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Carnival Grand Parade fills streets with fun and splendour

~ CC1 Blue E'toile Productions wins Best Troupe ~ PHILIPSBURG--Rain or shine, revellers gathered in St. John’s on Sunday for the annual Grand Carnival Parade set to start at 10:00am. Musical trailers lined up and colour galore of mas players

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Dear Reader

As St. Maarten slowly loses its old political leaders one by one, it is time the present political leaders accept the mantle left behind and lead this country into the future by tackling the issues facing the island head on.

The dump, reconstruction, hurricane preparations, the prison situation, roof repairs, government deficits, rebuilding hotels, soft loans to businesses, etc., are just a few of the many issues we have to deal with.

With one more day left of the 2018 carnival - a festivity much needed according to many, not so according to others - it is time to get back to work. There is lots to be done.

In the meantime, do enjoy the last lap of carnival today and congratulations go out to Nathalie Parotte, troupe leader of the winning carnival troupe Blue E'toile.

Have a good read and do have a great day.

The Publisher
StMaartenNews.com

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StMaartenNews.com Top Stories
URGENCY PRISON SITUATION HAS THE ATTENTION OF THE FORMATEUR

Progress Committee discussed risk for public safety with Theo Heyliger PHILIPSBURG - "If action is not taken soon, the prison situation can turn into a serious risk for the public safety." Chairman of the Progress Committee Sint Maarten Nico Schoof..

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stmaartennews.com
Minister Ferrier criticizes World Bank involvement

PHILIPSBURG - Finance Minister Mike Ferrier criticized in veiled terms the involvement of the World Bank in St. Maarten's post-Irma recovery process when he presented the draft 2018 budget to the central committee of parliament on Thursday...

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stmaartennews.com
Cft urges Minister Ferrier to hire technical assistance

PHILIPSBURG - Financial supervisor Cft urges Minister Mike Ferrier (Finance) to hire technical assistance to increase the capacity at the finance department, including the tax inspectorate. "Possibly technical assistance can be requested and...

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stmaartennews.com
Dutch ex-cop sentenced for selling forged driver's licences

PHILIPSBURG - The court in Marigot sentenced a former Dutch policeman for selling forged international driver's licenses to at least one hundred people on the French side of the island for amounts varying from €600 to €3,000 ($726 to $3,630). The ...

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stmaartennews.com
Prisoners to no longer qualify for automatic release...

SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS - Prisoners who have been sentenced to more than six years in jail will no longer be automatically released on completion of two thirds of their sentence, according to a new draft law drawn up by justice minister...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
JOSEPH "JOE FO SO" RICHARDSON - RIP
August 8, 1945 - April 29, 2018

On behalf of the Council of Ministers and the people of Sint Maarten, Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin expresses condolences to the family and friends on the passing of Joseph “Joe” Richardson on April 29 th 2018.

Joseph Richardson served the community of Sint Maarten and Saba in many capacities, as a politician, board member on several Government related boards, Civil Servant, Island Council Member, Commissioner in the Executive Council and Administrator of Saba. His contributions are immense, as he has touched the lives of many persons that had the opportunity to interact with him.

In remembrance of Mr. Richardson, the Government of Sint Maarten will place the condolence register in the lobby of the Government Administration Building on Soualiga Road #1 on May 3 rd from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm allowing persons in the community to pay their respect.

The Boards of the United People's Party (UP) and Democratic Party (DP) together with the Board of the United Democrats (UD), also wish to extend their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Joe "Joe 4 So" Richardson with respect to his passing.

"Mr. Richardson was a dynamic hardworking and committed man towards his country. His years of Government experience, service and mentorship to many individuals will never be forgotten," said UD President Stuart Johnson.

We now in deep mourning and join with the entire Sint Maarten community for strength during this time of bereavement, the UD press statement released on Sunday further states.

Joe Richardson passed away at the age of 72.
StMaartenNews.com Feature Articles
Bloody foreigners

by Chris Morvan ~ Technically, you couldn't argue with what was presented to me for dinner. I had ordered skate with black butter and capers, and the waitress had assured me it came with vegetables - or at least I think she had, because...

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stmaartennews.com
Reconstruction priorities

By Hilbert Haar ~ Roofs have to be repaired and businesses have to get back on their feet in the wake of Hurricane Irma. All that makes sense. But the real priorities for the country still lie elsewhere, as became evident from an address by Finance..

