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Jacobs Holds Info Session On Cost- Cutting Measures With Civil Servants

Silveria Jacobs

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of General Affairs Silveria Jacobs on November 6, held a virtual information session for civil servants to provide an update concerning governments cost-cutting measures as per the conditions for further liquidity support from the Netherlands.

The conditions, among other things, are a 12.5 per cent per cent reduction on the total salary package and employment benefits of civil servants, as well as a 25 per cent reduction on the total salary package and employment benefits of Members of Parliament and Ministers.

In its efforts to meet the second tranche conditions set by the Dutch government, St Read more

Spanner Wants End To Proxy Voting In Statia

Clockwise from left: State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops, a member of his delegation, DP leader and Island Council Member Adelka Spanner and Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij.

ST. EUSTATIUS--Democratic Party (DP) leader and Island Council Member Adelka Spanner wants to see an end to proxy voting in St. Eustatius. She conveyed her sentiments on this during a meeting with Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops during his recent visit to St Read more

Parliament Supports Aid For Islands, Asks If It Is Enough

Second chamber (file picture)

THE HAGUE--The VVD, CDA, D66 and GroenLinks parties in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament are content with the financial support the Dutch government is giving Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, but wondered whether the assistance is sufficient.

While the parties stated it was good to see that there is active support for the governments, entrepreneurs and dismissed employees in the Caribbean Netherlands, they did have a number of questions for State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops Read more

Mp Heyliger-Marten Clarifies ParliamentS Approach Towards Decolonization

Understanding the process requires extensive reading and understanding of international law

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In a statement issued on November 9th, the Faction Leader of the UPP and Second Vice-Chair of Parliament, MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten responded to statements from the opposition parties in Parliament regarding the decolonization process.

In the first place, MP Heyliger-Marten stated, I would like to point out that, to a certain extent, I can understand the confusion that the UD and PFP factions are referring to Read more

Brison: Presidium Has Right To Engage Legal Support

Rolando Brison

~ Thats their opinion, he says of MPs concerns ~

PHILIPSBURG--Chairperson of Parliament Rolando Brison says the presidium of Parliament has th Read more

Grisha Says Decolonisation Process Does Not Require Mandate From People For Approval

Grisha Heyliger-Marten

PHILIPSBURG--United Peoples (UP) party faction leader Member of Parliament (MP) Grisha Heyliger-Marten responded on Monday to statements made by Party For Progress (PFP) and United Democrats (UD) regarding the decolonisation process Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Monday, November 09, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) November 10, 2020

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Generally cloudy and breezy with isolated showers and possible isolated thunderstorms.

Forecast High:30C / 86FForecast Low:25C / 77F

Sunset Today:5:37 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:6:16 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS:
This afternoon through Tuesday midday: East northeasterly to east southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 09 to 18 mph and occasional higher gusts Read more

Balanced Budgets Unrealistic At This Time

Articles 100 and 101 of St. Maartens State Regulation (Constitution) regulates how St. Maartens Budget has to be established. The procedures are laid out in the compatibility regulations. In my opinion the following articles 15,16 and 25 of the Kingdom Law on Financial Supervision should also be suspended.

Another article which is article 25 of the Kingdom Charter (Statuut van Het Koninkrijk Der Nederlanden) which requires the approval of the Kingdom government should also be suspended Read more

Pfp Questions Whether Country Can Afford Washington Law Firm

Melissa Gumbs

~ Parliament has no authority to commit country to agreements ~

PHILIPSBURG--Party For Progress (PFP) is questioning whether St. Maarten can afford the costs associated with securing the services of a Washington DC-based law firm (see related stories) to assist with the completion of the decolonisatio Read more

Sarah Questions Matter With Dc Law Firm, Says Criminal To Tie Govt.S Hands

PHILIPSBURG--United Democrats (UD) Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams says the Parliamentary meeting to propose the establishment of a Permanent Committee for Constitutional Affairs and Decolonisation for the Parli Read more

Ud Extends Us Election Congratulatory Message.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The United Democratic Party of Sint Maarten extends congratulations to President-Elect, Joe Biden, and Vice President-Elect Kamalah Harris of the United States of America.
To all the American people for massively exercising their fundamental democratic right to elect their President and Senate and House representatives: You have demonstrated that the power of the people is by the ballot.

History has been made showing that regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity, barriers have been broken Read more

Ud Extends Us Election Congratulatory Message

Philipsburg — The United Democratic Party of Sint Maarten extends congratulations to President-Elect, Joe Biden and Vice President Elect Kamalah Harris of the United States of America. To all the American people for massively exercising their fundamental democratic right to elect their President and Senate and House representatives: You have demonstrated that the power of the people is by the ballot. History has been made showing that regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity, barriers have been broken Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The government of St. Maarten continues to allow for more businesses to open and fully operate in a safe and responsible manner. While St. Maarten continues to get accustomed to our new normal, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs would like to remind the community that COVID-19 is still being spread throughout our community.

