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Grisha Wants Gebe To Introduce Special Tariff For All Seniors

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, wants GEBE to establish a special discounted electricity tariff for the islands senior citizens aged 60 and above.

Dubbed Tariff 60, the Minister has asked the utility company to review the current system in which some seniors benefit from reduced rates while others do not Read more

Great Salt Pond (Flood) Pump Fixed

SUCKERGARDEN, Sint Maarten — The Ministry of VROMI is proud to announce that one of the two flood pumps, used to manage water levels in the Great Salt Pond has been fixed. On initiative of Division VROMI Yard, headed by Head Contract Manager- Special Assignment VROMI – Yard Ms. Lia Dania, together with Mr. Marvin Brown diesel mechanic VROMI Yard and the contractor Corporan Truck & Mechanical Services N.V. a team has been busy, working to repair one of the two pumps.

The level of the Great Salt Pond was managed by using a smaller pump, which wasnt designed to accommodate this purpose Read more

Prime Minister And Officials Hail Breakthrough In Legal Helpdesk Initiative

Philipsburg — The Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Luc Mercelina, Minister of VSA Mrs. Veronica Jansen-Webster, and Member of Parliament Ms. Sjamira Roseburg convened to discuss the remarkable progress of the legal helpdesk initiative championed by MP Roseburg. “This initiative is making tremendous strides,” Prime Minister Mercelina stated Read more

Grisha Holds Talks With Edf On Net Metering

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, recently held exploratory talks with lectricit de France (EDF), the utility company that provides electricity to the northern half of the island.

The discussions centered around net metering, the structure of EDF, current production demand/capacity for the North, interconnection standards, and the impact on feeding solar energy into the grid.

Other topics discussed included net metering rates and compensation structure for excess energy generation, inspection for system compliance, and the permit issuance process, said the minister.

EDF has implemented net metering in territories such as Guadeloupe and Martinique Read more

Spirit Airlines To Explore Code-Sharing Opportunities, Enhance Connections

TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten with Spirit Airlines Senior Director of Network Planning Mathew Glover.

~ Water supply, Customs process concerns ~

PHILIPSBURG--Spirits were high when Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Read more

Minister Veronica Jansen Webster Visits St. Maarten Laboratory Services (Sls)

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Honorable Minister Veronica Jansen Webster, accompanied by her support staff on July 5th, 2024 visited the St. Maarten Laboratory Services (SLS), one of the departments under the ministry’s scope.

The minister had long intended to visit SLS amidst her meetings with various departments, but her schedule had been exceedingly busy while she was also overseeing the Ministry of VROMI Read more

Gumbs Begins Assessment Of Roads

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs began review of existing road infrastructure, following the recent signing of the road resurfacing agreement. Gumbs, Mr. Luciano Nicholls (Cabinet Policy Advisor), and Windward Roads (contractor), began inspections in the Philipsburg basin from Arch Road (Madame Estate) to Juancho Yrasquin Boulevard (Point Blanche).

The scope of the works to be done in this area vary and includes improved quality of asphalt, improved subsurface layer, as well increased asphalt layer thickness Read more

Vsa Minister Briefed On Sls During Visit

The VSA Minister during her SLS visit.

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Veronica Jansen-Webster, accompanied by her support staff, received what was referred to as a comprehensive briefing on the operations of St. Maarten Laboratory Services (SLS) during a visit on July 5.

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NowCandidate Mark Mantle ProposesHealth Wellness Tariff To Support Elderly

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Mark Mantle, a candidate for the NOW (Nation opportunity Wealth) party in the upcoming elections, wants to improve the wellbeing of the elderly through a new health wellness tariff. This initiative aims to increase future revenues and ultimately boost pension funds for seniors.

