SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - It is with immense pride and joy that I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people of St. Lucia on their historic victory at the Olympic Games. Julien Alfred brought home St. Lucia's first-ever Olympic medal, not just any medal, but a gold medal in the prestigious 100-meter event in Paris at the 2024 Summer Olympics. MP Ottley also congratulated the citizens of Dominica on the achievement of Thea LaFond who also made history for Dominica with triple jump gold.

This remarkable achievement against the favoured competitors of the larger countries underscores her exceptional talent, dedication, and poise on the world's biggest athletic stage.

"Julien Alfred's performance is a testament to the boundless potential that resides within the small islands of the Caribbean. Her victory is not just St. Lucia's triumph; it is a moment of pride for all of us in the Caribbean. It sends a powerful message that despite our size, our capabilities are limitless. We may be small, but our determination, talent, and spirit know no bounds," said MP Ottley on Sunday.

He encouraged young people in St. Maarten and the rest of the Caribbean to use Julien Alfred's monumental win as an inspiration. "It shows that with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, dreams do come true. The United People's Party is committed to providing our local young talents with the platform and opportunities they need to excel in their respective athletics fields. We believe in nurturing their abilities and encouraging them to pursue their dreams relentlessly."

Julien Alfred's victory is a shining example of what can be achieved when passion meets opportunity. Ottley said, "We are dedicated to creating an environment where every young athlete in St. Maarten has the chance to shine on the global stage. We will invest in sports programs, facilities, and training to ensure our youth are well-equipped to reach their full potential."

"To the youth of St. Maarten, let Julien Alfred's success be your motivation. Never give up on your dreams, no matter how big they may seem. Your hard work and dedication can lead to extraordinary achievements," said Ottley

Once again, congratulations to Julien Alfred and the people of St. Lucia, especially those who have made St. Maarten their home. Your victory has made the entire Caribbean proud and is a beacon of hope and inspiration for us all.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell said the NV GEBE electricity capacity challenge that has led to several months of daily loadshedding could have been dealt with almost a decade ago by ‘implementing forward thinking policies.’

In 2016, Arrindell visited El Hiero in the Canary Islands off the western coast of Africa where she toured a 100 per cent renewable energy project, ‘Central Hidroeolica de El Hierro” that involves the application of a new energy model. The island of El Hiero is on its way to meet its energy needs solely with renewable energy.

Arrindell, #6 candidate on the United Resilient Sint Maarten Movement (URSM) pointed out that, “In 2016, I have personally invited all political party leaders in St. Maarten to attend the presentation of Prof. Gunter Pauli on ‘The Blue Economy’ model for St. Maarten,” at Belair Community Center, Cay Hill, on Tuesday, September 20.

“This was a unique opportunity for everyone, regardless of political affiliation, sentiments or views, to hear about and even start practicing the economic model by Prof. Gunter Pauli.

“Prof. Pauli is not called the ‘Steve Jobs of Sustainability’ for nothing. He’s recognized as a real game-changer and has claimed many successes in sustainable growth all over the world, including in the Dutch Caribbean.” said Arrindell.

UNESCO has declared the island of El Hierro “a biosphere reserve and geo-park’, described as among others an designated area of particular environmental, geological heritage of scientific value or educational merit”

Renewable energies are the way for Sint Maarten to go. Renewables entail natural resources such as wind, light and heat from the sun (solar), and waves from the sea. “Our island nation is surrounded by all three and every effort must be made to utilize all three of them to supply the country and economy with clean energy for the long-term.

“The Government along with NV GEBE have found a solution for our immediate electricity needs with the current installation of a 10 Megawatt imported power plant followed by another 20 Megawatts within the next couple of months,” Arrindell said on Tuesday.

“If we want to create a better government, a better economy, a better society it will require taking a completely different approach in how we want to solve many of the long lingering issues on our beautiful island,” said Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell.

Arrindell is an advocate for the development of a blue economy where the country makes sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth.

Arrindell added that there should be a review and implementation of a transparent billing system in partnership with a reputable company. This step requires decisive action.

Group photo. Prof. Gunter Pauli at the left sitting and Gracita Arrindell far right second row standing.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Leader of the Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) party MP Christophe Emmanuel said on Monday that GEBE, with the support of government, should wipe away all outstanding utility bills and start anew with billing at the end of October 2024. He called the solution a "People's Bail Out."

