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Soualiga Newsday Top Stories (4296)

TelEm Group joins Chamber of Commerce in search for Best Business Plan

POND ISLAND -The winner of the ongoing Chamber of Commerce First Annual Small Entrepreneur Business Plan Competition will receive a smart new plum mobile phone courtesy of mobile provider TelCell.

The device is just one of a host of prizes that will be picked up by finalists when they are announced during an awards ceremony at the Belair Community Center, August 22.

The object of the contest is to stimulate entrepreneurial activity and support business aspirations of innovative adolescents living on St. Maarten.

“It’s an initiative that TelEm Group is firmly behind to get our young people thinking about business,” said Sales Account Manager, David Evans while making the mobile device available to Chamber of Commerce Board member Ms. Nzinga Lake, in a brief presentation ceremony Tuesday. 

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Officer Benjamin Funeral can be Followed Online. Governor and First Lady Sign Condolence Book

His Excellency Governor Holiday and Mrs. Holiday on Wednesday signed the condolence book. (Police Photo)

PHILIPSBURG - In connection with the funeral of the late Gamali Benjamin on Thursday August 13th and realizing the magnitude of the event, the Department of Communication (DCOMM) in collaboration with VID Media Solutions N.V. will be transmitting this event live.

For those persons at home and abroad and who are not able to attend the event can log on to www.vidmedia.tv  and watch the event live.

On Wednesday August 12th, the Governor of Country Sint Maarten, his Excellency Eugene Holiday and his wife visited the Philipsburg Police Head Quarters where they signed the condolence book of the late Police Officer Gamali Benjamin. (Police Force Sint Maarten) 

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UP Family extends condolences to Officer Benjamin’s family and Police Force. Calls on businesses to show solidarity and close half day

UP Party President Sylvia Meyers (left 1st) along with other UP board members after signing the condolence book for Police Officer G. Benjamin on Wednesday. (UP Photo)

PHILIPSBURG - The board of the United People's Party (UP) conveys its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Police Officer Gamali Benjamin who will be laid to rest on Thursday. 

"We mourn with the entire country the passing of our local hero who proudly served with humility and honour.  We call on the business community as a move of solidarity once again to close their businesses half day on Thursday as a mark of solidarity with the family of Office Benjamin and the Police Force of Sint Maarten.  At the same time it would allow employees an opportunity to pay their respects to our hero," the UP Party Board said on Wednesday.

“On behalf of the UP family, supporters, myself and family, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Officer Benjamin, his colleagues in the Sint Maarten Police Force, his friends, and the population of Sint Maarten.

“Officer Benjamin is a national hero.  He like many of his colleagues fight crime on a daily basis.  Our country is in mourning and our hearts are heavy.  Officer Benjamin is a great loss to his family, a great loss to his profession and country Sint Maarten.  May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Leader of the UP Party Member of Parliament Theo Heyliger said on Wednesday.

"We applaud the initiatives outlined by the Minister of Justice to be taken, but we cannot stop there. It remains of paramount importance that all stakeholders positively contribute to curbing crime in our country.  It is not only the responsibility of the Police Force and other law enforcement agencies.

“We need all hands on-board to fight this scourge.  It starts from every household, every community, Community Councils, civic organizations, social-cultural organizations, church/religious groups, youth groups, girls and boy’s brigades, business organizations and unions," added the UP Party Board.

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NA and DP Comments on UP-coalition governing program 2014-2018. Calls for reworking of document

PHILIPSBURG - Opposition parties National Alliance (NA) and Democratic Party (DP) met recently to discuss the governing program presented to parliament by the current United People’s (UP) Party-led coalition.

In a joint press statement release on Monday afternoon, both parties state: “The first impressions of this program leave a lot to be desired and much more was expected, not only after the long wait, but especially after the many promises that were made by the United People’s Party, leading up to and during the 2014 electoral campaign.

“However, more disturbing than that is the fact that the program as presented provides no basis for a constructive discussion in Parliament about government’s plans, its priorities, available and needed resources.

“The people of St. Maarten are no wiser about government’s plans than before the ‘Ready’ program. Worse, government’s actions continue to contradict its stated objectives and intentions. And there seem to be no synchronization between ministers.

“Examples of such are:

1. The continued refusal by government to reach a solution with PJIA and jump start the much needed investments at the airport.

2. The disregard for the issues facing the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation and the tenants of Belvedere.

