SXMElections.com

Film Director Joel Ayuk: I Like To Think IVe Opened Doors For Film-Making In St. Martin

Joel Ayuk (right) with Nigerian actor Enyinne Nwigwe who plays policeman husband Mike in the film with their respective Best Screenplay and Best Male Actor awards at the Cameroon International Film Festival.

 

By Robert Luckock

MARIGOT--Joel Ayuk, director, writer and producer of the well-received domestic violence drama Chokehold, is set to depart for the 77th Cannes Film Festival in France, the most prestigious of all the film festivals, joining an array of international film directors, judges, revered actors and A-list celebrities.

The full-length movie Chokehold was filmed entirely in St Read more

Carnival Restructuring Policy Released In National Gazette

PHILIPSBURG--The Ministry of Justice, under the guidance of former Minister Anna Richardson, has published a new policy aimed at restructuring St. Maarten Carnival.

As stated in the recent publication of the National Gazette, the decision followed in response to a number of challenges currently facing the annual event, including inconsistent management structures, financial instability, under-representation of local culture, safety concerns and the need for better integration of technological advancements Read more

Minister Of Justice, Addresses Urgent Situation At New Start For Children Foster Home

SAUNDERS, Sint Maarten — In response to recent developments regarding the structural integrity concerns at New Start for Children Foster Home in Mary’s Fancy, the Minister of Justice, Lyndon C.J. Lewis, in collaboration with the Foundation Judicial Institutes St. Maarten (SJIS), is taking swift action to ensure the safety and well-being of the foster children residing there.

The recent article published in The Daily Herald Newspaper on Monday, May 6, 2024, brought to light the critical situation faced by 19 foster children who may soon need to relocate due to cracks in the building walls and foundation of the foster home Read more

To All The Mothers Of St. Maarten, We Thank God For You.

Thank God for that one Sunday in May where we get the opportunity to pour extra love and adoration upon you. We are given the opportunity to remind you that you’ve been the architect of our dreams and the backbone of our families. You’ve laughed with us in joy, and wiped away our tears in sorrow, you’ve been the comforting embrace we seek.

The Caribbean mother has always been a figure of immense power and beauty and a fierce protector. You have shown us that wisdom doesn’t always come from books, but often from the lived experience Read more

Prime Minister MotherS Day Message 2024

Honorable Mothers of St. Maarten,

On this special day, I extend my deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to all the mothers of our beloved St. Maarten. Your tireless dedication, unwavering love, and selfless sacrifices are the foundation upon which our society thrives.

Today, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, let us reflect on the immense contributions mothers make to our families, communities, and nation. Your nurturing spirit, resilience, and strength inspire us all to strive for a better tomorrow.

As Prime Minister, I am humbled by the opportunity to express my sincere thanks to each and every mother in St Read more

Minister Jansen-Webster HonorsNurses On International Nurses Day

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In commemoration of International Nurses Day, the honorable Minister of VSA Veronica Jansen-Webster made a special visit to the St. Maarten Medical Center and White and yellow Cross on Friday. The visit was a heartfelt gesture to express gratitude and appreciation to the unsung heroes of healthcare, the nurses.

Minister Jansen-Webster is deeply connected to the nursing profession through personal experience, having grown up with a mother, the esteemed Cecilia Webster-Cox affectionately known as Sis, who dedicated decades to serving the community as a nurse Read more

 

DATE ISSUED: Friday 10th May 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) 

VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 11th May 2024

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Saturday midday: Fair to partly cloudy with light haze and isolated showers possible.

Forecast High: 31C / 88F               Forecast Low: 26C / 79F

Sunset Today: 6:37 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:41 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: 

This afternoon through Saturday midday: Southeasterly with a light to gentle breeze of 04 to 10 mph, becoming lighter and variable at times.

