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PHILIPSBURG:--- On August 27th, 2021 Minister of VSA, Omar Ottley, held his first community day. The Minister announced in his August 4th press briefing, that on the last Friday of each month, he will prioritize meetings with members of the community to share ideas on how he can better assist the community and discuss issues that may be affecting them.

While my position as Minister is based on appointment, I was an elected official Read more

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Minister Ottley: First Community Day Was A Success

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – On August 27th 2021 Minister of VSA, Omar Ottley, held his firstcommunity day. The Minister announced in his August 4th press briefing, that on the last Friday of each month, he will prioritize meetings with members of the community to share ideas on how he can better assist the community and discuss issues that may be affecting them.

 While my position as Minister is based on appointment, I was an elected official Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) has reported another death, Minister Omar Ottley extends his sympathy to the family and friends of Sint Maartens 49th COVID-19 victim, who has passed away. Peace and strength to the family during this grief.

As of August 28th, there were twenty-five (25) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however, twenty-six (26) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to three hundred twelve (312) Read more

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25 Confirmed Covid-19 Cases Today

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) has reported another death,Minister Omar Ottleyextends his sympathy to the family and friends ofSint Maartens49thCOVID-19 victim, who has passed away. Peace and strength to the family during their this of grief.

As of August 28th, there were twenty five (25) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however twenty six (26) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to three hundred twelve (312). The total number of confirmed cases is now three thousand six hundred forty one (3641). 

CPS are monitoring two hundred ninety seven (297) people in home isolation Read more

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Emmanuel: Coalition Not Holding Their Own Accountable, Meeting Requested

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — MP Christopher Emmanuel on Friday said a request has been submitted for an urgent Central Committee meeting with Minister of VSA Omar Ottley regarding COVID-19 protocols, their enforcement by the authorities and circumventing by members of the UP/NA coalition at their discretion for personal pleasure.

The MP said he has listened to Ottleys explanation of what transpired last weekend at Lotus Night Club, but as the Minister of VSA and Interim Minister of TEATT at the time, he did not address pertinent questions that specifically focused on breaching protocols.
The Minister used the opportunity to defend himself and take a target off of his back, but in doing so he either forgot or willfully did not answer important questions, MP Emmanuel said.

The question is, did the event, the same event the Minister said had just 100 people, carry on past 11pm and past 2am in the morning? If yes, who gave the permission to the club owners to continue their party later than the stipulated closing time of 11pm and have they been fined? Simple questions, yet all we get is dancing from the Minister who is obviously only concerned with protecting himself, the MP said.

He said the coalition also has yet to answer for the behavior of the Chairman of Parliament Rolando Brison, who used the medical situation of a fellow MP (MP Buncamper) as an excuse not to travel to Bonaire to attend IPKO, but instead spent a weekend partying Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley extends his sincere condolences to the family and friends of Sint Maartens 48th COVID-19 victim, who has passed away. Minister Ottley wishes the family strength during this time.

As of August 27th, there were thirty-six (36) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however, thirty-three (33) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to three hundred fourteen (314) Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- MP Christopher Emmanuel on Friday said a request has been submitted for an urgent Central Committee meeting with Minister of VSA Omar Ottley regarding COVID-19 protocols, their enforcement by the authorities, and circumventing by members of the UP/NA coalition at their discretion for personal pleasure.
The MP said he has listened to Ottleys explanation of what transpired last weekend at Lotus Night Club, but as the Minister of VSA and Interim Minister of TEATT at the time, he did not address pertinent questions that specifically focused on breaching protocols.
The Minister used the opportunity to defend himself and take a target off of his back, but in doing so he either forgot or willfully did not answer important questions, MP Emmanuel said Read more

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Ottley Clears The Air On Nightclub Issue

Lotus (file photo)

~ 11:00pm closure until October ~

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Omar Ottley, in providing further clarity, says he did not give permission for a nightclub to be opened past 11:00pm. The minister addressed the ongoing topic on Wednesday at the live Council of Ministers Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley hereby extends his sympathy to the family and friends of Sint Maartens 47th COVID-19 victim, who has passed away. Minister Ottley wishes the family peace and comfort during this time.

As of August 26th, there were thirty (30) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however, thirty-nine (39) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to three hundred twelve (312) Read more

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~ Pop-ups vaccination will restart. ~

PHILIPSBURG: --- The Minister of Health Omar Ottley announced on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing those 12 persons lost their lives due to COVID -19 during the month of August. Of those 9 of those persons were unvaccinated, 2 were partly vaccinated and one was fully vaccinated. The Minister said that 46 persons lost their lives due to the coronavirus since the pandemic started in March 2020.
The Minister said that the pop-up vaccination will resume as of this Saturday at the CPS location at the Vineyard Building Read more

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Breaking News: Two St. Maarten Patients Died From Covid-19 (Updated)

~Unvaccinated patients succumbed to COVID-19.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Two patients from St. Maarten patients passed away from  COVID-19 confirmed Minister of Health Omar Ottley.
The Minister of Health also confirmed that St. Maarten sent five COVID-19 patients to Colombia and Panama of the five patients one passed away, while the other passed away at the St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley extends his sympathy to the family and friends of Sint Maartens 43rd COVID-19 victim, who has passed away. May peace be with the family during this difficult time.

