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DATE ISSUED: Friday 13th June 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 14th June 2025WEATHER:This afternoon through Saturday midday: Fair to partly cloudy and slightly hazy. Brief isolated showers are possible.Forecast High: 31C / 88F              Forecast Low:  26C / 79FSunset Today: 6:49 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:37 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: Northeast to Easterly, with a light to moderate breeze, at 6 to 15 mph.SYNOPSIS: Generally stable, and relatively dry conditions will persist alongside a gentle to moderate breeze, during this forecast period Read more

Pm Appeals To Gebe To Cut Fuel Tariff To 6-7 Cents, Slashing Bills By 19% From July 2025 Billing Cycle

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina addresses Parliament.

~ Outlines 13 recommendations from RAC/BTP ~

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina has appealed to the Supervisory Board of Directors (SBOD) of NV GEBE to instruct its Managing Board to correct identified irregularities in the electricity fuel clause.

This correction, he said, should bring the electricity fuel tariff down to 6-7 cents per kilowatt hour, which would result in an estimated 19% reduction in customers electricity bills Read more

Minister Gumbs Announces 2025 Tax Tables Publication

Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs.

PHILIPSBURG--The Ministry of Finance has officially published the 2025 tax tables, providing taxpayers, employers and employees with essential guidance for accurate tax calculations, withholdings and filings.

Read more

New Class Of Firefighter Recruits For Bes Islands Begins Training

Ten recruits are set to begin their one-year firefighter training programme in September.

KRALENDIJK--Ten new firefighter recruits have officially joined the Caribbean Netherlands Fire Department BKCN following a rigorous selection process that included physical fitness tests, background screenings, and multiple interview rounds. BKCN serves Bonaire. St. Eustatius and Saba (the BES Read more

PHILIPSBURG--The final results of two comprehensive studies into the lifestyles and motor skills of children in St. Maarten was presented by Stichting Expertisecentrum Ervaringsgericht Onderwijs (EGO) Foundation representatives to a broad cross-section of persons working in public education and the school sector, at the Government Building, Philipsburg, on Monday.

Among the around 30 attendees present, prominent names included Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Richinel S.J Read more

DATE ISSUED: Monday 2nd June 2025 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 3rd June 2025 A DUST ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6AM TUESDAY 3RD JUNE WEATHER:This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Generally hazy and breezy. There is a low chance of showers.Forecast High: 32C / 90F               Forecast Low:  27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:45 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:36 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Northeast to east-southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze at 8 to 15 mph; higher gusts are possible.SYNOPSIS: High concentrations of Saharan dust will dominate conditions for the next 18 24 hours, reducing both visibility and air quality across the region Read more

Aviation Veteran Michael Cleaver Tackles His Biggest Challenge Yet

Airport technology plays a crucial role in passenger safety and experience, Cleaver says.

~ A CEOs ground-up approach to transforming PJIA ~

By Jacqueline Hooftman

SIMPSON BAY--From starting at American Airlines as a baggage handler at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico with a Bachelors degree in business administration in hand to now running St. Maartens national airport, Michael Cleavers forty-year career in aviation has come full circle 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

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.

Read more

St. Martin Tourism Office Collaborates With Ccism, Cesc For Ny Greetings

View of the audience in the Grand Case Beach Club conference room.

GRAND CASE--In a change to the usual new year greetings format, St. Martin Tourism Office shared the podium at Grand Case Beach Club on Wednesday morning with two other institutions, the Chamber of Commerce CCISM and the Economic Advisory Council (Conseil Economique, Social, Culturel de Saint-Martin (CESC).

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Tribute To Whitney Houston Comes To St. Maarten Feb. 12

Belinda Davids

 

~ Early bird special on tickets ends Sat. ~

 MADAME ESTATE--Fans of the legendary late Whitney Houston are in for an unforgettable evening as The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston graces the stage at Aleeze Convention Center, Madame Estate, on Wednesday, February 12, starting at 8:00pm sharp.

The world-class show, headlined by the extraordinary Belinda Davids, will be a heartfelt homage to one of the greatest vocalists of all time Read more

Judge Orders Vromi Ministry To Justify Beacon Hill High-Rise Building Permits

Artists rendering of the Fan Coral Road 12 apartment complex in Beacon Hill.