SYNOPSIS: 

A loose surface pressure gradient will maintain light to gentle winds during this forecast period Read more

A HEAVY RAINFALL  ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6AM THURSDAY 9th MAY 2024  WEATHER:This afternoon through Thursday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with scattered rain-showers and isolated thunderstorms. Forecast High: 30C / 86F               Forecast Low: 24C / 75F Sunset Today: 6:36 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:42 A.M. SURFACE WINDS: Today through Thursday midday: East to southeasterly with a light to gentle breeze of 05 to 12 mph. SYNOPSIS: Moist and unstable conditions persist as a trough continues to affect the island Read more

Pm Mercelina Goes On A Surprise Visit To Gebe Power Plant

Philipsburg — On Tuesday, the Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, accompanied by Acting Minister of Public Works and Minister of Health Veronica Jansen-Webster, made a surprise visit to the GEBE Power Plant in Cay Bay Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Tuesday 7th May 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 8th May 2024WEATHER:This afternoon and evening: Fair to partly cloudy with isolated showers.Tonight, through Wednesday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.Forecast High: 31C / 88F               Forecast Low: 24C / 75FSunset Today: 6:35 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:42 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: Today through Wednesday midday: Northeast to easterly with a light to gentle breeze of 04 to 11 mph.SYNOPSIS: The atmosphere remains moist and slightly unstable today Read more

New Minister Of Finance Marinka Gumbs Addresses Nation With Vision Of Unity, Progress

~ First female Minister of Finance ~

In a humbling address to the nation, newly appointed Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs, the first woman to hold the position, stood before her fellow St. Maarteners to express profound gratitude and outline a vision for the future of the island’s economy and society.

The Minister began by acknowledging the divine grace that has allowed her to take on this pivotal role Read more

 

DATE ISSUED: Monday, 6 May 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) 

VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 7 May 2024

WEATHER:

This afternoon: Partly cloudy with light haze and brief local showers possible.

Tonight through Tuesday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers.

Forecast High: 31C / 88F              

Forecast Low: 25C / 77F

Sunset Today: 6:35 P.M.                  

Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:42 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: 

This afternoon through Tuesday midday: East-northeasterly with a light to gentle breeze of 04 to 11 mph.

SYNOPSIS: 

Varying concentrations of Saharan dust are expected across the region today Read more

Carnival 2024 Wraps Up Challenging Year

~ Carnival 2025 scheduled from April 21 to May 5 ~

PHILIPSBURG--After a year filled with unprecedented challenges, St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) has closed the 53rd edition of Carnival.

Despite facing various obstacles, the SCDF expressed gratitude for being able to reach the finish line, with SCDF President Edwardo Radjouki saying in a press release on Sunday, This can never happen again, this is not who we are.

Reflecting on a Carnival that looked and felt different from previous years, Radjouki referred to the division of Carnival people by one individual to please that individuals personal feelings Read more

Desiree Winkel holding the St. Maarten flag at the summit of Mera Peak in the Himalayas. Via Winkels Instagram.

 

KATHMANDU, Nepal--Readers of our Special Editions and sport aficionados all over St. Maarten will be familiar with Desiree Winkels seven-summit project. Currently in Nepal, where she travelled to conquer another two summits, both over 6,000 metres high, Winkel has experienced extreme highs and lows within a few short days Read more

 

DATE ISSUED: Friday, 3rd May 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) 

VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 4th May 2024

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers and a chance of isolated thunderstorms.

Forecast High: 31C / 88F               Forecast Low: 25C / 77F

Sunset Today: 6:34 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:44 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: 

This afternoon through Saturday midday: Southeasterly with a light to gentle breeze of 06 to 12 mph.

SYNOPSIS: 

Instability and moisture associated with a multi-layered trough will cause cloudiness, isolated showers and possible thunderstorms across the region Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Thursday 2nd May 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 3rd May 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Friday midday: Fair to partly cloudy. Isolated showers are likely.Forecast High: 31C / 88F               Forecast Low: 26C / 79FSunset Today: 6:34 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:44 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: Easterly to southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 18 mph.SYNOPSIS: The atmosphere is moist and generally stable Read more

Money Grows On Trees

St Peters – Its been an amazing past 8 months putting this project together. Every step of the way, everyday you face a challenge that allows you to exercise your mind and actions toward finding the right solution mentally, physically, spiritually or financially.

