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TelEm Group offices re-opening Friday.

>PHILIPSBURG:---  TelEm Group announced Thursday night that all company locations will be opened to the general public at the start of the business day Friday following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika.

Erika passed further south than anticipated with less rainfall than expected on the island.

Company personnel will be assessing assets and equipment for possible water damage and then begin the process of assisting any customers with damaged or faulty telecommunication services following Thursday’s storm.

The company says TelCell’s mobile service and TelEm Group’s high-speed ADSL service both continued to operate efficiently throughout the storm providing valuable updates to customers throughout St Read more

The Caribbean Future Forum Brings Together Young Thinkers And Senior Un Officials As A New Wave Of On-Line Discussions Gets Underway

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago - The first in a new series of Caribbean Future Forum webinars kicks off this Friday, 28 August at 11.30 am, and will focus on what the Sustainable Development Goals will mean for people in the Caribbean.

On 25-27 September 2015, world leaders will gather at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to agree on a set of goals and targets to ensure that countries across the globe not only achieve economic and social development, but that they do so in a way that will not exhaust our planet’s environmental resources Read more

Up Family Extends Condolences To The Families Of Those Lost In Erika Flooding And Prayers For The Nation Of Dominica

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Leader of the United People's Party (UP) Member of Parliament Hon. Theo Heyliger was shocked after viewing news footage of the flooding devastation in the Caribbean island of Dominica. 

The extreme flooding is attributed to the passing of Tropical Storm Erika through the Leeward Islands Read more

Plasterk And Richardson Smoke A Peace Pipe In The Hague

Protocol remains in place, cooperation back on track

ST. MAARTEN / THE HAGUE – Tensions between the Netherlands and St. Maarten have eased after a meeting between Justice Minister Dennis Richardson, Minister of Safety and Justice Ard van der Steur and Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk during a dinner in The Hague on Wednesday. The brusque announcement by Gerard Bouman, chief of the Dutch national police, that he will not work together with the local government and the local police force to combat corruption and organized crime in St Read more

Tropical Storm Erika Leaves Island In One Piece

Huge waves, driven by Tropical Storm Erika battered the coast. Photo Today / Milton Pieters

St. Maarten – Tropic al Storm Erika did not live up to expectations and given the chaos the storm caused on other islands like Dominica, that is something to be grateful for. The island was battered by strong winds on Thursday, but the expected excessive rainfall did not materialize.

As a precautionary measure, the government ordered all businesses to remain closed yesterday. At 6 p.m., Prime Minister Gumbs announced that restaurants and casinos could reopen Read more

Princess Heights Nominated For Chta Chief Awards

St. Maarten – The luxury boutique hotel Princess Heights, managed by Emil Lee, is among the 29 nominees for the inaugural Chief Awards of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association CHTA. The finalists will be announced at the end of this month and the winners will be revealed at the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (Chief) in October at the Waldorf Astoria Resort in Puerto Rico.

The tourists associations of Curacao, Puerto Rico and Jamaica are among the nominees Read more

Remembering Frank Mingo: “A Force To Be Reckoned With”

Frank Mingo holding his one of his sons on vacation. Photo contributed

St. Maarten / By Andrew Dick – The late Frank Mingo was a force to be reckoned with says Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs who served with him in the Netherlands Antilles Parliament prior to October 10, 2010.  Born in Aruba on February 1948, Frank Elliot Mingo was also known as Frankie or Pappie, the son of Clara Hunt and Frank Emmanuel Mingo Sr Read more

Waste-to-energy plant still pending

PHILIPSBURG--The country will have to wait for some time more before a solution is implemented for the garbage mountain growing out of Great Salt Pond and looming over Philipsburg.

The much-talked about waste-to-energy plant appears to have stalled. The plant was a topic in last year’s hotly contested Parliamentary Elections and since then not much has been heard.

Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, asked about the project at the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday, said “I wish I can give you a date Read more

Erika passes St. Maarten without major incident

 PHILIPSBURG--Tropical Storm Erika passed St. Maarten/St. Martin on Thursday without any major incident. There were some reports of minor wind damage. All government services and schools resume as of today after Thursday’s closure due to the passing of the storm.

