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SIMPSON BAY:---  Minister of TEATT L. Lambriex, accompanied by Parliament members MP Rolando Brison and MP Akeem Arrindel, visited PJIAE. The delegation, joined by CEO Brian Mingo and head of Immigration Jocelyn Levenstone, assessed the current travel situation, addressing recent media attention.

The group discussed the identified issues and proposed solutions, with plans to increase capacity, especially during the peak season, which sees up to 4,000 arrivals in a day Read more

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~The hardest working Minister and MP: Minister of VSA Omar Ottley and MP Rolando Brison.~

PHILIPSBURG: --- It is that time of the year when the media around the world will make scorecards for people who stand out to the community they live in and the world at large Read more

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~Legislative Package co-signed.~

PHILIPSBURG:---  In a momentous event, guests and online audiences gathered to witness the Minister of Justice co-sign the Justice legislative package. The official signing of the National Decrees was hosted at the Government Administration Building on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. The signing of the National Decree containing General Measures for the Legal Position of officers with police tasks and the new police salary scales, along with the National Decree to enact the legal position and also enact the approved Function Book.

The journey to this significant milestone began in September 2020, when the Minister embarked on the journey of completing the legislative package Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley, announced on Thursday, December 28th, that the retroactive and increased AOV pension payments have been disbursed.

Minister Ottley expressed his appreciation at the realization of this milestone, despite the lengthy process involved. As a result of this increase, St Read more

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 PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sage Cultural Award 2023 is the Government of Sint Maarten signature award for the highest in culture and artistic achievement as approved by the Government of Sint Maarten through the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport drs Rodolphe Samuel. The Sage Cultural Award 2023 ceremony will take place on Friday, December 29, 2023, from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm at the Phillipsburg Cultural Center on Backstreet Read more

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Ser Opinion On Minimum Wage Increase Despite Time Constraints.

Willemstad:---  The Social and Economic Council (SER) of Curaao, today, Friday, December 22, 2023, issued its opinion on the revision of the minimum hourly wage to take effect January 1, 2024.
The SER received the request for its opinion on December 15, 2023, which followed a decision by the Council of Ministers on December 13, 2023. The proposal includes an increase in the minimum hourly wage from NAf Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, presented his Ministerial Regulation to the Council of Ministers where they unanimously passed his groundbreaking proposal to increase the minimum wage from Naf 9.95 to Naf 10.40 totaling a 4.5% increase, effective April 1, 2024. This is part of a broader initiative aimed at ensuring decent living standards for citizens, particularly those on the lower income scale that accounts for a large number, and addressing the challenges posed by the rising cost of living.

The proposed increase, from Naf 9.95 to Naf 10.40, represents an amount of Naf 1,801 ($1000.00) per month for workers Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  On Sunday, December 17th, the Simpsonbay basketball court shined brightly once again, thanks to the swift action taken by the Community Development and Humanitarian Family Affairs and the Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley. Recognizing the longstanding issue of inadequate lighting at the ball court, Minister Ottley swiftly responded to the concerns voiced by the organizations within the Simpsonbay community.

Since the devastating hurricane Irma in 2017, the Simpsonbay basketball court has been without proper lighting, creating significant challenges for the players and limiting the court's usability during evening hours Read more

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Government Of Sint Maarten Signs Covenant With Ccsu.

~Secures increase in income/benefits for all Civil Servants~

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Government of Sint Maarten is pleased to share a breakthrough in the ongoing talks between the Union Negotiation Team (UNT) and the Government Negotiation Team (GNT). A crucial agreement was reached between the Ministry of General Affairs and the Committee of Civil Servants Unions (CCSU), marking considerable progress in achieving a mutual understanding where it pertains to employee benefits.

Key Agreements:

I Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Last week, Prime Minister Jacobs and the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations, Her Excellency Yoka Brandt, discussed their commitment to further collaboration for an inclusive foreign policy of the Kingdom and of Sint Maarten. Coordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DBB), the meeting highlighted the strong partnership between the Government of Sint Maarten and the United Nations through the support of the Permanent Mission and DBB Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- In a heartwarming display of community commitment, Lacroes Francisco, candidate #23 from the United People's Party, has integrated his election campaign with a festive spirit of giving. Through the Home (Helping Others Means Everything) Foundation, Lacroes orchestrated a generous donation of Christmas lunch to the pupils and staff of the Prince William Alexander School (PWAS).

Lacroes emphasized that the election season should not overshadow the holiday season, recognizing the importance of addressing immediate needs within the community Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Following the recent introduction meeting and presentation hosted by the Digital Leadership Team (DLT) of the Digital Government Transformation Project (DGTP), on Thursday, November 30th, 2023, at the Government Administration Building, Meeting Room #1, stakeholders expressed enthusiasm for the collaborative efforts underway to revolutionize government service departments which showcased the commitment of the DLT service delivery. Department and Section heads of Government Service Departments gathered to witness the unveiling of the Public Service Centers (PSC) Improvement Plan and its potential impact on working procedures within the respective service departments.

The agenda, featuring key components such as the formal introduction of the DLT, a brief overview of the Digital Government Transformation Project (DGTP), the approved digital strategy, and a detailed presentation of the PSC Improvement Plan which captivated participants and prompted engaging discussions during the Q&A session.