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stmaartennews.com
Is automatic early release coming to an end?

By Hilbert Haar Imagine this: the court sentences a man for armed robbery to a prison sentence of nine years. He spent already eight months in pretrial custody, so he has one hundred months to go before he roams the streets of Philipsburg again....

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stmaartennews.com
StMaartenNews.com Carnival News
Grand Parade - St. Maarten Carnival 2018 - Photo Reportage

Scenes from the Grand Parade 2018. Troupe winners: Blue E'toile by Nathalie Parotte; 1st place: Rio Productions by Brenda K. Wathey; 2nd place: Xscape the Band by Erica Fortuno; Individual piece: Winner I-18 Rio Productions; Float: Randolph Scott.

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Jouvert Morning - Carnival 2018 - Photo Reportage

Keeping a cultural tradition alive, Jouvert Morning 2018 in pictures...

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Young Carlix, the Protege, is Calypso King again

Great Bay -In 2014, Ruminni Rogers, stage name 'Young Carlix, the Protege won his first senior Calypso title with 'Dont judge my age' and 'We aint ready.' This time he was able to capture his second title with 'The Countdown' and 'Above self'....

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stmaartennews.com
Wednesday, May 2 - Closing/Burning King Momo

St. Maarten Carnival 2018 comes to a close today, Wednesday, May 2nd, with the burning of King Momo tonight at the Festival Village.

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stmaartennews.com
Road closures for the Closing Carnival Jump-Up 2018

PHILIPSBURG - In connection with the "Closing Jump-up and Burning of King Momo which is scheduled to be held on Wednesday May 2 nd starting at 8.00 p.m. on Welgelegen Road in Cay the Police Department is making the following road closures known...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
StMaartenNews.com Feature News
Governor's King's Day Speech: Recovering through...

SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - On the occasion of King's Day Celebrations at the Simpson Bay Resort and Marina, His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday, delivered the following speech. Esteemed Guests, Good evening, Marie Louise and I bid you a very ...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
Labor Day Speech Minister Lee: Recovery will be challenging

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - On Tuesday, May 1, International Labour Day, Minister of Labour Emil Lee took part in an activity organized by the Windward Island Chamber of Labour Unions. Minister of Labour Emil Lee made the following address:...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
KINGS DAY CELEBRATION SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR CIVIL...

SINT MAARTEN (HARBOUR VIEW) - On April 26, 2018, Governor Holiday choose the King's Birthday Celebration as a moment to stand still to celebrate the resilience of our people and to highlight all invaluable service rendered to the people of Sint...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
ILO, CEC, CCL and EU joint message on Int'l Labor Day

SINT MAARTEN/CARIBBEAN - The Caribbean Employers' Confederation (CEC) and the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL), along with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Union (EU) are pleased to join the global community in...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
Minister Grapperhaus and State Secretary Knops to visit...

SINT MAARTEN/SABA/STATIA - From April 29 th until May 2 nd, Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus of Justice and Security and State Secretary Raymond Knops of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, will visit St. Eustatius, Saba and Sint Maarten. For...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
K1 Britannia foundation receives appreciation award

SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten Drs. Eugene Holiday and his cabinet organized its annual King's Day Celebration in honor of King Willem-Alexanders' Birthday on April 26th, 2018 at Simpson Bay Resort &...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
StMaartenNews.com Business News
Great Bay Hotel to be re-branded Planet Hollywood Resort

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - The former Sonesta Great Bay Hotel & Casino is currently being demolished to make way for a 450-room Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Sunwing Airlines months ago bought the Sonesta Great Bay Resort from the Maho...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
Port asks Industry to Promote Philipsburg Shopping Xperience

PORT ST. MAARTEN - Serious efforts are underway with local stakeholders to further bridge the gap in an effort to have a program rolling out before the upcoming 2018-2019 cruise season that would further promote '#Re-discover St. Maarten'...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
Consumer prices: Price index up slightly and annual...

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - The Consumer Price Index for Sint Maarten has increased in the month of December 2017 by 0.6 percent compared to that of October 2017. When comparing average consumer prices over a twelve month period (December 2016...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
TelEm Group pays tribute to former board chairman...

