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Prime-Minister, Ministers,

On January 9, 2020, the people of Sint Maarten went to the polls and elected a new group of parliamentarians. In doing so creating the basis for the formation of a new government.
On January 16, 2020, based on the results of the elections, I named Ms. Silveria Jacobs as formateur to form a new government Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, March 28th, there are two (2) charter flights that are scheduled to land at the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) to repatriate passengers to their home countries. Both requests for landing were submitted to the Prime Minister and Chair of the EOC Silveria Jacobs, whereby an official approval was established.

The Government of Aruba requested a charter flight to repatriate Aruban nationals currently which are in St Read more

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Harbour View:--- On March 26, 2020, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday received the updated final report from formateur S. Jacobs.

The formateur has accepted the commission to form a new government that has the support of a broad majority in Parliament comprised of the NA-fraction and the UP-fraction. The new government consists of Ministers who are committed to the promotion of the wellbeing of Sint Maarten, who will amongst others give priority to concluding the legislation regarding the combating of money laundering and financing of terrorism, including the penal procedure code, the development of initiatives aimed at the sustainable social-economic recovery of Sint Maarten including the execution of the agreements made with The Netherlands and the World Bank, realizing sustainable government finances, including the completion of the 2020 budget, the safety and security of Sint Maarten by investing in the strengthening of the law and order services, the improvement of our environment with an emphasis on realizing sustainable waste management solutions, and the amending of the electoral laws Read more

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PHILIPSBURG/ MARIGOT:--- The Gendarmes and members of the Police Force (KPSM) are busy conducting a road control at the Bellevue border as announced by Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs.
Police Spokesman Inspector Joe Josepha said that borders are not blocked but the controls are aimed at keeping people off the road and in their homes as the island is fighting to combat the COIVID-19 virus Read more

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Exclusive: ProsecutorS Office Delays Swearing In Of Omar Ottley.

~Swearing imminent is their class justice at the Prosecutors Office.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Reliable information reaching SMN News states that the incoming Minister of VSA Omar Ottley may have to wait a bit longer than usual to be sworn in as Minister of VSA, while the other Ministers forming the National Alliance and United Peoples Party coalition may take office anytime soon Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister and Chair of the EOC Silveria Jacobs visited PJIA on March 25th, to accept the donation of 5000 medical masks on behalf of the Government of St. Maarten. The donated masks are to be used by the Medical Professionals on St. Maarten who are on the frontlines of the battle to block the spread of COVID-19 and care for our patients.

On Monday, Royal Dutch Airlines KLM transported 8,000 masks to St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Prime Minister Hon. Silveria Jacobs chair of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Monday, March 23, met with Prefet of Saint-Barthelemy and Saint-Martin Sylvie Feucher, as part of their weekly COVID-19 consultations.

Jacobs was informed about the latest COVID-19 preparedness and response actions taking place on French Saint-Martin, and the Prefet also received an update about Sint Maartens preparedness, response and mitigation measures Read more

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PHILIPSBURG/ MARIGOT:--- The numbers of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is rising on the island. Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs announced on Wednesday that there is an additional confirmed case of the COVID-19. She said the latest victim is a student who returned from New York. This makes the number of confirmed cases on the Dutch side to 3.
On the French side, the numbers of confirmed cases are increasing, on Wednesday there are 3 new cases while there were 11 confirmed cases earlier in the week Read more

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PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---Prime Minister Hon. Silveria Jacobs has sent a letter to the business community as Chair of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) encouraging the business community to observe and implement preventative measures such as employees and customers keeping a healthy distance between each other social distancing in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister Hon. Silveria Jacobs chair of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Tuesday, March 24 took the decision to no longer allow vessels in the Simpson Bay Lagoon to continue to conduct fuel bunkering and provisioning activities as of midnight Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

 The aforementioned can only take place where the vessel is already docked at a facility that provides such at a marina or docking location.

 It was brought to the attention of the EOC on Tuesday that procedures were not being followed in accordance to the directives that were stated before in order to protect the external borders of the country. 

 Due to the non-compliance, vessels who require fuel bunkering and food provisioning will have to do this at Port St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Cabinet of Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and the Department of Communication held a meeting on March 18, with TelEm Group, PJIA, Port St. Maarten, AUC School of Medicine, Governments Public Service Center (PSC), and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) ESF 7 Coordinator for Social development. The public relations and communication officers from several Ministers cabinets and that of the Secretariat also participated in the meeting to pool resources and to increase communication via different mediums with the public to help combat COVID-19, through the dissemination of information.

Though continuously working together in one way or the other, these organizations and Prime Minister Jacobs thought it was important to bring all the stakeholders together, share COVID-19 communication plans, provide suggestions for communication activities and work together to bring information to the public to combat COVID-19 Read more

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PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said on Sunday that the country has two confirmed positive cases of coronavirus COVID-19, and both are in mandatory self-isolation at home and are recovering.

The first confirmed positive case came via the UK-Miami to the island and the second was a student returning from New York.

The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) over the weekend collected forms that were filled in by incoming passengers with residency on Sint Maarten, and an overview of the information was provided to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Monday.

These were the last flights to bring Sint Maarten residents back home before the closure of the countrys airspace on Sunday midnight for incoming passengers.

These persons had to register with CPS and as such have done so.

