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 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

Grisha, Real Estate Brokers Discuss Regulating Sector

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten With so many real estate agents operating in St. Maarten, there is need to regulate this sector of the economy, and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten drove this point home when she met recently with a group of real estate brokers.

It was agreed that a Real Estate Policy would be put in place to regulate the Real Estate Industry based on the following criteria: all eligible real estate companies must have aphysical officein St 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

Vsa Minister Briefed On Sls During Visit

The VSA Minister during her SLS visit.

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Veronica Jansen-Webster, accompanied by her support staff, received what was referred to as a comprehensive briefing on the operations of St. Maarten Laboratory Services (SLS) during a visit on July 5.

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 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

Unified Against Violence: Ensuring The Security Of St. Maarten

My dear people of St. Maarten, Today, I stand before you with a heavy heart to address a grave and tragic event that has shaken our community to its core. Last evening, starting in the Cupecoy area, an act of violence was committed against the leader of the Oualichi Movement for Change (OMC), Mr. Olivier Arrindell, and his family. At noon today, I met with the Public Prosecutor, management of KPSM (Police Department), the VSDM (National Security Service), Minister of Justice Lyndon Lewis, and President of Parliament MP Sarah Wescot-Williams to receive a full debrief and discuss the most recent developments. Mr Read more

Mp Gumbs Submits Questions To Pm About Government Building Maintenance

PHILISPBURG Party for Progress member of Parliament Melissa Gumbs sent a letter with questions to Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, asking for an update on the maintenance of the Government administration building 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

Gromyko Says ItS Time To Appoint The New Ser Board

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Nation Opportunity and Wealth (NOW) candidate #16, Gromyko Wilson has expressed in his weekly podcast My2cents on Facebook. He calls on the Prime Minister Luc Mercelina to once and for all finalize the appointments of the board of the Social Economic Council (SER).

The appointment of a new Social Economic Council (SER) board is a critical step that the government of Sint Maarten must take in order to address the challenges facing the country Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, 16 July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 17 July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers.Forecast High: 32C / 90F              Forecast Low: 26C / 79FSunset Today: 6:51 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:46 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Wednesday midday: East-southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 16 mph, and higher gusts possible.SYNOPSIS: Moisture and slight instability associated with a passing tropical wave will account for cloudy skies, isolated showers, and a low chance of thunder Read more

Wilson Warns Gebe Against Water Disconnections In Households With Children And Seniors

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Gromyko Wilson, an advocate for social justice and a candidate (#16) on the Nation Opportunity and Wealth (NOW) warns the current GEBE management and the government of Sint Maarten against disconnection of water in households with children and seniors.

Wilson highlights the recent court verdict in the Netherlands as jurisprudence in handling these cases going forward on Sint Maarten.

In the verdict of March 19th, 2024, the Judge ruled that water disconnections due to default in payment is illegal based on the Human rights Organizations Defense for Children when minors are part of the households in question.

Wilson goes further to plead for the application of this verdict to not only households with minors but also senior citizens Read more

Telem Said ItS Making Solid Progress Stabilising Systems

TelEm Group CEO Kendall Dupersoy (left), inspects a battery replacement operation at the company SMITCOMS location in Harbour View, Friday, led by the companys Power Department team.

 

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Grisha Advocates Return To Previous System Of GovernmentTo Reduce Political Instability

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten Electoral reform should not only address the topic of integrity and so-called ship-jumping; it should first and foremost focus on what appears to be the main cause of political instability on all islands of the former Netherlands Antilles since 10-10-10. This is the opinion expressed recently by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten.

According to the minister, the main cause of political instability is the switch to a dualistic system of Government.

Before 10-10-10, with one or two exceptions, (coalition) Governments on the islands of the former Netherlands Antilles always lasted a full term of four years Read more

Langlais: Environment, Energy Solutions Requires Political Will

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Marie Claire Langlais, #14 on the NOW (Nation Opportunity Wealth) party list, pointed out over the weekend that the island faces unprecedented challenges in the midst of a global climate crisis, and that the environment should not be an empty election talking point. Additionally, she stressed that being realistic about sustainable energy solutions requires political will.