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - TelEm Group Supervisory Board of Directors, Management and personnel interrupted carnival celebrations Monday to pay their respects to former Supervisory Board Chairman, Mr. Joseph Richardson, who passed away Sunday....

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www.soualiganewsday.com
StMaartenNews.com Government News
UNESCO National Commission to be established in St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG - Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport of St. Maarten, Jorien Wuite announced on Thursday that the process to formalise and officially install the St. Maarten National Commission for the United Nations Educational,...

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curacaochronicle.com
Study financing ordinance in the works

PHILIPSBURG - The Council of Ministers has approved the draft ordinance study financing. "It is the first legislation the ministry has produced since 10-10-10," Minister Jorien Wuite (Education) said at Wednesdays' Council of Ministers press...

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stmaartennews.com
StMaartenNews.com Police News
22 Dutch police chiefs still earn more than legal limit...

SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS - Some 22 police officers are still earning more than the permitted maximum, but that is eight down on the end of 2016, according to new figures published on Tuesday. People working for the public sector face a pay...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
Family home totally destroyed by fire on Thursday

PHILIPSBURG - On Thursday April 26th at approximately 11.25 a.m. police patrols, Fire Department and Detectives were sent to the home of the Serrant family located on A. Th. Illidge road where a fire was reported. On the scene the investigating...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
Man stabs woman on Thursday morning

CAY HILL - On Thursday April 26 th at approximately 8.40 a.m. police patrols, paramedics, detectives and forensic investigators were sent to a home in Ginger road in Cay hill where the Emergency Dispatch received a call of a stabbing.

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www.soualiganewsday.com
StMaartenNews.com Regional News
Venezuela faces heavy bill as grace period lapses on loans

CARACAS, BEIJING - A grace period on Chinese loans to Venezuela has lapsed, according to two Venezuelan sources with knowledge of the matter, potentially depriving the cash-strapped OPEC nation of billions of dollars in desperately needed oil...

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curacaochronicle.com
No justice in de-banking Caribbean countries

GROS ISLET - There is no justice in the de-banking and barring of small Caribbean states from the international payment system, said Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who has lead responsibility for financial matters in the...

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curacaochronicle.com
A Government Minister in Barbados: "Region Needs Own Bank"

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Saturday April 28, 2018 - Barbados' Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Adriel Brathwaite, is proposing that Caribbean countries unite to either buy or establish an international commercial bank to protect the...

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www.caribbean360.com
StMaartenNews.com Legal Reviews
TYPES OF LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS OF COUNTRY SINT MAARTEN

Our Country is often referred to as a State of Law (Rechtstaat). This means that our Country is governed by the rule of law, and that every formal decision of the state must be based on a law and the authority provided by law to make such decisions.

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stmaartennews.com
StMaartenNews.com Dutch Caribbean News
Drones with drugs and phones intercepted over Curaçao prison

Drones with drugs and telephones intercepted above Curaçao prison ~ Written by Dick Drayer, Correspondent Curaçao ~ Guards from the Center for Detention and Correction (the SDKK prison) on Curaçao...

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Statia's FDR Airport Getting Busier

68 By Harald Linkels Oranjestad- As has been predicted by this newspaper some time back, Statia's FDR Airport is turning into a mini-hub, especially thanks to the execution of flights by CN-Express between Bonaire and St. Eustatius, with onward...

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bes-reporter.com
Knops and Grapperhaus Receive Warm Welcome in Statia

17 By René Zwart Oranjestad - State Secretary Raymond Knops of the Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations and minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus of Justice and Security have wrapped up their one-and-a-half-day working visit to St. Eustatius. The...

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bes-reporter.com
Report 'Social Minimum' BES delayed once again

9 By René Zwart© The Hague - The publication of the results of research into the so-called 'social minimum' in the Caribbean Netherlands is (again) taking longer than foreseen. The target date on which the report would be sent to the House of...