Totals as of March 20 March 23
Self-quarantined 42 322
Self-isolation 40 57
Suspected cases 13 22
Positive 1 2
Negative 9 12
Pending 3 8

The numbers on Friday, March 20 were as of 8.00 pm and by March 23 increased to final totals up to that day Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs announced on Sunday that she requested the assistance of the Dutch Military in the event of an outbreak of the COVID-19 on St. Maarten, she said the request is being handled by Governor Eugene Holiday.
On the Dutch side of the island, there are now two confirmed cases of COVID-19, the second is a student that returned to the island last week in the Netherlands and went into isolation.
Besides the two confirmed cases, CPS was monitoring 13 cases, 10 of whom were tested and are negative, one positive and one is pending Read more

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Robbers Taking Advantage Of Lockdown Due To Covid- 19.

~One shot dead, Chinese Supermarket robbed on Saturday. ~

PHILIPSBURG: --- Police have their hands full on the Dutch side of the island where business seems to be business as usual despite the lockdown and quarantine called by the EOC and Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs.
Even though residents are asked to stay at home due to the spread of COVID-19 there is an increase of armed robberies, vehicular break-ins and a broad daylight robbery that led to the death of a man on Sunday.
While Police is yet to release any information on the broad daylight murder and the armed robbery which took place on Saturday on Pondfill Road at a Chinese Supermarket it is clear that much more has to be done to ensure safety and security of the people during the worldwide pandemic COVID-19.
KPSM along with the Minister of Justice needs to sit around the table and formulate a plan as to how they will further secure the businesses that can operate during the quarantine period Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister and Chair of the EOC Silveria Jacobs clarified concerns surrounding the Government of Sint Maartens stance on beach vending and the visitation of various beaches located on the Dutch side of the island during the 14 day period of special regulations related to the COVID-19 threat.

The Government of Sint Maarten has not banned beach vending nor visitation of beaches on the Dutch side Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and Chair of the EOC commends all businesses and institutions for establishing rules and regulations that would allow for social distancing. It has been noted, that many businesses are not allowing entrance to their institution. The food services industries are taking orders and offering delivery or pick up options via a window or door, thus limiting crowds and, allowing for minimum contact Read more

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Eoc And Government Plans To Implement Stricter Measures If Necessary To Contain Spread Of Covid-19.

~ 1 confirmed case, 13 being monitored by CPS.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs who is also the chair of EOC was visibly upset during her national address on Friday afternoon as she plead with residents of St. Maarten to respect and follow the recommendations given by her for a period of two weeks in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 on St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday, March 15, 2020, Prime Minister and Chair of the EOC Silveria Jacobs with the Council of Ministers met with the board of national carrier Winair. The board gave an update concerning how the travel restrictions imposed by Governments on both sides of the island have impacted their ability to fill their flights. The recent closure of schools on both sides of the island has also had an impact on the scheduling of Winairs crew members Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Chair of the EOC Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs announced that all schools will be closed as of Wednesday, March 18th, 2020.
As of midnight Tuesday, March 17th only residents of St. Maarten/ St. Martin will be allowed entry to St. Maarten until March 22nd. Jacobs said that on Saturday International flights were banned by Tuesday that has been adjusted whereby Caribbean nationals are also not allowed to enter St Read more

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Dutch Should Take Their Responsibility And Monitor Borders ---Mp Buncamper.

PHILIPSBURG: --- Several Members of Parliament expressed their concerns on the effects of the COVID- 19 a pandemic that has worldwide concerns causing many countries to shut down.
MP Claudius Buncamper called on the Dutch Government to monitor the borders because they asked for border control and it is now their competency. MP Buncamper said that he is concerned about the influx of Venezuelans that managed to secure refugee statuses on the French territory but crosses the border to work and live illegally on the Dutch side Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Reliable information reaching SMN News states that a patient is currently hospitalized at the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) and he is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on a respirator because he has breathing distress. Based on the information SMN News understands that the patient was admitted at SMMC on Saturday.
The information provided to SMN News states that the patient has symptoms of the COVID-19 but that has not yet been confirmed since testing still has to be done.
While patients do end up on respirators before the COVID-19 outbreak the patient at SMMC could very well be St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- T

The travel restrictions announced in Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs's second National Address on March 14th, 2020 are hereby further clarified.

On March 17th, only incoming visitors from the USA, Canada, Europe, UK and Ireland are restricted to enter the country of St. Maarten. This does not apply to St Read more

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~Students studying overseas can return home before ban.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs in a National Address on Saturday, March 14th said that the Government of St. Maarten have decided after meeting with EOC that a travel ban will be implemented for the United Kingdom, United States, and Europe for a period of two weeks, the ban takes effect on Tuesday, March 17th, 2020.

Students studying abroad can return to St Read more

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~ Testing will be done in Guadeloupe.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Stakeholders that are part of the EOC along with its chair held a press conference on Friday afternoon to update residents on some of the decisions taken by the Government and EOC to tackle the COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

Jacobs in her presentation said the government took a number of decisions this past week one being adding Germany and Spain to the restriction list. Restrictions have changed from 14 days to 21 days for persons that may be in countries that have the COVID-19.

Residents that have been in areas that are on the restriction lists will be asked to self isolate at home as recommended by the World Health Organization.

Jacobs said that the Government of St Read more

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