It is important to recognize that the publics behavior plays a big role in the spread of the virus whether that results in a further increase or diminished spread of the virus Read more

PHILIPSBURG/MARIGOT:--- On Thursday, November 5, 2020, a monitoring committee meeting was held between the governments of Dutch- and French St. Martin and the office of the Prfet of Saint Barths and Saint Martin. Present and giving opening remarks during the meeting were Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, President of the Collectivit of Saint-Martin Daniel Gibbs, Secretary-General of the Prefecture Mikal Dore, representatives of the European Commission as well as technical representatives of both governments Read more

Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs Reminds The Community Not To Become Complacent

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The government of St. Maarten continues to allow for more businesses to open and fully operate in a safe and responsible manner. While St. Maarten continues to get accustomed to our new normal, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs would like to remind the community that COVID-19 is still being spread throughout our community.

It is important to recognize that the publics behavior plays a big role in the spread of the virus whether that results in a further increase or diminished spread of the virus Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Friday, November 06, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) November 07, 2020

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Saturday midday:Partly cloudy with isolated showers.

Forecast High:31C / 88F
Forecast Low:25C / 77F

Sunset Today:5:38 P.M.
Sunrise Tomorrow:6:14 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS:
This afternoon through Saturday midday: East-southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 08 to 15 mph Read more

First Coral Education Snorkel Held And Save Coral Reefs Competition Launched

Local students participating in the first Coral Education Snorkel hosted by Nature Foundation St. Maarten on Sunday, November 1.

Some of the snorkelling students exploring the waters around St. Maarten.

COLE BAY--Nature Foundation St. Maarten hosted the first Coral Education Snorkel for local students funded by the Prins Bernhard Culture Fonds Caribbean Territory, facilitated by Aqua Mania Watersports, on Sunday, November 1. Students learned about corals and the threats to and importance of these animals and ecosystems Read more

Pm: It Was Easier To Extend Opening Hours Of Casinos

Silveria Jacobs

PHILIPSBURG--The opening hours of casinos were extended from 12:00 midnight to 2:00am first, ahead of other businesses in the nightlife industry, because it was easier to execute for casinos and because casinos are less risky in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic than establishments such as clubs, lounges and Read more

12 Covid-19 Recoveries Today

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten The Honorable Minister ofPublic Health Social Development and Labour (VSA)Richard Panneflek expresseshis heartfelt condolences to the familyand friendsof Sint Maartens23rdCovid-19 victim, who passed awaytoday.Hewishesthe familymuchstrengthduringtheirtime ofbereavement.

As of November 5th, there were seven (7) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however there was a recovery rate of twelve (12) persons; bringing the total active cases to seventy- four (74) Read more

Minister Panneflek: Condolences To The Family Of Retired Civil Servant Vivienne Monsanto.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint MaartenIt is with profound sadness that the Honorable Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Richard Panneflek and the Ministry, offer their heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of Vivienne Monsanto.

Vivienne, affectionately known as Viv or Mama was a long serving Civil Servant Read more

Parliament Establish Historic Permanent Constitutional And Decolonization Committee Motion To Finalize Decolonization, Organize Rtc By July 2021

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – A joint proposal by MPs Solange Ludmila Duncan (NA) and Grisha Heyliger- Marten (UPP) to establish a Permanent Committee for Constitutional Affairs and Decolonization was approved unanimously during a public meeting of Parliament on Thursday.
Decades ago, the highest body in the world, the United Nations, made decolonization one of its core objectives Read more

Parliament Approves Committee, Passes Motion To Finalise Decolonisation Process

NA MP Solange Ludmila Duncan and UP MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten.

~ Peterson says motion sneaky, attempt to push opinion ~

PHILIPSBURG--Eleven Members of Parliament (MPs) on Thursday approved a motion to have the decolonisation process of the former Netherlands Antilles finalised as soon as possible, with op Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Honorable Minister of Public Health Social Development and Labour (VSA) Richard Panneflek expresses his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Sint Maartens 23rd Covid-19 victim, who passed away today. He wishes the family much strength during their time of bereavement.

As of November 5th, there were seven (7) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however, there was a recovery rate of twelve (12) persons; bringing the total active cases to seventy-four (74) Read more

Minister Panneflek: Condolences To The Family Of Retired Civil Servant Vivienne Monsanto.

PHILIPSBURG:--- It is with profound sadness that the Honorable Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Richard Panneflek and the Ministry, offer their heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of Vivienne Monsanto.

Vivienne, affectionately known as Viv or Mama was a long-serving Civil Servant. Employed since October 1, 1978, she worked as a Registration Officer in the Division of Labor Affairs & Social Services for 42 years.

Viv, as we will remember her, was hardworking and dedicated to her job Read more