GREAT BAY — Former Prime Minister and number 23 candidate on the National Alliance slate, William Marlin, is calling on authorities to extend the period within which voters can pick up their voting cards from polling substations within the various districts. He also urges authorities to, in extending the time, also seriously consider opening the polling substations after hours as well as on weekends to better accommodate persons who work late and those available only on the weekend. Voters in some districts were given just five days, 5th of February to 9th of February (9am to 5pm), to collect their…
Author: The Publisher
GREAT BAY — Former Prime Minister William Marlin says the draft national ordinance to amend the civil code to stem the abuse of short term labor contracts has been watered down to such an extent that the original intention of the law is no longer visible. The current draft on the table, he adds, primarily benefits businesses and seems to make a mockery of the system. The draft initiative law was initiated by the National Alliance faction back in 2011. Marlin said politicians have been making promises every election dating back several years to address the abuse of the short…
PHILIPSBURG – The Yellow Building that once housed the Ministry of VROMI and the CIB Department before the passing of Hurricane Irma is now set for demolition on February 19th 2018. The Minister of VROMI Miklos Giterson has secured the commitment of the owners of the Yellow Building. Minister Giterson hopes that this announcement will bring clarity to persons who may have thought that the Government of Sint Maarten are the owners of the Yellow Building and were not proactive in removing the damaged structure. Persons that are passing or residing in the vicinity of the building are asked to…
PHILIPSBURG –- On Sunday morning February 11th Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin together with Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier, Minister of Justice Cornelius Deweever, and Minister of VROMI Miklos Giterson lead a delegation of technocrats to French St. Martin to meet President Daniel Gibbs, Prefet Anne Laubies and their Civil Servants team at the Collectivitie in Marigot. The rekindling of discussions between both Governments ends a period of 14 months where no talks have taken place. This meeting begins the process of reversing the potential risk of jeopardizing the continuation of important EU funded joint projects that are essential and…
Philipsburg — Member of Parliament and leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party Frans Richardson is calling on GEBE to at least explain to residents of Cay Bay why they are still without electricity 6 months after the passing of hurricane Irma. Richardson said while he fully compliments the staff and management of GEBE for the work they have done in restoring St. Maarten utilities, he was surprised to learn that there are pockets in Cay Bay and other areas still without electricity. “We all know of the exceptional job GEBE has done over the past few months, but…
PHILIPSBURG – The Emilio Wilson Park was the stage for the annual Art in the Park manifestation that brought artists from all over the island together to exhibit their creations. Ruby Bute was there as were painters Stephany Tyhanyi and Tess Verheij, Linda Gonano and Sebastien Perier with their sand art and many others offering art, handmade jewelry and – for entertainment – sound story performer Ernesto Arrundell and his wife. There were also stalls offering food and drink, like Louis Michel Maccow’s Colombier Tradition where the many visitors could sample spiced guavaberry. Above photo caption: Ruby Bute added plenty…
Dear Editor, I read in astonishment that the current Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin and the Finance Minister Michael Ferrier will be travelling to Brussels to seek funding for a joint Dutch-side/French-side solution to waste management to solve the dump crisis. From what I’ve come to understand, both ministers have either left the island already or are slated to leave by Tuesday of this week. Now, I would like to put this in perspective. The present Minister of VROMI, Miklos Giterson, stated on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, February 7th, 2018 that he was yet to study the documents on…
Community Mobile Dental Consultations available on Tuesday GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Community dental care will be available from the mobile dental bus on Tuesday, February 13 from 2.00pm to 4.30pm at the Vineyard Office Park in Philipsburg where Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), is located. Dentist Hilda Guevara will be volunteering her tie to carry out the consultations. Dental caries is a major public health problem globally and is the most widespread noncommunicable disease (NCD), according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is also…
ST. MAARTEN’S VERY OWN TOPPER’S RHUM DISTILLERY WINS USA TODAY’S 10BEST RUM DISTILLERY AWARD World’s Best Tasting Rhum Handmade in St. Maarten PHILIPSBURG, SINT MAARTEN – FEBRUARY 9, 2018 – If there’s one thing the Caribbean is known for as much as its beaches, is its rum. The spirit was first distilled on the islands during the 17th century when sugar plantation slaves discovered molasses – a byproduct of the refining process – could be fermented into alcohol. Caribbean rum producers have spent the centuries since perfecting the process of distillation, aging and blending, and many of the world’s best rums come from the…
Marigot — Just short of five months after hurricane Irma caused major structural damages on both sides of the island, the Festivites Carnalalesque De Saint Martin (FCDSM) has defied all odds to kick the biggest cultural event on that side of the island last Saturday evening. Due to the state of the Carnival Village in Galisbay, the taxi parking lot on the water front which was transformed will be the center of attention for the next few days. The FCDSM have also catered for a limited amount of boothholders that can be found at the far end of the cordoned…
