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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

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

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

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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St. Maarten Airport Takes Centre Stage At Routes America 2025

The St. Maarten-Saint Martin-St. Barths delegation at Routes America 2025.

SIMPSON BAY--PJIAE, the operating company of Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), recently participated in Routes Americas 2025, aiming to attract airlines to St. Maarten and reinforce the island's role as a key Caribbean hub. The delegation was headed by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Read more

Les Mardis De Grand Case Returns For Four Tuesdays

Les Mardis de Grand Case returns on March 11 for four consecutive Tuesdays. Photo credit Calypso Events.

GRAND CASE--Calypso Events announced officially on Thursday that Les Mardis de Grand Case will return starting Tuesday, March 11, for four consecutive Tuesdays, albeit with a smaller budget.

The about-turn suggests the organiser reached a compromise with the Collectivit after earlier back and forth arguments over whether the subvention to hold the event had been submitted to the Collectivit on time, which ultimately resulted in the event being cancelled.

Calypso Events disclosed it had received a subvention of 30,000 euros from the Collectivit in addition to a subvention for the electricity installations on the Boulevard, a detail the Collectivit had not agreed to previously Read more

Motion For Referendum On Independence Rejected After Vote Tied For Second Time

 PHILIPSBURG--A motion presented by National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) Ardwell Irion, urging government to begin preparations for a consultative referendum on political independence for St. Maarten by December 31, 2027, was rejected on Monday after a second vote resulted in a tie Read more

Napb Members Frustrated Over Not Yet Receiving Their National Decrees

NAPB St. Maarten President Marcus Pantophlet.

 

PHILIPSBURG--The NAPB St. Maarten police union said on Tuesday that its members have voiced increasing frustration after not receiving their national decrees.

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Priority Service For Elderly, Seating Improvements At ReceiverS Office

PHILIPSBURG--Priority service for the elderly and seating for clients comfort are improvements that Finance Marinka Gumbs has instituted at the Receivers Office.

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New Newsletter Launched By Minister Plenipotentiary Cabinet

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina was the first to receive the Newsletter of the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary.

THE HAGUE--The Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague has broadened its scope of communication with the distribution of a Newsletter that gives an overview of its recent efforts and activities.

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New Dutch Rep In Philipsburg: I Will Spend Time Getting To Know This Country

Eelco Boomsma,(fourth right), Governor Ajamu Baly (fifth right), Chairlady of Parliament, Sarah Wescot-Williams (third right), Deputy Prime Minister Grisha Heyliger-MartenRead more

Tackling: Allowing Heavily Tinted Vehicles Poses Risks That Outweigh Potential Benefit

A heavily tinted vehicle.

 

~ Experience support regulating excessive tint ~

PHILIPSBURG--Justice Minister Natalie Tackling made her position on allowing heavily tinted vehicles clear when asked about the matter during the parliamentary debate on the 2025 budget last week. She said allowing heavily tinted vehicles poses unnecessary risks that far outweigh any potential benefit.

The minister said while statistics provide valuable insights, practical enforcement experience and the precautionary principle strongly support regulating excessive tint as a measure to enhance public safety and road security.

Heavily tinted vehicles reduce driver visibility, particularly at night, increasing the likelihood of accidents and also obstruct visibility for other road users, creating further hazards on the road, the minister noted.

While only a minority of tinted vehicles may be used in crimes, the concealment they provide facilitates illegal activities such as transporting contraband or evading recognition after a crime, necessitating proactive regulation to minimize these risks, the Minister told Parliament.

She was at the time responding to questions from National Alliance (NA) Members of Parliament (MPs) Ardwell Irion and Egbert Doran who asked what data is being used to indicate that tint on vehicles will be dangerous Read more

Education Minister Requests Investigation Into Fight Between School Bus Driver, Student

A screen grab of the altercation between the bus driver and student.

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Education, Culture Youth and Sport (ECYS) Melissa Gumbs has requested a thorough investigation into an incident involving a school bus driver and a student outside a school bus on Tuesday.

 A video of the incident that was circulating widely on social media on Tuesday captioned bus driver vs student shows the school bus driver holding the student by his top against the school bus and pushing him away from the bus Read more

Lewis: Merchants Using Benches On Front Street As Laundry Line

 ~ Many dilapidated ~

 PHILIPSBURG--Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) Member of Parliament (MP) Lyndon Lewis is concerned about the state and use of the concrete benches that have been placed along Front Street saying that not only are many of them dilapidated, but merchants are using some of them similar to laundry lines placing mats and other wet objects to dry.

