St. Maarten Private Eye

Science Fair 2008 - Belair Community Center

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

Click here to Read More
____________________________________________________________

Environment | Tourism | Flipper's blog | 16 comments | read more

Tourism, Education and Economic Justice

By Terry J. Peterson

"Anyone who votes against this budget, would be voting against the future of SXM"
-Roy Marlin, 2008 Draft Budget, Island Council Meeting, Dec 2007.

"The Island Council missed a golden opportunity"
-Sarah Wescott Williams, 2008 Draft Budget, Island Council Meeting, Dec 2007

The 2008 draft budget approved by the present administration is another bikini budget in which the more significant parts are concealed and the less significant parts are revealed. It is unfortunate that the current government would justify allocations to Tourism by suggesting that it is the future of Country St. Martin. It is alarming to think that school children, policy makers and many others may believe this hollow proposition. It would seem that this is the reason why our government finds it necessary to use tax payers’ money to train young St. Martiners to become dishwashers, bellboys and housekeepers in brand name hotels. What golden opportunity? The future of St. Martin is not tourism. The future of St. Martin is education! We need to build an educational system so that we could transact in knowledge production and knowledge export.
Click here to Read More
____________________________________________________________

Education and Youth | Environment | Heritage and Culture | Island Politics | Tourism | rebelwithoutapause's blog | 32 comments | read more

See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil- Ignorance is Bliss?

Who gives a damn what we say? Are they listening to us? Do they really care?
Who will they blame next when SXM becomes a country?

It was a pitiful sight to see how our Commissioners behaved before the Dutch? Like the picture above, Roy had his hand over his mouth, Louie had the SXM flag over his eyes and Theo became deaf after he fell in a pothole. The others suffered immediate amnesia.

The headlines below confirm that we are doomed under the Democratic Party.
Click here to Read More
____________________________________________________________

Business and Labor | Climate Change | Development and Construction | Environment | Health | Justice Police Crime | Tourism | sybille's blog | 26 comments | read more

St. Maarten - In need of Love.

Today is November 11th, St. Maarten/Martin´s Day, I have no doubt that all the local power and money hungry politicians, from both sides of the island, will be out and about giving speaches, stoking the ol fire of national pride. Reinforcing the delusion many seem to have, that because they are local we must be proud of them too.

Every local, and by local I include those who have emigrated here, who love the island and call it home, should avoid the ´political´events today and do something else instead. I have some suggestions.

Click here to Read More
____________________________________________________________

Dutch Politics | Federal Politics | Justice Police Crime | Tourism | Hady Nufyet's blog | 2 comments | read more

Thinking outside the box

Flipper, thanks for scanning and posting the the clip "Flemming on economy" . Scanning articles is a tedious and time consuming job and much appreciated by us all.

Fleming seems to be a man of action. I am sure there are so many issues with the new constitution that it must be overwhelming, and I am sure Fleming is doing a good job.

The only sad think with the current political situtation is so filled with urgent practical issues so no one really has the time to be visionary. Unfortunately I believe that when the practical issues will eventually be resolved, the basic problem will still remain, namely that St Martin is putting all the eggs in the same nest.

Tourism | daphne's blog | 1 comment | read more

Immigration creatively trying to slow SXM growth

At the same time the IMF reports lower overall growth in the Caribbean, the St Maarten Immigration is working overtime in trying to find more ways to slow the economy.

Immigration to be enforced - 24th October 2007

Immigration procedures - 24nd October 2007

Tourism | daphne's blog | 22 comments | read more

I'd say: "French side is a bunch of whiners"

The Daily Heralds editorial suggests a more relaxed attitude towards drinking and driving as a way for the French side to regain business. The French Chamber of Commerce President suggests (more) tax breaks for failing businesses. Here's why both ideas are terribly, terribly bad.

Tourism | daphne's blog | 22 comments | read more

"French side is hurting"

"If you did not know it yet, the French side is hurting. The economy is not doing well and Chamber of Commerce President Raymond Helligar is sounding the alarm and calling the elected officials to action."

FS economy worries - 22nd October 2007

Clic

Tourism | daphne's blog | login or register to post comments | read more

St Maarten could attract another US low cost carrier

St Maarten might add another low-cost carrier service between St. Maarten and the United States, JetBlue Airways. According to sources of the Daily Herald, negotiations about the daily service from New York are in the final stages.

Update: JetBlue expands in the Caribbean

Tourism | daphne's blog | 8 comments | read more