SXMElections.com

Gumbs, Teatt, Vsa Meet With Ser On Proposed Tourist Tax Law

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs on Wednesday reiterated her commitment to implementing a tourist tax as part of broader tax reforms aimed at reducing the financial burden on the working population.

Speaking at the live Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday, Gumbs said a meeting was held with the Social Economic Council SER to address concerns and questions regarding the proposed tourist tax legislation Read more

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Vromi Minister Gumbs Faces Ombudsman Inquiry Over Controversial Cupecoy High-Rise

Taliesin NV, on behalf of NLGY Development, continued rock drilling over the weekend and went beyond the legally permitted boundaries, while throwing debris over a retaining wall onto the neighbour's property.

 PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Patrice Gumbs, representing Party for Progress (PFP), must answer to the Ombudsman of St Read more

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Romi Launches Erosion Project, Announces Temporary Road Closure

In red is the section that is closed off temporarily starting today, Monday, March 10.

 PHILIPSBURG--A section of Ebenezer Road at the intersection of W.R. Plantz Road and Johannes C. Paap Road will be closed temporarily. The closure, effective from today, Monday, March 10, to Wednesday, April 9, is necessary to facilitate the Hillside Stabilization Project, aimed at addressing severe erosion in the area.

The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI announced the project in response to the ongoing deterioration of the Ebenezer Trench, which has led to infrastructure collapse and increased flood risks for residents.

Reports dating back to 2010 highlighted concerns about excavation practices, with further complaints in 2020 and 2021 regarding hillside erosion and falling soil Read more

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Commercial High-Rise Projects Approved Under Misclassified Residential Permits

 PHILIPSBURG--Several new commercial developments, ranging from four to eighteen storeys high, have begun construction in residential areas despite being approved under residential permits, which only allow a maximum of three storeys or 12 metres. Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI) Patrice Gumbs acknowledged on Wednesday that the permit classification published in the National Gazette as residential is incorrect.

Speaking at the Council of Ministers press briefing, Gumbs addressed questions posed by The Daily Herald on Wednesday, February 27, regarding a building permit issued for Jordan Road a small road historically used by public buses and residents vehicles until a developer began clearing the area in April 2024 Read more

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Students Clean Beach

A group from Broadreach, a United States-based student travel programme, recently helped clean up Zeelandia Beach in St. Eustatius, alongside a team from St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation STENAPA. The combined group removed a total of 1,861 items from a beach that is the islands hotspot for nesting sea turtles.

St. Maarten Airport Takes Centre Stage At Routes America 2025

The St. Maarten-Saint Martin-St. Barths delegation at Routes America 2025.

SIMPSON BAY--PJIAE, the operating company of Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), recently participated in Routes Americas 2025, aiming to attract airlines to St. Maarten and reinforce the island's role as a key Caribbean hub. The delegation was headed by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Read more

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Les Mardis De Grand Case Returns For Four Tuesdays

Les Mardis de Grand Case returns on March 11 for four consecutive Tuesdays. Photo credit Calypso Events.

GRAND CASE--Calypso Events announced officially on Thursday that Les Mardis de Grand Case will return starting Tuesday, March 11, for four consecutive Tuesdays, albeit with a smaller budget.

The about-turn suggests the organiser reached a compromise with the Collectivit after earlier back and forth arguments over whether the subvention to hold the event had been submitted to the Collectivit on time, which ultimately resulted in the event being cancelled.

Calypso Events disclosed it had received a subvention of 30,000 euros from the Collectivit in addition to a subvention for the electricity installations on the Boulevard, a detail the Collectivit had not agreed to previously Read more

Motion For Referendum On Independence Rejected After Vote Tied For Second Time

 PHILIPSBURG--A motion presented by National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) Ardwell Irion, urging government to begin preparations for a consultative referendum on political independence for St. Maarten by December 31, 2027, was rejected on Monday after a second vote resulted in a tie Read more

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The Culprit Gives Up Himself

Dear Editor,

I have been following your live My2Cents on Facebook and I applaud your outcry on the topic of sexual harassment on the workplace and the bravery of the lady Ms. Nicole James that reacted to go public with her ordeal and her open petition to the Parliament of Sint Maarten and the Government of Sint Maarten with the request to put policies in place that addresses this matter. She also addressed the Integrity Chamber. Rightly so.

It is very disturbing to hear about this issue playing within the Police Force and within a department of VSA Read more

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Napb Members Frustrated Over Not Yet Receiving Their National Decrees

NAPB St. Maarten President Marcus Pantophlet.

PHILIPSBURG--The NAPB St. Maarten police union said on Tuesday that its members have voiced increasing frustration after not receiving their national decrees.

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

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Minister Richinel Brug Meets With Ombudsman

Philipsburg, St. Maarten —Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA), Hon. Richinel Brug, met with Ombudsman Ms. Gwendolien Mossel. This meeting, initiated at the Ministers request, served as a formal introduction and a platform to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the Ministry of VSA and the Ombudsmans office.

Minister Brug expressed his gratitude to the Ombudsman for accepting his request and emphasized his commitment to transparency and accountability Read more

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Priority Service For Elderly, Seating Improvements At ReceiverS Office

PHILIPSBURG--Priority service for the elderly and seating for clients comfort are improvements that Finance Marinka Gumbs has instituted at the Receivers Office.

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New Newsletter Launched By Minister Plenipotentiary Cabinet

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina was the first to receive the Newsletter of the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary.

