The Netherlands — Dutch king Willem-Alexander has called on people to work towards a sense of community in his traditional Christmas address to the nation. King Willem Alexander – Copyright RVD – Photo Frank van Beek People, the king said, should ‘not be looking for a bigger I, but for the greater we.’ Speaking at his home on the De Eikenhorst estate, the king said it is becoming more difficult to meet people in daily life. ‘The places where people used to come together – the church, the office, the café, the sports club, the school – are loosing their…
Author: The Publisher
Marigot — Tasyanna Clifton, Saint-Martin Carnival Teen Queen 2017 will be participating in the 38th annual Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Queen pageant on Saturday December 30th in Saint-Kitts. She will be the first contestant to represent French Saint-Martin in this pageant. Tasyanna will be vying for the crown along with 6 other contestants from the region (Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, St Lucia, St Kitts). “This is an honor to have our Queen participate for the first time. It will be a great opportunity for us to showcase our culture and resiliency despite the aftermath of the hurricane” says…
by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert How serious can we take the various New Year messages and forecasts? In essence, many boil down to telling the audience that if their feet are numb, polishing their shoes is the ultimate solution, because it will reflect the sunshine. That can make some people obscenely loaded, yet others obscenely depressed especially in situations when they cannot afford more than wearing flip-flops. New Year’s messages are often made by persons wanting to prove that they have a firm hold of the rudder, for an audience that hopes that there is ship attached to it. If you…
Philipsburg — We received the following press release from Wycliffe Smith about his resignation from the USMF board with the request to dissemminate this news via our media platforms. Smith writes in his press release: “The financial woes of the University of St. Martin (USM) have been widely reported on hence there is no need for further elaboration in this letter. I would like however, to take this opportunity to let the people know why I stayed on the Board of the USM Foundation (BUSMF) after the financial crisis was announced and why I submitted my resignation effective December 21,…
The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) released the official schedule of events for Carnival 2018 on Christmas Day. Framing the release of the schedule as a gift to Carnival lovers on Christmas, the foundation erased all doubt that St. Maarten’s largest annual event will be held in 2018 and included on the schedule a night called “Shaking Off Irma”. Per usual, the schedule is presented through SCDF’s long-standing corporate sponsor Scotiabank. ~ 27 days to shake off Irma ~ Following the passing of hurricane Irma, the SCDF is determined to repeat the efforts of 1996 when one of the…
HARBOUR VIEW – His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday on Christmas Eve released his Christmas Day Message to the people of Sint Maarten. My Fellow Sint Maarteners, I extend warm Christmas greetings to you and yours at home and abroad. Christmas is a special time of the year. It is the season of hope anchored in God’s enduring gift of love. As we celebrate this season I call on you to reflect on the power of God’s Christmas gift to us. And in doing so I encourage you to project that gift in our relationships with our families, with our neighbors,…
GREAT BAY — Minister of Culture, Silveria Jacobs, issued the following Christmas Message to the people of Sint Maarten. Christmas is a time of joy, peace, family gatherings, food and celebration. Culturally and traditionally we would herald the season with many church services, cantatas, choirs caroling, programs depicting and celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus, who we learned from childhood came into the world to save us all, food, drink and merry making. In thinking of what Christmas truly means, we must reflect on who Jesus is – the son of God, the Messiah, the chosen one, a curious and…
GREAT BAY — Prime Minister of Sint Maarten Rafael A. Boasman issued the following Christmas Greetings to the people of Sint Maarten. As Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, it is with mixed emotions that I address you today as we enter into what is considered the most joyous and festive season in our culture. While we prepare to celebrate this Christmas season with family, loved ones and friends, we cannot help but to do so with an underlying sentiment of uncertainty and awe in our hearts. 2017 will be a year that will live on, for decades, in the minds…
GREAT BAY – With the clock counting down to Christmas, families have already been looking at their holiday meals shopping requirements. Cooking up a storm for this holiday season is one of the Christmas traditions. Part of the excitement of the holidays is the traditional foods of the season. However, some of these foods can pose hazards that can ruin more than just a holiday meal – they can cause serious illness and even death. As part of Collective Prevention Services (CPS), Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Safe Holiday Season calendar of observances, in collaboration with the…
PHILIPSBURG – “I give clothes and food to the elderly man who lives here”, community police officer Arcella Leonard gestures towards a torn-down home. Within the demolished structure one can see a small room, no larger than 6 m2, which is fashioned from plywood, zinc and a bed sheet. Leonard is one of the eight community officers on the St. Maarten police force. Her assigned districts are Dutch Quarter and Belvedere. Both districts include some middle-class housing, mostly low-income housing and a few shack-areas. Photo caption: Elvis Jamanika of the National Dutch Police force and community officer Arcella Leonard patrol…
