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Ground now broken for Cay Hill infrastructure

CAY HILL--Ground was broken in Cay Hill on Thursday for infrastructure work in the area of the new elementary school, the new Secondary Vocational Education SBO institution and the Fire and Ambulance Departments.

Ministers Theo Heyliger and Rhoda Arrindell were present for the event. When completed, the project will deliver a new school and new traffic situation in the area.

Department of New Works head Kurt Ruan explained that the project was not an easy one, with several hiccups and the two Ministers having had to agree on certain changes. But in the end, he said, the people of St. Maarten will have infrastructure that will organise the immediate area.

He explained that the road to the Fire and Ambulance Departments would remain a two-way road and the road passing alongside the new schools would be one-way with an emergency exit leading to Cay Hill. The Raoul Illidge Sports Complex board also made land available for the execution of the works, which will include drainage facilities.

The parking facility behind the Fire and Ambulance Departments building will be expanded with 42 parking spaces, while the sports complex and elementary school also will have spaces for parking. The entire project will employ contractors MNO Vervat and Sabrenzo NV and will cost about NAf. 8 million.

The elementary school is scheduled to be open for the new school year and will accommodate 400 pupils.

Source: https://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/27814-ground-now-broken-for-cay-hill-infrastructure-.html

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Hull Daily Mail commented Hull City sound out Billy Davies to succeed Nick Barmby

HULL City have sounded out Billy Davies over the vacant manager's post at the KC Stadium, the Mail understands.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503342/s/1f334dc0/l/0L0Sthisishullandeastriding0O0CHull0ECity0Esound0EBilly0EDavies0Esucceed0ENick0EBarmby0Cstory0E160A40A4830Edetail0Cstory0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Carnival Village opens tonight

PHILIPSBURG--The 2012 Carnival season gets underway tonight with the opening jump-up and the opening of Carnival Village. Carnival revellers will gather at 8:00pm at the entrance to St. John's Estate for the start of the jump-up.

The jump-up will move down L.B. Scot Road, Bush Road, Walter Nisbeth Road and finally end at the Festival Village which will be renamed Carnival Village once the gates are opened. Minister of Tourism Franklin Meyers is expected to do the traditional opening of the gates in the absence of Minister Rhoda Arrindell who is currently in Holland.

The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) on Wednesday extended a general invitation to the population to come out and celebrate the opening of "fettin" season. "After months of preparations and hard work by the volunteers of the SCDF, we will finally be able to deliver to the people of St. Maarten what we believe will be a terrific Carnival season," President of the SCDF Stuart Johnson said.

"Carnival is the people's festival and we hope to see thousands of revellers on the road and in the village. Our Village is unique in the Caribbean. It's a great place for lunch and a great atmosphere for a show at night and dinner. Our booth holders are ready to welcome you and we are ready to kick off our festival," Johnson said.

Carnival 2012 runs from April 19 until May 2. The first show night is on Friday night when 17 calypsonians square off in the Senior Calypso Eliminations. The SCDF will also be honouring seven legends of calypso during the eliminations.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/27191-carnival-village-opens-tonight.html

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William delivers letters on govt changes to PM and Governor

~ Ministers continue working ~

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) leader Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin delivered to Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams (DP) on Wednesday morning a hard copy of the letter of withdrawal of support for the current United People's (UP) party/DP coalition signed by four MPs.

The letter was signed by Democratic Party (DP) MPs Leroy de Weever and Roy Marlin, former UP MP Romain Laville and independent MPs Frans Richardson and Patrick Illidge.

Marlin told the press after delivering the letter that he had wanted to give the Prime Minister a hard copy of the letter although he was sure she had already received copies of it from her party members.

He also delivered a letter to Governor Eugene Holiday in the afternoon explaining that the five MPs of his party, the two of the DP and the three independent MPs were prepared to form a new government as soon as possible and give that government their support for the remainder of the governing period 2010-2014.

Marlin had been in contact with the governor over the weekend to update him about the government shakeup.

Wescot-Williams, Social Development and Labour Minister Cornelius de Weever (DP) and UP Ministers Theo Heyliger (VROMI), Franklin Meyers (Tourism and Economic Affairs), Hiro Shigemoto (Finance) and Rhoda Arrindell (Education, Culture, Youth and Sports) were all at work at the Government Administration Building yesterday. Justice Minister Roland Duncan works from the Justice Ministry on A.Th. Illidge Road.

The shakeup in government leaves the UP out of the new government.

Marlin arrived alone at the Government Administration Building with the letter officially signalling that the UP/DP government is now operating only in a caretaker capacity until new ministers are vetted and take the oath of office.

He told the security guard he had a letter to deliver to the Prime Minister, subsequently was connected to her secretary and, after a brief wait, was given the go-ahead to head to Wescot-Williams' office.

At the office, Marlin handed the letter to the prime minister's secretary and the door was closed very briefly by a security guard. From all indications, Marlin did not see his new coalition partner Wescot-Williams, who will remain as Prime Minister in the new NA-led government.