He relayed his concerns during the continuation of the public meeting of Parliament on the draft 2025 budget on Tuesday Read more

Kadaster And Kitlv To Preserve St. MaartenS Heritage Documents

Professors Francio Guadaloupe (left) and Diana Suhardiman (right) with Anelski Jundri Richardson of Kadaster.

PHILIPSBURG--Kadaster St. Maarten and the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies KITLV have entered into a partnership to enhance the conservation and management of the islands historical documents. This collaboration, initiated by Professor Francio Guadeloupe under the Islanders on the Helm project, aims to safeguard vital heritage records for future generations.

The agreement focuses on specialized training for Kadaster staff, encompassing both technical aspects of document preservation and essential soft skills for effective file management Read more

Govt. Receives Naf. 75.6M Loan From Dutch To Buy New Generators For Gebe

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina.

  ~ No stringent conditions ~

PHILIPSBURG--The government of St. Maarten has received a 75.6 million Netherlands Antillean guilder loan from the Dutch government to help purchase new generators for utilities company GEBE.

The generators are part of governments long-term plans to further stabilise the energy crisis that faced the country last year Read more

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)
VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) January 01st, 2025

WEATHER: This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Variably cloudy with isolated showers.

Forecast High: 29C / 84F             Forecast Low: 24C / 75F

Sunset Today: 5:48 P.M.                Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:44 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Northeasterly with a light to gentle breeze of 04 to 11 mph.

SYNOPSIS: Drifting patches of low level clouds will account for isolated showers as they traverse the local area Read more

DATE ISSUED: Monday, December 30th, 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) December 31st, 2024A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11:00 PMMONDAY, DECEMBER 30th, 2024 WEATHER:   This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Variably cloudy with light isolated showers possible.Forecast High: 29C / 84F             Forecast Low: 24C / 75F  Sunset Today: 5:47 P.M Read more

DATE ISSUED: Friday 27th December 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 28th December 2024WEATHER:This afternoon and evening: Variably cloudy with brief and localized showers.Tonight, through Saturday midday: Fair to partly cloudy. Isolated showers are possible.Forecast High: 30C / 86F               Forecast Low:  26C / 79FSunset Today: 5:46 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:43 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: Northeasterly with a light to gentle breeze of 4 to 12 mph becoming variable at times.SYNOPSIS: A high-pressure system is the dominant feature today, maintaining a light to gentle breeze while limiting significant precipitation Read more

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, December 24th, 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) December 25th, 2024  A DUST ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6:00 AM, WEDNESDAY25TH DECEMBER WEATHER: This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Fair to partly cloudy and hazy with brief isolated showers possible.
Forecast High:   30C / 86F              Forecast Low:   26C / 79FSunset Today: 5:44 P.M.    Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:41 A.M.                            SURFACE WINDS: 
This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Easterly with a light to moderate breeze of 06 to 15 mph.SYNOPSIS: 
A relatively stable atmosphere will restrict precipitation during this forecast period Read more

DATE ISSUED: Monday, 23rd December 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 24th December 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Partly cloudy and hazy, becoming cloudy at times with brief isolated showers.Forecast High: 30C / 86F               Forecast Low: 26C / 79FSunset Today: 5:43 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:41 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Easterly with a light to moderate breeze of 6 to 15 mph.SYNOPSIS: A pre-frontal trough will increase the probability of showers across the region during this forecast period Read more

Brug Gets Update On Hospital Construction

VSA Minister Richinel Brug (third left) with members of his team and representatives of SMMC, including Medical Director Dr. Felix Holiday (second left).

CAY HILL--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA, Richinel Brug met with the management team of the St Read more

DATE ISSUED: Friday, 20 December 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 21 December 2024A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6AM SUNDAYWEATHER:This afternoon through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy and slightly breezy with brief local showers possible.Forecast High: 30C / 86F              Forecast Low: 25C / 77FSunset Today: 5:42 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:39 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: East-southeasterly with a light to moderate breeze of 7 to 16 mph, and possible higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: The relatively drier and more stable atmosphere will restrict precipitation across the region Read more