Flipper's blog
the leatherback is the largest and heaviest, the largest ever found was a little over three meters from head to tail and weighed over 900 kilograms. Leatherbacks are the the reptile world's deepest-divers, capable of descending to depths deeper than 1,200 meters. They are also the fastest reptiles on record. The 1992 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records has the leatherback turtle listed as having achieved the speed of 9.8 meters per second (35.28 kilometers per hour) in the water
Leatherback nests on Simpson Bay beach - 31st May 2008
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Submitted by Flipper on Tue, 2008-06-10 22:16.
Are you ready? It's that time of year again, June 1st.
It really started yesterday when the Eastern Pacific storm Alma crossed over Central America and became Arthur.
All forecasts point towards a highly active season this year and as someone who has been through a few here, including Luis, let me tell you it's not an exciting adventure to experience. It's been a long time since we got hammered hard and the law of averages grow more unfavorable every year. We are going to get hammered, it might not be this year, might not be next, but it will happen again because there is no escaping geography.
This post will be added to the Threads list to replace the one from last year. Below we will post news and information about the season, storms that directly affect us will get their own blog.
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Submitted by Flipper on Sun, 2008-06-01 13:12.
So many things going on that don't get blogged about. Feel free to bring them up for discussion below. - Flipper
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Open Threads | 7 comments | read more
Submitted by Flipper on Mon, 2008-04-28 07:45.
The St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation is pleased to host its 14th annual Science Fair at the Belair Community Center from Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 april 2008 with a total of 22 projects. The Fair is open to the public on Saturday 19 April 2008.
The setting up and judging of projects will take place on Thursday and on Friday, the 6th graders of the primary schools on the island will visit from 10:00 – 13:00.
Science Fair 2008 will close off on Saturday evening with the award ceremony for the following participating schools: Milton Peters College, Sundial, St. Dominic High, the Learning unlimited Preparatory and the St. Maarten Academy.
New video - Great Bay Water testing - Louise & Roxanne (Learning Unlimited)
New Video - St.Maarten Science fair 2008-too little too late
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Environment | Tourism | 16 comments | read more
Submitted by Flipper on Thu, 2008-04-17 02:36.
Please use this thread for comments or questions about issues that have not been blogged about recently, or to raise attention to issues you feel or would like to see discussed.Have a browse down the front page to check for a relevant posting first though :) - Flipper
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Open Threads | 13 comments | read more
Submitted by Flipper on Mon, 2008-04-14 03:36.
When I started SXM PE almost 3 years ago I knew that the concept of blogs and blogging was new to most people here on the island, that to some it would be controversial and scandalous, perhaps even scary. After all, St. Maarten's political history doesn't really tell a tale of harmonious and free political discourse, nor does it tell a tale of open transparent information and inclusion.
Freedom of speech and an independent media are fundamental to the success of a healthy democracy. The internet and blog sites like SXM PE have rejuvenated freedom of speech around the world, allowing ordinary citizens to voice opinions and ideas with little fear for their livelihood or lives. The internet and blogs have also rejuvenated independent media and information, allowing you, the user, to not only be a reporter and share your opinions easily and immediately, but also giving you much more information with which to make up your own mind on an issue or story.
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Media | 2 comments | read more
Submitted by Flipper on Sat, 2008-04-12 13:10.
Please use this thread for comments or questions about issues that have not been blogged about recently, or to raise attention to issues you feel or would like to see discussed. Have a browse down the front page to check for a relevant posting first though :) - Flipper
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Submitted by Flipper on Mon, 2008-03-31 08:37.
A short movie to promote the importance of throwing away your own trash. Everywhere along the St. Maarten beaches, hillsides & roads there is trash. People do not seem to see the importance of cleaning up their own mess. This lazy and irresponsible attitude has to change.
YouTube Video - Clean St. Maarten
Hats off to Laura Bijnsdorp and the gang, good job. I hope going off to college won't mean the end of your videos!
Update - Laura's video a hit - 12th April 2008
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Environment | 4 comments | read more
Submitted by Flipper on Fri, 2008-03-28 16:40.
There are posts on Murdoch, the Marine Ordinance and Zoning, Millicent De eever, Real Estate and Development, Climate Change, the New Directors License rules and the Teachers stike below, plus many other issues. If you have a comment to make or an issue to bring up that you can't find a place for, then this is where it belongs. - Flipper
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Submitted by Flipper on Sun, 2008-03-02 19:43.
Two new videos from SXM have been placed on YouTube recently. The first is an awareness video created by a student which I have given the title "Don't care what people say, follow your own way". The second is a SXM Pride report about mangroves being cleared in the lagoon behind Tropicana Casino.