THE HAGUE--The Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague has broadened its scope of communication with the distribution of a Newsletter that gives an overview of its recent efforts and activities.

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New Dutch Rep In Philipsburg: I Will Spend Time Getting To Know This Country

Eelco Boomsma,(fourth right), Governor Ajamu Baly (fifth right), Chairlady of Parliament, Sarah Wescot-Williams (third right), Deputy Prime Minister Grisha Heyliger-MartenRead more

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Bjp Fund Aims To Support Journalism On Caribbean Islands

SOURCE: Curacao.nu

AMSTERDAM The Fund for Special Journalistic Projects in the Netherlands (Fonds BJP) is investigating how it can better support journalists in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Although applications from the region are received sporadically, the Fund has noticed that the existing regulations do not always meet local needs. There is also a lack of name recognition, according to a statement from the Fund.

To change this, a working trip to five Caribbean islands is planned Read more

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Passenger Transport Registration

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Inspectorate of Economic and Transport Affairs (IETA) instructs all holders of a passenger transport permit to register their operation with the Transport Control Unit no later than Tuesday, February 25, 2025, to receive a confirmation letter. The confirmation letter validates that the operations documentation and vehicle meet the applicable regulations to carry out service.

In prior years, the annual confirmation letter process was solely conducted to pay the annual road tax payments Read more

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Tackling: Allowing Heavily Tinted Vehicles Poses Risks That Outweigh Potential Benefit

A heavily tinted vehicle.

~ Experience support regulating excessive tint ~

PHILIPSBURG--Justice Minister Natalie Tackling made her position on allowing heavily tinted vehicles clear when asked about the matter during the parliamentary debate on the 2025 budget last week. She said allowing heavily tinted vehicles poses unnecessary risks that far outweigh any potential benefit.

The minister said while statistics provide valuable insights, practical enforcement experience and the precautionary principle strongly support regulating excessive tint as a measure to enhance public safety and road security.

Heavily tinted vehicles reduce driver visibility, particularly at night, increasing the likelihood of accidents and also obstruct visibility for other road users, creating further hazards on the road, the minister noted.

While only a minority of tinted vehicles may be used in crimes, the concealment they provide facilitates illegal activities such as transporting contraband or evading recognition after a crime, necessitating proactive regulation to minimize these risks, the Minister told Parliament.

She was at the time responding to questions from National Alliance (NA) Members of Parliament (MPs) Ardwell Irion and Egbert Doran who asked what data is being used to indicate that tint on vehicles will be dangerous Read more

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Court Of Appeals Exposes Minister Of JusticeS Failings In Police Promotion Case

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten On Wednesday, January 15, 2025, the Court of Appeals for Civil Servants rendered a landmark decision in favor of six dedicated police officers of the Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM), who had been fighting for years against the inaction of the Minister of Justice. These officers, who were denied rightful promotions, finally succeeded in their legal battle.

Despite losing their case in First Instance, the officers persisted and secured a decisive victory on appeal Read more

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Minister Of Finance Announces Payment Of 2% Cola To Subsidized School Teachers

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Minister of Finance, Marinka Gumbs, is pleased to inform subsidized school teachers that the long-awaited 2% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which was granted to civil servants in September 2024, has been disbursed to subsidized schools as of last week, and it is now the responsibility of the schools to ensure that these payments are made to the teachers.

The Minister empathizes with the challenges faced by subsidized school teachers due to the delayed payment of the 1% vacation allowance increase, the 1% COLA paid out in December 2023 to civil servants, and the recently disbursed 2% COLA indexation Read more

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Minister Brug Meets With The Integrity Chamber

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — recently the Honorable Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA), Richinel Brug, held an introductory meeting with the Integrity Chamber. The purpose of this meeting was to foster a collaboration and discuss integrity matters of mutual interest. This meeting reflects the shared commitment of both parties to transparency and accountability within the Government of Sint Maarten, particularly the Ministry of VSA.

Integrity within our Government apparatus is of utmost importance Read more

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Education Minister Requests Investigation Into Fight Between School Bus Driver, Student

A screen grab of the altercation between the bus driver and student.

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Education, Culture Youth and Sport (ECYS) Melissa Gumbs has requested a thorough investigation into an incident involving a school bus driver and a student outside a school bus on Tuesday.

 A video of the incident that was circulating widely on social media on Tuesday captioned bus driver vs student shows the school bus driver holding the student by his top against the school bus and pushing him away from the bus Read more

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Lewis: Merchants Using Benches On Front Street As Laundry Line

 ~ Many dilapidated ~

 PHILIPSBURG--Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) Member of Parliament (MP) Lyndon Lewis is concerned about the state and use of the concrete benches that have been placed along Front Street saying that not only are many of them dilapidated, but merchants are using some of them similar to laundry lines placing mats and other wet objects to dry.

He relayed his concerns during the continuation of the public meeting of Parliament on the draft 2025 budget on Tuesday Read more

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Kadaster And Kitlv To Preserve St. MaartenS Heritage Documents

Professors Francio Guadaloupe (left) and Diana Suhardiman (right) with Anelski Jundri Richardson of Kadaster.

PHILIPSBURG--Kadaster St. Maarten and the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies KITLV have entered into a partnership to enhance the conservation and management of the islands historical documents. This collaboration, initiated by Professor Francio Guadeloupe under the Islanders on the Helm project, aims to safeguard vital heritage records for future generations.

The agreement focuses on specialized training for Kadaster staff, encompassing both technical aspects of document preservation and essential soft skills for effective file management Read more

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