SXMElections.com

 DATE ISSUED: Wednesday 31st July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 1st August 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Thursday midday: Generally cloudy with scattered rain-showers and isolated thunderstorms.Forecast High: 31C / 88F               Forecast Low: 26C / 79FSunset Today: 6:47 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:51 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Thursday midday: East to southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 17 mph, and higher gusts possible.SYNOPSIS: A tropical wave brings showery conditions across the area Read more

Les Fruits De Mer Launches Island-Wide Education Project

Les Fruits de Mer Association has announced the Island of Discovery project which funds class visits to Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House, boosting education about local nature, heritage and culture. Story on page .

GRAND CASE--The all-volunteer Les Fruits de Mer Association is thrilled to announce the launch of Island of Discovery, a new project that will boost education about local nature, heritage and culture.

The project will reach thousands of students on both sides of the island in the coming year Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Tuesday 30th July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 31st July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon and evening: Hot, humid and slightly hazy. Brief showers are likely.
Tonight, through Wednesday midday: Variably cloudy with scattered showers and likely thunderstorms.Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:48 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:51 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Easterly with a light to moderate breeze of 5 to 14 mph.SYNOPSIS: Hot and humid conditions persist 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

 DATE ISSUED: Monday, 29 July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 30 July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Tuesday midday: This afternoon through Tuesday morning: Partly cloudy with light haze and brief local showers possible.Forecast High: 33C / 91F              Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:48 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:50 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Easterly with a light to moderate breeze of 5 to 14 mph.SYNOPSIS: Patches of moisture moving across the local area may cause brief local showers from time to time Read more

Gumbs Presents Usm With Books To Mark WatheyS 98Th Birthday

Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs presenting Claude: A Portrait of Power by Fabian Badejo to USM President Dr. Antonio Carmona Bez.

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs presented University of St 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

 DATE ISSUED: Friday 26th July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 27th July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon: Hot, hazy and breezy.Tonight, through Saturday midday: Hazy and breezy. Brief showers are possible.Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:49 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:49 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: Today through Saturday midday: Northeast to easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 18 mph and higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: High concentrations of Saharan dust persist and will maintain hazy skies and poor air quality across the region, throughout the weekend Read more

Winair Faces Month-Long Wait For Approval Of More Flights To Curaao

Passengers are seen embarking a Winair plane at Hato Airport in Curacao.

 WILLEMSTAD--WINAIR will have to wait at least another month to find out if it can permanently operate four additional flights per week between St. Maarten and Curaao, according to the newspaper Amigoe in Curaao, based on the lawsuit against the government of Curaao that was heard in Willemstad on Thursday.

On Thursday morning, the judge in this LAR procedure (administrative litigation) unsuccessfully attempted to mediate the conflict between the airline and the government, represented by Curaao Minister of Traffic and Transportation Charles Cooper (MFK).

The ruling is scheduled for August 23 Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Thursday 25th July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 26th July 2024WEATHER:
This afternoon: Humid, hazy and breezy.
Tonight, through Friday midday: Hazy and breezy. Brief showers are possible.Forecast High: 32C / 90F               Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:49 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:49 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: Northeast to easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 18 mph and higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: High concentrations of Saharan dust result in hazy skies and poor air quality across the region, until this weekend Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Wednesday 24th July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 25th July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon and evening: Warm, hazy and breezy.Tonight, through Thursday midday: Hazy and breezy. Brief showers are possible.Forecast High: 31C / 88F               Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:49 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:49 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: Today through Thursday midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 18 mph.SYNOPSIS: A dry airmass enters the region in the wake of the tropical wave Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, 23 July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 24 July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Partly cloudy and slightly hazy with brief local showers possible.Forecast High: 33C / 91F              Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:50 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:48 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Easterly with a light to moderate breeze of 8 to 16 mph.SYNOPSIS: Patches of moisture moving across the local area may cause brief local showers from time to time Read more

Meeting Between Ecys And Nsi

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Cabinet of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS) met with the National Sports Institute (NSI) and its new Director Jisk Goslinga this week. The cabinet on behalf of the Minister of ECYS Lyndon Lewis.

The meeting focussed on the structure of the NSI, but particularly on the upgrading and maintenance of the sporting facilities 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

 DATE ISSUED: Monday, 22 July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 23 July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Partly cloudy, becoming cloudy at times with isolated showers.Forecast High: 32C / 90F              Forecast Low: 26C / 79FSunset Today: 6:50 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:48 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Easterly with a light to moderate breeze of 6 to 16 mph.SYNOPSIS: Moisture and weak instability associated with a passing trough of low pressure will cause isolated showers Read more

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

 DATE ISSUED: Friday 19th July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 20th July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon: Variably cloudy, and hazy with scattered showers. Isolated thunderstorms are possible.This evening through Saturday midday: Warm, breezy, and hazy.Forecast High: 31C / 88F               Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:51 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:47 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: Today through Saturday midday: East to southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 18 mph, and higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: A tropical wave is affecting the region Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Thursday 18th July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 19th July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Friday midday: Hot and hazy with isolated showers.Forecast High: 32C / 90F               Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:51 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:47 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: Today through Friday midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 18 mph with higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: A plume of Saharan dust is reducing both air quality and visibility, while limiting showers across the region 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

 DATE ISSUED: Wednesday, 17 July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 18 July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Thursday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy and hazy with brief local showers possible.Forecast High: 33C / 91F              Forecast Low: 26C / 79FSunset Today: 6:51 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:46 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Thursday midday: East-southeasterly to easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 17 mph, and higher gusts possible.SYNOPSIS: Patches of moisture moving across the local area may cause brief local showers from time to time, with a low possibility of thunder this afternoon Read more