain technicians even reported the discrepancies they noticed with these businesses but TELEM management has refused to deal with the individual companies. The services it is said was not designed for companies instead it was for the middle class.

Philipsburg:--- Some ten officers who would be completing their training on the Bicycle Patrol were given a diploma on their achievements on Thursday. Four of the ten officers are from Statia while the other six will remain locally. At least four of the six officers are from the Voluntary Korps. Among them is one female officer known to everyone as “Maurina.” Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran commended the officers as well as the trainers for their willingness to participate in the project. Chief Inspector Carl John was also acknowledged as being the machine behind the project.

The officers as well as their trainers carried a lively display in front of the police station prior to receiving their diplomas. They showed off some of the tricks they learnt over the past few days especially using their bike as a weapon to arrest criminals. Witnessing the spectacular display were Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein, Prosecutor Rienk Mud, Prosecutor Ludwina Hodge and several other dignitaries. Special credit was given to officer Maurina for taking up the challenge in wanting to fight crime.

Marigot:--- Several hucksters that was on one of the boats bringing foodstuff from Dominca to St. Martin were intercepted by the French Cutsoms while on sea on Tuesday. The two boats that has been plying the route for a number of years now are Marianne and Grace 1.

Speaking to SMN News two of the husksters said they were kept on sea for almost two hours as the customs check thier documents.

They said the officers took their passports and stamped it along with placing a cross inside of it and told them that if they are ever stopped again they would be arrested and deported.

The officers also ordered the hucksters not to leave their ship on Wednesday, the day they normally sell their produce, they were allowed to get off their boat on Thursday while they were informed that they have 15 days on the island.

SMN News understands that these hucksters who do not have a visa to enter the French side has an agreement with local authorities but the hucksters were told there is no agreement in with the State and Dominica.

SMN News further understands that local authorities has an agreement on cooperation with Dominica. SMN News has been reliably informed that officials from the Collectivity already made contact with the Prefecture to discuss the matter, but no solution is found. It is further understood that the matter would be fully discussed after the summer vaction.

One of the concerns of the State is that there is no customs, or Police Aux Frontiers at the Galisbay Port a main port of entry to the island. It is not clear if the duane or customs ever checked the containers and boats that docked at the Galisbay port for illegal substance.

More information on this story will be released in our subsequent broadcast.

Philipsburg: --- The Minister of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles Magali Jacoba told reporters at a press conference on Friday said she managed to visit several departments during her one week on the islands. One of the benefits the Minister said she was that she was able to meet the people that work in the justice chain and hear some of their grievances. Regarding the police, she felt more attention has to be given to them because if they were not happy then they would not perform optimally on the job.

A trend she said occurs everywhere including the court of guardianship, the prison, and other departments. She considers this a ‘very big problem”.

The minister said the same problems that exists on these islands also exists on Curacao and there is no money in the coffers of the Central Government to fully deal with the issues, so they need to be creative in solving these problems. She said the issues regarding the police are one of her priorities and that she would see how best they could deal with the current problems. One of the initiatives the Minister would take is to hold meetings with government to further discuss these matters.

Another concern for the Minister is to make sure the police and other justice workers get the opportunities to upgrade themselves through educational courses. Jacoba said it is necessary for the police and justice workers get the necessary training to properly function in today’s world which she described as being rather complicated. She felt the police especially need to follow educational courses so that they can carry out their duties. She said her intention is make sure an inventory is conducted to see exactly what types of courses the police had and what more is needed for them to be up to par. She said the lack of workers and education was the two major challenges she discovered on her one-week visit.

Even though not able to visit all the places that were necessary, she felt her first working visit was rather successful. Jacoba said one of the things she noticed on all the islands is the increase in youth crime, something that she feels need urgent attention especially on the smaller islands, Saba, Statia and St. Maarten. Jacoba said she already knew that youth crime was on the rise on St. Maarten but she was very much shocked to see that happening on the smaller islands. She felt parents have a rather crucial role to play in the lives of their children. The Minister said one of the things they noticed is that parents are working and are leaving their children alone at home, reasons why their has been such increase in youth crimes. Jacoba said right now there are some spot checks taking place on Saba and Statia and St. Maarten, but she felt that is not enough, she felt the youths have to be given more attention since they are the future generation. The Minister said there are too many youths in prison and that is not good for the islands. She said her intention is to focus on that and see if the Ministry can come up with projects geared at educating both the youths and their parents. The Minister also intends to get a project on stream that would target and deal with youth delinquency both on the streets as well as for those in prisons; she said they are contemplating to see if they can begin the education process in the schools.

Jacoba said if the youths that are currently in prison have nothing constructive to do, they would be thinking about the negative things to do. She felt the prison is a good university for the continuation of crime; therefore, it is of uttermost importance that something be done to address these issues.

During this week, she said those were the most pressing issues, which actually surpass the red line border. Her intention is to place the youths on the front burner so that the issues affecting them can be dealt with.