That new government is expected to take office in the coming week after the nominees for the posts of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Minister; Finance Minister; Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister; and Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications Minister have been vetted by the security and judicial chains.

The other three ministerial posts are expected to be maintained by Wescot-Williams, Cornelius de Weever and Justice Minister Roland Duncan.

Marlin declined to confirm the names of any NA nominees, preferring to wait until nominees have passed the screening.

The joint nominee of independent MPs Frans Richardson and Romain Laville is Romeo Pantophlet, who served most recently on the supervisory board of Princess Juliana International Airport. Pantophlet now needs to pass the screening.

Asked if he would stay on in Parliament as an MP or take up a post as a minister, Marlin said, "Decisions as to who will leave and who will stay [in Parliament] will be announced as part of the total package [with new appointees]."

He added that there were NA members who would be leaving their Parliamentary seats for posts in the Council of Ministers. Vacant seats will be filled by the candidates next in line on the NA's list in the September 2010 elections.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/27513-william-delivers-letters-on-govt-changes-to-pm-and-governor-.html

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Outrage over SS poem on memorial day

A poem honouring a Dutch Waffen SS volunteer, which was to be read at the Dutch Second World War memorial event in Amsterdam, has been withdrawn after fierce opposition.

The poem, written by a 15-year-old boy about his uncle, was to be read at the commemoration last week in Dam Square, attended by the Dutch Royal Family.

The plan met fierce resistance from the Centre for Information and Documentation on Israel (CIDI), which monitors antisemitism and anti-Zionism in Holland.

"A poem which says a Waffen SS 'just made the wrong choice' is absolutely not appropriate for memorial day," said CIDI's spokeswoman Esther Voet. "It was originally intended to be read at Westerbork, the camp where Jews were taken to be transported to concentration camps. And Westerbork, rightfully, refused to have it read there. Then the committee then decided that it should be part of the commemorations in Dam Square."

The poem, written by 15-year-old Auke de Leeuw, was the winner of a schools' poetry competition organised by the official May 4 and 5 committee.

On May 4, the Netherlands remembers those killed in the Second World War and other military conflicts, and celebrates its liberation by the Allies the following day. Mr de Leeuw's uncle volunteered to fight with the SS and was killed on the Eastern Front.

In a separate development, Jewish activist group Federatie Joods Nederland sued the council of Vorden, a town on the German border, which had planned a commemorative march past graves of German soldiers. The lawsuit was led by attorney Herman Loonstein, who said: "We consider this form of commemoration as an unlawful act against victims, dead and alive."

Source: http://www.thejc.com/news/world-news/67461/outrage-over-ss-poem-memorial-day

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Lindsay Lohan: What's Her Best Hair Color?

Lindsay has gone back to her roots. LITERALLY.

Mean Girls fans remember her fiery red locks well. As a girl with such fair skin, it looked great on her ... the blonde hair she's worn for years? Mmmnot so much.

LiLo’s hair was red at the height of her career. With the bleached blonde dye job came arrests, substance abuse, partying and becoming a punchline in general.

Is going back to her original shade a harbinger of brighter things to come? Maybe not.

But it does look good, no? Vote for your favorite Lohan hair color below!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/03/lindsay-lohan-whats-her-best-hair-color/

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Claire Lomas finishes marathon thanks to Israeli invention

A paralysed woman has crossed the finish line of the London marathon after walking for 16 days with the help of an Israeli invention.

Claire Lomas, a former semi-professional British horse-rider, was told she would never walk again after an accident in May 2007.

But five years on she has proved her doubters wrong and raised more than £83,000 for spinal research.

She was able to enter the marathon and take on her 16 day march after discovering the ReWalk, a pair of motorised trousers created by Israeli entrepreneur Amit Goffer. Mr Goffer, whose creation costs £43,000, was paralysed in a car accident in 1997.

He came up with the ReWalk to enable paraplegics to walk and climb stairs with the aid of crutches.

The device, which involves sensor-triggered crutches that tilt the wearer's body so they can move forward, is the only one that would have given Ms Lomas mobility.

She told the JC that it reminded her of Wallace and Gromit's "wrong trousers".

Source: http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/67354/claire-lomas-finishes-marathon-thanks-israeli-invention

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Flags fly high on Israel's birthday

West Midlands based Israelis who had served in the IDF - including Rabbi Chanan Atlas, the new minister at Birmingham Central Synagogue - participated in a ceremony to mark Yom Hazikaron.

The event commemorated those killed in Israel's defence, soldiers held in captivity and victims of terror. The event, held at Birmingham Hebrew Congregation, was organised by the Israel Information Centre and attended by 120 people. The community also celebrated Yom Ha'atzmaut at Birmingham Central where over 140 people enjoyed JerusalemOnlineU.com's film Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference. Birmingham was one of 64 communities across 27 countries, where the film was screened on Israel's 64th birthday.