Notable additions to the event were messages from both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, members of the Project Oversight Committee (POC) Read more

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Extreme Weather Events A Permanent Risk.

 ~Countries should develop national climate adaptation strategies ~

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG The Caribbean basin is the most exposed region to climate-related natural disasters. Hence, the occurrence of extreme weather events, which are expected to increase in frequency and severity due to climate change, can be considered a permanent risk to the economic outlook for Curaao and Sint Maarten, declared the president of the Centrale Bank van Curaao en Sint Maarten (CBCS), Richard Doornbosch, in the CBCSs 2023 December Economic Bulletin Read more

BARBADOS:--- In a landmark move towards fostering collaboration and solidarity, the Anguilla Teachers' Union (ATU) and the Windward Island Teachers Union St. Maarten (WITU) have officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The signing ceremony took place today in Barbados, solidifying a commitment to joint initiatives that will benefit teachers in both territories.
The purpose of this MOU is to establish a comprehensive framework for cooperation and collaboration, promoting the interests and welfare of teachers in Anguilla and St Read more

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Philipsburg Transforms Into "Maagical" For A Festive Weekend Extravaganza.

Madame Estate:--- This holiday season, Philipsburg is set to become a winter wonderland as Xtratight Entertainment proudly presents "Philipsburg becomes Maagical," a joyous event taking place from Friday, December 15, to Sunday, December 17, on the Boardwalk. The community is invited to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit and kick off the festive season with a weekend full of entertainment, shopping, and family-friendly activities.
Friday Night Concert - The festivities begin on Friday evening with an electrifying concert featuring a killer lineup of DJs and live bands Read more

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Sint Maartener At Un Climate Summit Calls For Equitable, Climate-Resilient Future Ahead Of Final Negotiations

 DUBAI:--- United Nations Climate Conference, COP28, is set to come to a close this week as countries negotiate the next set of climate change goals. Among the attendees of the conference is Riddhi Samtani, a youth activist from Sint Maarten part of Island Innovations Caribbean Climate Justice Leaders Academy (CCJLA) cohort. Representing her community on the global stage, Samtani has participated in speaking engagements and discussions with other delegates and heads of state, including Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Curaao Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas.

Having youth delegated from underrepresented communities is key to developing inclusive climate policies, something Samtanis sponsors NAGICO Insurances and Grant Thornton are keen to support as it aligns with their companys corporate social pillars Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports, Dhr. Rodolphe Samuel is excited to announce the start of the work for the replacement of the football pitch at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex, benefiting over 1,500 users on a weekly basis.
The much-needed replacement of the football pitch is the result of a proposal for Capital Expenditure being requested in 2022 by the Department of Sports, which was approved on September 26th, 2023 Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  The Government of Sint Maarten, represented by the Honorable Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Mr. Omar Ottley, has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Professional Advancement (NIPA), represented by Drs. Peggy-Ann Dros-Richardson, Chairlady of the Board of NIPA, to establish the Ottley Opportunity Scholarshipan initiative aimed at enhancing educational opportunities and strengthening the local labor force Read more

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PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  The Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Silveria Jacobs; the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure, Egbert Doran; the Minister of Justice, Anna Richardson; and the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport, drs Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- In January of 2023, URSM candidate #9 Mr. Julian Rollocks Jr. initiated a computer literacy and training program at his headquarters in Sucker Garden. The oversubscribed computer training sessions, which consisted of children, young adults, and senior citizens, culminated last week after nearly a year in operation Read more

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~More than 300 registrants, 10 workshops, and opportunities to learn from local and international experts~

PHILIPSBURG:---  Held throughout November, now officially decreed by law as Financial Literacy Month, the SXM Financial Literacy Month surpassed expectations with more than 300 participants, including walk-ins. Islandpreneur and the Ministry of Finance are thrilled to announce the successful completion of this groundbreaking initiative aimed at bolstering financial knowledge and resilience within the community Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- A new project aims to assess key land areas for biodiversity in St. Maarten. The foundation Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) has been selected to conduct the terrestrial baseline biodiversity assessment, as part of the CORENA project. The CORENA project (Coastal Resilience and Needs Assessments) was initiated by the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) and is being executed in partnership with the Nature Foundation, through the European Union-supported RESEMBID grant programme.

The objective of the CORENA project is to provide information to guide sustainable management of various habitats found in Sint Maarten, with several components Read more

Mp Arrindell Urges Swift Action On Escalating Armed Robberies.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In a recent correspondence to the Honorable Minister of Justice, Anna Richardson, Member of Parliament Akeem Arrindell has voiced his concerns regarding the alarming rise in armed robberies plaguing Sint Maarten Read more

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Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (Dcna) Steps Into A New Era Of Governance With Two-Tier Board System Implementation.

BONAIRE:--- The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) proudly announces a significant milestone in its organizational developmentthe implementation of a two-tier board system. On December 4th, 2023 the DCNA board, represented by its chairperson Hellen van der Wal and secretary Kai Wulf, signed the new Articles of Incorporation at the notary on St Maarten Read more