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PHILIPSBURG:--- As another year draws to a close, I hope you recognize that our fight is far from overit has just begun.

Don't even assume for a second that the privileges we enjoy today won't be taken away tomorrow.

A classic illustration of how our rights are being violated is the controversy over vacation payments.

Some of us are fortunate enough to have a few days off as a holiday. Others, however, are not afforded this privilege.

As teachers, non-teaching staff, and government employees, we frequently perform unseen, behind-the-scenes duties that are essential to maintaining our economy Read more

Government Financially Supports Trapping, Destroying Of Monkeys

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Nature Foundation, with the help of a local veterinarian, is getting rid of the more than 450 vervet monkeys on St. Maarten. The entrapment and euthanising of monkeys have the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), which provided essential funding.

  The elimination of the monkey population is part of St. Maarten Nature Foundations Invasive Species Project. Acting TEATT Minister Omar Ottley signed off on funding that was used to purchase materials and equipment and to facilitate training by an experienced monkey trapper from the island of St Read more

The United St. Maarten Party Introduces Its New Logo For Election Cycle 2023

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The United St. Maarten Party under the leadership of Mrs. Pamela Gordon-Carty introduced its new logo and party slogan Breaking the Cycle for the election campaign scheduled to be held in 2023. The party moved up its rebranding plans which was scheduled for its 10 year anniversary in 2024 to coincide with the current electoral of 2023.

We have always championed ourselves as solution orientated with practical and strategic plans that can transform the country and move it forward, said President Mr Read more

The Truth Of The Matter Is That This Government Is Being Governed By A Minority

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In a press release issued by the United Sint Maarten Party (USP) said the following: First of all the governor cant call elections, the governor represents the interest of the Kingdom and will handle in such capacity primarily thats his role.

Secondly the electoral laws nor the constitution doesnt speak of independent members but yet we have had for years that party candidates that got a certain amount of votes while being part of a party has been declaring themselves independent with no legal grounds to it and like everything else it continues its course Read more

THE HAGUE:--- The Sint Maarten Reconstruction, Recovery and Resilience Trust Fund is advancing critical reforms needed to ensure long-term national sustainability and through its projects producing many positive outcomes. This includes enabling financial resilience with almost 2,000 people receiving support and skills training to enhance their income and building climate resilience with the majority of the population now protected from the future impact of disasters. In addition, over 500 homes, roofs, and other critical facilities serving the public are repaired, 139 shipwrecks were removed, and over 10.5km of the countrys shorelines were cleaned Read more

Sint Maarten Trust Fund Shows Strategic Results For Long-Term Resilience

THE HAGUE, The Sint Maarten Reconstruction, Recovery and Resilience Trust Fund is advancing critical reforms needed to ensure long-term national sustainability and through its projects producing many positive outcomes. This includes enabling financial resilience with almost 2,000 people receiving support and skills training to enhance their income and building climate resilience with majority of the population now protected from future impact of disasters. In addition, over 500 homes, roofs, and other critical facilities serving the public are repaired, 139 shipwrecks removed, and over 10.5km of the countrys shorelines cleaned Read more

Pfp, Duncan Request Meeting To Continue Process To Adopt ParliamentS Code Of Conduct

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Party for Progress (PFP) Members of Parliament (MPs) Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson and independent MP Solange Duncan have requested a Central Committee meeting of Parliament to continue the process to adopt a Code of Conduct that MPs will be required to adhere.

There is a draft Code of Conduct already on the table Read more

Three MpS Request Urgent Meeting On Status Of Telem

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Members of Parliament Solange L. Duncan (Faction Duncan), Melissa Gumbs (PFP), and Grisha Heyliger-Marten (Faction Heyliger-Marten) recently sent a request to the second Vice-Chair of Parliament William Marlin for an urgent public meeting on the status of TELEM.

The meeting request includes three main agenda points, which are:

The original SOAB report of 2021 on TELEM Update on the financial status and overall fiber to the home project. The state of affairs related to the concerns about the working environment at TELEM as expressed by the Telecommunications Union.

Since the previous update, over one year ago, there has been little to no update or movement on Telem’s fttH project Read more

Bus Drivers Request Increase In Bus Fares Starting January

United Bus Drivers Association president Claude Omeus.

PHILIPSBURG--From January 2023, bus passengers will pay more for a bus ride if it is up to United Bus Drivers Association. President Claude Omeus said the increase is necessary due to the high cost of living on the island.

  I dont think it is unreasonable for us to finally get the increase in fares, as maintaining our buses is not cheap also, said Omeus, stressing that the cost of living continues to skyrocket while gas prices are increased almost bi-weekly.

  Bus drivers have taken note of the announcement by Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Omar Ottley about the increase in minimum wage Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- United Bus Drivers Association is looking forward to the implementation of its increasing of their bus fares come January 2023. The association had taken note of the accountment by the Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Omar Ottley increasing the minimum wage and applauded this initiative Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Silveria Jacobs; Minister of Education Culture Youth and Sport (ECYS), Drs. Rodolphe Samuel; along with the Head of the Department of Culture Ms Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Silveria Jacobs; Minister of Education Culture Youth and Sport (ECYS), Drs. Rodolphe Samuel; along with the Head of the Department of Culture Ms Read more

Dutch State Secretary Or Government Does Not Know Miedema.

