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CUPECOY--The expansion of the American University of the Caribbean (AUC) Medical School campus, a US $35-million project, kicked off with the symbolic "turning of the soil" by government officials and AUC and DeVry representatives on Saturday.

The project was hailed as a needed economic push for the country. The buildings are slated for completion in July 2013.

Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams told the gathering on the front patio of the school that it was good to see the plans DeVry had announced when it bought the school "just a short nine months ago" already coming to fruition.

She said government would continue to look into e-zone legislation to help the school and other similar institutions. Already, AUC's tuition is exempted from Turnover Tax (ToT.)

She recalled AUC's move to St. Maarten in 1997 due to the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano in Montserrat had been considered temporary until the then-principals realised St. Maarten was "the perfect place ... with its airlift and cosmopolitan culture."

"DeVry is good for AUC and would be a good partner for St. Maarten ... [with] even more avenues to explore [to] make St. Maarten an education hub and a centre for knowledge," the prime minister said.

She remarked to the many AUC students at the event, which followed the annual commencement exercises, that AUC students had and continued to be "ambassadors" for the country.

Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin likened the expansion of the campus to that of a "700-room hotel adding another 300 rooms." The addition will help "to expand the economy" as AUC continues to be "not just another school" in the community. He noted that his Ministry of Infrastructure VROMI had worked closely with DeVry/AUC to get the project off the ground.

President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell had said earlier, at the commencement ceremony, that the ground-breaking ceremony "speaks volumes of the institution's confidence in St. Maarten, its peoples and its economy." She commended the principals on their work here "as they continue to make invaluable contributions to community life through their volunteer work even as they make significant contributions to St. Maarten's economy."

DeVry President Andrew Jeon said the expansion of the campus was DeVry's "largest single project." He said the new buildings would become "the heart and soul of the campus" where physicians would train to deal with the challenges of medicine in the 21st century.

AUC Chief Academic Officer Bruce Kaplan said DeVry and AUC appreciated the support of the prior government and hoped for the same support of the current one.

AUC Student Government Association President Renu Gaupam said the project "represents more than just buildings. ... It signals deeper roots in St. Maarten."

AUC Dean of Medical Sciences Ronald Testa said AUC would continue to remain committed to high standards and strive to give scholarships to University of St. Martin. He said students of the two institutions had a kinship who, as adults, had opted in pursuit of a higher education.

All AUC staff and their families also have special access to DeVry's host of education programmes.

PHILIPBURG--After 24 years of serving the community of St. Maarten, managing partners of Let's Travel Paul and Mathilde "Till" Heijmans will hand over the reins of the company to internet entrepreneur Terrance Rey, founder of Air St. Maarten. "I'm 67 years old and been in business here for 37 years (first with the hotel industry), I want to do something else," Heijmans said with signs of relief but a touch of sadness.

Rey's acquisition of the travel agency will be official on June 1, 2012 and comes after almost 10 years of trying to get Till Heijmans to sell the company to him as an established offline entity to compliment his online company (Air St. Maarten).

Fortune favoured Rey last year when the intended purchasers of Let's Travel, a group out of Jamaica, had a change of heart and scrapped plans to acquire the company. The Jamaican group cited several reasons including St. Maarten's strict visa requirements for Jamaicans and, subsequently, the very real scenario of having to constantly apply for visas for personnel who might travel to St. Maarten to conduct technical and accounting work.

Heijmans explained that she approached Rey to be the Managing Director of the company, for the Jamaican group which, possibly, would have been a step in him eventually and finally purchasing the company. Rey admittedly did not complain when the Jamaicans pulled out and took the next obvious step, the acquisition of Let's Travel.

Rey said the company will remain as Let's Travel, with current staff and will need to bring new team members onboard to fill the void that will be left by the Heijmans. The company will have to bring a financial person as well as a marketing specialist into the fold. "Usually an acquisition would mean a loss of employment, this one will create employment," he said, adding that Let's Travel has a "great team of agents with a wealth of experience."

Rey sees his experience as an online travel entrepreneur as a major advantage for his foray into the offline world. He said contrary to popular beliefs and perception, an online service like Air St. Maarten, booking sites or direct booking with the airlines, is not a threat to travel agencies. Air St. Maarten, he said, can only extend the services at Let's Travel.

"The perception that an online service is a threat to offline is not true. If that was true I wouldn't buy Let's Travel. Travel agencies are not doing badly. If there are travel agencies closing, it's because of pure mismanagement, not because of online sales or direct sales from airlines," Rey said. Added Heijmans: "You lose some (clients) but people make mistakes as well (when booking online) and after one mistake they are back in the office."

