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Rain Fails To Dampen Spirits At Official Ceremonies For St. Martin/St. Maarten Day In French Quarter

Dutch-side Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina (left) and Collectivit President Louis Mussington (right) prepare to lay a wreath at the border monument.

FRENCH QUARTER--Torrential rain and flooded roads placed a question mark on whether Mondays St Read more

Lt. Colonel Hugues Loyez: I Have The Best Job, In The Best Location

Lieutenant Colonel Hugues Loyez. Robert Luckock photo.

MARIGOT--On meeting Lieutenant Colonel Hugues Loyez, the new Commandant of the Gendarmerie of St. Martin and Saint Barthlemey, one is struck by two things: his youthfulness for such an important assignment (hes 36), and his good command of English, better than that of his predecessors.

He officially started in St. Martin on August 1 but benefited from a one-month induction period in July with his predecessor, Colonel Maxime Wintzer-Wehekind, to make the relevant contacts and discover the lay of the land Read more

Mercelina And Wever-Croes Attend Un Summit For Future Generations

St. Maarten Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina and Aruba Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes attended the United Nations Summit of the Future held in New York over the weekend, where the Pact for the Future was adopted to ensure that the interests of future generations are considered in contemporary decision-making.

 

NEW YORK--During the United Nations Summit of the Future held in New York over the weekend, the draft Pact for the Future was adopted in the presence of Aruba Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes and St Read more

Mercelina: Gebe Will Absorb Cost Of Fuel Clause Fluctuation

PHILIPSBURG--Consumers should not be feeling the squeeze in the fluctuation in the fuel clause. Prime Minister Dr Luc Mercelina told reporters on Wednesday last that utilities company GEBE will be absorbing this cost.

Read more

1St Batch Of Lease-To-Own Generators On Their Way

PHILIPSBURG--The first batch of lease-to-own containerised generators have been
shipped and are on their way to St. Maarten, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina announced
on Wednesday.
He told reporters at the live Council of Ministers press briefing that a total of twenty
20-foot containers will be coming as part of phase two of the plan to resolve the current
electricity crisis being faced by the country Read more

Hundreds Rally To End Violence Among Youth, Stop School Fights

Students at Milton Peters College holding a poster in support of the rally to end youth violence.

ST. PETERS--A call from the St. Maarten Police Force KPSM to support a March Against Youth Violence in the St. Peters and South Reward areas on Friday garnered strong backing from the educational sector and political leaders, including Prime Minister Luc Mercelina and Minister of Justice Lyndon Lewis Read more

Election Poll Estimates Pfp, Dp, Na To Retain A Majority Of Their Voters

Eugene Hoogstad

PHILIPSBURG--Some 83 per cent of those who voted for Party for Progress (PFP) in January said they will vote for the party again in the upcoming snap election, the highest percentage in the recent poll by independent researcher and consultant Eugene Hoogstad.

The Democratic Party (DP) is the second highest in the polls results at 71%, while National Alliance (NA) came in third at 68%.

Unified Resilient St Read more

Businesses, Govt. Offices, Airport To Open Wednesday

PHILIPSBURG--Businesses have been cleared to open on Wednesday following the passing of Tropical Storm Ernesto, which caused some damage to St. Maarten, said caretaker Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina in a national address on Tuesday evening. Read more

All Businesses Told To Close, Essential Services Can Open

PHILIPSBURG--In an effort to ensure the safety of the public and employees of businesses during the passing of Tropical Storm Ernesto, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten decided that all businesses, with the exception of essential services, had to close by 11:00pm Monday night to minimise movement on the public road.

Essential services that can remain open are emergency services; gas stations that service vehicles needed for essential services; pharmacies (concerning the sale of medicines/medical products); hotels and guesthouses, including stores and restaurants located in them; funeral parlours; the airport and the harbour, including the stores located in them.

Public transportation was allowed to operate until 1:00am Tuesday, August 13.

In a national address on Monday evening, Prime Minister Dr Luc Mercelina said the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) had met at midday Monday to assess the current situation and to review national preparations.

Schools are to remain closed on Tuesday Read more

New Fleet Of 10 Emergency Vehicles Delivered To Ambulance, Fire Dept.

One of the new vehicles.

 

CAY HILL--A new fleet of ten emergency vehicles has been delivered to the St. Maarten Fire and Ambulance Department, marking another milestone in the countrys recovery and disaster preparedness, the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) has announced.

The fleet includes seven specialised command, fire brigade and fire service vehicles and three vehicles for the ambulance service.

