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Wilson Warns Gebe Against Water Disconnections In Households With Children And Seniors

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Gromyko Wilson, an advocate for social justice and a candidate (#16) on the Nation Opportunity and Wealth (NOW) warns the current GEBE management and the government of Sint Maarten against disconnection of water in households with children and seniors.

Wilson highlights the recent court verdict in the Netherlands as jurisprudence in handling these cases going forward on Sint Maarten.

In the verdict of March 19th, 2024, the Judge ruled that water disconnections due to default in payment is illegal based on the Human rights Organizations Defense for Children when minors are part of the households in question.

Wilson goes further to plead for the application of this verdict to not only households with minors but also senior citizens Read more

Telem Said ItS Making Solid Progress Stabilising Systems

TelEm Group CEO Kendall Dupersoy (left), inspects a battery replacement operation at the company SMITCOMS location in Harbour View, Friday, led by the companys Power Department team.

 

POND ISLARead more

Grisha Advocates Return To Previous System Of GovernmentTo Reduce Political Instability

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten Electoral reform should not only address the topic of integrity and so-called ship-jumping; it should first and foremost focus on what appears to be the main cause of political instability on all islands of the former Netherlands Antilles since 10-10-10. This is the opinion expressed recently by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten.

According to the minister, the main cause of political instability is the switch to a dualistic system of Government.

Before 10-10-10, with one or two exceptions, (coalition) Governments on the islands of the former Netherlands Antilles always lasted a full term of four years Read more

Langlais: Environment, Energy Solutions Requires Political Will

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Marie Claire Langlais, #14 on the NOW (Nation Opportunity Wealth) party list, pointed out over the weekend that the island faces unprecedented challenges in the midst of a global climate crisis, and that the environment should not be an empty election talking point. Additionally, she stressed that being realistic about sustainable energy solutions requires political will.

Langlais asserts that St Read more

Caribbean Airlines Inaugural ServiceTo Puerto Rico Takes Flight

Piarco, Trinidad & Tobago, —Caribbean Airlines inaugural flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico left the Piarco International Airport, Trinidad at 10.50 a.m. on Sunday July 14. This new route is part of the airline’s strategic plan to enhance connectivity within the Caribbean region. Flights to San Juan will operate three (3) times per week (Sunday, Tuesday & Friday) from the airline’s base in Trinidad, with convenient connections to other destinations.

The first flight to San Juan was marked with celebrations for the passengers, who received goody bags with Caribbean Airlines branded items and were entertained by the talented Leandra Head Read more

Arrival Of Containerized Generators Marks Significant Progress Towards Energy Stability

Philipsburg The Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina is pleased to announce the safe arrival of the containerized generators on the island. This crucial delivery represents a significant step forward in ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply for the residents of our island.

Under the presence of NV GEBE’s management Troy Washington, SoEnergy International and Harbor personnel, the generators were successfully offloaded without incident last Sunday afternoon Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Monday 15th July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 16th July 2024 WEATHER:This Afternoon: Sunny and warmTonight, through Tuesday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with slight haze and isolated showers possible.  Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 27C / 81F  Sunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:46 A.M Read more

Bastille Day Marked By Medal Ceremonies, Parade, Speeches

Collectivit President Louis Mussington prepares to lay a wreath at the war memorial assisted by Junior Territorial Council President Kloh Francillette during Bastille Day ceremonies on Sunday. (Collectivit photos)

MARIGOT--Many persons were honoured during two medal ceremonies, one by the Collectivit and the other by the State, dur Read more

High Court Backs Same-Sex Marriage

Celebrating the outcome.

THE HAGUE--Same-sex couples are now permitted to marry immediately in Aruba and Curaao, as decided by the High Court in the Netherlands on Friday. It affirmed an earlier ruling by the Joint Court of Justice for the Dutch Caribbean.

The latter determined on December 6, 2022, that marriages between people of the same sex must be permitted in Aruba and Curaao. Both governments turned to the High Court, which has now rejected their appeals.

The case was brought by Fundacion Orguyo Aruba and Human Rights Caribbean (HRC) in Curaao Read more

Mp Maingrette's Home, Office Searched, Suspected Of Taking Bribes, Misusing Position

PHILIPSBURG--The Criminal Investigation Team RST, under the direction of the examining judge on Friday conducted searches at the home and workplace at the Parliament Building of Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Kevin Maingrette. Read more

DATE ISSUED: Friday 12th July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 13th July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon: Hazy and breezy. Isolated showers are possible.This evening through Saturday midday: Variably cloudy and hazy with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.Forecast High: 32C / 90F               Forecast Low: 26C / 79FSunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                    Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:45 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: East to northeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 17 mph and higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: Generally unstable conditions are expected across the region due to an incoming tropical wave Read more

Victim Support Services Report On Six Months Service

On July 10th, Victim Support Services St. Maarten hosted a presentation for the Honorable Minister of Justice Lyndon Lewis and various stakeholders, reviewing the organization’s services over the past six months.

Victim Support Services St. Maarten provides optimal assistance to individuals affected by serious assaults, human trafficking, or severe accidents.

