SXMElections.com

DATE ISSUED: Thursday, 4 July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 5 July 2024A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN UNTIL 6PM TODAYWEATHER:This afternoon through Friday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers and possible thunderstorms.Forecast High: 31C / 88F               Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:42 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: Easterly to southeasterly with a moderate to fresh breeze of 9 to 16 mph, and possible higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: Lingering moisture and instability associated with a recent tropical wave will cause cloudy periods, isolated showers, and possible isolated thunderstorms Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Wednesday July 03, 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) July 04, 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through evening: Warm, breezy, and hazy.
Overnight through Thursday midday: Increasingly cloudy and breezy with scattered showers and thunderstorms.Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:42 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Thursday midday: East northeast to east southeast with a moderate to fresh breeze of 13 to 22 mph, and higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: A combination of Saharan Dust and drier air will maintain hazy skies and hot conditions today Read more

Emilio Wilson Park Awash In Red To Mark 161 Years Since Emancipation

Parliament Chairperson Sarah Wescot-Williams and MP Silveria Jacobs were the first two officials to join the dancers at the end of Monday mornings Emancipation Day commemoration Read more

Grisha Floats Idea Of City Manager For Town With Ima

TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten (right) with members of the Indian Merchants Association last week.

 PHILIPSBURG--The possible introduction of a City Manager to develop strategies aimed at attracting not only residents and cruise visitors to Philipsburg, but also stop-over and stay-over guests was discussed recently.

A City Manager was one of the proposed strategies for improving the tourist product, which Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), discussed with an Indian Merchants Association (IMA) delegation at a meeting last week.

The Minister outlined the actions already taken to enhance the Marketplace and improve the product and visitor experience in town and other parts of the island, and plans for the beautification of St Read more

Buncamper Questions Gebe Green Energy Plan

Deputy Leader of the Nation, Opportunity, Wealth (NOW) party former Member of Parliament Claudius Buncamper has expressed serious concerns about the government’s approach to solving the ongoing load-shedding issue managed by GEBE, the island’s primary electricity provider. He said the Parliamentary meeting held on June 25th intended to clarify the government’s plan, instead unveiled a series of alarming revelations and uncertainties.

The session saw coalition partners voicing little confidence in the proposed solutions, culminating in a faction walking out Read more

Minister Of Teatt Floats Idea Of City Manager With Indian Merchants Association

GREAT BAY The possible introduction of a City Manager to develop strategies aimed at attracting not only residents and cruise visitors to Philipsburg but also stop-over or stay-over guests was discussed recently.

A City Manager was one of the proposed strategies for improving the tourist product, which Hon. Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT), discussed with a delegation of the Indian Merchants Association (IMA) at a meeting last week.

The Minister outlined the actions already taken to enhance the Marketplace and improve the product and visitor experience in town and other parts of the island, and plans for the beautification of St Read more

Air Canada Increases Flights To St. Maarten

GREAT BAY Air Canada has announced a new Montreal St. Maarten flight and a doubling of its existing twice weekly Toronto Pearson (YYZ), starting November 17, 2024.

Flight AC 1362, will leave Montreal (YUL) for St. Maarten at 10:15 am and arrive here at 3:55 pm, while the return flight AC1363 will depart St. Maarten at 4:55 pm to arrive Montreal at 8:55 pm. This new flight will use the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with a seating capacity of 169, out of which 16 are business class.

This is good news for us, said Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT), who welcomed the announcement as a positive sign for what can be expected in terms of stay-over passengers in the coming high season.

The expansion means that Air Canada will operate five (5) flights to the island, the new Montreal route (on Sunday) and the Toronto route, which has been expanded to four, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, as per Air Canadas 2024/2025 winter schedule.

In spite of the constraints regarding availability of aircraft, Air Canadas performance evaluation has led to identifying potential room for growth into SXM.

Although this is seasonal, we are going to do all within our power to ensure that the flights remain at the same levels beyond the winter season, Minister Heyliger-Marten said.

The post Air Canada Increases Flights to St Read more

Purchasing Power Caribbean Netherlands Declined In 2022

Purchasing power in the Caribbean Netherlands declined in 2022, partly due to high inflation. Statistics Netherlands CBS reported this last week on the basis of new figures.

 

KRALENDIJK--Purchasing power in the Caribbean Netherlands declined in 2022, partly due to high inflation. On Bonaire, purchasing power declined by 4.2% compared to 2021, on St Eustatius by 3.3% and on Saba by 1.6% Read more

DATE ISSUED: Monday 1st July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 2nd July 2024 A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT! WEATHER:This afternoon: Hot, hazy, and breezy. Brief showers are possible.This evening through Tuesday midday: Warm and breezy with isolated showers and possible thunderstorms.Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:41 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: Today through Tuesday midday: Northeast to easterly with a moderate to fresh breeze of 13 to 20 mph, with higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: The plume of Saharan dust exits the region today Read more

DATE ISSUED: Sunday 30th June 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Monday midday (12:00 LST) 1st July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Monday midday: Hot, hazy, and breezy. There is a low chance for isolated showers.Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:41 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Monday midday: Northeast to east with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 17 mph, and higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: A plume of Saharan dust is affecting the region and limiting precipitation Read more

Dp Clocks 70, Unveils Candidates List On Emancipation Day

Great Bay, St. Maarten The Democratic Party of St. Maarten is celebrating its seven decades of serving the island with a gathering at the Aleeze Convention Center in Madame Estate on Monday, July 1st , 2024 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

The party was founded in 1954 by the late Clem Labega, with his friend, Claude Wathey leading the party for the better part of 40 years. The two of them formed a formidable team which turned the DP into a political juggernaut that governed the island uninterruptedly for almost four decades Read more

Pfp: Reaction To Supreme Court Opinion

Failures to Protect Constitution and Autonomy of Country Sint Maarten

PHILIPSBURG – Disappointed was the sentiment within the Party for Progress (PFP) after the Supreme Court in the Netherlands issued their opinion on the Braam case in Curacao. The disappointment, however, is not with the opinion that has been issued, but with the fact that St. Maartens democratic process was interfered with by the Cabinet of the Governor Read more

Mp Emmanuel: Clarity Needed On Former JacobS Government Deal With Gridmarket

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — MP Christophe Emmanuel, leader of the Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) party, has voiced strong concerns over revelations that the former Silveria Jacobs government signed an exclusive agreement with GridMarket in violation of GEBE’s concession.

