GREAT BAY — On Friday November 17th, MP drs Rodolphe Samuel met with the Dutch Representative for Reconstruction Projects in St Maarten, dr Erwin Arkenbout. Also in attendance was Faction Policy Advisor, Oswald G. Bell. The discussion centered around the €550,000,000,= that the Government of the Netherlands has earmarked for St. Maarten’s Reconstruction Fund, the detailed plan of how the funds will be used is seemingly not yet finalized. Also a determination has to yet be made as to how much of the funds will given as a grant and how much as a loan. It was learned that the…
Author: The Publisher
SCHIPHOL – According to the public prosecutor the officers who were involved in the arrest of Aruban Mitch Henriquez in 2015 are guilty of ill-treatment. There is no causal connection between Henriquez’ death and the police violence, the prosecutor said on Monday, adding that he will not demand punishment against the officers, identified only as DH01 and DH02. “They are guilty, but they have already been punished enough.” Initially the assumption was that Henriquez had died due to the application of the controversial choke hold, but a new report and new statements from expert witnesses created doubt about this, the…
~ Children’s Rights observed amidst the Recovery Plan of the Country Sint Maarten ~ PHILIPSBURG — The month of November has always been a very special month in the lives of the children where as a country we have promoted the awareness of children’s rights for over three decades in collaboration with our counterparts of French St. Martin. This year a unique occasion has been presented to us since the passing of Hurricane Irma to truly demonstrate our sincere commitment towards the wellbeing of our children. The devastation of the Hurricane, I dare say challenged almost every article as presented…
~ Public Service Announcement ~ Saba/Statia — The representatives of the National Ombudsman will return to Statia and Saba once again. They will be on Statia on Monday, November 27 and Tuesday, November 28, and on Saba on Wednesday afternoon, November 29 and Thursday, November 30. The National Ombudsman deals with complaints about the government. People may be at an impasse with, for example, the Dutch Caribbean Tax Authorities, the Police, ZVK or the Rijksdienst Dutch Caribbean. The representatives have arranged for consultation hours during which anyone may visit. Let us know if you have experienced not being listened to…
~ Community encouraged to play a role in making day relevant for children ~ Great Bay – The United Nations’ (UN) Universal Children’s Day, which was established in 1954, is celebrated on November 20 each year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children and improving children’s welfare. It is a date on which parents, teachers, nurses and doctors, government representatives and civil society activists, religious and community elders, corporate moguls and media professionals as well as young people and children themselves are encouraged to play an important part in making Universal Children’s Day relevant for their societies and communities.…
~ “KUDOS TO TEACHERS AND STUDENTS OF THE ROC MONDRIAAN INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & MANAGEMENT SCHOOL IN THE HAGUE FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND LOVE FOR SINT MAARTEN” ~ PHILIPSBURG — Gracita states; “November 11 last, while we commemorated St. Maarten’s Day locally, reportedly, on the other side of the Ocean, students and teachers of the well-known Mondriaan International Hotel and Management school located in the Hague, organized yet another successful fundraiser activity, for our island. A dinner, that included dishes with a local flavor, prepared and dished out by the students. The well attended fundraiser dinner was held from five…
Cul-de-Sac — City Furniture has now open its doors at a new location on the L.B. Scot Road across from Cake House Supermarket in Cul-de-Sac. The new location boast a 4500 square foot showroom and convenient parking for its customers. “We carry a wide variety of solid wood and high quality furniture from the US, Brazil and Canada.” management wrote in an email to the newsdesk of stmaartennews.com. City Furniture representative, managing director Mr. Nasser Kassrawi, stated that after more than ten years in business at the previous location across from Le Grand Marche shopping center, the company finally made a…
Philipsburg — Member of Parliament Frans Richardson on Friday lauded the management of GEBE for the diligent work currently being executed and for their professionalism under pressure-filled circumstances following hurricanes Irma and Maria. The MP also praised GEBE’s personnel for going above and beyond in putting St. Maarten in position for a quicker recovery. Richardson said the government and people of St. Maarten put its faith in three local professionals to manage and forge a future for the utility company and, in his opinion, they are fulfilling the obligations bestowed upon them. He said Kenrick Chittick, Iris Arrindell and Veronica…
Philipsburg — Wycliffe Smith, Leader of the Sint Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) announces that Shenella Browne will be contesting the upcoming elections on the slate of the Christian Party. Shenella Browne is “Determined for Change”. Here is her story. Most people call me “Shenel”. I am a proud daughter of sweet St. Maarten and was raised in Dutch Quarter. I am the fifth of seven kids and was raised in a joyfully large and close-knit family, where individuality and self-expression were encouraged. Growing up, my mother taught me the true meaning of diligence. She is easy going, but takes every…
Philipsburg — The St. Maarten Nature Foundation has been continuously monitoring the reefs for their health and to assess the underwater damage caused by Hurricane Irma. During the reef surveys held at the beginning of November, several shallower dive sites started to show a worrisome outbreak of red algae species. Especially on reefs shallower than 35 feet in depth large red algae blooms were recorded in the Marine Park and on other reefs around the island. Blooms of red algae can hamper the regrowth of several reef species which were damaged due to hurricane Irma’s swells. Red algae are strong…