To keep Let's Travel ahead of the game, Rey said he will be counting on the experience of the agents to maintain that personal relationship with clients and great service which is key to success. He also said the intention is to ensure that Let's Travel is always "out there" through extensive marketing and taking advantage of areas such as cruises.

Though the company does quite a bit with cruises, both Rey and Heijmans admitted that on St. Maarten in general, this sector has been underdeveloped. "I see areas for growth in cruises, charters , tours and packages," Rey said.

In fact, Rey continued, he has asked Heijmans to stay on and organize group tours after she has taken her break and if she feels up to it. In the past Heijmans led tours to China and Kenya. "People were so happy with those tours, I only need to tell them when again. So you never know, after some rest if I feel like I might pick that up again," she said.

Heijmans said as the date draws nearer to hand over the keys of the operation to Rey, she has mixed feelings about leaving a company she has nurtured for 24 years. She said on one hand the long hours at the office is something she needs a break from, while on the other she expects to miss being involved with everything in the travel agency. "It will be a new experience, but I'm looking forward to it. There is a sad feeling still," she said.

Her advice to Rey was simple: Always stay on top of things (inside and outside of the company), offer something somebody else cannot. "We did things that nobody else did, then after see everyone do the same. He is enough of an entrepreneur to take that over. Remembering people is also important. People like it when you can greet them and remember them. It's important to have that relationship. The small things are so important," she said.

Air St. Maarten, a virtual airline, specializes in organizing private charters, shared charters, budget flights and commercial flights since 2003. Let's Travel is a full-service dynamic travel agency which has been servicing St. Maarten and the surrounding islands, Europe, USA, South America and other destinations for 24 years. The company specializes in cruises, air reservations, cars, hotels, vacation packages and more.

SUCKER GARDEN--A Jamaican man was stabbed by another man behind the Bible Baptist Church in Sucker Garden around 5:45pm on Saturday, May 26.

He was transported by ambulance to St. Maarten Medical Center where he later died.

Details about the fatal stabbing were scanty up to press time, but Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos confirmed that the suspect had turned himself in to the police.

"The person who we think did it has come forward to the police, which is good for the investigation," Mos told The Daily Herald on Sunday.

The police, including the Forensic Department, are investigating.

POINTE BLANCHE--Inmates at Pointe Blanche prison began a "peaceful demonstration" on Sunday, May 27, Prison Director Rudsel Ricardo announced Sunday.

Ricardo said in a press release that he had received a letter Saturday evening signed by Inmates Association President I. Arrindell, Vice-President T. Simmon and Secretary, J. Richardson stating that the inmates had requested to hold a peaceful demonstration beginning on Sunday, May 27.

Ricardo said inmates who worked in the kitchen had not come out of their cells on Sunday morning to prepare breakfast for the day. To preserve the safety of inmates who did go to work, all inmates are currently in their cells.

Regular visiting hours were cancelled on Sunday for safety reasons as well, Ricardo explained.

The reasons given for the demonstration include inmates' disapproval of their treatment by prison authorities in terms of abuse of power whereby, according to the association, inmates were threatened to go back to work during the last strike, and discrimination whereby some inmates receive benefits and others do not, Ricardo explained in the press release.

Other reasons include the inhumane and unhygienic conditions caused by prison renovations and additional abuse whereby they do not agree with the prices for food items available for purchase at the canteen in the prison.

Ricardo noted that the reasons given were the same ones prisoners had given for a strike they had staged in May 2011. That strike lasted one month.

Het was druk gisteren op het schiereiland bij Caracasbaai tijdens de open monumentendag Monumento Habrí.

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Honderd uitverkoren dames streden zaterdag op hun acht centimeter hoge stiletto’s bij Renaissance Mall tijdens de Stiletto Run.

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,,Iedereen is een winnaar!” Met deze woorden van Barry Bakker werd gisteren de prijsuitreiking van een uitermate succesvolle tweede Curaçao Ennia International Triathlon ingeluid.

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De gerealiseerde feitelijke inkomsten van de Curaçao Gaming Board (CGB) zijn een stuk lager dan de eerder beoogde opbrengsten van de casinoheffing.
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Directeur van het Rooms Katholiek Centraal Schoolbestuur (RKCS) Lisette van Lamoen-Garmers heeft met grote verbazing het nieuws gehoord dat de minister van Onderwijs, Carlos Monk (PS), de afkondiging van de verscherpte examenregeling voor havo/vwo weer ingetrokken heeft.
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Aan de oever van de rivier de Theems in Londen is gisteren een reusachtige foto van koningin Elizabeth II en haar gezin opgebouwd. De Queen viert dit jaar het feit dat zij 60 jaar op de troon zit. De zwartwit foto uit 1977 is 70 meter hoog en 100 meter breed en toont Elizabeth, prins Philip en hun vier kinderen Charles, Anne, Andrew en Edward.

