SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Health and Labor Omar Ottley announced on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that persons visiting nightclubs will have to provide their vaccination card or QR code of negative PCR testing prior to entering these establishments.
Ottley said that the implementation of these requirements is based on the Memorandum of Intent (MOI) that was signed with the nightclub owners some months ago Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Cay Hill Residents Meet With Ministers To Voice Concerns

Cay Hill neighbourhood leaders met with VROMI Minister Egbert Doran, VSA Minister Omar Ottley and members of their staffs on Saturday.

 CAY HILL--Finding solutions for sewage water running on public roads requires an inter-ministerial approach. That is the outcome of a meeting of the Cay Hill Community Council with two ministers o Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of Labor Omar Ottley did not mix words on Wednesday when he said that he is willing to do whatever it takes to safeguard St. Maartens economy while ensuring there are more jobs for its people.
Ottley was responding to questions about some disgruntled club and restaurant owners that have been complaining about the measures put in place for them during the curfew Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Government Working On Adjusting Minimum Wage, Advice Sent To The Ser.

~ Government also awaiting Cost of Living Assessment.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Labor Omar Ottley confirmed on Wednesday at the weekly council of ministers press conference that his ministry is busy working on adjusting minimum wage especially since the cost of living of St. Maarten is soaring.
Asked by SMN News what exactly government is doing to assist minimum wage earners the Minister said he signed off on an advice and sent to the SER for their advice on adjusting minimum wage Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

~ Only WHO& RIVM approved vaccines will be accepted--- Ottley~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health and Labor Omar Ottley announced on Wednesday that travelers that are fully vaccinated with World Health Organization (WHO) and RIVM approved vaccines will be allowed entry on St. Maarten without testing.
Ottley said that fully vaccinated persons are less risky when it comes to the spreading of the coronavirus Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley extends his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Sint Maartens 74th COVID-19 victim, who has passed away. Peace and healing go out to the family.

As of October 19th, there were eight (8) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however, six (6) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to forty-seven (47) Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley extends his heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the two (2) victims who passed away due to COVID-19. Much strength to the families during this time.

As of October 18th, there were four (4) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however, twenty (20) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to forty-six (46) Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA, Omar Ottley was delighted to attend the kickoff of World Food Day at Emilio Wilson Park.

The event is sponsored by the Edwardo Richardson Memorial Agriculture Foundation and is today October 17th from 9 AM - 8 PM. Come out and show your support.

Minister Ottley is extremely proud of the organizers Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

5 Covid-19 Recoveries Today.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Minister ofPublic Health,Social Development and Labor,Omar Ottleyextends his sympathies to the family and friends ofSint Maartens71stCOVID-19 victim, whohaspassed away. Minister Ottley wishes the family strength during this time.

As ofOctober 15th,therewas one (1)person who tested positive for COVID-19;however five (5)persons have recovered; bringing the total active casesto seventy six (76) Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

5 Covid-19 Recoveries Today.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley extends his sympathies to the family and friends of Sint Maartens 71st COVID-19 victim, who has passed away. Minister Ottley wishes the family strength during this time.

As of October 15th, there was one (1) person who tested positive for COVID-19; however, five (5) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to seventy-six (76) Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Full Vaccination At Center Of Extensive Carnival Safety Plan.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A Safe Carnival For All is the name of the Carnival 2022 COVID Safety Plan that was launched by the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) on Thursday. President of the foundation Alston Lourens explained that the foundation spent months putting together the plan which builds on SCDFs existing Carnival COVID plan which was set to be enforced if there were a Carnival 2021 festival.

As that event was also canceled, the foundation used the past few months to study the successful templates of international festivals that were successfully held over the summer of 2021 Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Business Closing Hours Now Extended To 1Am As Of Friday

VSA Minister Omar Ottley

PHILIPSBURG--Partygoers will have a little more time to enjoy the nightlife thanks to the extension of the business closing hours from 11:00pm to 1:00am.

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley extends his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Sint Maartens 69th COVID-19 victim, who has passed away. Peace and healing go out to the family during this time.