 ~ Appeal proceedings delayed due to incomplete dossiers ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Court of Appeals was set to hear arguments on Monday regarding building permits issued by former Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Egbert Doran (National Alliance) for two 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

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

Interim Results Of Landfill Fire Probe

Impact map

 KRALENDIJK--After the fire at Bonaires landfill near Lagun on November, the governor as chairman of the island policy team requested assistance from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment RIVM. The Environmental Incident Service MOD of RIVM collected soil, plant and sweeping samples in the vicinity of the dump to gain insight into the spread of harmful substances that were released into the environment Read more

Collectivit Signs Tripartite Agreement With State, National Housing Agency

President Louis Mussington and Prfet Vincent Berton sign the housing agency agreement as Director General of Services (DGS) Natacha Ptrine (left) and Vice Presidents Read more

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday 10th December 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 11th December 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Fair to partly cloudy and breezy with isolated showers.Forecast High: 31C / 88F                Forecast Low:  26C / 79FSunset Today: 5:37 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:34 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Northeast to east with a gentle to moderate breeze of 08 to 18 mph and higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: An incoming trough will influence conditions across the area this forecast period Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Wednesday 4th December 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 5th December 2024WEATHER:This afternoon and evening: Fair to partly cloudy with isolated showers.Tonight, through Thursday midday: Variably cloudy and breezy with scattered showers.Forecast High: 31C / 88F               Forecast Low:  25C / 77FSunset Today: 5:36 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:30 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon and evening: Easterly with a light to gentle breeze of 6 to 12 mphTonight, through Thursday midday: East-northeast to east-southeast with a light to moderate breeze of 8 to 15 mph and higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: Generally stable conditions persist, and moisture levels fluctuate Read more

Annual Thanksgiving Service This Sunday

New Testament Baptist Church

 PHILIPSBURG-Some 25 years ago, the first public Thanksgiving Service was held on December 5th, 1999, following the decision of the then Executive Council on December 1st 1999, to mark the passage of the Atlantic hurricane season without significant incident or impact to St. Maarten.

According to a release from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS), In understanding and respecting the multiple religious practices on the island and ensuring that all are present to participate in this moment of Thanksgiving for carrying us through another safe Hurricane season Read more

Lions Club To Host Its Annual Christmas Bingo Spectacular

Lion Wally Havertong calling the bingo balls at last years Lions-held Christmas Bingo.

 PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Lions Club is gearing up to host the highly anticipated Annual Lion Wally Havertong Christmas Bingo Spectacular. This years event will take place on Saturday, December 14, at the Aleeze Convention Center in Madame Estate. Doors open at 7:00pm, with the bingo games starting promptly at 8:00pm.

Lion Ketty Paines, Fundraising Chairperson for Sint Maarten Lions Club, confirmed that preparations are in their final stages Read more

Community Meetings Give Feedback For Trust FundS School And Library Projects

A scene during the presentation at John Larmonie Center.

PHILIPSBURG--The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) said it has concluded the latest round of community consultations for the Fostering Resilient Learning Project (FRLP).

These events, held in early October, were designed to inform and engage residents about the project, which focuses on reconstructing safe educational and cultural spaces as part of St. Maartens ongoing recovery efforts post-Hurricane Irma. This phase of the FRLP includes rebuilding Sister Marie Laurence and Charles Leopold Bell schools, as well as reconstructing the St Read more

Green Light For Motion To Protect Environment, Zone Mullet Bay, Mullet Pond A National Park

Section of Mullet Pond.

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament late Tuesday evening unanimously approved a motion from National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) Darryl York urging government to zone Mullet Bay, designate Mullet Pond as a n Read more

Eggs Harmed When Turtle Nest Dug Up Prematurely

Some of the eggs and hatchlings that were found.

ST. EUSTATIUS--A few days after St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation STENAPA took part in nest excavation on Zeelandia, the organisation got a call from Scubaqua Dive Center Statia about exposed sea turtle eggs. After inspecting the scene, STENAPA determined that a nest had been dug up by a dog (paw prints were present) Read more

Night time view of Dock Maarten filled with mega yachts. (Edward Penagos photo)

By Robert Luckock

PHILIPSBURG--The construction of Dock Maarten in Great Bay is nothing new. Its evolvement has been progressing steadily in different phases over the years, mostly unseen from the general public. While not fully completed in other areas on shore, the marina itself has now reached its zenith, poised to welcome to its newest slips some of the largest mega-yachts in the world for the 2024/25 season.

As of this writing, the marina is fully booked Read more