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Dcca Airport Conference Highlights Innovation, Technology, Sustainability

TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten gives her welcoming address on day one of the DCCA Conference. (Rochester Media Group photo)

MAHO--The third Dutch Caribbean Cooperation of Airports (DCCA) conference, the first in St. Maarten hosted by Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), concluded on Tuesday at Sonesta Beach Resort with delegates attending from the airports of Curaao, Aruba, Bonaire, Saba, St Read more

Winair Celebrates Launch Of Three New Winter Routes

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed by TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten (left), WINAIR CEO Hans van de Velde (centre) and PJIAE CEO Brian Mingo (right).

SIMPSON BAY--WIRead more

Court Upholds Teatt Order To Close Down District 721

PHILIPSBURG--The Court of First Instance has upheld a recent decision by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten that closed down District 721, at least until the nightclub on Welfare Road gets a new operational licence. Read more

Mp Ottley Urges Minister To Move Vendors To Clem Labega Parking Lot

The tent in the distance is the temporary home of the Philipsburg Marketplace vendors.

PHILIPSBURG--United Peoples Party (UP) Member of Parliament (MP) Omar Ottley is urging Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Read more

Port Set To Achieve Major Milestones In Home-Porting And Cargo Operations

PHILIPSBURG--Port St. Maarten is fully committed to becoming a greener port, aligning with the maritime industry's goals for zero emissions by 2030 and net-zero by 2050, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten revealed to Parliament on Thursday.

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Taxi Driver In Viral Video Suspended For 30 Days, Visitor Invited Back To Island

TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten

PHILIPSBURG--The video of an incident involving the driver of taxi 53 and some visitors, which went viral on several media platforms on Monday, September 2, was immediately brought to the attention of Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Read more

Operation Starts To Relocate Beached Vessel Island Scout

VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs and TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten overseeing the relocation of the vessel on Wednesday.

PHILIPSBURG--Authorities on Wednesday began the major operation to relocate beached vessel Island Scout from the waters near the site of the former Great Bay Beach Hotel, where it got stuck during the passing of tropical storm Ernesto.

The vessel is being moved to Port St Maarten and eventually out of St Maartens waters.

Government had issued a Ministerial Decree on Thursday last in which a 48-hour notice was issued to the owner of Island Scout Read more

Port St. Maarten Forecasts Over 1.5 Million Cruise Tourists In 2025

Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten (right) with Michele Paige, CEO of Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association.

 PHILIPSBURG--Port St. Maarten Group (PSG) anticipates a significant increase in cruise tourism, projecting that over 1.5 million cruise passengers will visit the island in 2025 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

Grisha: Businesses Near Pjia That Fail To Remove Billboards Before Storms Will Be Liable For Damage

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten issued a firm caution on Wednesday to businesses that have wooden billboards near Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) and fail to remove them before a storm.

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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

Grisha Grants Ezair Route Authorisation

PHILIPSBURG--The apparent stand-off between St. Maarten and Curaao over route authorisation for EZAir B.V. seems to have come to an amicable solution.

Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten has granted the Curaao airline, EZAir BV route authorisation to fly to St Read more

Heyliger-Marten Wants Nv Gebe To Introduce Special Tariff For Seniors

TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten

 PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten wa Read more

Grisha Holds Talks With Edf On Net Metering

Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten (centre) accompanied by Pierre-Yves Gillot, Chef de Service des Iles du Nord (second left) and Otmar Read more

Spirit Airlines To Explore Code-Sharing Opportunities, Enhance Connections

TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten with Spirit Airlines Senior Director of Network Planning Mathew Glover.

~ Water supply, Customs process concerns ~

PHILIPSBURG--Spirits were high when Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Read more

Taxi Associations Present Proposal For Tariff Change To Teatt Minister

From left: Andrew Royer of the Dutch Taxi Association, TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Maya Friday of the Dutch St. Maarten Taxi Association and Glen Emers of Down Town Taxi Association.

~ Want ride sharing initiative permanently abolished ~

PHILIPSBURG--Five taxi associations operating on Dutch St. Maarten have proposed a change to the existing tariffs, according to them, due to the increased cost of living and inflation.

In a letter to Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten, the associations said the proposed amendments to the current tariffs are also to synchronise tariffs with the French-side Taxi Association which is presently in negotiations to increase their tariffs.

We met last week to discuss, among other things, their proposal to change the current tariffs for different districts, Heyliger-Marten said in a press release Read more

From left: Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs, TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Chairperson of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams and Member of Parliament Viren Kotai.

 PHILIPSBURG--The decision on whether St Read more

Grisha Floats Idea Of City Manager For Town With Ima

TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten (right) with members of the Indian Merchants Association last week.

 PHILIPSBURG--The possible introduction of a City Manager to develop strategies aimed at attracting not only residents and cruise visitors to Philipsburg, but also stop-over and stay-over guests was discussed recently.

A City Manager was one of the proposed strategies for improving the tourist product, which Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), discussed with an Indian Merchants Association (IMA) delegation at a meeting last week.

The Minister outlined the actions already taken to enhance the Marketplace and improve the product and visitor experience in town and other parts of the island, and plans for the beautification of St Read more

Grisha Discusses Product Enhancement With Shta

TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten (fourth right), flanked by SHTA Executive Board members.

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten met with the Executive Board of St Read more

Power Barge Too Expensive, No Longer Being Considered

Caretaker Prime Minister Dr. Luc Merclina (centre) flanked by Ministers Veronica Jansen-Webster (left) and Grisha Heyliger-Marten (right).

~ Containerised energ Read more

Canada Travel Advisory Said No Cause For Panic

Grisha Heyliger-Marten

PHILIPSBURG--The Government of Canada has advised its citizens travelling to

St. Maarten to expect nationwide power outages. However, its colour-coded risk level still gave St. Maarten, a green status, which means travellers should exercise normal security precautions.

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Grisha Welcomes Frontier Airlines From San Juan, Puerto Rico, To Sxm

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten welcomed Frontier Airlines from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Princess Juliana International Airport on its maiden flight 244 Monday afternoon.

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Matter Of Concern

An urgent request for a closed-door Central Committee meeting to discuss the latest developments at the TelEm Group was submitted to Parliament on Thursday by Democratic Party (DP) MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Party for Progress Read more

Grisha Concerned About Non-Payment Of Some Local Sub-Contractors At Pjia

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Grisha Heyliger-Marten has expressed concerns about information she received concerning the reconstruction process at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA).

Heyliger-Marten said she has been informed that certain contractors conducting work at PJIA are awaiting payments totalling US $300,000.

Information reaching my office alleges that the reconstruction process of one of our national gateways is marred by gross non-performance, mismanagement, and negligence, Heyliger-Marten stated in a press release issued on Monday.

Heyliger-Marten said she has been informed that Ballast Nedam, being the main contractor, has assigned Sustainable Development Consulting BV (SDC BV) as the main contractor to remove the debris from the demolition process Read more