GridMarket is a private company that approached the former National Alliance led government in 2021 with the hopes of securing the facilitation of clean energy on St Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Saturday, 29 June 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Sunday midday (12:00 LST) 30 June 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Sunday midday: Partly cloudy and slightly breezy with brief local showers possible.Forecast High: 33C / 91F              Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:40 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Sunday midday: Easterly to east-southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 17 mph, and higher gusts possible.SYNOPSIS: Available moisture associated with patches of low-level clouds moving across the local region will account for a high probability of showers Read more

DATE ISSUED: Friday, 28 June 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 29 June 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy, hot & humid with light haze and brief local showers possible.Forecast High: 33C / 91F              Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:40 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: East-northeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 16 mph, and higher gusts possible.SYNOPSIS: Drifting pockets of moisture at the lower levels of the atmosphere may cause a few brief showers from time to time Read more

Gumbs To Pursue Better Solution For Ennia Policyholders In Sxm

Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs speaking to MPs.

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs said on Thursday that she will be following the advice of Members of Parliament (MPs) Read more

DATE ISSUED: Thursday 27th June 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 28th June 2024WEATHER:This afternoon: Hot, humid, and slightly hazy with isolated showers.Tonight through Friday midday: Hot and humid with brief showers possible.Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:40 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: East northeast to east with a gentle to moderate breeze of 08 to 16 mph.SYNOPSIS: A weak trough will account for brief isolated showers Read more

Vng Caribbean Desk Set To Launch On July 1

 HAZERSWOUDE-DORP--The Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK and the Association of Dutch Municipalities VNG have come together to open the VNG Caribbean Desk for the Caribbean Netherlands, which will serve as a central point of contact for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. The VNG Caribbean Desk will open on Monday, July 1, 2024, and is co-financed by BZK.

VNG Chairperson Sharon Dijksma and BZK Ministry Kingdom Relations Director-general Roald Lapperre announced the VNG Caribbean Desk during the annual VNG congress at a large plant nursery in HazersWoude-Dorp in the Netherlands on Tuesday, June 25.

With the launch of the Caribbean Desk, VNG wants to further contribute to increasing support to the public entities Bonaire, St Read more

DATE ISSUED: Wednesday, 26 June 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 27 June 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through tonight: Hot and humid with a hazy sky.Thursday morning through midday: Hot, humid, and hazy, with isolated showers.Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 29C / 84FSunset Today: 6:52 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: Hot and humid conditions will continue, with Saharan dust affecting air quality and visibility Read more

Load-Shedding To Ease In Five Weeks, 10Mw Container Generators To Be Rented For $1.9M

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina addressing MPs on Tuesday.

~ 20mw to be leased to own for $7.7M ~

PHILIPSBURG--Consumers in St Maarten are expected to get relief in about five weeks from the frequent load-shedding currently gripping the country, thanks to a decision taken to rent 10-megawatt (mw) container generators and lease Read more

Mp Christophe Emmanuel: Alliance Utter Failure On GebeContinues With No Solutions Offered

Leader of the Nation Opportunity Wealth party (NOW) MP Christophe Emmanuel on Tuesday said in a stunning display of hypocrisy and incompetence, the National Alliance MPs have once again demonstrated their utter lack of credibility on the critical issue of GEBE.

For four long years, while they held the reins of government, they stood idly by as GEBE deteriorated Read more

Chris Says GovtS Reliance On GebeFor Power Crisis Solution Problematic

~ Lack of renewable energy solution glaring ~

MP Christophe Emmanuel, the lone Member of Parliament to propose a solution to the GEBE power crisis, stated on Tuesday that he must distance himself from the St. Maarten government’s approach to dealing with the matter. The MP said he is critical of the method because the government relies too heavily on information provided by GEBE and the lack of a plan to finally shift to renewable energy sources. GEBE lies to the people of St. Maarten to protect itself Read more

Final Reminder: Submit Your 2023 Final Profit Tax Return, Form, And Payment By July 2Nd

The Tax Inspectorate kindly reminds all domestic and foreign taxpayers that the deadline to file their 2023 Final Profit Tax Return and Form at the Tax Office (Vineyard Building) and submit payment (if applicable based on the return) is Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Payments can be made via bank transfer (NAF W.I.B. 324800-03 | USD W.I.B. 324800-05) or in cash to the Receivers’ Office cashiers on Pond Island.

Tuesday, July 2, 2024, is also the last day for taxpayers to request an extension for filing, if needed Read more

Vromi State Of Affairs Minister Patrice Gumbs Provides Comprehensive Update

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Minister of VROMI and Deputy Prime Minister Patrice Gumbs issued a media statement on Tuesday, 25 June 2024, where he provided a comprehensive update on the state of affairs within the Ministry of VROMI and what his Cabinet has been and will continue to work on following his swearing in.

The Ministry of VROMI has faced challenges for many years, Gumbs stated Read more