Speelsters van het Britse beachvolleybalteam veroorzaakten donderdag een grote opstopping op Parliament Square in Londen. De dames, gekleed in bikini, waren daar bezig met een potje beachvolleybal. Er ontstond direct een chaos op het drukke kruispunt. De actie was bedoeld om de bevolking bewust te maken van de verkeersdrukte, die hen tijdens de Olympische Spelen te wachten staat, en om een nieuw verkeerssysteem uit te testen. Via het ‘Temporary Road Changes-systeem’ kunnen de inwoners van Londen tijdens de Spelen op elk moment op internet zien waar drukte en wijzigingen in het verkeer zijn.

Het bestuur van de Caribische belangenorganisatie ‘Cariño’ was afgelopen week te gast bij de gevolmachtigde minister van Curaçao, Sheldry Osepa. Cariño werd eerder dit jaar speciaal voor Caribische vijftigplusvrouwen in Nederland opgericht. Het gaat de organisatie om participatie, zorg en welzijn van alle Caribische vrouwen in die leeftijdsgroep. Volgens secretaris Dorothy Leander is belangenbehartiging nodig, omdat deze groep vaak al decennialang in Nederland woont maar altijd een beetje overschaduwd is door andere groeperingen. Belangrijkste problemen van deze groep zijn, zoals bij veel mensen, schulden en gebrek aan lichamelijk en geestelijk welzijn. Cariño wil oplossingen zoeken door onder meer informatiebijeenkomsten te organiseren. Voor juni en juli zijn er al veel activiteiten gepland. Het Kabinet van Curaçao zal ook vertegenwoordigd zijn bij enkele bijeenkomsten. Op de foto minister Osepa met een paar van de bestuursleden van Cariño.

De leerlingen van de opleidingen tot stresscounselor en gewichtsconsulent en van module 1 van de vierjarige opleiding voetreflextherapie ontvingen gisteren hun diploma. Dit gebeurde uit handen van Angelique Felisie van Body Care Caribbean (BCC), in het bijzijn van de docenten en de opleidingscoördinator/examinator van Sonnevelt Opleidingen uit Nederland. BCC verzorgt samen met Sonnevelt mbo- en hbo-opleidingen. In september starten de nieuwe opleidingen, informatie is te vinden op www.bodycare-caribbean.com.

CAY HILL--The Fire Department will not accept any requests for beach bonfires until October due to sea turtle nesting season. Residents and businesses are also urged to refrain from any beach fires to ensure sea turtles coming ashore and nests are not disturbed, especially on nesting beaches: Simpson Bay Beach, Guana Bay Beach, Great Bay Beach and Gibbs Bay.

At least, four bonfires took place recently on Guana Bay Beach. This was discovered during a recent clean-up of the beach, according to the department.

Further investigation by Nature Foundation St. Maarten revealed that pregnant female turtles aborted their attempts to nest on the beach based on clearly observed nest crawls.

At nesting beaches, beach bonfires and other sources of light pollution are known to modify sea turtle behaviour and even discourage egg-bearing females from coming ashore to nest, according to the foundation.

Bonfires and beachfront lighting also strongly affects sea turtle hatchlings, luring them inland and away from the sea where they succumb to predators, dehydration and other hazards, and hatchlings can be attracted to and burned by the flames.

Sea turtle population numbers have plummeted to dangerously low numbers over the past century due to human impact, bringing the species close to extinction and causing them to be listed as critically endangered.

In order to reverse this trend all sea turtle species are now protected by international laws and treaties as well as local laws.

Based on Article 16 and 17 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance St. Maarten it is illegal to kill, wound and capture or pick-up sea turtles. It is also illegal to directly or indirectly disturb their environment resulting in a physical threat or damage, or to commit other acts which result in disturbance of the animal.

It is also forbidden to disturb, damage or destroy sea turtle nests, lairs or breeding places, and it is also forbidden to pick-up or to destroy the eggs of any species of sea turtle, according to the foundation.

CAY HILL--The Fire Department will not accept any requests for beach bonfires until October due to sea turtle nesting season. Residents and businesses are also urged to refrain from any beach fires to ensure sea turtles coming ashore and nests are not disturbed, especially on nesting beaches: Simpson Bay Beach, Guana Bay Beach, Great Bay Beach and Gibbs Bay.