Another trend noticed State Secretary Ernie Simmons said was the fact that there seems to be a lack of communication. He said that they noticed that communication does not flow from top to bottom, and somewhere along the line, other stories are living a life of its own, which is causing major confusion. Simmons said this is happening especially in the constitutional process and what they noticed is that the civil servants are not duly informed, a concern for most of the departments.

Dutch Quarter: --- Residents of Dutch Quarter and several politicians are left to wonder if the talk about a new gas station to be built in Dutch Quarter has become a reality. Some two months now, Windward Roads installed some heavy-duty pipes under the drain that is connected to the Dutch Quarter Round About. SMN News understands that Island Council man and former commissioner of Public Works Roy Marlin gave Windward Roads the instructions to install the pipes prior to constructing the concrete drain. It is still not clear if Marlin is going to foot the bill for these pipes or if it has to be paid for by the Island Government.

SMN News learnt that bill was added on government’s bill as extra work. The decisions were taken during the Democratic Party Executive Council and apparently had the blessings of the current commissioner of public works Theo Heyliger.

SMN News has been reliably informed that the former commissioner of Public Works Roy Marlin had the pipes installed without having a civil or hindrance permit and assessment study for a gas station. More so the island council member is not in possession of a building permit, which is required by law before any building, is constructed.

SMN News also understands that the design for the future gas station is still not completed. Sources say that Independent Consulting Designs (ICE) is still busy working on the island council member’s plan, which has to be submitted to the executive council for approval before any of the above-mentioned permits can be granted.

It is also understood that Marlin never had an impact study done for the area he intends to build his gas station since he is planning to have heavy fuel in what is considered a heavily populated area. It is also not clear if this gas station is part of the zoning plan of Dutch Quarter. While there are numerous questions surrounding this project so far no government official is able to say what measures are going to be taken and if what is said about the construction of a new gas station is true.

In an invited comment, Island Councilman Roy Marlin said he has no intention of commenting on matters, which is related to his private life. Marlin did say he purchased that parcel of land some years ago and that the pipes were put in place are for utility purposes.

Philipsburg: --- The executive council is soon to take a decision to re-open the Charles Leopold Bell School to accommodate some 141 students who could not be placed in the five government schools due to the lack of space. Commissioner of Education William Marlin said the department of education only managed to place 45 students who are between 4 to 6 years and were registered earlier this year to comply with the implementing of compulsory education.

The commissioner said they are hoping to open this school, which is not in use by mid September to accommodate the students. He said the department is presently trying to hire teachers since these professionals are not easily available on St. Maarten. Marlin said they are now looking into the system to see if they can make contact with those persons who have applied for teaching jobs, he further explained that because of the lack of the teachers government as well as government subsidized schools had to keep teachers who are already retired on the job.

Marlin said he gave specific instructions to department to make sure they interview and hire at least four teachers since they would need to have at least four classrooms to accommodate the 141 students that are not placed.

Marlin said another phenomenon noticed is that several persons are now sending for children who are residing overseas and are registering them on St. Maarten since government has decided to comply with the implementing compulsory education. He further explained that they have discussed and decided to phase in the implementation of compulsory of education.

The commissioner said due the influx and implementation, it would cost government millions of guilders per year to provide education to all children. He said he is a firm believer that children that were allowed to live on St. Maarten must have access to education.  He said there are instances where friends and relatives of foreign children are trying to register them. Asked if the so-called illegal schools are receiving subsidy from government, Marlin said the executive council did not take any decision in providing subsidies to those schools, he said to obtain subsidy these schools would have to fully comply with the subsidy ordinance that is in place.

French quarter:--- A 23 year old motor cyclist lost his life on Wednesday night due to a hit and run accident. The victim has been identified as Malvin Lake Hodge. Hodge’s death is the second scooter rider that was killed due to hit and run drivers. Just last month Ricardo Gumbs lost his life after being hit off, of his scooter, which eventually caught fire due to the impact.

According to a press release from the gendarmerie, an accident between a motorist and scooter rider occurred about 6:25 pm at the entrance of Orient Bay.

The driver of the vehicle did not stop, while the victim was transported to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital where he died of his injuries. An investigation is now underway to determine the exact cause of the accident and to locate the hit and run driver. The gendarmes said that this is fourth motorcyclist that was killed on the roads on the French side for the year.

Three of the four persons were killed on St. Maarten while one on St. Barths. The gendarmes believe that these persons were killed because somehow they are maneuvering on the public roads carelessly as they demonstrate the vulnerability of the two wheels. The accidents occurred on July 5, July 31, and August 26.

So far, for the year there have been seven serious accidents with three fatalities. The gendarmes believe that due to the severity of these accident road users should begin to exercise caution. They have issued a special call to motorcyclist and scooter riders especially those who are bent on showing their skills on two wheels to exercise caution.