You can read more about SXM Pride here.
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Development and Construction | Epic Foundation | SXM Pride Foundation | 8 comments | read more
Submitted by Flipper on Wed, 2008-02-20 18:42.
The fine bunch of students who put together last years Coastal Cleanup Video have anew one posted about the HIV crisis in SXM. Please go check it out and don't forget to give it a 5 star rating.
YNV Get Motivated HIV/AIDS awareness & testing - Video
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Health | 1 comment | read more
Submitted by Flipper on Fri, 2008-02-15 17:50.
I was without internet for a while and I guess the regular writers all thought someone else would post about Leta. Below you will find a collection of news links to this story and in the coming days will will add the scanned clippings from the papers.
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Justice Police Crime | 4 comments | read more
Submitted by Flipper on Thu, 2008-02-07 16:31.
There are threads for EWE, Holiday, Leta and The Dominican Consul discussions, but there are many other things going on that people want to discuss or that need to be bought to the publics attention. Please use this thread for comments if you cannot find a related blog post. - Flipper
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Submitted by Flipper on Thu, 2008-02-07 16:25.
It is being reported over the island this morning that Vance James jr. passed away in the early morning hours of January 1st, 2008. Vance W. James jr. was born on March 21, 1949. He died at age 58. I do not have more details at this time.
For those who don't know who he was. Vance James jr. first stepped into politics in 1979, heading the SPM, a party of young, dedicated people determined to bring change in Saint Martin. The SPM later on became the SPA and is now named the NA. Vance was the only opposition leader to beat DP leader Wathey in personal votes in the same election in 1990 (1444 against 1267) and the first politician to lead his party to victory over the DP machine (1991 - 4 seats against 3). He became leader of the SPA party, a position he held for many years. He stepped down as party leader in March 1997 and resigned from the Island Council in 1998. In 1999 he returned to politics and contested the Island Council election as founder and leader of the NPP. The new party obtained one seat and Vance served in the opposition benches. The party did not get enough votes in the next election. He quit politics after that and became a political commentator on PJD2 radio. He served on the board of the Sint Maarten Academy and held many other functions.
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Submitted by Flipper on Tue, 2008-01-01 14:36.
Please feel free to use this thread for any issues that are not already blogged about and that you want to vent on or open up for discussion. I am still off island myself and I know there are some regular writers also off island too, or busy. Any big issues you feel a need to speak up about? Or just wandering thoughts maybe... :)
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Submitted by Flipper on Tue, 2007-12-18 13:59.
The poem below was posted by Anonymous and I thought it might be nice to have it posted as a blog and see if anyone else feels like sharing their Xmas wish list, You can do it as a regular comment or in poetry if you feel creative and inspired and if there are enough entires then maybe we can put them up in a poll and choose a winner. Not sure what we can give as a prize just now, but we´ll think of something or maybe a reader or business owner wants to offer something?
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Submitted by Flipper on Tue, 2007-12-11 08:19.
I am so happy to see that the youth of St. Maarten are actively getting involved with environmental causes and making use of the internet to do so. Below is a link to the video made by Laura Bijnsdorp and others for SXM Pride about the 2007 International Coastal Cleanup. Excellent job peps!!!
Please go check it out, sign in to YouTube and give it 5 stars!
St.Maarten International Coastal Cleanup 2007 - YouTube Video
The results of this years clean up can be found here and the video by Caribdude for 2006 can be found here.
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Environment | 3 comments
Submitted by Flipper on Thu, 2007-12-06 05:55.
Just trying something out.......
Please feel free to use this thread for any issues that are not already blogged about and that you want to vent on or open up for discussion. I am still off island myself and I know there are some regular writers also off island too, or busy. Any big issues you feel a need to speak up about? Or just wandering thoughts maybe... :)
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Submitted by Flipper on Tue, 2007-12-04 13:18.
Unfortunately I am not an economist so I can only give a layman´s view on the limited information presented abut the 2008 budget in the Daily Herald. The main point of which appears to be the 1% increase in the Turnover Tax, a tax that affects everyone equally.
My opinion, if anyone cares for it, is that Roy Marlin and this Govt have yet again demonstrated their complete lack of imagination by choosing the simplest solution to the island´s problems, financial and otherwise, problems they themselves are largely responsible for. But that´s just my opinion, I am very interested to hear yours.
And if there are any economist based proffessionals out there, we would love to hear from you.
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Island Politics | 13 comments | read more
Submitted by Flipper on Mon, 2007-11-26 04:57.