Edgware Synagogue marked Yom Ha'atzmaut with an evening of music and food. The 230 people at a dinner were addressed by David Turek, 85, who fought in the 1948 War of Independence, and the IDF's Sergeant Benjamin Anthony. Rabbi David Lister interviewed local MP Matthew Offord about Government views on the Middle East. Over £2,000 was raised for shul funds.

The Yom Hazikaron service at Newcastle United Hebrew Congregation was led by Rabbi Aaron Lipsey while Samuel Pearlman said Kaddish. Israeli-born Yael Tankel spoke to the 100-strong audience about a friend who served in the IDF and who was killed in the last Lebanon War, leaving a wife and unborn child. At Yom Ha'atzmaut celebrations, Israeli-style food and dancing was on the menu as well as a presentation about Israel by the community's youth. The event was organised by the Representative Council of North East Jewry.

Following a Yom Hazikaron service at Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation led by Rabbi Adrian Jesner, a Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration attracted over 140 people to a blue-and-white bedecked hall. The event raised £750 to aid this summer's trip to London by Israel's Paralympic Games team.

At Southend and Westcliff Hebrew Congregation's Yom Hazikaron service, a candle was lit by Elan Revivo and Rabbi Binyomin Bar read a memorial prayer. The shul's youth then gave a presentation about the IDF. Yom Ha'atzmaut celebrations included the girls' choir singing a medley of songs in Hebrew and English for the 100 guests who also danced to Israeli music. The evening raised £600 for Zahal, supporting disabled Israeli veterans.

Almost 70 people celebrated Israeli Independence Day at Sheffield's Kingfield Synagogue. A reception was followed by Rabbi Jonathan Golomb speaking on the importance of supporting Israel, particularly, he said, since at last week's National Union of Students conference in Sheffield the Union of Jewish Students' stall had been vandalised.

Israel's Independence Day was celebrated in style in Belfast with over 100 people enjoying Israeli dancing, cuisine, and a shouk selling arts and crafts in aid of Magen David Adom. The evening at the Jewish community centre began with a service commemorating Israel's war dead, led by Rabbi Menachem Brackman.The event was organised by Paula Tabakin and Sandra Baillie and was sponsored by the Northern Ireland Friends of Israel and the Belfast Jewish community.

LJY-Netzer, the youth movement of Liberal Judaism, and its emissary Adva Sapir, visited nine Liberal communities in a flurry of activity for Yom Ha'atzmaut. The team ran youth activities, as well as adult educational programmes celebrating Israel.

Source: http://www.thejc.com/community/local-news/67186/flags-fly-high-israels-birthday

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Landsloterij raffle

Friday the 13th proved to be lucky for Swinda Richardson of St. Maarten, who won a new car in the Landsloterij raffle, drawn at Motor World in Cole Bay on Friday afternoon. The raffle was part of the national lottery's 60th anniversary celebrations. Entries were from players on St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius. From left Former Chairman of Parliament of The Netherlands Antilles and current Director of Landsloterij Dudley Lucia, Milly McCaully, Richardson, Landsloterij spokesperson Iris Emerenciana, Lynet de Weever and Carina Spanner. (John Halley photo)

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/27063-landsloterij-raffle.html

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Joint control of documents imminent at Princess Juliana

MARIGOT--Police aux Frontières (PAF) announced recently that it had carried out a test control of documents and passports at Princess Juliana International Airport on March 23, as a precursor to what will become standard procedure with airport immigration officials of the Dutch side.

The procedures are part of the agreed requirements stipulated in the Declaration of Intent, signed between the government of St. Maarten, the Collectivité of Saint-Martin and the French State on February 15, to reinforce controls at the airport.

The Préfecture's Chef de Cabinet Matthieu Doligez said at a press conference another control would be carried out shortly pending the signing of a protocol between French and Dutch sides to formalise the operation and identify responsibilities of agents from each side. The protocol will be signed after the presidential elections.

Commandant of the PAF Raphaël Harlé stated the presence of PAF agents at the airport is to control documents of travellers and detect false papers. PAF agents as well as staff at the Collectivité have attended a training course on detecting false documents. Staff at Hotel de La Collectivité can call the PAF if they are in doubt about documents presented. In one case false documents were detected recently.

It was noted that it was increasingly hard to obtain a fake passport or fake driving license, but the documents used to obtain a genuine passport or driving license can be falsified.

Commandant Harlé added the PAF has no authority to make arrests on Dutch side territory and if a passenger is suspect, the Dutch side police will be notified and it will be up to them whether or not to make an arrest.

The control on March 23 turned up one false document, a fake diploma in the possession of an Indian national on his way to St. Lucia to enrol in a medical facility. Because his travel documents were in order, PAF alerted immigration authorities in St. Lucia to arrest the individual on arrival.

For the time being two PAF agents will be posted at Princess Juliana Airport from 9:00am to 6:00pm. Five more agents will arrive in June to complete a rotation for a daily presence at the airport. The assignments at the airport have no effect on the other operations of the PAF.

A logistics office, where French and Dutch side investigators can process files of persons arrested, is in the process of being set up at the airport.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/26917-joint-control-of-documents-imminent-at-princess-juliana-.html

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