St. Maarten was spared any damage to property or loss of life as the storm passed. However, the island of Dominica did not fare as well; that island sustained extensive property damage and the tragic loss of at least four lives in floodwaters accumulated from rain dumped by Erika on the very mountainous country Read more

Man shot in stomach in robbery at Guana Bay

~ Second home robbed ~

GUANA BAY--A man was shot in his stomach during an armed robbery at his home on Pen Shell Road in Guana Bay in the wee hours of Thursday morning.

A second home in the area also was robbed around the same time. Prosecutor Karola van Nie confirmed that there had been two robberies in Guana Bay. She said a man had been shot during one robbery, but his condition was not life-threatening.

The Daily Herald understands that the man was shot in his stomach Read more

St. Maarten, Netherlands vow to fight crime together

THE HAGUE--St. Maarten and the Netherlands, in The Hague on Wednesday evening, reconfirmed their wish to work together to fight organised, undermining crime on the island.

The meeting between St. Maarten Justice Minister Dennis Richardson, Dutch Minister of Security and Justice Ard van der Steur and his colleague of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Minister Ronald Plasterk was deemed “constructive.” Richardson spoke of “open” talks during which parties were able to “speak their mind.”

“I think we can now proceed in a constructive manner,” stated Minister Plasterk Read more

Govt drafts amendments to increase 2015 budget

PHILIPSBURG--Amendments to increase the 2015 budget by some NAf. 15 million, and to shift some budgetary allocations have been sent to Parliament by the Marcel Gumbs cabinet.

It is hoped by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs that Parliament will deal with the amendments soon.

The 2015 budget, though passed by Parliament on January 29, has not yet been given the stamp of approval by the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT.

Amendments to the budget were anticipated based on projected increases to government income and other complementing factors.

Referred to as a "skeleton budget" by Finance Minister Martin Hassink, the 2015 balanced budget stands at NAf Read more

Press Release - Port St. Maarten and Lagoon Authority, 28 August

Port St. Maarten and Lagoon Authority Clearance Offices Partially Closed on Friday, 28 August

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, August 27, 2015

PORT ST. MAARTEN – Port St. Maarten and the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority hereby announces that the clearance offices at Great Bay and in Simpson Bay will be closed on Friday, August 28 from 9.30am to 1.30pm.

For those who would have some business to attend too, please do so before 9.30am or after 1.30pm.

The closure is related to the staff attending the memorial services for former Netherlands Antilles Senator and Minister of Finance Hon Read more

Restaurants and Casinos can Open

Prime Minister Gumbs: Restaurants and Casinos can Open Thursday Evening. Schools, Businesses and Government to Reopen on Friday

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), in an update on Thursday afternoon, August 27, says, based on an assessment of the current weather situation regarding Tropical Storm Erika:

"Country Sint Maarten remains under a Tropical Storm Warning Read more

Project to protect Caribbean sharks launched in Rotterdam

ROTTERDAM--The Save Our Sharks project of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) was launched at Rotterdam Blijdorp Zoo on Wednesday with a presentation and the reading of the children’s book The Adventures of Stanley the Shark and Friends to two classes of a local school.

“Sharks are the cleaners of our oceans. They keep our reefs healthy. Yet, they are an endangered species and must be protected,” said Ron van der Veer of DCNA at the opening ceremony conveniently held in the Shark’s Room at Blijdorp’s Oceanium in the presence of at least ten sharks that were swimming by in the adjacent huge aquarium.

DCNA’s Save Our Sharks project came about through a donation of the Dutch National Postcode Lottery, which made 1.5 million euros available for three years to set up programmes on all six Dutch Caribbean islands Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs: All Businesses to remain closed on Thursday. Potential for severe flooding

The Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs will be issuing a statement around 6.00pm giving an update with respect to a number of issues after an assessment has been carried out related to the passing of Tropical Storm Erika.