"The people of St. Maarten have endured a cyber-attack at GEBE which compromised billing and other services and are now suffering constant power outages that have compromised their very lives. None of it was their fault. How can we just sit around and not offer the people some kind of relief," the MP questioned.

Drawing example to the ongoing Ennia saga, Emmanuel said that if St. Maarten can bail out a private company like Ennia, with dividends (money) that belongs to the people, for a problem the people of St. Maarten did not create, then government and GEBE can find a way to "bail out" the citizens of this country.

"From now going back, just wipe out all of the bills and start anew. People just cannot pay; they are only paying what they can. On the campaign trail every home we go into, 9 out of 10 homes the people are telling us about GEBE and the bills they must pay. And I know every party must be experiencing the same thing," Emmanuel said.

MP Emmanuel called on GEBE and the government to "show some love" for the people. "GEBE is owned 100% by the people of St. Maarten, but we are bailing out Ennia, a private company, for the next 30 years with our dividend money. Let’s give our people some breathing room and let them deal with clean, new billing moving forward," he said.

Speaking from position of sincerity, the MP noted that his comments are not made with mal intent, that his party forms part of the coalition and is politically mature enough to understand that it has an obligation to the people of St. Maarten to offer solutions in their best interest, not to stay silent.

He lamented that he has not heard anything from anyone about a relief for the people. "All I am asking is for GEBE to yes we have challenges, but here is what we are going to do to offer relief. But there is nothing. Just silence. And in the meantime, people are still getting regular bills as if they have regular service," Emmanuel said.

The MP also wants the Prime Minister to assure the public that there will be no new fees because of investments that were made for temporary generators. "The Prime Minister said on radio that he guarantees that there will be no additional fees placed upon the people. That guarantee the PM said was based on a handshake. And I'm saying no that's not good enough. It needs to be on black and white and we need to be clear with whom that guaranteed handshake was made. We are talking about people's lives. They deserve formal assurances," the MP concluded.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - NOW Candidate #15 Kenneth Smith on Wednesday stressed that every government and in fact every Member of Parliament should feel obligated to do what they must to take care of public safety services and they men and women that perform these services.

"These services and the people who execute these services are fundamental to the stability and prosperity of any community. As such, they should be made priority," Smith said.

Smith was echoing the many statements of his party leader Christophe Emmanuel who has advocated for better preparation and resources for frontline workers. Public safety, Smith said, is a collective responsibility and so is ensuring that these vital services are manned with prepared individuals.

Effective policing, he pointed out, requires training, community engagement, and technological tools to address and deter criminal activities. Fire safety education and actions like regular building inspections are critical preventive measures since the role of a fire department extends far beyond fires.

"Groups like the Red Cross and WIEMS that execute EMS services should be more integrated with other public safety services to enhance overall emergency management, considering that their quick response can be lifesaving," Smith said.

"I think sometimes we all forget or take for granted that public safety services will just be there and require no real attention. If you speak to the men and women of these services they will tell you the kind of support they need," Smith said.

This support, he added, also extends to the community. "Community involvement is vital for public safety. We need more initiatives that focus on collaboration between residents and authorities. Public awareness campaigns and community education initiatives enhance preparedness."

Smith is hoping that the public of St. Maarten will give him enough support in the upcoming parliamentary elections to obtain a seat and put bring his ideas for enhancing public safety to life via legislation.

Some of his strategic approaches will include:

- Enhanced Training and Education: Continuous professional development ensures public safety personnel are well-prepared for diverse situations.

- Investment in Technology: Modern tools like surveillance systems and data analytics improve operational efficiency. Cybersecurity is also crucial.

- Community-Based Approaches: Engaging the community through education and participatory programs builds trust and cooperation.

- Policy Support: Adequate funding and supportive legislation are essential for effective public safety operations.

- Global Cooperation: International collaboration on issues like terrorism and pandemics strengthens public safety efforts locally.

"It is the priorities that require little effort that are so very important. It does not take climbing a mountain to enhance public safety. We all have to be willing to do it together. Right now efforts are not coordinated and so they are not as effective. We have to collectively accept this responsibility which has a direct effect on our quality of life. On august 19 my party and I hope to secure your trust to work on these issues together," Smith concluded.