Author: The Publisher

PORT ST. MAARTEN – Port St. Maarten Management and Operations representatives will be attending the three-day Caribbean Port Management Workshop, organized and presented by the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC). The three-day event is taking place in Panama from January 22-24, and it is bringing together regional maritime sector representatives who will be discussing the type and nature of last year’s destruction caused by several major hurricanes, and what technologies, systems and networks are now necessary to deal with future hurricanes. Also part of the organization of the workshop is Portside Caribbean and the Caribbean Maritime University. The…

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by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert A hub-spoke distribution network is a system of connections arranged like a wheel in which all traffic moves along spokes connected to the hub at the center. Since we are dealing with airlift, we are obviously talking about distribution of passengers. The hub and spoke model relies on perfection. When all is working in harmony and streamlined, then the entire system can be very efficient. Passengers arrive with the larger aircraft on long haul flights at the hub.  They are transferred, and take off again for their end-destinations. The hub airport should have transit facilities and…

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Philipsburg — On Sunday January 21st, at approximately 02.45 p.m., the Emergency Dispatch received a call of an armed robbery which had just taken place at a home on Ellis drive in Middle Region whereby one of the victims had suffered an injury to the head. Immediately police patrols, Special Unit Robbery and paramedics were sent to the scene to investigate what had taken place. On the scene the investigating officers spoke to one of the victims who stated that shortly before he and his son were in the house when two unknown men with their faces covered stormed into…

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Philipsburg — The Special Unit Robbery is requesting assistance from the general public in connection with ongoing armed robbery investigation Le Grand Marche, which took place on November 1st, 2017. Attached to this press release are photos of two suspects and the vehicle used to flee the scene. See image below. Or click here to see enlarged version of images. Anyone who identifies one or two of these suspects or have information in connection with this investigation are requested to get in contact with the Special Unit Robbery by calling 54-22222 ext 231/214 or the Emergency Line 911.

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Philipsburg — National Institute of Arts in collaboration with Armelle Six to host “How to live again, after the worst has occurred” Conference on THURSDAY, January 25, 2018. As part of the NIA’s ART HEALS program, the St. Maarten community is invited to attend this healing conference, brought about as an initiative by St. Martin resident Marie Lecleve, who at the time of Hurricane IRMA was attending Armelle Six Training workshop on “Movement of Life” in Quebec Canada. Since her return, Marie noticed that the post Hurricane Irma trauma is still very present on the Island. “The violence of the…

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By Koos Sneek In the Daily Herald of Friday, January 19th, there was an article about the Island Council meeting in Statia held on the day before. In the article the reporter mentions that the faction of the Democratic Party walked out the meeting. The reporter deemed it not necessary to also report on the reasons why the faction walked out the meeting or if it was not clear to him or her to seek clarity by the DP faction. A political faction does not walk out of an official Island Council meeting for no reason. Certainly not the Democratic…

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By Hilbert Haar I don’t know how many people have noticed – and started wondering about – the additional function that several stores have bestowed upon their security guards. I certainly did; on a certain level it irritates the hell out of me and on another level I find it hilarious. When I leave stores like Ace in Cole Bay or Cost U Less in Philipsburg there is always a security guard at the exit. He or she has apparently been instructed to ask me (and all other customers) to show the receipt for the purchased items. The guards are…

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The latest campaign rhetoric coming out of the USP camp exposes a question we have been wondering ourselves. Who is the true leader of the United Democrats party? Another question mulling on our minds is that of the Minister Plenipotentiary for in The Hague. Or the lack thereof. This vital position has been reduced to nothing more than a fixture in the Kingdom Council of Ministers meetings. Now St. Maarten has gone a step further and reduced it to that of an invisible fixture. In order words, the figurative lack of representation these past couple of years in the Kingdom…

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It is the season of End of the Year and New Year parties and reception. At this time, many organizations reflect on the past year and set goals for the new year ahead. However, many think that this is just a tradition or a ritual, and are not aware that this a part of the governance cycle. Governance is a circular process of periodically repeating actions and events. The most noticeable circle is the annual cycle, which starts with establishing an annual business plan and finishes with the presentation of the annual report, approved by the external accountant. Personally, I…

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PHILIPSBURG – On behalf of the Public Schools and the Ministry, Minister Jorien Wuite expresses her sincere condolence to the family, friends and teachers of Kenrick Richardson on his passing. Kenrick, a student of the St. Maarten Vocational Training School, died Wednesday, January 17th in Colombia after a prolonged illness. Kenrick was described by teachers as a very courteous, quiet, respectful student who would always encourage his classmates to do the right thing. His passing has sent a wave of sadness throughout the school. Student councilors visited the school on Friday to offer their services to any student or staff…

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