3. The lack of attention for the island’s main industry, tourism.

4. The lack of urgency in dealing with integrity in general and an integrity chamber in particular.

5. The lack of actual dialogue with stakeholders, parliament included.

6. The ongoing developments at the government-owned companies, GEBE and the Harbor Group of Companies.

“In addition, there are no clear objectives for the improvement of education, none for decreasing the cost of living, no actions to curb the many social ills, or a plan of action to decrease violent crime and crimes against women and children.

“Therefore, in the view of the NA and DP, debating this document in Parliament would inevitably lead to much rhetoric, but little substance. Rather than present to Parliament what the government received from the coalition members, the government would have shown maturity and a semblance of independence, as well as recognition of the levels of responsibility in our constitutional state, by reworking the document into an executable and accountable program.

“We know it’s a long shot, but we still call on government to do the right thing and present to Parliament a document that gives the people of our country some perspective and hope,” the joint press statement from the NA and DP concluded on Monday.

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NV GEBE Reduces Water Losses. Investments to be made in Four Water Tanks in 2016/17

SINT MAARTEN – NV GEBE recently announced that the company has seen some success in reducing water losses.  This is very important as its influences the price of water for consumers.

According to NV GEBE’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Rene Gartner, water losses were at 40 per cent and this has been reduced to 30 per cent.  With continued investments, those losses will be further reduced.

CFO Gartner further added that the costs to consumers will also be reduced; there will also be an increase in efficiency for the company all leading to a reduction in water rates for consumers over time.

Gartner pointed out that Sint Maarten’s terrain plays a key role when it comes to water losses, due to the hillsides and rock formations/sedimentation etc.  As an example, CFO Gartner mentioned how Aruba only has a five per cent in water loss because the island is flat and the majority of the built up area is along one stretch of the country therefore leading to fewer obstacles. NV GEBE also plans to increase the national water reserves, which currently stands at two days.

NV GEBE plans to replace four water tanks, two in Cay Hill.  One of the tanks was decommissioned after being damaged by Hurricane Gonzalo in October 2014.  Two tanks in Cay Bay will be replaced, as they are approximately 40-years old.  The Board of Supervisory Directors has already approved the investments that have to be made in the national water management system, which will take place in 2016 and 2017.

NV GEBE will be replacing water lines and installing resistant pipes; while making those investments, sewage lines will also be placed in the same trench.  CFO Gartner added that NV GEBE would also work with other utility companies to have their infrastructure added to the same trench making its cost effective for all companies involved.

SOUALIGA NEWSDAY REPORT

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Prime Minister Gumbs statement on the passing of Police Officer Gamali Benjamin

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs on Sunday, August 9th issued the following statement with respect to the passing of Police Officer Gamali Benjamin.

My fellow St. Maarteners,

“My heart is heavy as I offer, my family’s and Government’s deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Officer Gamali Benjamin. Officer Benjamin was firstly a son, a father and a husband to those who loved and knew him best, and this is a profound loss that no parent, child or spouse should have to suffer.

“Government has sworn that everything within our power will be done to bring those who have perpetrated these crimes to justice.

“I would be remiss, however, if I did not also offer condolences to Officer Benjamin’s colleagues, his second family, at the KPSM (Police Force Sint Maarten). There is a deep bond shared between those who have pledged an oath of service together, one that many cannot understand, and I wish you all strength and the Lord’s guidance as you continue to personally and professionally experience this sudden loss. We know that you will stop at nothing to bring justice to Officer Benjamin’s legacy.

“To the community, I wish us all the peace and strength during the days, weeks and months to come. Never before have we been faced with such a tragedy. Never in our island’s history have we seen our local law enforcement forced to say farewell to one of their own, taken from us in the line of duty. And never before has it been more crucial that we come together as a country to ensure that justice is served.

“If you or anyone you know is aware of any detail, no matter how unimportant you may think it is, please step forward. If you doubt for an instant your ability to make a difference to this community, I ask you to consider your parents, your friends, your siblings, your loved ones…this could have been any one of them, any one of us.

“And lastly, as family, friends and colleagues of Officer Benjamin grieve for their loved one and begin their healing, we remember that Officer Gamali Benjamin was a kind, engaging and peaceful young man. This country is a dimmer place without his presence, and I deeply mourn that fact. We must keep this spirit, his spirit, alive in these difficult times, or his life and his service has been given in vain.

