SMNN

SMNN - (Airport Road, St Maarten) Winair's ticket office was robbed earlier this morning by three gun touting youths. Managing Director of Winair, Edwin Hodge pointed out that the three young men posed as customers and held up the two female employees in the ticket office at the company's headquarters. He disclosed that the unfortunate incident occurred around 11.05 am earlier today and has left employees within the company traumatized.

"It is a very unfortunate incident that occurred today, however we are satisfied with the security systems that we have in place in detecting those responsible for this incident," Hodge said. Hodge pointed out that a small amount of cash, keys, and personal belongings of the two employees were stolen while stressing that fortunately no one was injured in the three minute ordeal.

SMNN - Philipsburg:--- Members of the Police Department namely detective, forensic, the armed robbery team and the special team investigating the murder cases on St. Maarten are on go-slow. Several persons informed SMN News that they have been trying to get assistance from the police force on Wednesday but no one is helping them. Already the prosecutor's office it is understood ordered the forensic department not to take evidence from homes or businesses that were robbed because the department is grossly understaffed. SMN News further learnt that the forensic department only has one person working in it and that person was told they should only process murder scenes.

SMNN - Philipsburg: --- Independent island council member Louie Laveist fired up on Wednesday when he realized the island council meeting was not broadcasting live on cable Television channel 15 or 20.
Laveist had sent in a notification to the island secretariat stating that he would not be attending the meeting but showed up after he was not able to follow the proceeding on television. Laveist made clear that he was not pointing fingers at anyone for the technical difficulties encountered but cautioned that democracy must be upheld and the people has every right to know what is taking place in government during these critical days when country status is being finalized.

SMNN - Philipsburg: --- Island Council member Petrus Leroy De Weever tabled a second motion of non-confidence against finance commissioner Xavier Blackman on Wednesday during the island council meeting called by the Democratic Party.

De Weever said leader of government William Marlin has given Blackman a motion of no confidence when he publicly announced on Tuesday that he had to seek assistance from outside with the 2010 budget so that it could be approved by the CFT. De Weever said St. Maarten is confronted with a level of incompetence in Blackman who is constantly traveling overseas. He said Blackman needs to assume his responsibilities and not look for scapegoats or people to blame for his failure. He felt with the motion of non-confidence against Blackman would end the blame game against the civil servants especially those in the finance department.