At least, four bonfires took place recently on Guana Bay Beach. This was discovered during a recent clean-up of the beach, according to the department.

Further investigation by Nature Foundation St. Maarten revealed that pregnant female turtles aborted their attempts to nest on the beach based on clearly observed nest crawls.

At nesting beaches, beach bonfires and other sources of light pollution are known to modify sea turtle behaviour and even discourage egg-bearing females from coming ashore to nest, according to the foundation.

Bonfires and beachfront lighting also strongly affects sea turtle hatchlings, luring them inland and away from the sea where they succumb to predators, dehydration and other hazards, and hatchlings can be attracted to and burned by the flames.

Sea turtle population numbers have plummeted to dangerously low numbers over the past century due to human impact, bringing the species close to extinction and causing them to be listed as critically endangered.

In order to reverse this trend all sea turtle species are now protected by international laws and treaties as well as local laws.

Based on Article 16 and 17 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance St. Maarten it is illegal to kill, wound and capture or pick-up sea turtles. It is also illegal to directly or indirectly disturb their environment resulting in a physical threat or damage, or to commit other acts which result in disturbance of the animal.

It is also forbidden to disturb, damage or destroy sea turtle nests, lairs or breeding places, and it is also forbidden to pick-up or to destroy the eggs of any species of sea turtle, according to the foundation.

CAY HILL--The Fire Department will not accept any requests for beach bonfires until October due to sea turtle nesting season. Residents and businesses are also urged to refrain from any beach fires to ensure sea turtles coming ashore and nests are not disturbed, especially on nesting beaches: Simpson Bay Beach, Guana Bay Beach, Great Bay Beach and Gibbs Bay.

At least, four bonfires took place recently on Guana Bay Beach. This was discovered during a recent clean-up of the beach, according to the department.

Further investigation by Nature Foundation St. Maarten revealed that pregnant female turtles aborted their attempts to nest on the beach based on clearly observed nest crawls.

At nesting beaches, beach bonfires and other sources of light pollution are known to modify sea turtle behaviour and even discourage egg-bearing females from coming ashore to nest, according to the foundation.

Bonfires and beachfront lighting also strongly affects sea turtle hatchlings, luring them inland and away from the sea where they succumb to predators, dehydration and other hazards, and hatchlings can be attracted to and burned by the flames.

Sea turtle population numbers have plummeted to dangerously low numbers over the past century due to human impact, bringing the species close to extinction and causing them to be listed as critically endangered.

In order to reverse this trend all sea turtle species are now protected by international laws and treaties as well as local laws.

Based on Article 16 and 17 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance St. Maarten it is illegal to kill, wound and capture or pick-up sea turtles. It is also illegal to directly or indirectly disturb their environment resulting in a physical threat or damage, or to commit other acts which result in disturbance of the animal.

It is also forbidden to disturb, damage or destroy sea turtle nests, lairs or breeding places, and it is also forbidden to pick-up or to destroy the eggs of any species of sea turtle, according to the foundation.

CAY HILL--The Fire Department will not accept any requests for beach bonfires until October due to sea turtle nesting season. Residents and businesses are also urged to refrain from any beach fires to ensure sea turtles coming ashore and nests are not disturbed, especially on nesting beaches: Simpson Bay Beach, Guana Bay Beach, Great Bay Beach and Gibbs Bay.

At least, four bonfires took place recently on Guana Bay Beach. This was discovered during a recent clean-up of the beach, according to the department.

Further investigation by Nature Foundation St. Maarten revealed that pregnant female turtles aborted their attempts to nest on the beach based on clearly observed nest crawls.

At nesting beaches, beach bonfires and other sources of light pollution are known to modify sea turtle behaviour and even discourage egg-bearing females from coming ashore to nest, according to the foundation.

Bonfires and beachfront lighting also strongly affects sea turtle hatchlings, luring them inland and away from the sea where they succumb to predators, dehydration and other hazards, and hatchlings can be attracted to and burned by the flames.

Sea turtle population numbers have plummeted to dangerously low numbers over the past century due to human impact, bringing the species close to extinction and causing them to be listed as critically endangered.

In order to reverse this trend all sea turtle species are now protected by international laws and treaties as well as local laws.

Based on Article 16 and 17 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance St. Maarten it is illegal to kill, wound and capture or pick-up sea turtles. It is also illegal to directly or indirectly disturb their environment resulting in a physical threat or damage, or to commit other acts which result in disturbance of the animal.

It is also forbidden to disturb, damage or destroy sea turtle nests, lairs or breeding places, and it is also forbidden to pick-up or to destroy the eggs of any species of sea turtle, according to the foundation.

