~Yang, Mohammed vying for top spot~

PHILIPSBURG:---  The St. Maarten Academy CAPE division has hit a home run with a record-breaking ninety-eight per cent (98%) overall pass rate in the 2024 May/June sitting of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). The teachers have once again showcased their unwavering dedication and hard work, while the students have proven their academic prowess with outstanding results.
The competition for this year's top spot at graduation is fierce, with Yu Jun Eason Yang and Eimaan Mohammed emerging as top contenders. Both students have excelled over the past two years of the program, with Yu Jun Eason Yang earning straight A profiles in Accounting Unit 1, Computer Science Unit 2, Information Technology Unit 1, and Performing Arts Unit 1. In close contention is Eimaan Mohammed, who achieved straight A profiles in Digital Media Unit 1, Management of Business Unit 1, and Performing Arts Unit 1.
School Principal, Mrs. Kim Lucas-Felix, expressed her joy and pride in the students' achievements, stating, "I am once again elated with the students' performance in the CXC CAPE Exams. Their commitment to excellence and their determination to succeed have truly paid off." She also heaped praises on her teachers, who have toiled in spite of challenges during the last academic year. Lucas-Felix echoed the sentiments shared last Thursday at the orientation for the CAPE Division that without the teachers, this feat would not have been possible.
The exceptional results reflect the high standards of education and the supportive learning environment provided by St. Maarten Academy. The school remains committed to nurturing and empowering students to reach their full potential and achieve academic success.
The school’s Management Team, led by Lucas-Felix and supported by Vice Principal Ms Joanna Trim; new CAPE Coordinator, Mrs. Doreen Edwards-Mac Intosh; Discipline Coach, Mrs. Souad Azbouni-Meskini; and head of the Mathematics Department, Mr. Alberick Arrendell expressed gratitude to the Board of the Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) for the confidence it placed in them to guide the pre-university programme.

“We could not have done it without the support of parents, too. Sometimes, when the students are a little off track, we call in parents because, in the end, our mission is to ensure that all students are successful.”

Lucas-Felix said the contribution of the former acting CAPE Coordinator, Ms. Kester Small, cannot go unnoticed. Small, who prepared some of the candidates for Digital Media Unit 2 and returned 100 per cent pass rate with all students scoring Grade I.
“All in all, this was a good year of results, and there are so many things in the pipeline for the CAPE Division, but those will be revealed in due time,” stated the principal. She extended congratulations to all the candidates, especially those who will be receiving their Associate Degree, and would like to urge those who are registered to continue the journey to always do their best.

PHILIPSBURG: --- Nathalie Tackling, head of the Voting Bureau, has accepted the offer granted by the board of the Soualiga Action Movement (SAM) to be the next Minister of Justice.
SAM leader Franklin Meyers confirmed to SMN News on Sunday that Tackling has accepted the offer his political party presented to her. Meyers made the announcement to the SAM board and the candidates who postulated themselves on the SAM slate for the August 19th snap elections.
Background information on Nathalie Tackling is taken from her LinkedIn profile below.
Nathalie Tackling is a St. Maarten native with an extensive background in corporate and legislative law and is well-versed in Dutch, European, and US law. She obtained an LL.M. in Trade & Corporate Law from the University of Maastricht (Netherlands) and an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law from the George Washington University School of Law (Washington, DC). Her coursework and final thesis focused on biotechnology patents and how to fit human genes and DNA into the existing framework of intellectual property.

Upon her return to St. Maarten, Nathalie started her career as a civil law litigator at a local firm. The following year, she joined the Corporate & Banking Unit of VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne, contributing her expertise to key cases on the Dutch Caribbean islands.

Since leaving the firm in 2016, Nathalie has worked as a Legal Advisor at the Raad van Advies (Council of Advice), one of the High Councils of State on St. Maarten. Her work there centered on providing professional feedback to the local government and Parliament on draft legislation, including drafting legislative advices and providing legal assistance on constitutional matters. In addition to her work at the Council of Advice, one of Nathalie’s proud moments has been establishing the Saba Legal Aid Desk, which provides free legal advice to Saban residents, the first of its sort in the Dutch Caribbean.

