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Update: Airport Opening To Us Postponed For 2 Weeks

PHILIPSBURG--The Council of Ministers decided today, Tuesday, to postpone all commercial flights to and from the United States (US) for the next two weeks.

Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Ludmila de Weever said on Tuesday afternoon that government made this decision primarily becaus Read more

Flights Out Of Florida Not Allowed, Closure To Rest Of Us To Be Decided

PHILIPSBURG--Flights out of Florida will not be allowed when St. Maarten opens up to international travel tomorrow, Wednesday, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA Richard Panneflek told Members of Parliament (MPs) during a public meeting of Parliament that started this morning. He also said allowing flights fro Read more

Islandpreneur Live 2020 Attracts 650 Persons In More Than 35 Countries

TEATT Minister Ludmila de Weever giving the welcome address at Islandpreneur Live 2020.

PHILIPSBURG--The three-day virtual summit Islandpreneur Live 2020 attracted 650 registrants from more than 35 countries, of which the majority were Caribbean countries.

Hosted by Ife Badejo of Produce Wealth Revolution (PWR) Agency, this summit was designed to empower Caribbean entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital world and be more resilient, according to the release by PWR.

The summit was streamed live from the offices of TelEm Group, the official telecom partner for Islandpreneur Live 2020 Read more

Us Flights To St. Maarten Postponed For Two Weeks.

~PJIAE reopens to Europe and other Caribbean destinations on July 1st, the French threatened to close the border. ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Government of St. Maarten has decided to push back the arrival of flights from the United States for the next two weeks announced Minister of TEATT Ludmilla de Weever. De Weever said the decision to push back those flights for the next two weeks was indeed a hard one due to the countrys dying economy. However, the Minister said it was quite an easy decision when looking at the health and safety of everyone locally and the surge in positive COVID-19 cases in the United States.
Minister de Weever said that discussions are ongoing with the French side since the European Union has placed a ban on all US flights Read more

St. Maarten Can Never Prepare Enough For Covid-19, Country Must Fend For Itself Before Taps Run Dry.

~ Inspector General comes under fire for negative advice.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Several Members of Parliament expressed their concerns on the planned reopening of the country on July 1st. Members of Parliament believe that St. Maarten should follow the European Union who banned US travelers due to the huge amount of positive cases in several US states.
Member of Parliament William Marlin made clear that he is not against the reopening of the country as he supports the decision of the government, however, Marlin asked if St Read more

We Are Not Being Treated Equally

June 29, 2020

Member of Parliament George Pantophlet says that the members of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom are not being treated equally as the members of the European Union. A blind man can see this. We have not been offered any gifts. In contrast we are asked to make cuts that will further cripple an already ailing economy Read more

Islandpreneur Live 2020 Attracts 650 People In 35+ Countries

Organizers to start Islandpreneur Network based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback.

Great Bay, St. Maarten Islandpreneur Live 2020 was a success. This 3 day virtual summit attracted 650 registrants from more than 35+ countries,  of which the majority were Caribbean countries.  Unexpected, were those who attended the summit from India, Brazil, Morocco, and Austria. A world map highlighting where registrants came from and a listing of the countries were shared on the last day of the summit.

Hosted by Ife Badejo of Produce Wealth Revolution (PWR) Agency, this summit was designed to empower Caribbean entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital world and be more resilient.  The organizing team included Dwayne Griffith, Chief Impact Officer of PWR Agency, Kerai Kreative Style who focused on strategic marketing, and Optimize Curacao who designed the website and managed its search engine optimization (SEO).  Shekina Dare from Central Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten, played an improtant role as well in the organization of the event, helping to secure speakers Read more

Van DamS Plan To Take Over Prison Is Unlawful Knops Gets It Right For Once- Mp Heyliger-Marten

PHILIPSBURGFaction Leader for the United People’s UP Party in Parliament on St. Maarten Grisha Heyliger-Marten says Dutch MP Chris van Dam’s motion to intervene and run the St. Maarten prison at the islands expense is precisely the type of unlawful interference with budgetary processes by the Committee for Financial Supervision (Cft), that has prevented the local Government from structurally addressing urgent local matters.