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bes-reporter.com
StMaartenNews.com Poll
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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
SZV ASKING EMPLOYERS TO DECLARE AND PAY PREMIUMS ONLINE

PHILIPSBURG - Social & Health Insurances SZV has introduced several online services in 2017, including the Employer Portal where companies can submit their ZV/OV declarations digitally. Employers are obligated by law to submit and pay their ZV/OV ...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
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KWIKFIX HANDYMAN SERVICES

Kwikfix Handyman Services is offering quick repairs and handyman services. Contact Kwikfix.com for a quotation for any repairs, renovations or small construction work needed.. Installation and store repair services are also offered for businesses, stores and commercial units.
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StMaartenNews.com Online News Stories
Aruba and Curacao participate in INTERPOL Operation....

SINT MAARTEN/CARIBBEAN - Nearly 350 potential victims of sexual exploitation and forced labour have been rescued in an INTERPOL-coordinated operation targeting human trafficking in the Caribbean, Central and South America. Aruba and Curacao also...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
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Let's Cruise - Eastern, Western, Southern Caribbean...

Lets-Cruise.co is offering cruise vacations on the best and biggest cruise ships in the world with brand name cruises and destinations in the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean, Alaska, Europe and the Mediterranean, ...

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www.lets-cruise.co
Possible inclement weather still imminent for end of week

SINT MAARTEN/CARIBBEAN - The area near the Bahamas will be the place to watch for the formation of an area of disturbed weather starting on Friday as a frontal boundary now pushing eastward well offshore of the US East Coast leaves behind a piece ...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
Symbolic opening drainage connection STUCO Solar Park

ST. EUSTATIUS - On Monday April 30th, the Minister of Justice and Security, Mr. Ferdinand Grapperhaus, the Secretary of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Mr. Raymond Knops, the Regeringscommissaris of St. Eustatius, Mr. Mike Franco and...

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www.soualiganewsday.com
350 human trafficking victims rescued across 13 countries

INTERPOL - According to the British news site BBC, nearly 350 men, women, and children have been rescued by police in 13 Caribbean and South American countries. The human trafficking victims were freed by an Interpol-orchestrated bust named...

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curacaochronicle.com
US seeks to extradite 'El Chapo' case suspect from Curaçao

MIAMI, WILLEMSTAD - A Canadian known as "Russian Mike" who has been charged in the drug trafficking case involving notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman sought Thursday to block his extradition to the U.S. from Curaçao. Mykhaylo...

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curacaochronicle.com
JetBlue Guyana decision imminent

GEORGETOWN - US low cost carrier, JetBlue, which has indicated its interest in expanding into the Guyana market, is closer to making a decision, according to local media reports. The Guyana ministry of foreign affairs, without naming the airline, ...

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curacaochronicle.com
Advertise Here

Email info@stmaartennews.com today and request our advertising rates for 2018.

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Weather Forecast: Wednesday to Friday

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, May 01, 2018 @ 18:00 LST (22:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday evening (18:00 LST) May 02, 2018 Tonight through Wednesday evening: Fair to partly cloudy and breezy with a passing shower possible. Forecast High: 29°C / 84°F...

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StMaartenNews.com Dutch News
OPINION: Condescending - BES Reporter

By René Zwart ~ As agile as minister Eric Wiebes (Economic Affairs and Climate) proved to be this week in the 'memo debate' in the Second Chamber to navigate the truth, just so awkwardly clumsy has he been dealing with the blunder that his...

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bes-reporter.com
Socialist Party wants to scrap politicians jobless benefits

Socialist MP Ronald van Raak has introduced a private members bill which would stop ministers and MPs who lose their jobs from claiming more unemployment benefit than the man in the street, the Financieele Dagblad said on Wednesday.

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www.dutchnews.nl
Fewer young couples are getting married, financial issues

Fewer couples in the Netherlands are getting married and people in their 20s and 30s are more likely to opt for a registered partnership instead, the national statistics office CBS said on Wednesday. Last year, almost 65,000 couples made up of...

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www.dutchnews.nl
Dutch airline KLM reaches pay-and-conditions CLA with pilots

KLM has reached an agreement with pilot unions over a new pay-and-conditions pact (CAO), the Dutch flag carrier said on Wednesday. Terms of the agreement will not be released until they have been presented by pilots union VNV to its 2,800 members ...

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www.dutchnews.nl
SXM Daily News - 1 May 2018
SXM Daily News May 1, 2018

SXM Daily News May 1, 2018

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With the high season upon us and more and more airlines are resuming flights to and from St. Maarten, we are also open to take your flight bookings to and from St. Maarten as well.
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