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Pm Appeals To Gebe To Cut Fuel Tariff To 6-7 Cents, Slashing Bills By 19% From July 2025 Billing Cycle

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina addresses Parliament.

~ Outlines 13 recommendations from RAC/BTP ~

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina has appealed to the Supervisory Board of Directors (SBOD) of NV GEBE to instruct its Managing Board to correct identified irregularities in the electricity fuel clause.

This correction, he said, should bring the electricity fuel tariff down to 6-7 cents per kilowatt hour, which would result in an estimated 19% reduction in customers electricity bills Read more

Commemoration Of Sint MaartenS Flag Day

PHILIPSBURG On Friday, June 13th, 2025, the people, and Government of Sint Maarten will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Flag Day at the grounds of the Leonald Conner School in Cay Bay. The annual commemoration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the Patriotic School Parade that starts in front of the Market Garden Supermarket at the entrance of the Billy Folly Road. The parade then proceeds on to the Welfare Road in the direction towards Caribbean Cinemas, it continues to the entrance at Cay Bay Road, and ends at the grounds of the Leonald Conner School parking lot.

Considering that Flag Day is not a public holiday, the annual celebration is geared towards the primary schools on the island Read more

Mps Ottley And Wever Address Regional Collaboration On Agriculture, Food Security

From left: MPs Omar Ottley and Christopher Wever.

PHILIPSBURG--Members of Parliament (MPs) Omar Ottley (United Peoples Party (UP)) and Christopher Wever (Unified Resilient St Read more

DATE ISSUED: Monday 2nd June 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 3rd June 2025 A DUST ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6AM TUESDAY 3RD JUNE WEATHER:This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Generally hazy and breezy. There is a low chance of showers.Forecast High: 32C / 90F               Forecast Low:  27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:45 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:36 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Northeast to east-southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze at 8 to 15 mph; higher gusts are possible.SYNOPSIS: High concentrations of Saharan dust will dominate conditions for the next 18 24 hours, reducing both visibility and air quality across the region Read more

Aviation Veteran Michael Cleaver Tackles His Biggest Challenge Yet

Airport technology plays a crucial role in passenger safety and experience, Cleaver says.

~ A CEOs ground-up approach to transforming PJIA ~

By Jacqueline Hooftman

SIMPSON BAY--From starting at American Airlines as a baggage handler at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico with a Bachelors degree in business administration in hand to now running St. Maartens national airport, Michael Cleavers forty-year career in aviation has come full circle Read more

Keenan Benjamin Receives Support From Police Union For Educational Trip

Keenan Benjamin (left) receiving the financial donation from the police union NAPB.

PHILIPSBURG--The board of police union NAPB St. Maarten has presented a monetary donation to Keenan Benjamin, the son of the late police officer Gamali Benji Benjamin, in support of his upcoming Read more

DATE ISSUED: Friday 16th May 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 17th May 2025 FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 12PM SATURDAY 17TH MAY 2025!WEATHER:This afternoon and evening: Generally cloudy with isolated showers.Tonight, through Saturday midday: Cloudy to overcast with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.Forecast High: 30C / 86F              Forecast Low: 24C / 75FSunset Today: 6:39 P.M.              Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:39 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: East-northeasterly to east-southeasterly with a light to moderate breeze at 8 to 15 mph, and higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: An approaching upper-level trough is the dominant feature of this forecast period Read more

DATE ISSUED: Thursday 15th May 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 16th May 2025WEATHER:This afternoon through tonight: Variably cloudy. Brief showers are possible.Friday morning through midday: Variably cloudy with isolated showers.Forecast High: 30C / 86F               Forecast Low:  26C / 79FSunset Today: 6:38 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:39 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze at 8 to 18 mph.SYNOPSIS: Relatively dry and stable conditions will persist until tomorrow morning Read more

DATE ISSUED: Monday, 28th April 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 29th April 2025 WEATHER:  This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers. Forecast High:30C / 86F                 Forecast Low:25C / 77F Sunset Today:6:33 P.M.                                      Sunrise Tomorrow:5:47 A.M. SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Southeasterly to easterly with a light to moderate breeze at 5 to 13 mph. SYNOPSIS:   The atmosphere across the region remains sufficiently moist and unstable to support the development of isolated showers during this forecast period Read more

One Firearm Surrendered On First Day Of Stop, Drop And Go Amnesty Prog.

A .24 calibre Midnight Special and ammunition were handed over to police on Monday.

 

PHILIPSBURG--The Stop, Drop and GO firearm amnesty programme began on a promising note Monday morning with the voluntary surrender of an unlicensed firearm a .24 calibre Midnight Special. The Sint Maarten Police Force KPSM and the Prosecutors Office say the handover is an encouraging step in the ongoing effort to reduce gun violence and promote public safety.

The next opportunity to participate in the amnesty will be on Wednesday, April 16, and authorities are urging the public to turn in illegal firearms and ammunition Read more

DATE ISSUED: Wednesday 9th April 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 10th April 2025A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8AM APRIL 10, 2025WEATHER:This afternoon through Thursday midday: Variably cloudy with a gentle breeze. Isolated showers are possible.Forecast High: 30C / 86F               Forecast Low:  25C / 77FSunset Today: 6:28 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:00 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Thursday midday: East-northeast to east-southeasterly with a light to moderate breeze of 7 to 16 mph.SYNOPSIS: A high-pressure system will support a light to moderate breeze across the area Read more

Dutch Representation Allocates 88K Euros To Four Local Groups

From left: SMDF Managing Director Makhicia Brooks, Dutch Representative in Philipsburg Eelco Boomsma and SMDFs Program Development Manager Melanie Choisy.