Langlais asserts that St Read more

Caribbean Airlines Inaugural ServiceTo Puerto Rico Takes Flight

Piarco, Trinidad & Tobago, —Caribbean Airlines inaugural flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico left the Piarco International Airport, Trinidad at 10.50 a.m. on Sunday July 14. This new route is part of the airline’s strategic plan to enhance connectivity within the Caribbean region. Flights to San Juan will operate three (3) times per week (Sunday, Tuesday & Friday) from the airline’s base in Trinidad, with convenient connections to other destinations.

The first flight to San Juan was marked with celebrations for the passengers, who received goody bags with Caribbean Airlines branded items and were entertained by the talented Leandra Head Read more

High Court Backs Same-Sex Marriage

Celebrating the outcome.

THE HAGUE--Same-sex couples are now permitted to marry immediately in Aruba and Curaao, as decided by the High Court in the Netherlands on Friday. It affirmed an earlier ruling by the Joint Court of Justice for the Dutch Caribbean.

The latter determined on December 6, 2022, that marriages between people of the same sex must be permitted in Aruba and Curaao. Both governments turned to the High Court, which has now rejected their appeals.

The case was brought by Fundacion Orguyo Aruba and Human Rights Caribbean (HRC) in Curaao Read more

Victim Support Services Report On Six Months Service

On July 10th, Victim Support Services St. Maarten hosted a presentation for the Honorable Minister of Justice Lyndon Lewis and various stakeholders, reviewing the organization’s services over the past six months.

Victim Support Services St. Maarten provides optimal assistance to individuals affected by serious assaults, human trafficking, or severe accidents.

Minister Lewis delivered an introductory speech, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to the organization Read more

Prime Minister Dr. Luc MercelinaS Meets New State Secretary Mr. Zsolt Szab

The Hague The Honorable Prime Minister of St. Maarten, Dr. Luc Mercelina, has successfully concluded a historic and successful meeting with Mr. Zsolt Szab, the newly appointed State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations of The Netherlands. This significant event marks the first official meeting of Mr. Szab in his new role, highlighting the pivotal importance of the relationship between St Read more

Soab: Szv 2023 Financial Statements Are Accurate And Transparent

~ SZV receives a clean audit report for the third consecutive year ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten For the third consecutive year, Social & Health Insurances SZV received a clean audit report for its financial statements. The clean audit report was issued by the government audit bureau, Stichting Overheids Accountants Bureau (SOAB). A clean audit report also termed an ‘Approved Control,’ means that the auditors found that the financial reporting by SZV was accurate and transparent Read more

Lewis Announces 1% Cola, 1% Vacation Allowance In 2024 Budget Amendment

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Lyndon Lewis on Thursday announced that the outstanding amount for the 1% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and the 1% vacation allowance will be included in the 2024 budget amendment.

A meeting was held with the board of the WITU on Wednesday to express the governments commitment to include the 1% Read more

4 Graduate With Geds, 2 After Vocational Training

Master of Ceremonies Alex Lindo addressing the graduates.

 ST. EUSTATIUS--New Challenges Foundation (NCF) held a graduation ceremony at William and Christine Flanders Community Centre on July 3 for four students who received their General Educational Development (GED) diplomas and two who completed vocational training.

This celebration is a testament to the power of second chances, said NCF Director Francine Foe at the ceremony. Our graduates have shown that with grit, determination and the right support, anyone can overcome adversity and achieve their dreams.

The ceremonys theme Dont Watch the Clock, Do What It Does, Keep Going was a fitting tribute to the graduates, emphasising the importance of perseverance, resilience and staying focused.

The ceremony started with a rousing rendition of the St Read more