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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

Commemoration Of Sint MaartenS Flag Day

PHILIPSBURG On Friday, June 13th, 2025, the people, and Government of Sint Maarten will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Flag Day at the grounds of the Leonald Conner School in Cay Bay. The annual commemoration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the Patriotic School Parade that starts in front of the Market Garden Supermarket at the entrance of the Billy Folly Road. The parade then proceeds on to the Welfare Road in the direction towards Caribbean Cinemas, it continues to the entrance at Cay Bay Road, and ends at the grounds of the Leonald Conner School parking lot.

Considering that Flag Day is not a public holiday, the annual celebration is geared towards the primary schools on the island 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

Guyana Passport Issues Being Resolved

~ Sint Maarten Among 10 Consulates to Receive Biometric Kit ~

SAUNDERS, St. Maarten After months of delay, citizens of Guyana living outside their homeland will soon be able to receive their new passports, and the Sint Maarten Consulate is among 10 of 29 in the diaspora to receive the first set of biometric kits.

This announcement was made on Wednesday during a virtual meeting of Heads of Missions and Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper; and Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Senior Superintendent Stephen Telford.

The delay stemmed from a change of systems at the Central Passport and Immigration Office in Georgetown, which now requires all applicants to submit their biometrics before the travel document can be processed Read more

Stop Issuing Supermarket Licenses!

Opinion

STOP ISSUING SUPERMARKET LICENSES!

Well, the good citizens who use Cost Pro Supermarket as their main supermarket noticed that during the Easter weekend the supermarket was closed. To their surprise, the supermarket remained closed on Tuesday, April 22. Someone close to the daily operations confirmed that Cost Pro has closed their doors for good.

Although, the details that led to the closure have not been made public, there are several things we must consider because of this.

Government keeps issuing supermarket licenses to smaller businesses, thereby destroying business sales for the larger companies, who at a certain point were in key locations, which benefited their bottom line 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

The Culprit Gives Up Himself

LETTER TO THE EDITOR the culprit gives up himself

Dear Editor,

I have been following your live My2Cents on Facebook and I applaud your outcry on the topic of sexual harassment on the workplace and the bravery of the lady Ms. Nicole James that reacted to go public with her ordeal and her open petition to the Parliament of Sint Maarten and the Government of Sint Maarten with the request to put policies in place that addresses this matter. She also addressed the Integrity Chamber. Rightly so.

It is very disturbing to hear about this issue playing within the Police Force and within a department of VSA Read more

The Act Of Bravery

Dear editor and all readers,

In reaction to Miss Nicole James story published a few days ago via your media house, I would like to congratulate her for the act of bravery to come open and share her ordeal, whereas she also proves that she has overcome. That itself is a very good sign as life continues. But it is worrisome to learn from her story that there are about 8 to 10 more women who were all victims of the same man, the acting section head that in the meantime is known to be Mr Read more

Bjp Fund Aims To Support Journalism On Caribbean Islands

SOURCE: Curacao.nu

AMSTERDAM The Fund for Special Journalistic Projects in the Netherlands (Fonds BJP) is investigating how it can better support journalists in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Although applications from the region are received sporadically, the Fund has noticed that the existing regulations do not always meet local needs. There is also a lack of name recognition, according to a statement from the Fund.

To change this, a working trip to five Caribbean islands is planned 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

Passenger Transport Registration

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Inspectorate of Economic and Transport Affairs (IETA) instructs all holders of a passenger transport permit to register their operation with the Transport Control Unit no later than Tuesday, February 25, 2025, to receive a confirmation letter. The confirmation letter validates that the operations documentation and vehicle meet the applicable regulations to carry out service.

In prior years, the annual confirmation letter process was solely conducted to pay the annual road tax payments Read more

Grisha Optimistic With Results Of Budget Debate 2025

The motions and amendments put forward felt meaningful and purpose driven.

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT), the Honorable Grisha Heyliger-Marten, expressed optimism and pride in the results of the 2025 Budget Debate held in Parliament this week. Reflecting on the collaborative efforts that marked the session, she stated:

This is the first time I have truly felt a genuine sense of teamwork and unity across the board within a coalition Read more

Court Of Appeals Exposes Minister Of JusticeS Failings In Police Promotion Case

~ Six dedicated police officers of the Sint Maarten Police Force who never give up.~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten On Wednesday, January 15, 2025, the Court of Appeals for Civil Servants rendered a landmark decision in favor of six dedicated police officers of the Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM), who had been fighting for years against the inaction of the Minister of Justice. These officers, who were denied rightful promotions, finally succeeded in their legal battle.

Despite losing their case in First Instance, the officers persisted and secured a decisive victory on appeal 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

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina New YearS Address 2025

By the Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina

Good day to my people of St. Maarten, this great nation of ours.

Happy New Year to you and our visitors!

The clock has struck midnight, and we have officially welcomed 2025. I greet you with warmth and gratitude as we embark on this new journey together, full of hope and determination Read more