“I call for St. Maarten, and for our neighbors to the north, to remember Officer Benjamin respectfully, safely and peacefully.  Remember his goodwill, remember his dedication to his duties; hold these memories in your heart as we face the coming days as one country, stronger together.”

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Civil servants attend advanced database management training. St. MaartenInfo updated to 199 human development indicators

L to R, Andrea Ortega-Oudhoff, Terrance Babtiste and Makini Hickinson in front of the United Nations Building in New York City.

NEW YORK CITY/SINT MAARTEN (DCOMM) – Several civil servants from the Government of Sint Maarten recently attended advanced database management training in New York, USA related to the National Database St. MaartenInfo.

The database has also been updated and now will be able to process 199 indicators pertaining to Human Development from 10 different sources and over 2000 data values.

The aforementioned is essential for country Sint Maarten to have information at its finger tips when it comes to reporting to regional and international institutions about Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are all related to national human development targets.

Makini Hickinson, Terrance Babtiste, both from the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications, Department of Statistics; and Andrea Ortega-Oudhoff, Ministry of General Affairs, Department of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BAK), were the three civil servants that attended the management lab training.

The training was carried out by Gary Goldman from Community Systems Foundations (CSF) at their offices in New York City. Funding came from the National Development Plan (NDP) project.   

A third training is scheduled to take place shortly in Sint Maarten which would allow more civil servants to become administrators allowing them to be able to use the database in their ministry to collate, disseminate and present data based on the tools that the system offers.

It is the intention to launch the first version of the database in October 2015.

The NDP team from the Department of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BAK), the implementing agency for NDP project, organized the first five-day Basic User and Database Administration Training Workshop that started on June 1.

The Government’s newly developed SintMaartenInfo Database will compile socio-economic data that will help Government policy developers and planners to use evidence based information for policy development which is necessary to implement the NDP.

SintMaartenInfo is a database system that focuses on promoting the use of national statistics in evidence-based policy and planning at global, regional and national level.

The introduction of this database will further consolidate Governments efforts in evidenced based sustainable development planning.  It establishes a national database that enables Government to monitor the developmental progress of the country. 

Similar database systems are used by numerous countries for this purpose. The Government of Sint Maarten, in particular the Department of Statistics within the Ministry of Tourism, Economic affairs Transport and Telecommunication and BAK, will oversee the implementation of the SintMaartenInfo database in Sint Maarten.

Only through a process of collecting, digitalizing and confirming data validity is government able to truly measure progress in achieving the policy results that are expected to be accomplished.

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SHTA stands in solidarity with the community in support of Officer Benjamin

A scenic view of the boardwalk which is patrolled on a daily basis by the Sint Maarten Police Force Bike Patrol in the name of safety and security of visitors and residents. (File Photo)

PHILIPSBURG - The St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) in a media statement on Thursday came out strongly condemning the actions that led to the shooting of a police officer.

“SHTA stands in solemn solidarity with Police officer Benjamin, as he fights for his life, his family and the police force at this time. Police, Ambulance and Fire men, those persons who put their lives on the line every day for Country St. Maarten.

“When everyone is running away, these men and women are the one’s running into all situations. Too often their bravery, courage and deep sense of duty towards the citizens and visitors alike, is underestimated and undervalued. St. Maarten is not exempted from crime, poverty or any other ails a Country faces.

“Yesterday’s shooting incident is a clear example of the far reaching consequences of the escalating crime on St. Maarten. Though an incident like this can quickly turn away visitors from our island, it is our reaction to what has happened that will determine the future of our St. Maarten’s Tourism.

“Therefore, rather than focusing on the negatives, SHTA urges the community to focus on solution oriented conversations. This is the time that we as a community, private and public have to unify ourselves and effectively work on an all-encompassing plan to ensure and safe guard our community.

“Crime can never truly be eradicated as it unfortunately is a part of the delicate make-up of any and all societies. But this should not mean that we remain complacent and let crime over run our island. Instead we should be banded together to create measures to bring about a decline crime and ensure the safety of our citizens and visitors. SHTA conveys their prayers and well wishes of a speedy recovery of Officer Benjamin,” the SHTA statement concluded.

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BirdsCaribbean International Meeting takes place in Jamaica

The free ebook Look Sharp! was created to help non-profits promote their work.

SINT MAARTEN/JAMAICA - Every two years, bird educators, scientists and conservationists from throughout the Caribbean and beyond gather for BirdsCaribbean’s International Meeting.