As of October 8th, there were eight (8) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however, eight (8) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to one hundred twenty-two (122) Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Updated Incidental Work Instruction Signed, In Effect

VSA Minister Omar Ottley

PHILIPSBURG--The legal framework established in the National Ordinance on Foreign Labour and the National Decree constituting General Measures on Foreign Labour remains in full effect, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley hereby informs the public that the legal framework established in the National Ordinance on foreign labor and the National Decree constituting general measures on foreign labor remains in full effect.

For applications concerning projects, the legal framework must be considered and applied in its entire context, whereby there is an obligation for the employer pursuant to Articles 5 and 9 of the National Ordinance and Article 3 of the National Decree, to first recruit on the local labor market before hiring foreign workers Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Minister Ottley Signs Off Updated Incidental Work Instruction That Strengthens Local Labor Resources

The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley hereby informs the public that the legal framework established in the National Ordinance on foreign labor and the National Decree constituting general measures on foreign labor remains in full effect.

For applications concerning projects, the legal framework must be considered and applied in its entire context, whereby there is an obligation for the employer pursuant to Articles 5 and 9 of the National Ordinance and Article 3 of the National Decree, to first recruit on the local labor market before hiring foreign workers Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley extends his condolences to the families and friends of the two (2) victims who passed away due to COVID-19. Peace and healing go out to the families during their time of grief.

As of October 4th, there were twenty-one (21) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however, forty-one (41) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to one hundred forty (140) Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Efforts Underway To Stem Short-Term Contract Abuse

VSA Minister Omar Ottley in Parliament on Monday.

PHILIPSBURG--Efforts are currently underway to stem the abuse of short-term labour contracts and flexiblise the countrys dismissal law.

---

Candidates in this article:

11 Pm Business Closure To Be Extended

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Ministerial Regulation to scale back the hours of nightlife, whichwas signedby the Ministries of TEATT and VSA, will be extended.Minister ofPublic Health, Social Development and Labor, Mr. Omar Ottley stated that the announcement of an October1st reopening was an optimistic one, as he hoped that St. Maa Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

11 Pm Business Closure To Be Extended.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministerial Regulation to scale back the hours of nightlife, which was signed by the Ministries of TEATT and VSA, will be extended. Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Mr. Omar Ottley stated that the announcement of an October 1st reopening was an optimistic one, as he hoped that St. Maarten would have been able to contain the deadly COVID-19 Delta variant Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Nightlife 11:00Pm Closure Extended

PHILIPSBURG--The 11:00pm business closure has been extended, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Omar Ottley announced during the live Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday.

---

Candidates in this article:

~Busy season projected.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Labor Omar Ottley said on Wednesday that the 11 pm business closure will remain in effect for a bit longer as the amount of active COVID-19 cases is still high.
The Minister did not say when the business closure curfew will be lifted but promised that it will be sooner rather than later Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

Employer Council Shares Concerns Re Zv/Ov.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Employer Council St Maarten, the platform of ILO recognized St Maarten employer associations (SHTA, IMA, SMMTA, and SMTA), objects to both the proposal and process of the changes the Minister of Health, Social Development and Labor wants to apply to the ZV/OV regulations.

In a letter dated September 7th, the associations have addressed some of the points arising from the presentation of the draft ZV/OV regulations (letter attached). The effects of adjusting the ZV/OV regulation will have a profound effect on our labor market in particular and our economy in general and should not be made lightly.

With this, the Employer Council echoes the statement of concern by the St Maarten Insurance Association and the St Read more

---

Candidates in this article:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health and Labor Omar Ottley confirmed on Wednesday at the Council of Minister's weekly press briefing that We Lounge night club will be closed for one week for several violations such as opening after the 11 pm curfew that remains in place while they will receive a maximum fine for the violations.
Ottley said that when the government implemented the 11 pm curfew for business closures certain penalties were put in place but there is a process in which these penalties will be implemented, one being warnings either verbal or written before being fined or imprisonment Read more

---

Candidates in this article: