Philipsburg:--- The General Audit Chamber of Sint Maarten achieves membership in the CARIBBEAN ORGANIZATION OF SUPREME AUDIT INSTITUTIONS (CAROSAI).
By letter of February 7th 2012, the Secretary General of CAROSAI informed the Chairman of the General Audit Chamber, Mr. Roland Tuitt, of the approval of its membership request.
The Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions is a regional organization wherein the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI's) of over 20 (island) nations are represented, among which Aruba, Antigua, the U.S.V.I., Bahamas, Bermuda, Grenada, St. Lucia, Jamaica, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad. CAROSAI's objectives are to increase the exchange of knowledge and experiences among member Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI's) as well as expand training and continuing education possibilities among these institutions. Additionally, CAROSAI seeks to increase the importance of internal audit function in the public sector as well as render technical assistance and support to the member institutions. The Secretariat of the Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit Chambers is situated in Castries, St. Lucia W.I.
As the General Audit Chamber of Sint Maarten was recently established (10-10-10), participation in international organizations is crucial to the continued institutional development.
Approval of the membership to CAROSAI occurred during the meeting of its membership that was held on February 1 & 2 in Antigua. In the notification to the General Audit Chamber, CAROSAI's General Secretary , Ms. Averil James-Bonnette, indicated that the organization believes that "the Supreme Audit Institution of Sint Maarten will play a vital role in enabling CAROSAI to achieve its objectives".
Board and management of the General Audit Chamber are proud to be able to join the regional institution and in so doing both represent Country Sint Maarten as well as contribute to CAROSAI's objectives.

The Department of Sports and Youth Affairs of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, in collaboration with the St. Maarten Early Childhood Association, Day Care and Early Stimulation Centers will be holding activities in recognition of the Rights of Children on Saturday February 11th 2012 for children ages 0-4 years under the theme "Rights of the Child, not an Option but an Obligation".

The festivities will commence with a parade starting at 10:00am from the Board Walk at Sea Palace Hotel through Front Street to the Sundial School where activities consisting of storytelling, face painting, puppet show, sports and special presentations by the children will also take place.

Day Care and Early Stimulation Centers that have not yet registered to participate can still do so by contacting the Youth and Sports Department or the St. Maarten Early Childhood Association.

The Department of Sports and Youth Affairs in collaboration with the St. Maarten Early Childhood Association, Day Care and Early Stimulation Centers will be holding activities in recognition of the Rights of Children on Saturday February 11th 2012.

The festivities will commence with a parade starting at 10:00am from the board walk at Sea Palace Hotel through Front Street to the Sundial School.

At the Sundial School the activities will continue with a festival for children ages 0-4 years consisting of storytelling, face painting, puppet show and sports. Special presentations by the children will also take place.

The general public and particularly families are invited to come out and enjoy a wonderful day with the little ones in our community.

For the parents there will be an EXPO comprising of Governmental and Non-governmental Organizations that will be present to give valuable information to benefit their children.

Day Care and Early Stimulation Centers that have not yet registered to participate can still do so by contacting the Youth and Sports Department or the St. Maarten Early Childhood Association.

All participants for the parade have to be present no later than 9:45am for the parade.

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten:--- The Tallahassee-St. Maarten Foundation Inc. (TLH-SXMF) Director Arthur Lugisse, after spending six months on the island, recently returned to Tallahassee, Florida to execute a new platform with respect to the Tallahassee-St. Maarten Partnership.
"After talking to many persons on the island, and partnering with groups and individuals that have the same goals and objectives, I have designed a new platform to promote our country in the USA, with focus on creating opportunities for the Sister City relations between Tallahassee and St. Maarten based on the 12-year-old agreement.
"The new platform is to move forward in the development of joint ventures between business exchange and marketing and promotions. Our country has been a distribution center of goods and services for the past years and now many more doors have been opened since the status change, and the TLH-SXMF will be doing the needful in 2012," Executive Director Lugisse said on Wednesday.

Lugisse kicked off the platform this week by attending the Green Energy Symposium at the State Capitol court yard in Tallahassee, Florida from February 7-9. Many renewable energy companies and ancillary businesses are exhibiting their green products.

Vertical Turbine Power LLC (VTP) revealed to exhibitor attendees two units, a solar powered golf cart and VTP Solar Power Mobile Unit, designed and fabricated by the development company.

The mobile unit is a portable power generator and water filtration system powered by renewable energy. It can be used as a power and waste water plant for a village with no required government input.

Lugisse said now is the time to go green. "Green technology is being promoted all over the world especially with the high costs of fuel, the way to move forward is green. Country St. Maarten needs to also do more in this area and I was very pleased to hear about the plans for the harbor that are being explored in the area of renewable energy.

"This year is International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. The United Nations has called on governments, the private sector and civil society to use renewable and to build a new energy future by using new technology. The TLH-SXMF will be promoting this area throughout 2012 and will work on bringing St. Maarten and Tallahassee entrepreneurs together to develop sustainable energy projects to benefit the development of our country St. Maarten," Arthur Lugisse said on Wednesday.