Mantle’s proposal includes the introduction of two levies: a cigarette Levy: $2.00 per pack and an alcohol Levy: $1.00 per unit Read more

Unified Against Violence: Ensuring The Security Of St. Maarten

My dear people of St. Maarten, Today, I stand before you with a heavy heart to address a grave and tragic event that has shaken our community to its core. Last evening, starting in the Cupecoy area, an act of violence was committed against the leader of the Oualichi Movement for Change (OMC), Mr. Olivier Arrindell, and his family. At noon today, I met with the Public Prosecutor, management of KPSM (Police Department), the VSDM (National Security Service), Minister of Justice Lyndon Lewis, and President of Parliament MP Sarah Wescot-Williams to receive a full debrief and discuss the most recent developments. Mr Read more

Learie Hall Advocates For Cultural Preservation And Orange Economy

As the modern world continues to evolve, preserving our culture and investing in the arts and entertainment sector has become increasingly crucial, especially for the youth. Learie Hall, Candidate #8 on the NOW Slate, emphasizes that the vitality of our cultural heritage not only enriches the community but also positions it as a vibrant tourism destination.

Hall is dedicated to creating new opportunities for young artists, dancers, and entertainers and urges the youth to act by voting and choosing him as their next member of Parliament to be their voice and advocate.

Hall believes that St Read more

Szv And Minister Of Public Health Sound Alarm For Urgent Health Financing Reform

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Over the years, Social & Health Insurances SZV has been flexible in its policies to include measures that allow director majority shareholders (DMS) who fall outside the scope of the law to still get access to medical insurance. However, in recent cases where SZV attempted to collect unpaid premiums for the registered insured, the Court of First Instance reminded SZV that premiums for sickness, accident, and severance insurance could only be collected for the registered insured, as defined by the respective ordinances Read more

Emmanuel: We Must Be Tired Of Seeing People Live Like This

~ Outlines vision for St. Maarten’s future ~

MP Christophe Emmanuel, leader of the Opportunity Wealth Party (NOW), made a compelling statement on Wednesday, addressing the pressing needs of the people of St. Maarten and highlighting his partys unwavering commitment to wealth creation and economic prosperity.

“Any politician with a heart must be tired of seeing their people live stagnant lives in their own country,” MP Emmanuel stated Read more

Minister Lewis Strongly Condemns All Forms Of Violence

The Honorable Minister of Justice, Lyndon Lewis was briefed by the Acting Chief of Police, inspector Shadira Gysbertha regarding a distressing shooting incident that occurred *yesterday evening*. The event left four victims; three were urgently transported to Sint Maarten Medical Center for medical attention, while tragically, one individual was found deceased at the scene. “It appears that these heinous acts may have been politically motivated,” as one of the victims includes Olivier Arrindell, the leader of the Oualichi Movement for Change (OMC) party. Minister Lewis strongly condemns all forms of violence, particularly if it was driven by political motives. “We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation into this matter, and we will ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law Read more

Ottley Lauds Achievements Of Local Bodybuilder Calvin Mardembrough

Calvin Mardembrough.

PHILIPSBURG--United People's Party (UP) leader Member of Parliament Omar Ottley has lauded the achievements of rising star in the world of bodybuilding, Calvin Mardembrough.

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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

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

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

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

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

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

Draft Legislation For Crime Fund, Presented To Minister Of Justice, Lyndon Lewis

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Ministry of Justice reached a significant milestone, as the Minister of Justice, Lyndon C. J. Lewis, was presented with the draft legislation for the Crime Fund. This development marks a crucial step towards modernizing and improving the management, supervision, and accountability of the Crime Fund, an area identified as lacking in the current, outdated legislation. This initiative is also a part of the broader country package measure aimed at enhancing the efficiency and oversight of the Crime Fund.

The draft legislation was prepared by a dedicated group of civil servants, who undertook this project as their final assignment to achieve certification as legislative lawyers, a program offered to them by the Caribbean Center for Legislation.

The Minister of Justice expressed profound gratitude to the civil servants for their hard work and dedication Read more

Minister Of Justice Lyndon Lewis Addresses Increase In Gun Violence

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten The Minister of Justice Lyndon Lewis has issued a statement addressing the recent increase in gun violence on the island. This follows a series of troubling incidents that have raised concerns within the community.

“The KPSM has begun their investigation into the recent surge in gun violence,” said Minister Lewis Read more