For Immediate Release: Thursday, August 27, 2015/N145

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), addressed the nation at noon on Thursday, August 27 with respect to the approach of Tropical Storm Erika Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs: All Businesses to remain closed on Thursday. Potential for severe flooding.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), addressed the nation at noon on Thursday, August 27 with respect to the approach of Tropical Storm Erika.
The Prime Minister stated the following in his national address:
“Country Sint Maarten remains under a Tropical Storm Warning. Tropical Storm Erika at 11.00AM Thursday morning was located 98 miles south of Sint Maarten.
“The current forecast as of Thursday morning, has Tropical Storm Erika passing just south of the country this afternoon and tonight, weather conditions are still expected to deteriorate.
“Therefore, as Prime Minister and based on the advice of key Emergency Support Functions, certain decisions need to be taken to protect the safety of our citizens and visitors.
“Strong to near gale force winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour and gusts up to storm strength is still possible.
“Erika is forecast to produce rainfall of 3 to 5 inches with maximum amounts of 8 inches across the Leeward Islands.
“Severe flooding is possible from Erika Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs: Restaurants And Casinos Can Open Thursday Evening. Schools, Businesses And Government To Reopen On Friday

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), in an update on Thursday afternoon, August 27, says, based on an assessment of the current weather situation regarding Tropical Storm Erika:

“Country Sint Maarten remains under a Tropical Storm Warning.  The country will continue to Read more

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 26, 2015/N144

Prime Minister Gumbs: All Businesses, Schools and Government Offices Closed on Thursday due to the arrival of Erika

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), addressed the nation at noon on Wednesday, August 26 with respect to the approach of Tropical Storm Erika Read more

Postal Services St. Maarten (PSS) closure for passage of Tropical Storm Erika.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Postal Services St.Maarten (PSS) hereby reminds the general public in keeping with the rule of business closure by the Honorable Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs that closure of operations will only be on Thursday, 27th August, 2015.

Management of PSS hopes to resume normally on Friday with operations and working hours resum Read more

Frank Mingo Funeral Rescheduled from Thursday to Friday.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Please be informed that due to the upcoming weather on Thursday, the funeral service for former Senator and Minister of Finance Hon. Frank Mingo, has been moved to FRIDAY August 28th at 10 am until 1 pm at the Royal Funeral Home in Sucker Garden.
After which the Church service will be at Grand Case Catholic Church from 2-4pm.
For details check out the daily newspaper obituary Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), addressed the nation at noon on Wednesday, August 26 with respect to the approach of Tropical Storm Erika.
The Prime Minister stated the following in his national address:
Audio file:
“The country of Sint Maarten is under a Tropical Storm Warning Read more

Postal Services St. Maarten (Pss) Closure For Passage Of Tropical Storm Erika

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten -- Postal Services St.Maarten (PSS) hereby reminds the general public in keeping with the rule  of business closure by the Honorable Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs that closure of operations will only be on Thursday, 27th August, 2015.Management of PSS hopes to resume normally on Friday with operations and working h Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs: All Businesses, Schools And Government Offices Closed On Thursday Due To The Arrival Of Erika

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), addressed the nation at noon on Wednesday, August 26 with respect to the approach of Tropical Storm Erika.

The Prime Minister stated the following in his national address: 

Audio file:

“The country of Sint Maarten is under a Tropical Storm Warning.  Tropical Storm Erika at 11.00AM Wednesday morning was located 335 miles east south-east from Sint Maarten.  Some slow strengthening is possible.

“The current forecast as of Wednesday morning, has Tropical Storm Erika passing just south of Sint Maarten on Thursday. 

“Tropical storm force winds are expected in our area from late tonight through Thursday.

“Erika is to produce rain of 2 to 4 inches with a maximum amount of 8 inches across the islands.  This can lead to flooding and land slippages and mudslides, and therefore residents in hillside areas should exercise caution after heavy rainfall.

“Erika is expected to produce waves up to 13 feet near the center of the storm.  Some coastal flooding and beach erosion is possible on Thursday as the storm passes at its closest to the country.

“Residents living along coastal areas should take measures to protect property.

“All citizens, residents and businesses should make final preparations to protect life and property and have these completed by early this evening.  You recently had the experience of preparing for Danny, those same preparations are also required for Tropical Storm Erika.

“The Government of Sint Maarten Emergency Disaster Management system has taken all necessary measures to safeguard the country.  These measures were taken prior to Tropical Storm Danny and remain in place with respect to the approach of Tropical Storm Erika.

“A request for military assistance has been requested.

“The White & Yellow Cross reports that its two day care facilities will be closed on Thursday.  Reopening on Friday will be determined based on weather conditions.

“Contractors and builders are called upon to secure building sites this afternoon before the end of the day.  Implement your hurricane plans as you did prior to Danny.

“Schools and day care centres are to be closed on THURSDAY, August 27 due to the passing of the tropical storm Read more