Minister Lewis delivered an introductory speech, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to the organization Read more

Prime Minister Dr. Luc MercelinaS Meets New State Secretary Mr. Zsolt Szab

The Hague The Honorable Prime Minister of St. Maarten, Dr. Luc Mercelina, has successfully concluded a historic and successful meeting with Mr. Zsolt Szab, the newly appointed State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations of The Netherlands. This significant event marks the first official meeting of Mr. Szab in his new role, highlighting the pivotal importance of the relationship between St Read more

Minister Of Finance, Marinka Gumbs Caribbean Literature Day Message

Happy Caribbean Literature Day to all our St. Martin authors, poets, book lovers and in particular to House of Nehesi Publishers, a leading publisher in the region whose original idea it was to have a special day like this set aside to celebrate our creative geniuses.

Im proud to note that Caribbean Literature Day started in St. Martin 5 years ago and has been steadily spreading all over the world ever since.

The importance of reading cannot be overemphasized. We are all familiar with the saying, Readers are leaders Read more

Soab: Szv 2023 Financial Statements Are Accurate And Transparent

~ SZV receives a clean audit report for the third consecutive year ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten For the third consecutive year, Social & Health Insurances SZV received a clean audit report for its financial statements. The clean audit report was issued by the government audit bureau, Stichting Overheids Accountants Bureau (SOAB). A clean audit report also termed an ‘Approved Control,’ means that the auditors found that the financial reporting by SZV was accurate and transparent Read more

Lewis Announces 1% Cola, 1% Vacation Allowance In 2024 Budget Amendment

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Lyndon Lewis on Thursday announced that the outstanding amount for the 1% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and the 1% vacation allowance will be included in the 2024 budget amendment.

A meeting was held with the board of the WITU on Wednesday to express the governments commitment to include the 1% Read more

DATE ISSUED: Thursday, 11 July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 12 July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Friday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy at times with brief isolated showers.Forecast High: 32C / 90F              Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:44 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 17 mph, and higher gusts possible.SYNOPSIS: Patches of low-level clouds drifting with the easterly wind flow will produce isolated showers across the local area Read more

4 Graduate With Geds, 2 After Vocational Training

Master of Ceremonies Alex Lindo addressing the graduates.

 ST. EUSTATIUS--New Challenges Foundation (NCF) held a graduation ceremony at William and Christine Flanders Community Centre on July 3 for four students who received their General Educational Development (GED) diplomas and two who completed vocational training.

This celebration is a testament to the power of second chances, said NCF Director Francine Foe at the ceremony. Our graduates have shown that with grit, determination and the right support, anyone can overcome adversity and achieve their dreams.

The ceremonys theme Dont Watch the Clock, Do What It Does, Keep Going was a fitting tribute to the graduates, emphasising the importance of perseverance, resilience and staying focused.

The ceremony started with a rousing rendition of the St Read more

Taxi Associations Present Proposal For Tariff Change To Teatt Minister

From left: Andrew Royer of the Dutch Taxi Association, TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Maya Friday of the Dutch St. Maarten Taxi Association and Glen Emers of Down Town Taxi Association.

~ Want ride sharing initiative permanently abolished ~

PHILIPSBURG--Five taxi associations operating on Dutch St. Maarten have proposed a change to the existing tariffs, according to them, due to the increased cost of living and inflation.

In a letter to Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten, the associations said the proposed amendments to the current tariffs are also to synchronise tariffs with the French-side Taxi Association which is presently in negotiations to increase their tariffs.

We met last week to discuss, among other things, their proposal to change the current tariffs for different districts, Heyliger-Marten said in a press release Read more

DATE ISSUED: Wednesday, 10 July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 11 July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Thursday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy, hot, humid, and slightly hazy with brief local showers possible.Forecast High: 32C / 90F              Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:44 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Thursday midday: East-northeasterly to east-southeasterly with a light to moderate breeze of 5 to 15 mph.SYNOPSIS: A drier atmosphere is settling over the local region, limiting shower activity Read more

Mp Emmanuel Had An Electricity Solution Since 2016

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Tuesday said that had political maturity prevailed in 2017, St. Maarten would have had a groundbreaking project to establish a state-of-the-art waste processing plant with an integrated energy-generating component. This initiative would have been a pivotal move towards enhancing environmental sustainability and energy efficiency on the island.

There was an approved Council of Ministers decision for a proposal Read more

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday 9th July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday morning (06:00 LST) 10th July 2024  WEATHER:This Afternoon: Hazy and warmTonight, through Wednesday midday: Partly cloudy and hazy with isolated showers possible.  Forecast High: 32C / 90F               Forecast Low: 27C / 81F Sunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:44 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This Afternoon through Wednesday midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 15 mph.  SYNOPSIS: A drier and more stable atmosphere will settle over the region today Read more

From left: Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs, TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Chairperson of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams and Member of Parliament Viren Kotai.

 PHILIPSBURG--The decision on whether St Read more

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina Meets With The Mayor Of The Hague

The Hague The Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, held a significant meeting with the Mayor of The Hague, Jan Hendrikus Cornelis van Zanen during his important working visit to The Netherlands. The discussions focused on critical issues affecting students from Sint Maarten, including housing and technical assistance for professionals.

Housing for Students

One of the key topics discussed was the urgent need for housing solutions for Sint Maarten students studying in The Hague Read more