On June 22, Van Dam submitted a motion to the Dutch Second Chamber requesting that the Dutch Government, at the expense of the Government and people of St Read more

Organizers start Islandpreneur Network based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Islandpreneur Live 2020 was a success. This 3-day virtual summit attracted 650 registrants from more than 35+ countries, of which the majority were Caribbean countries. Unexpected were those who attended the summit from India, Brazil, Morocco, and Austria. A world map highlighting where registrants came from and a listing of the countries were shared on the last day of the summit.

Hosted by Ife Badejo of Produce Wealth Revolution (PWR) Agency, this summit was designed to empower Caribbean entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital world and be more resilient Read more

El Consejo De Ministros Se Rene Con Wiclu Para Aclarar Las Condiciones De Reduccin De Costos.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – La Primera Ministra Silveria Jacobs pidi una reunin urgente con el Consejo de Ministros y el Sindicato de Trabajo Colectivo de las Islas de Barlovento (WICLU). Se solicit a la reunin que proporcionara claridad y respondiera cualquier pregunta pendiente a los sindicatos. Esta reunin tambin sirvi para informar al Consejo de Ministros sobre las manifestaciones en proceso a fin de garantizar la colaboracin en inters de todas las personas de St Read more

Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs Concerned About New Entity Being Proposed

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten A four-country consultation between the Netherlands, Curacao, Aruba, and St. Maartennwas held on Thursday, June 25, 2020, with the main agenda point being the new entity proposed by
the Netherlands as a condition for the 3rd Tranche of COVID-19 liquidity support. Documentation for said entity, however, remains pending.

The new entity formed a part of the take it or leave it proposal made on May 12, 2020, and confirmed in the Kingdom Council of Ministers meeting on May 15, 2020, in order for the Caribbean countries within the Dutch Kingdom to receive liquidity support.

Since the conditions were accepted, insofar as it does not violate local, kingdom, or international laws, information on this new entity has to date, not been forthcoming, despite the numerous consultations with the Netherlands Read more

Jacobs Concerned About New Entity To Monitor Dutch Liquidity Support

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said on Friday that she is concerned about the new entity that is to monitor St. Maartens use of liquidity support funds from the Netherlands.

Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- A four-country consultation between the Netherlands, Curacao, Aruba, and St. Maarten was held on Thursday, June 25, 2020, with the main agenda point being the new entity proposed by the Netherlands as a condition for the 3rd Tranche of COVID-19 liquidity support. Documentation for the said entity, however, remains pending.

The new entity formed a part of the take it or leave it proposal made on May 12, 2020, and confirmed in the Kingdom Council of Ministers meeting on May 15, 2020, in order for the Caribbean countries within the Dutch Kingdom to receive liquidity support.

Since the conditions were accepted, insofar as it does not violate local, kingdom, or international laws, information on this new entity has to date, not been forthcoming, despite the numerous consultations with the Netherlands Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Friday, June 26, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) June 27, 2020

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN UNTIL 6:00PM SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH

WEATHER: This afternoon through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy, hazy and breezy with a brief local shower possible.

Forecast High:32C / 90F Forecast Low:26C / 79F

Sunset Today:6:52 P.M. Sunrise Tomorrow:5:40 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: Easterly with a moderate to fresh breeze of 13 to 20 mph, with possible gusts.

SYNOPSIS:

Another surge of Saharan dust is expected to reach the Eastern Caribbean today through the next couple of days Read more

StatiaS Roosevelt AirportS Security Officers Undergo Annual Fire Training

Fire Department shift leader Ludwig Eugenio (left) watches as a security officer at F.D. Roosevelt Airport in St. Eustatius uses a fire extinguisher to put out a small fire during a training exercise.

F.D. Roosevelt Airports security officers in a classroom setting.

EUSTATIUS--Security officers at F.D. Roosevelt Airport in St. Eustatius underwent their annual fire training exercise on Tuesday, June 23. The training was aimed at containing a small fire at the current airport terminal and in the new terminal that is currently under construction.