THE HAGUE--The violation of children's rights in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba will feature prominently in three TV programmes that will be aired in The Netherlands this summer.

"Talked-about Affairs" (Spraakmakende Zaken) is the title of the TV programme hosted by former leader of the Dutch political party GroenLinks Paul Rosenmöller and produced by IKON Television.

From July 19 until August 24, the TV programme will zoom in on the universal rights of children as stated in the United Nations (UN) Manifest and the violation of these rights in The Netherlands and on Dutch 'public entities' Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. There will be three 35-minute programmes focusing on The Netherlands and three about the islands.

An extensive investigation by the UN children's rights organisation UNICEF about the position of children on the islands of the Dutch Caribbean is the main reason for producing the three programmes about the Caribbean Netherlands, IKON stated in a press release on Friday.

Things go especially wrong in the area of education and upbringing of children on the islands, according to IKON, which also mentioned the relatively high number of teenage mothers.

"Your father has disappeared, your mother has no time, school is inadequate and there is little to do. How does one grow up in the Caribbean Netherlands? For many children in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba growing up is no fun," the release stated.

Things are also not too pretty in the "motherland" The Netherlands where it comes to children's rights. "Many children are the victims of a divorce, they are often beaten up or are left to fend for themselves."

The programme about The Netherlands focuses on children abuse, the position of children in divorces, the situation of children of asylum seekers who are often traumatised by the insecurity about their future and the situation at the refugee centre. In The Netherlands, IKON also works together with the Children's Ombudsman Marc Dullaert.

THE HAGUE--The violation of children's rights in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba will feature prominently in three TV programmes that will be aired in The Netherlands this summer.

"Talked-about Affairs" (Spraakmakende Zaken) is the title of the TV programme hosted by former leader of the Dutch political party GroenLinks Paul Rosenmöller and produced by IKON Television.

From July 19 until August 24, the TV programme will zoom in on the universal rights of children as stated in the United Nations (UN) Manifest and the violation of these rights in The Netherlands and on Dutch 'public entities' Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. There will be three 35-minute programmes focusing on The Netherlands and three about the islands.

An extensive investigation by the UN children's rights organisation UNICEF about the position of children on the islands of the Dutch Caribbean is the main reason for producing the three programmes about the Caribbean Netherlands, IKON stated in a press release on Friday.

Things go especially wrong in the area of education and upbringing of children on the islands, according to IKON, which also mentioned the relatively high number of teenage mothers.

"Your father has disappeared, your mother has no time, school is inadequate and there is little to do. How does one grow up in the Caribbean Netherlands? For many children in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba growing up is no fun," the release stated.

Things are also not too pretty in the "motherland" The Netherlands where it comes to children's rights. "Many children are the victims of a divorce, they are often beaten up or are left to fend for themselves."

The programme about The Netherlands focuses on children abuse, the position of children in divorces, the situation of children of asylum seekers who are often traumatised by the insecurity about their future and the situation at the refugee centre. In The Netherlands, IKON also works together with the Children's Ombudsman Marc Dullaert.

THE HAGUE--The violation of children's rights in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba will feature prominently in three TV programmes that will be aired in The Netherlands this summer.

"Talked-about Affairs" (Spraakmakende Zaken) is the title of the TV programme hosted by former leader of the Dutch political party GroenLinks Paul Rosenmöller and produced by IKON Television.

From July 19 until August 24, the TV programme will zoom in on the universal rights of children as stated in the United Nations (UN) Manifest and the violation of these rights in The Netherlands and on Dutch 'public entities' Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. There will be three 35-minute programmes focusing on The Netherlands and three about the islands.

An extensive investigation by the UN children's rights organisation UNICEF about the position of children on the islands of the Dutch Caribbean is the main reason for producing the three programmes about the Caribbean Netherlands, IKON stated in a press release on Friday.

Things go especially wrong in the area of education and upbringing of children on the islands, according to IKON, which also mentioned the relatively high number of teenage mothers.

"Your father has disappeared, your mother has no time, school is inadequate and there is little to do. How does one grow up in the Caribbean Netherlands? For many children in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba growing up is no fun," the release stated.

Things are also not too pretty in the "motherland" The Netherlands where it comes to children's rights. "Many children are the victims of a divorce, they are often beaten up or are left to fend for themselves."

The programme about The Netherlands focuses on children abuse, the position of children in divorces, the situation of children of asylum seekers who are often traumatised by the insecurity about their future and the situation at the refugee centre. In The Netherlands, IKON also works together with the Children's Ombudsman Marc Dullaert.