The Fire Department has received four Toyota Land Cruisers, two Toyota Hilux and one Toyota Hi-Ace, whilst the ambulance department has received three Toyota Land Cruisers Read more

St. Maarten Now Under Ts Watch, Parties Asked To Remove Billboards

Potential rainfall

 

PHILIPSBURG--A Tropical Storm Watch was issued for St. Maarten late Sunday afternoon as Potential Tropical Cyclone Five races toward the Leeward Islands as a developing storm.

As of 11:00pm Sunday, the centre of Potential Tropical Cyclone Five was located near latitude 14.1 North, longitude 50.1 West, or approximately 910 miles east-southeast of St. Maarten.

The system, which is expected to become Tropical Storm Ernesto by late Monday, is moving toward the west-northwest at a brisk 23 miles per hour (mph) and this motion is expected to continue during the next couple of days.

Based on the current forecast track, its closest point of approach will be approximately 30 miles south of St Read more

Containerised Generators Should Be Operational Aug. 13, Says Pm

The containerised generators.

CAY BAY--The seven containerised 10MW engines that arrived in St Maarten mid-July are
expected to be put into operation by August 13, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina announced on
Wednesday.

Read more

Mercelina Discussing What Relief Is Possible For Gebe Consumers

PM Dr. Luc Mercelina.

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina said on Wednesday that he is cognizant of the
impact that the current energy crisis is having on consumers and as a result he has been engaged
in discussions with utilities company GEBE to see what relief is possible for clients.
He made the remarks in response to a question from The Daily Herald during the live Council
of Ministers press briefing.
We realise that the people of St Read more

All Public Meetings Cancelled, No Polling Station Gatherings Allowed

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina  PHILIPSBURG--In a drastic move aimed at promoting safety and security of the population, the Council of Ministers has decided to cancel all public political meetings for which a permit is required as of Wednesday, July 24; and has banned all gatherings near or around polling stations on election day Read more

Pm Given Overview Of PjiaS Operations During Recent Visit

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina with PJIA and other officials during the visit.

AIRPORT--Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina was provided with what he called a comprehensive overvi Read more

Pm: No Indication That Arrindell Shooting Politically Motivated

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina during his national address on Thursday.

~ No stone will be left unturned in pursuit of justice ~

 PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister (PM) Dr. Luc Mercelina Read more

Mercelina: Down Payment Made, Generators Should Arrive Mid-July

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina

PHILIPSBURG--Utilities company NV GEBE has made the initial down payment for the rental of ten-megawatt (MW) container generators and the generators are expected to be delivered to the country by mid-July provided there are no unforeseen delays.

Read more

Load-Shedding To Ease In Five Weeks, 10Mw Container Generators To Be Rented For $1.9M

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina addressing MPs on Tuesday.

~ 20mw to be leased to own for $7.7M ~

PHILIPSBURG--Consumers in St Maarten are expected to get relief in about five weeks from the frequent load-shedding currently gripping the country, thanks to a decision taken to rent 10-megawatt (mw) container generators and lease Read more

Pm Outlines Options, Price Tags To Fix Power Crisis, Reaches Out To World Bank, Dutch Govt. For Help

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina speaking to reporters at the bi-weekly press briefing on Wednesday.

~ Talking to consortium, looking into Capex funds ~

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister (PM) Dr. L Read more

Com Talks Tax Reform, General Health Insurance, Prison With Van Huffelen

Dutch State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen and Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina.

PHILIPSBURG--Dutch State Secretary for Kingdom Relations and Digitalisation Alexandra van Huffelen met with Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, Governor Ajamu Baly and the Council of Ministers (CoM) during her working visit to St 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

Mercelina: Szv Will Collapse If Sustainable Health Care Financial System Not Developed

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina

 

PHILIPSBURG--New Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina says the Social and Health Insurances SZV will collapse if a sustainable hea Read more

Ursm: Politicisation Of Formation Efforts Only Hinders Progress, Disrupts Stability

URSM leader Dr. Luc Mercelina.

PHILIPSBURG--The Unified Resilience St. Maarten Movement (URSM) on Thursday suggested that t Read more

Baly Gives Formateur 2Nd Extension, Final Report To Be Presented By April 26

Governor Ajamu Baly  PHILIPSBURG--Governor Ajamu Baly met with formateur Dr. Luc Mercelina on Thursday, March 28, and received an update on the progress of the formation.   The formateur requested an additional extension to present Governor Baly the final formation report as the background screening of the candidate ministers is presently still ongoing Read more