 

~ SMDF appointed grant manager ~

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF), through the support of the Representation of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curaao and St. Maarten VNACS in the Ministry o Read more

Mp Ottley Questions Vromi Minister Gumbs On Proposed Landfill Entry Fee

VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs revealed a billboard at the entrance of the landfill on Monday, saying It will take all of us, referring to the clean-up of the main dump.

PHILIPSBURG--United Peoples party (UP) Member of Parliament (MP) Read more

DATE ISSUED: Wednesday 2nd April 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 3rd April 2025  A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE   WEATHER:   This afternoon and evening: Fair to partly cloudy and breezy. Brief showers are possible.Tonight, through Thursday midday: Variably cloudy and breezy with brisk showers.Forecast High:30C / 86F                        Forecast Low: 24C / 75FSunset Today:6:26 P.M.                            Sunrise Tomorrow:6:05 A.M.SURFACE WINDS:Today through Thursday midday: East to northeasterly with a moderate to fresh breeze of 13 to 20 mph and higher gusts. SYNOPSIS: A tight pressure gradient will maintain moderate to fresh winds, which are forecast to strengthen overnight Read more

Smdf, 4C Launch LetS Act Prog. To Strengthen Local Arts Community

Representatives of the St. Maarten Development Fund, Foresee Foundation and Lets ACT Program participants at the Lets ACT Launch event.

~ More than NAf. 500K to support cultural groups ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Lets ACT Programme, funded by the Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie (FCP), will soon boost the arts and cultural sectors of St. Maarten.

Read more

Up Expresses Concerns Over Ignored Urgent Meet Requests

PHILIPSBURG--United Peoples party (UP) Member of Parliament (MP) Omar Ottley and Francisco Lacroes, are voicing their deep concern regarding the current state of Parliament, which the Read more

Mp Ottley: Disconnect In Coalition Resulting In Delay In Governing Prog.

PHILIPSBURG--United Peoples party (UP) Member of Parliament (MP) Omar Ottley has voiced concerns about what he says is an increasing disconnect among the governing coalition members, which he says prevents them from bringing forward a governing programme.

Read more

Mp Jansen-Webster Says Leaders Should Not Be Travelling Economy Class, They Deserve Respect

MP Veronica Jansen-Webster.

~ MP Lewis concurs ~

PHILIPSBURG--Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement (URSM) Read more

Arrindell Attends Cari-Aire Aviation Internship Launch

St. Maarten Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell (sixth left, standing) with all attendees. (Photo by Angelo Werleman for WeConnect)

THE HAGUE--St. Maarten Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell attended the launch of the Cari-Aire Aviation Internship Programme last week at the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaao at the Curaao House in The Hague.

The launch was also attended by the ministers plenipotentiary from Aruba and Curaao.

Arrindell said in a press release that the internship programme focuses on strengthening the aviation sector across all six islands of the Dutch Caribbean Read more

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday 11th March 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 12th March 2025WEATHER:   This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Fair to partly cloudy with isolated showers.Forecast High: 30C / 86F                       Forecast Low:25C / 77F Sunset Today:6:21 P.M.                            Sunrise Tomorrow:6:23 A.M.SURFACE WINDS:This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Easterly to southeasterly with a light to moderate breeze of 6 to 14 mph.SYNOPSIS: An upper level trough will increase the probability of showers during the latter part of this forecast period Read more

12PM Public Weather ForecastDATE ISSUED: Wednesday 26th February 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 27th February 2025WEATHER:   This afternoon through Thursday morning: Variably cloudy and breezy. The isolated shower is likely.Thursday morning through midday: Fair to partly cloudy with isolated showers.Forecast High: 30C / 86F             Forecast Low:  25C / 77F  Sunset Today: 6:18 P.M Read more

12 PM Public Weather Forecast DATE ISSUED: Tuesday 25th February 2025 @ 06:00 LST (10:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (06:00 LST) 26th February 2025WEATHER:   This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Fair to partly cloudy and breezy. There is a low chance of showers.Forecast High: 30C / 86F             Forecast Low:  25C / 77F  Sunset Today: 6:17 P.M.                Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:33 A.M Read more

DATE ISSUED: Thursday 13th February 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 14th February 2025  A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE  WEATHER:   This afternoon through Friday afternoon: Generally cloudy and breezy with isolated showers.Forecast High: 29C / 84F               Forecast Low: 23C / 73F  Sunset Today: 6:13 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:40 A.M Read more

The Act Of Bravery

Dear editor and all readers,

In reaction to Miss Nicole James story published a few days ago via your media house, I would like to congratulate her for the act of bravery to come open and share her ordeal, whereas she also proves that she has overcome. That itself is a very good sign as life continues. But it is worrisome to learn from her story that there are about 8 to 10 more women who were all victims of the same man, the acting section head that in the meantime is known to be Mr Read more