Acting fire chief Chester Tearr of the Statia branch of the Caribbean Netherlands Fire Department said that acting airport manager Ric Isarin and interim manager of security Maurice van Velzen had approached the Fire Department about conducting a training with a small fire extinguisher, as the airports security personnel had not undergone training in quite some time.

Besides Tearr, shift leader Ludwig Eugenio and fireman-instructor Wayne Spanner gave instructions throughout the refresher course.

The security personnel were given theoretical and practical training in using a fire extinguisher to put out a small fire Read more

 PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs called for an urgent meeting with the Council of Ministers and the Windward Islands Collective Labor Union (WICLU). The meeting was requested to provide clarity and answer any outstanding questions to the unions. This meeting also served to inform the Council of Ministers regarding the ongoing manifestations in order to ensure collaboration in the interest of all the people of St Read more

Ministers And Trade Union Reps Meet On Cost-Cutting Measures

Trade union representatives meeting with the Council of Ministers on Thursday.

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and at least three other ministers met with representatives of Windward Islands Chamber of Labor Unions (WICLU), ABVO St. Maarten, St. Maarten police union NAPB, Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU), W Read more

The Council Of Ministers Meets With The Wiclu To Clarify The Cost-Cutting Conditions

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs called for an urgent meeting with the Council of Ministers and the Windward Islands Collective Labor Union (WICLU). The meeting was requested to provide clarity and answer any outstanding questions to the unions. This meeting also served to inform the Council of Ministers regarding the ongoing manifestations in order to ensure collaboration in the interest of all the people of St Read more

Deadline Approaching To Comply With Dutch Conditions For Liquidity Support

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Ardwell Irion presented to Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday an overview of the Dutch governments conditions for (further) liquidity support. The deadline to comply is July 1.

St. Maarten has received two disbursements of liquidity support funding from the Dutch government. The first amounted to budgetary support of NAf Read more

Council Of Ministers Commends Unity Among Unions

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten The Government of St. Maarten has been informed of a series of manifestations that have been ongoing this week. Permission for these manifestations was requested and they have been granted. The government was also informed concerning the willingness of union members to partake
in these meetings and manifestations. During the past two days, Prime Minister Jacobs responded to two emails received in relation to the manifestations, including requesting a meeting to follow up and clarify any pending questions.

Prime Minister Jacobs commends the unity being displayed by the workers across the board Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---The Government of St. Maarten has been informed of a series of manifestations that have been ongoing this week. Permission for these manifestations was requested and they have been granted. The government was also informed concerning the willingness of union members to partake in these meetings and manifestations. During the past two days, Prime Minister Jacobs responded to two emails received in relation to the manifestations, including requesting a meeting to follow up and clarify any pending questions.

Prime Minister Jacobs commends the unity being displayed by the workers across the board Read more

Dutch Conditions Result In Sweeping Changes To Payroll Support Scheme

PHILIPSBURG--A graduated payroll support scheme, public disclosure of payroll support recipients, and a twenty per cent salary cut for private-sector employees are among several sweeping changes to the St. Maarten Stimulus and Relief Plan (SSRP) brought on by the conditions set by the Netherlands for continued financial support, Finance Minister Ardwell Iri Read more

Gebe In Final Discussions With Local Bank For Funding

PHILIPSBURG--GEBE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenrick Chittick said Wednesday that statements made by Member of Parliament (MP) Grisha Heyliger-Marten claiming that the utility company was unable to secure financing from local lending agencies for its projects are not true.

Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Wednesday, June 24, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) June 25, 2020

WEATHER: This afternoon through Thursday midday: Fair to partly cloudy and hazy with a few brief showers possible.

Forecast High:32C / 90FForecast Low:27C / 81F

Sunset Today:6:51 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:5:39 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Thursday midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 08 to 16 mph.

SYNOPSIS:

The Atlantic high pressure system will maintain a gentle to moderate wind flow across the region Read more