As of April 2019, Nathalie has officially founded Tackling Law and hopes to contribute her public and private sector experience to the community through a firm structured to provide service that optimizes the social and economic environment in the best interest of its clients. Nathalie believes that it is her responsibility to keep her clients informed of legal and cultural realities and to work with them to identify effective and efficient steps to achieve success.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Defense Caribbean Region, during the forthcoming two weeks, will hold a hurricane emergency relief exercise on Saint Marten and Saba. During this exercise, with the name ‘Windward Express’, soldiers will train together with local security partners to increase their preparedness and strengthen cooperation, with the aim of ensuring that the military can be deployed quickly and effectively after the passage of a hurricane.

Several units from Defense will participate in ‘Windward Express,’ including Marines from the Detachment Saint Marten, Marines from Marine Squadron Carib Aruba, and soldiers from Curaçao. Also, the Marine Ship HLNMS Pelikaan, boat groups with their FRISC boats, and other supporting units are part of the hurricane emergency relief exercise.

After arriving at Saint Marten, the units perform exercises on a rotational basis on both Saint Marten and Saba. These activities help the military become familiar with the specific conditions on the islands and collaborate with local partners, such as government organizations, non-governmental organizations, and companies that play a crucial role in emergency response.

By performing a practice exercise called ‘Windward Express’ on the Windward Islands, the military is optimally prepared to provide emergency aid, support civil authorities, and maintain public order immediately after the storm's passage in the event of an actual hurricane threat.

~ Mercelina 2 cabinet looks more like a Gumbs cabinet, with three ministers bearing the surname Gumbs. ~

PHILIPSBURG: --- Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, representing the Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement (URSM), Sarah Wescot Williams from the Democratic Party (DP), Melissa Gumbs from the Party for Progress (PFP), and Franklin Meyers from the Soualiga Action Movement (SAM), all signed the coalition accord on Friday afternoon along with their respective Members of Parliament Elect.

The signed accord and the list of candidates for the Mercelina 2 cabinet must be submitted to the Governor’s Office by 5 p.m. on Monday.

Those who signed the agreement are as follows

URSM

1. Prime Minister Dr. Luc Merclina
2. MP Elect- Sjamira Roseburg
3. MP Elect- Richinel Brug

DP

 4. MP Elect- Sarah Wescot Williams

 5. MP Elect- Grisha Heyliger Marten

 6. MP Elect- Viren Kotai

PFP

 7. MP Elect Melissa Gumbs

8. MP Elect- Ludmilla de Weever

SAM

9. MP Elect- Franklin Meyers

Ministers

The candidate Ministers that the four coalition partners have selected are as follows:

1. Prime Minister- Dr. Luc Mercelina/ Deputy Prime Minister Grisha Heyliger Marten.

2. VSA- Richinel Brug

3. ECYS- Melissa Gumbs

4. TEATT - Grisha Heyliger Marten

5. Finance- Marinka Gumbs

6. Justice— Nathalie Tackling. See the related story here.

7. VROMI- Patrice Gumbs.

8. Plenipotentiary - Gracita Arrindell

The current Minister of Justice, Lyndon Lewis, who is not part of the Mercelina 2 cabinet or coalition government, will be the key player until the screening process is completed.

Lewis will hold both positions, Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament, on the opposition benches. This will be an exciting situation since Lewis declared war on Wednesday last week when he clarified that he would monitor the entire council of ministers and intends to hold them accountable if they do not perform.

  Governor Ajamu Baly gave Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina until November 15^th, 2024, to present him with a final report on the candidate Ministers.

However, the three-month period with an opposition member of parliament in the Council of Ministers will be painful for the new coalition, the second 2x4 government elected in 2024.

MPs have the right to hold both roles for three months.

Dr. Luc Mercelina, Veronica Jansen Webster, Grisha Heyliger Marten, and Lyndon Lewis are the members of Parliament who will hold both roles.

After the screening is completed and the Mercelina 2 cabinet takes office, 15 people will be elected as Members of Parliament for the 2024- 2028 term.

MP Sjamira Roseburg, MP Veronica Jansen Webster, and Cris Wever represent the URSM faction.

MP Sarah Wescot Williams, MP Viren Kotai, and Dimar Labega will be representing the Democratic Party, while MP Ludmilla de Weever and Raeyhon Peterson, the Party for Progress (PFP), and MP Franklin Meyers representing the SAM.

Members of Parliament Egbert Jurendy Doran, Ardwell Irion, and Darryl York from the National Alliance, Omar Ottley, and Francisco Lacroes from the United Peoples Party, and Lyndon Lewis from the NOW party will be on the opposition benches.