SXMElections.com

DATE ISSUED: Friday 31st May 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 1st June 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy and hazy.Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:45 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:36 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: East to southeasterly with a light to moderate breeze of 4 to 13 mph.SYNOPSIS: A plume of Saharan dust is affecting the region and results in hazy conditions Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Thursday, 30 May 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 31 May 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Friday midday: Partly cloudy with light haze and brief local showers possible.Forecast High: 33C / 91F              Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:44 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:36 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: East-southeasterly with a light to moderate breeze of 5 to 13 mph.SYNOPSIS: The humid atmosphere will allow for hot days and warm nights to persist Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Wednesday, 29 May 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 30 May 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Thursday midday: Partly cloudy with brief local showers possible.Forecast High: 33C / 91F              Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:44 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:36 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Thursday midday: Easterly with a light to moderate breeze of 5 to 13 mph.SYNOPSIS: Lingering moisture from a recent surface trough may produce a brief shower from time to time during this forecast period Read more

PHILIPSBURGIn a letter to Prime minister Luc Mercelina, the Central Voting Bureau has announced a proposed postponement of Election Day to August 19, 2024, citing significant legal and practical concerns. The Bureau has suggested a revised timeline to ensure a fair, free, and transparent electoral process.

The revised election timeline, as proposed by the Central Voting Bureau:

Voter Registry Closure: Monday, June 3, 2024

Deadline for Registration of Political Parties: Monday, June 17, 2024

Postulation Day: Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Election Day: Monday, August 19, 2024

Assembly of New Parliament: Friday, September 20, 2024

On May 21, 2024, a National Decree was signed calling for new elections under Article 59 of the Constitution, which mandates a three-month timeframe Read more

Jansen-Webster: Permanent Damage Caused In Vromi Over Last Four Years

Deputy VROMI Minister Veronica Jansen-Webster.

~ VROMI completely without leadership ~

PHILIPSBURG--At a press conference on Tuesday acting Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Veronica Jansen-Webster painted a grim picture of the situation encountered when the new government took office.

She said the conditions under which the ministry was managed over the last four years have left permanent damage in the organisation and on civil servants Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Wednesday 22nd May 2024 @ 11:50 LST (15:50 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 23rd May 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Thursday midday: Cloudy with scattered showers. Isolated thunderstorms are likely.Forecast High: 30C / 86F               Forecast Low: 26C / 79FSunset Today: 6:41 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:37 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Thursday midday: East to southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 18 mph and higher gusts in showers.SYNOPSIS: Unstable conditions associated with an upper-level trough results in cloudiness, rain-showers, and possible thunderstorms across the region Read more

Ex-Cbcs President In Court On Charges Of Fraud, Money-Laundering And Bribery

Emsley Tromp

 ~ Lengthy prison sentence sought ~

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG--In a court appearance in Curaao on Tuesday, Emsley Tromp, former President of the Central Bank of Curaao and St. Maarten (CBCS), defended himself against allegations of fraud stemming from his involvement in the Curaao Fashion Group (CFG). Tromp emphasised that he has meticulously maintained a separation between his roles, establishing what he described as Chinese walls to ensure ethical integrity.

Tromp is a suspect in the Hercules case Read more

Film Director Joel Ayuk: I Like To Think IVe Opened Doors For Film-Making In St. Martin

Joel Ayuk (right) with Nigerian actor Enyinne Nwigwe who plays policeman husband Mike in the film with their respective Best Screenplay and Best Male Actor awards at the Cameroon International Film Festival.

 

By Robert Luckock

MARIGOT--Joel Ayuk, director, writer and producer of the well-received domestic violence drama Chokehold, is set to depart for the 77th Cannes Film Festival in France, the most prestigious of all the film festivals, joining an array of international film directors, judges, revered actors and A-list celebrities.

The full-length movie Chokehold was filmed entirely in St Read more

Carnival Restructuring Policy Released In National Gazette

PHILIPSBURG--The Ministry of Justice, under the guidance of former Minister Anna Richardson, has published a new policy aimed at restructuring St. Maarten Carnival.

As stated in the recent publication of the National Gazette, the decision followed in response to a number of challenges currently facing the annual event, including inconsistent management structures, financial instability, under-representation of local culture, safety concerns and the need for better integration of technological advancements Read more

Carnival 2024 Wraps Up Challenging Year

~ Carnival 2025 scheduled from April 21 to May 5 ~

PHILIPSBURG--After a year filled with unprecedented challenges, St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) has closed the 53rd edition of Carnival.

Despite facing various obstacles, the SCDF expressed gratitude for being able to reach the finish line, with SCDF President Edwardo Radjouki saying in a press release on Sunday, This can never happen again, this is not who we are.

Reflecting on a Carnival that looked and felt different from previous years, Radjouki referred to the division of Carnival people by one individual to please that individuals personal feelings Read more

Desiree Winkel holding the St. Maarten flag at the summit of Mera Peak in the Himalayas. Via Winkels Instagram.

 

KATHMANDU, Nepal--Readers of our Special Editions and sport aficionados all over St. Maarten will be familiar with Desiree Winkels seven-summit project. Currently in Nepal, where she travelled to conquer another two summits, both over 6,000 metres high, Winkel has experienced extreme highs and lows within a few short days Read more