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Minister Arrindell Expressed Strong Appreciation For AugustyS Dedication And Contributions To Researching And Preserving Sint MaartenS History

THE NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE) Her Excellency Minister Plenipotentiary Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell met with young Sint Maarten historian Jean-Marc Augusty during his recent research visit to the Netherlands in November.

Augusty conducted historical research at Leiden University in The Hague, supported by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), with additional sponsorship from the Plantz family, enabling him to extend his stay in the Netherlands for further research.

During his visit, Augusty consulted historical materials at the Nationaal Archief (National Archives) and the University of Amsterdam, including rare maps of Sint Maarten Read more

ONealS Dispossession Verdict Is Largely Confirmed On Appeal

 PHILIPSBURG--The Joint Court of Justice has mostly confirmed the lower courts criminal dispossession verdict against businessman ONeal Arrindell, who is currently serving a 40-month sentence at the Point Blanche prison.Arrindell has been irrevocably convicted in the so-called Emerald investigation, where he was found guilty of defrauding St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies between July 2012 and June 2014.The fraud involved forged documents pertaining to mobilisation cost and general conditions charged to the port for dredging work done by contractor Devcon TCI Ltd.Arrindell received roughly US $2.7 million in consultancy fees through this arrangement, and later used a sum of $370,000 to bribe then-Member of Parliament (MP) and Emerald co-defendant Frans Richardson.In January 2023, the Court of First Instance ordered Arrindell to repay $2.33 million to the St Read more

Fire Brigade Responds To Industrial Building Fire

Firefighters extinguished a warehouse building fire near the Cul-de-Sac roundabout early Monday morning. Story on page . (Photo: Sapeurs Pompiers)

HOPE ESTATE--The Fire Brigade responded to a call at 3:00am Monday for a fire at an industrial building near the Cul-de-Sac roundabout. Two fire engines and an ambulance, and 11 firefighters and chief of the brigade were dispatched to the scene Read more

GrishaS Recent Changes To District 721S Permit Unsubstantiated And Unreasonable, Court Rules

PHILIPSBURG--An administrative judge has suspended the recent changes to District 721s operating permit, ruling that last months amendments by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten were unsubstantiated and unreasonable. Court of First Instances verdict on Monday is the latest in a series of legal battles between the government and the open-air nightclub in Cole Bay involving decisions made by Heyliger-Marten Read more

5Th Gastronomy Festival Officially Launched On Grand Case Boulevard

Saint Martin Tourism Office President Valrie Damaseau (front row, left) poses with local chef ambassadors, Chef Laurent Huguet, Prfet Cyrille Le Vly, President Louis Mussington (rear), and Head Mixology Judge Arthur Sutley (right) at the festival launch. (Robert Luckock photo)

GRAND CASE--The 2025 Gastronomy Festival was officially launched Monday evening, appropriately in the culinary capital of Grand Case, with a pre-event of music and entertainment on the Boulevard Read more

Vsa Ministry Receives Draft 10 Year Mental Health Plan

The draft plan being presented to VSA Minister Richinel Brug (fifth right).

PHILIPSBURG--The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA has received the final draft of St Maartens 10-year mental health vision and strategic plan for 2025 through 2035, titled Stronger Minds, Stronger Communities.

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