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

Arrindell Attends Cari-Aire Aviation Internship Launch

St. Maarten Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell (sixth left, standing) with all attendees. (Photo by Angelo Werleman for WeConnect)

THE HAGUE--St. Maarten Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell attended the launch of the Cari-Aire Aviation Internship Programme last week at the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaao at the Curaao House in The Hague.

The launch was also attended by the ministers plenipotentiary from Aruba and Curaao.

Arrindell said in a press release that the internship programme focuses on strengthening the aviation sector across all six islands of the Dutch Caribbean Read more

DATE ISSUED: Wednesday, 12th March 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 13th March 2025 WEATHER:  This afternoon through Thursday midday: Partly cloudy with isolated showers possible.  Forecast High: 30C / 86F                                           Forecast Low:25C / 77F  Sunset Today:6:22 P.M.                                                      Sunrise Tomorrow:6:22 A.M.  SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Thursday midday: Southeasterly to easterly with a light to gentle breeze of 4 to 12 mph becoming lighter and variable at times. SYNOPSIS:   A loose surface pressure gradient will maintain mostly light winds across the region Read more

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday 11th March 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 12th March 2025WEATHER:   This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Fair to partly cloudy with isolated showers.Forecast High: 30C / 86F                       Forecast Low:25C / 77F Sunset Today:6:21 P.M.                            Sunrise Tomorrow:6:23 A.M.SURFACE WINDS:This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Easterly to southeasterly with a light to moderate breeze of 6 to 14 mph.SYNOPSIS: An upper level trough will increase the probability of showers during the latter part of this forecast period Read more

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

Alleyway Transformation Project Engages Over 100 Volunteers

The group of volunteers on Saturday included VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs (third row, third right) and Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling (third row, second right).

PHILIPSBURG--More than 100 volunteers have participated in the ongoing Alleyway Transformation project, a community initiative led by Be The Change Foundations @ColorMeSXM Read more

DATE ISSUED: Monday 10th March 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 11th March 2025WEATHER:   This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Generally fair. The isolated shower is likely.Forecast High: 30C / 86F                       Forecast Low: 24C / 75F Sunset Today:6:21 P.M.                            Sunrise Tomorrow:6:24 A.M.SURFACE WINDS:This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Northeast to east-southeasterly with a light to moderate breeze of 7 to 16 mph.SYNOPSIS: A shallow trough is affecting the island today Read more

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

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

DATE ISSUED: Friday 7th March 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 8th March 2025WEATHER:   This afternoon through tonight: Variably cloudy with isolated showers possible.
Saturday morning through midday: Fair to partly cloudy with isolated showers possible.Forecast High: 30C / 86F                       Forecast Low:25C / 77FSunset Today:6:20 P.M.                            Sunrise Tomorrow:6:26 A.M.SURFACE WINDS:This afternoon through Saturday midday: Southerly to easterly with a light to gentle breeze of 4 to 12 mph, occasionally becoming lighter and variable.SYNOPSIS: Available moisture and weak instability associated with a weak low level trough may produce isolated showers across the local area Read more

DATE ISSUED: Thursday 6th March 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 7th March 2025WEATHER:   This afternoon through Friday midday: Variably cloudy with isolated showers.Forecast High:29C / 84F                        Forecast Low:24C / 75FSunset Today:6:20 P.M.                            Sunrise Tomorrow:6:27 A.M.SURFACE WINDS:This afternoon through Friday midday: Southeasterly with a light to gentle breeze of 5 to 12 mph.SYNOPSIS: Lingering moisture and instability associated with a low level trough, will continue to influence the local weather Read more

Ombudsman Seeks To Strengthen Institution With Law Amendments

From left: Prime Minister Dr Luc Mercelina , Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel and Ombudsman Secretary General Randolf Duggins.

~ Childrens Ombudsman proposed ~

PHILIPSBURG--Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel has submitted proposed amendments to the national ordinance governing the Ombudsman institution to the Department of Legal Affairs and Legislation JZ and W for review.

The submission was made through Prime Minister Dr Read more

DATE ISSUED: Wednesday 5th March 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 6th March 2025WEATHER:   This afternoon through this evening: Variably cloudy with isolated showers.Tonight through Thursday midday: Fair to partly cloudy with isolated showers possible.Forecast High:29C / 84F                        Forecast Low:25C / 77FSunset Today:6:20 P.M.                            Sunrise Tomorrow:6:27 A.M.SURFACE WINDS:This afternoon through Thursday midday: East southeasterly to southeasterly with a light to moderate breeze of 5 to 15 mph.SYNOPSIS: Moisture and instability trailing a low level trough will account for isolated showers across the region Read more

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday 4th March 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 5th March 2025WEATHER:   This afternoon and evening: Fair to partly cloudy with isolated showers.Tonight, through Wednesday midday: Generally cloudy with scattered showers.Forecast High:29C / 84F                        Forecast Low: 24C / 75FSunset Today:6:20 P.M.                            Sunrise Tomorrow:6:28 A.M.SURFACE WINDS:Today through Wednesday midday: East to southeasterly with a light to moderate breeze of 4 to 15 mph.SYNOPSIS: A departing trough leaves relatively moist and slightly unstable conditions in its wake Read more

12PM Public Weather ForecastDATE ISSUED: Monday 3rd March 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 4th March 2025WEATHER:   This afternoon and evening: Fair to partly cloudy with isolated showers.Tonight, through Tuesday midday: Generally cloudy with scattered showers.Forecast High:30C / 86F                        Forecast Low: 23C / 73FSunset Today:6:19 P.M.                            Sunrise Tomorrow:6:29 A.M.SURFACE WINDS:This afternoon/evening: Southeast to easterly with a gentle breeze of 5 to 12 mphTonight, through Tuesday midday: East-northeast to southeasterly with a light to gentle breeze of 4 to 8 mph, becoming lighter and variable at times.SYNOPSIS: An incoming trough is the main feature of this forecast period Read more

Minister Plenipotentiary Meets With National Ombudsman Van Zutphen

From left: National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen and St. Maarten Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell. Arrindell presented to Van Zutphen the book Know Your Political History written by authors Edgar and Julian Lynch.

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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.

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