For Joel's Family. What was in the papers today, sadly the DH didn't put it online. If anyone in Saba has more info please post it.
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Submitted by Flipper on Thu, 2007-11-01 19:42.
"St Maarten is a place of enormous potential. But in order to tap into that potential , it must embrace the values of open debate and self-critique. It cannot afford to do otherwise in a globalizing World economy. No society can, or it runs the risk of being left behind.
The above was taken from Jason Lista's article this week in the Weekender entitled.'What of St. Maarten today?' Please read it and then join me below to learn how you too can help bring 'enlightenment' to SXM.
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Submitted by Flipper on Sun, 2007-10-28 08:26.
By Rueben J Thompson
Love the Lagoon, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean
EPIC recently received an email from a Lagoon Log reader inquiring whether or not Sint Maarten’s Environmental Foundations and projects such as EPIC’s Love the Lagoon Project are Government financed. The answer to this question is unfortunately a simple: no the island’s environmental foundations and projects are regrettably not government financed in anyway.
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Submitted by Flipper on Tue, 2007-10-16 23:42.
I'm sure a few people out there are ready to jump in and voice an opinion on the latest episode of the 'tragicomedy' of our island's law enforcement and justice systems, both sides.
The new articles are linked below. Please keep it intelligent and be respectful to other commenters and their opinions too. Cheers me dears!
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Justice Police Crime | 28 comments | read more
Submitted by Flipper on Mon, 2007-10-15 18:44.
A while back I posted about the work of a small group of enviromental activists down in Bonaire who were trying to raise awareness about the landfill and sewage dumping.
A little bird tells me that the feathers of Mr. Dortalina, the Director of the govt garbage and waste dept/company Selibon, have been ruffled, at least one member of this group has been threatened with legal action for trespassing.
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Environment | 2 comments | read more
Submitted by Flipper on Mon, 2007-10-08 21:31.
What is Blue Flag? - Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)
The Blue Flag Programme is one of the most widely known, most recognised and valued ecolabels throughout Europe and beyond. It is awarded to beaches and marinas with excellent environmental management.
An Taisce - The National Trust of Ireland has a great deal of downloadable PDF files and brochures on Blue Flag too.
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Environment | add new comment | read more
Submitted by Flipper on Mon, 2007-10-08 16:33.
A post on a blog called the Jewelry Blogger last month has started quite a discussion over on TTOL. No time for me to write about it now, but feel free to share your thoughts below.
The Jewelry Blogger - Something's Gotta Give in St. Maarten - 11th August 2007
TTOL - The Jewelry Blogger
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Submitted by Flipper on Wed, 2007-09-26 20:53.
Just a quick update on donations and the refurbishment and relaunch of SXM PE. We had another flurry of donations early last week, adding another $500 to the total so far. The rebuild and upgrade is moving ahead and if all goes well then we expect the launch to be somewhere between the middle and end of October.
But, we still need your support, the total we are trying to reach does not cover all our needs, your donations are still needed. We are also now planning the first 6 months of advertising spaces, if your business is interested then you should drop us a line at sxmpemail at gmail.
Flipper
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Submitted by Flipper on Tue, 2007-09-11 21:59.
There are four main pillars of government, some call them the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Estates. The 1st is the Executive Branch, in our case the Exco, the 2nd is the Legislative Branch, the rest of the IC. The 3rd is the Judiciary, which I would say is Taco, Holiday and the Judges. The Lt. Governor is involved in all three.
The 4th Estate is the media and their role is not to report word for word what they are told as so many of them do, but to investigate and uncover the truth behind those words and to inform the public. It is a difficult and dangerous job even on little St. Maarten where our politicians and their families take criticism of their abilities and actions so personnally. Doors close, permits get refused, business gets lost and life becomes more difficult if you get in their bad books.
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Submitted by Flipper on Tue, 2007-09-11 08:16.
(Photo from 2006 - On the CYC building.)
The following was posted as a page by berniesboyz
Is Romac Sotheby's real estate going under? Liens have been filed on several of their commissions, construction on the new headquarters has come to a halt, and they are laying people off.
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Submitted by Flipper on Tue, 2007-09-04 09:12.
A while ago I was chatting with a friend about Pelicans, we both thought that there were less of them than years ago. Fort Amsterdam used to be a prime nesting spot, but recently fewer have been spotted there. Declining bird population can mean many things, polution, sickness, loss of habitat, reduced food supply and more. Until the past few years, no one really made any studies or reports on the bird life of the island.
EPIC recently carried out a surveys of terrstrial and pond bird life on the island, you can them below.
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Submitted by Flipper on Mon, 2007-08-27 09:22.
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