As of August 23rd, there were seventy-eight (78) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however, seventy-two (72) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to three hundred twenty (320) Read more

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Chris, Ottley Quarrel Over Club Staying Open Past Closing Time

SIMPSON BAY--A war of words seems to have erupted over the weekend between independent Member of Parliament (MP) Christophe Emmanuel and Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Omar Ottley over the reported closing of a nightclub beyond the 11:00pm mandatory time.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday said members of government need to stop with unbecoming behavior, be transparent with the public, follow its established protocols and stop trying to deflect with empty, evasive press releases. CPS protocols are in place to protect people. Leaders in this country should avoid undermining them with irresponsible actions, the MP said.
The MP was referring to Minister of VSA Omar Ottleys response to reports that he and the President of Parliament Rolando Brison attended a gathering at Lotus Night Club after the stipulated 11 pm closing time on Friday last Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA, the Honorable Omar Ottley denies rumors of him giving a popular nightclub the permission to stay open until 2:00 AM.
It is disheartening that certain political figures are quick to spread misleading rumors with zero facts.

The Minister signed a Ministerial Regulation containing COVID guidelines and protocols, with 11:00 PM business closures being one of them.

"I am not annoyed with the person in the voice note that has been circulating, but I am very disappointed with the public figures that know how to access the facts and choose not to.

The Minister went on to state that obtaining factual information is as simple as asking the Inspectorate of VSA/TEATT and KPSM if any approval was given to allow the nightclub in question, to operate until 2:00 AM.

Naturally, their answer will be No! Minister Ottley went on to state that it is not a secret that the hours for enjoying nightlife were scaled back to 11:00 PM; however, the nightlife is not prohibited Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel wants government to provide answers and clear up rumors concerning what he termed as disturbing incidents from this weekend. The island was clamoring on Saturday over news that Minister of Health Omar Ottley and President of Parliament MP Rolando Brison either organized or permitted a private party at Lotus Night Club in contravention to the Ministerial Regulation (MR).
According to witness reports, police were dispatched to Lotus Night Club on Friday night to ensure that the club closed its operations in accordance to the recently passed Ministerial Regulation which mandates closure at 11:00 pm Read more

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Minister Ottley: No Permission Given For 2:00 Am Closure

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Minister of VSA, the Honorable Omar Ottley denies rumors of him giving a popular night club the permission to stay open until 2:00 AM.
It is disheartening that certain political figures are quick to spread misleading rumors with zero facts.

The Minister signed a Ministerial Regulation containing COVID guidelines and protocols, with 11:00 PM business closures being one of them.“I am not annoyed with the person in the voice note that has been circulating, but I am very disappointed with the public figures that knows how to access the facts and choose not to.

The Minister went on to state that obtaining factual information is as simple as asking the Inspectorate of VSA/TEATT and KPSM if any approval was given to allow the night club in
question, to operate until 2:00 AM.

Naturally, their answer will be No! Minister Ottley went on to state that it is not a secret that the hours for enjoying night life was scaled back to 11:00 PM; however nightlife is not
prohibited Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Saint-Martin Resistance organization notified the Minister of Justice of Sint Maarten, Anna E. Richardson that a protest against mandatory vaccination and health pass will be held on August 21, on French Saint Martin. The organization sought approval to cross from the Bellevue border and proceed towards the Union Road roundabout in order to turn around and head back to French Saint Martin.

Minister Richardson acknowledges the fundamental right to carry out demonstrations however, this fundamental right can be restricted under unusual and extraordinary circumstances Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley met with research representatives contacted by the RIVM and VWS of the Netherlands, to discuss the findings of a randomized survey done to better understand the vaccine hesitancy amongst the Sint Maarten population.

The Minister was eager to learn about the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
The team of researchers stated that they thought it was critical for the Ministry of VSA to continue developing tailored strategies to increase the acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine and decrease hesitancy Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley met with St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) Director, Ms. Makhicia Brooks to gain insight into the application process, as well as the approval criteria and grounds for denial of applications, especially those related to the seniors.

The Minister took note of the complaints coming in from seniors claiming they were being denied assistance and he shared these concerns with Ms Read more

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Vsa To Introduce Policy: Regular Testing For The Non-Vaccinated

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Omar Ottley says the government intends to implement a policy in which persons who are not vaccinated for COVID-19 may be subjected to regular COVID-19 testing.

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St. Maarten Close To Utilising Covid-19 Qr Code System

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Omar Ottley said St. Maarten is ready to go live with the COVID-19 QR code system once official documentation has been received to do so.

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44 Confirmed Covid-19 Cases Today

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Minister ofPublic Health,Social Development and LaborOmar Ottleyextends his deepest condolencesto the familyand friendsof Sint Maartens42ndCOVID-19 victim, whohaspassed away. Prayers go out to the family during their time of grief.

As of August 17th, there were forty four (44) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however two (2) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to three hundred forty nine (349). The total number of confirmedcases is now three thousand two hundred seventy one (3271). 

The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) are monitoring three hundred thirty four (334) people are in home isolation Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Omar Ottley extends his deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sint Maartens 42nd COVID-19 victim, who has passed away. Prayers go out to the family during their time of grief.

As of August 17th, there were forty-four (44) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however, two (2) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to three hundred forty-nine (349) Read more

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