~ Proposal to refinance loans seems like a scam.~

PHILIPSBURG:---Dutch State Secretary Alexandra Van Huffelen in a letter to the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion in response to his letter enquiring of the Dutch loan and guarantees said that Miedema is not known to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or anyone in the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations Read more

Dp Is Back! Membership Meeting On November 12

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Democratic Party of St. Maarten (DP), the oldest political party in the country, is gearing up to once again offer the island’s residents knowledgeable and experienced representation that will stand on the party’s founding principles that values hope and dreams for a vibrant future and a decent standard of living for all St. Maarteners. It is time for the DP to once again give light in all this darkness, so our people can move on.

Popularly called The Red Machine, the party will host its general membership meeting on November 12 at the John Larmonie Center in Philipsburg at 6:30pm Read more

~ Stakeholders are still not paid, and they can walk out on carnival. ~

PHILIPSBURG: --- Member of Parliament Rolando Brison called on the government to look into the status of St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) whose financials are not in order. The UP member of Parliament said that this foundation is receiving government subsidies and they are expected to share information with the government in order to comply with the subsidy ordinance Read more

by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Caribbean marketplace is cluttered with twenty-plus territories positioning themselves pretty much in the same way and offering similar benefits. Smart positioning will make one tourist destination stand out from the rest. It makes the difference from being average to becoming a dominant market player.

Positioning is one of the most powerful marketing concepts. It creates an identity or image of a destination in the mind of tourists in terms of an awareness that distinguishes it from competing destinations Read more

Ottley Presents Architectural Renderings For The Philipsburg Market Place

PHILIPSBURG On Wednesday, October 5th, the acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication (TEATT) Omar Ottley presented architectural renderings for the Phillipsburg Market Place. The Market Place has been an ongoing issue since the passing of hurricanes Irma and Maria. The Minister stated that he is elated to be a part of the solution.

Ottley received the final architectural renderings on Wednesday morning which includes enhanced structures with removable components to prepare for a possible hurricane and on-site storage for the vendors Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Today, October 10, 2022, is the first anniversary of the URSM (Unified Resilient Sint Maarten Movement). In the first place, I would like to congratulate the Board, the Advisory Council, the Committee members, the Candidates, and of course all URSM members and the people of Sint Maarten on the first anniversary of the URSM. The URSM is a Party of inclusion that respects and embraces diversity. The URSM believes that inclusion is a method and tool to promote a unified opinion and sentiment of Country identity for Sint Maarten Read more

Charlotte Brookson Academy Receives Culture Time Proceeds

From left: Culture Time founder and host Fabian Badejo, Charlotte Brookson Academys school manager Tatiana Arrindell and Culture Time co-host Rhoda Arrindell. (Stephen Kleinhuis photo)

 PHILIPSBURG--The organisers of last week Fridays Culture Time 35th Anniversary Show at Philipsburg Cultural Centre donated the proceeds of the event to Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performing Arts (CBA).

  The cash presentation was made to school manager Tatiana Arrindell on Tuesday, said Fabian Badejo, host of the long-running PJD-2 radio programme Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, October 5th, the acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication (TEATT) Omar Ottley presented, architectural renderings for the Phillipsburg Market Place. The Market Place has been an ongoing issue since the passing of hurricanes Irma and Maria. The Minister stated that he is elated to be a part of the solution.
Ottley received the final architectural renderings on Wednesday morning which include enhanced structures with removable components to prepare for a possible hurricane and on-site storage for the vendors Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  After nearly three decades, St. Maarten Academys Key Club was rechartered with budding service boys and girls under the leadership of the schools Vice Principal Joanna Trim. The new Key Club, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Aruba, kicked off its first activity by recognizing World Suicide Prevention Month on the last Wednesday of September.

Donned in orange and black to mark the occasion, Key Club members gathered in the schools courtyard at the break on September 28, 2022, to acknowledge the importance of the mental health of teenagers and honor the memory of those teenagers who lost their struggle to suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic years 2020-2022 Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The organizers of last Fridays Culture Time 35th anniversary show donated the proceeds from the event to the Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performing Arts (CBA), said Fabian Badejo.
The cash presentation was made to Tatiana Arrindell, the school manager on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, said Badejo, host of the long-running PJD-2 radio program.
The 35th-anniversary show was a resounding success both in terms of the performances and the turnout, said Badejo.
Culture Time co-host, Dr Read more

Senior citizens from both sides of the island gathered in the Senior Citizens Recreational Center in Hope Estate to celebrate International Day of Older Persons on October 1.

HOPE ESTATE--Senior citizens from both sides of the island gathered in the Senior Citizens Recreational Center in Hope Estate to celebrate International Day of Older Persons on October 1. This large, combined gathering was the biggest since the pandemic waged and seniors were happy to be able to mingle and enjoy a meal together just like old times.

  The lunch was organized by St Read more

Da De Diversion Comunitaria En Hope Estate

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – El Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario, Familia y Asuntos Humanitarios (CDFHA) dentro del Ministerio de Salud Pblica, Desarrollo Social y Trabajo (VSA) organiz su tercer Da de Diversin Comunitario gratuito el sbado 24 de septiembre de 2022 para la comunidad Hope Estate y sus alrededores. Bajo el lema “Ponemos la unidad en la comunidad”, los residentes salieron a interactuar de una manera divertida y participar en este alcance comunitario.

Este Da de diversin comunitaria gratuito tena como objetivo reunir a las familias para un da de diversin y espritu comunitario, mientras que el departamento retribuy a la comunidad al brindar una plataforma para que los miembros de la comunidad aprendieran sobre los servicios del departamento y conocieran a sus bomberos Read more