You can never tell the challenges you may face until you take your journey head on. Some of us may be faced with one of the above challenges, but today we will try to address those that are faced with financial challenges and perhaps offer an ecological solution.

Matshona Dhliwayo is a Canadian based Philosopher, Entrepreneur, and authorand is credited with saying, “Money doesn’t grow on trees, but grows on intelligent minds”.The phrase “money doesn’t grow on trees” is a metaphor that means money is not an unlimited resource that can be easily accessed, like leaves on a tree.It often appears in situations where someone is asking for money without having put in any effort to earn it.

We can agree to a part of this paragraph and respectfully disagree to another.

What we can agree to is the fact that it often appears in situations where someone is asking for money without having put in any effort to earn it Read more

Szv Now Covers Diabetic Foot Care Services

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten Social & Health Insurances SZV is excited to announce a new addition to our medical insurance coverage: services from The Diabetic Foot Care Sint Maarten Foundation (D-FOOT). This new benefit is a big step forward in ensuring our diabetic community has access to the necessary healthcare to improve their quality of life.

“SZV is committed to providing comprehensive healthcare services to our community. The addition of D-FOOT services to our coverage is a significant step in ensuring our diabetic population receives the specialized care they need Read more

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, 30 April 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) 

VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 01 May 2024

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Partly cloudy to occasionally cloudy with isolated showers.

Forecast High: 30C / 86F               Forecast Low: 24C / 75F

Sunset Today: 6:33 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:45 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: 

This afternoon through Wednesday midday: East northeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 17 mph.

SYNOPSIS: 

Instability and moisture associated with a shear axis will cause cloudiness and showers during this forecast period Read more

 

DATE ISSUED: Monday, 29 April 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) 

VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 30 April 2024

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers.

Forecast High: 31C / 88F              

Forecast Low: 24C / 76F

Sunset Today: 6:33 P.M.                  

Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:46 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: 

This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Northeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 18 mph, and possible higher gusts.

SYNOPSIS: 

Moisture associated with a low-level trough will account for periods of cloudiness and isolated showers across the local region Read more

President Of Parliament Continues Courtesy Visits

From left: Parliament Secretary General Garrick Richardson; President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams with TWO local team members Leona Romeo and Tjandra Lake.

PHILIPSBURG--President of Parliament, Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams is continuing her courtesy introductory visits Read more

Statement From Formateur Dr. Luc Mercelina Regarding Proposed Candidate Ministers

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — “In response to recent media coverage referencing a statement from his Excellency Governor A. Baly indicating the presence of seven candidate ministers, Formateur Dr. Luc Mercelina issues this corrective statement to clarify the accurate count of ministerial candidates,” stated the press release.

It has come to the attention of the Formateur that there may have been confusion regarding the proposed number of candidate ministers expected for May 3 Read more

Counterfeit Naf. 100 Banknotes In Circulation

PHILIPSBURG WILLEMSTAD The Centrale Bank van Curaao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) has detected counterfeit NAf. 100 banknotes in circulation. The counterfeit NAf. 100 banknotes are of very good quality, making them challenging to distinguish from genuine NAf Read more

 

DATE ISSUED: Friday 26th April 2024 @ 11:45 LST (15:45 UTC) 

VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday **(12:00 LST) 27th April 2024

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Saturday midday: Fair to partly cloudy. Isolated showers are possible.

Forecast High: 31C / 88F               Forecast Low: 26C / 79F

Sunset Today: 6:32 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:48 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: 

Today through Saturday midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 16 mph.

SYNOPSIS: 

The high-pressure system continues to dominate Read more