At this year’s meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, over 200 international delegates from 33 countries/islands gathered to share the latest in Caribbean bird science, conservation and education. Representing St. Martin, Les Fruits de Mer co-founder Mark Yokoyama facilitated two media-related workshops during the meeting and released a free ebook, Look Sharp! Promote Your Organization with Great Photography. 

Birds—Connecting Communities and Conservation was the theme for the meeting, and the event photography workshop presented by Mark Yokoyama focused on forging that emotional connection through the power of great images. Michaela Roberts of ECHO Bonaire found the workshop “very dynamic, fun and informative” and Leno Davis commended the hands-on portion as excellent, delivering “instant results.” Deanna Albert from the University of the West Indies commented that it was “good to know how to make non-governmental organizations visually appealing to the public—locally, regionally and internationally.”

The conference opened with “Jamaica Day—A Celebration of Jamaica’s Unique and Wonderful Birds” which included a dozen presentations about Jamaica’s birds, from the latest research in tracking Jamaican seabird populations to the role of birds in pest control on Blue Mountain coffee farms. The extended look at Jamaica’s birds also included reports on the launch of the Caribbean Birding Trail program in Jamaica and Jamaica’s historical contribution to ornithology.

“This year was the perfect time to bring the BirdsCaribbean meeting back to Jamaica,” noted BirdsCaribbean President Leo Douglas. “The Blue and John Crow mountains were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site just weeks before the meeting, while the Goat Islands and Portland Bight Protected Area are currently facing the threat of development. At this moment Jamaica is in the spotlight, representing both the irreplaceable value of Caribbean natural heritage and its vulnerability.”

The rediscovery of the Black-capped Petrel on the island of Dominica was another highlight presented during the meeting. A team of scientists from St. Maarten-based Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) and Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries were able to record almost 1,000 of this elusive bird using radar and night vision scopes. The last confirmed nesting date for this species in Dominica was in 1862.

In addition to over 120 presentations, workshops and panel discussions, the delegates enjoyed a variety of field trips to explore Jamaica’s wilderness areas first-hand. Conference trips visited Hope Gardens, Goat Islands, Cockpit Country, Portland Bight Protected Area, and the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, amongst other destinations. Many meeting participants were particularly eager to catch a glimpse of some of the 29 bird species endemic to Jamaica that can be seen nowhere else in the world.

The event photography ebook is available for download on the websites of both BirdsCaribbean and Les Fruits de Mer. The free, 26-page book draws from experience working with many talented photographers on St. Martin as well as advice from local journalists and media experts about how to use photography to promote non-profit events and activities. 

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Port St. Maarten expresses serious concern for armed robberies in the heart of Philipsburg and the threat to national economy

POINTE BLANCHE - Port St. Maarten management firstly and foremost expresses its support and extend prayers to the family of Police Officer G. Benjamin who is fighting for his life after being shot in the line of duty on Wednesday morning.

Port St. Maarten management also expresses its support to the Sint Maarten Police Force during this very difficult time, as one of their own was shot in the line duty.  The port has worked closely with the Police and other emergency services in the past, and continues to do so in order to ensure security and safety for cruise passengers and residents on the island.

Port St. Maarten management at the same time expresses its concern with respect to the recent spate of armed robberies on Front Street over the past months.

On Wednesday three cruise ships, namely, Independence of the Seas (5730 passengers/crew carrying capacity), Carnival Sunshine (4000), and Carnival Conquest (4124), were in port with over 10,000 cruise passengers.

This tragic incident took place on Front Street, the heart of Philipsburg which is considered the duty free shopping capital of the Caribbean for tourists.  Philipsburg was pretty busy on Wednesday. 

Port St. Maarten management is very concerned with what happened today, and would like to see some form of plan drafted with the input and support of various stakeholders in order to deal with the criminal element that has been targeting Philipsburg and in particular Front Street for several months.

Port St. Maarten has made considerable investments in security over the years and these are very much prevalent at the various venues that the port owns/operates or manages.  This investment is not only to protect guests, but overall to ensure the economic viability of country St. Maarten.

Port security staff have gone through vigorous training in International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) as required to ensure that the image of St. Maarten as a safe and secure cruise destination remains in place, and that the thousands of people that are employed by the sector, that their jobs are protected.

Security and safety of cruise passengers are a top and number one priority for the cruise industry and at Port St. Maarten.  Safety at this point is key for St. Maarten to remain a successful cruise destination.

Port management is calling on all stakeholders to work closely together in addressing security and safety of the destination.

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