SXMElections.com

~The National Youth Pitch Competition was a huge success. St. Dominic wins Crowd Favorite~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The finals of the first-ever National Youth Pith Competition was held on November 20 with seven (7) teams representing 70% of the secondary schools pitched in front of five (5) judges vying to win ANG 10 000. The National Youth Pitch Competition was designed to develop financial literacy, hone entrepreneurial skills and foster an innovative culture among the youth. These finals were held at the Government Administration Building with more than 100 persons in the audience Read more

Pop Job On The Line Again Next Week Thursday.

PHILIPSBURG:--- It seems that the current President of Parliament United Peoples(UP) Grisha Heyliger-Marten will have to deal with her job being on the line on Thursday, October 27. According to a schedule sent out by parliament on Friday, a public meeting will handle the agenda points, Incoming documents, Ratification of the decision list of the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultations (IPKO) held from September 27-30, 2022 in the Hague, the Netherlands (IS/048/2022-2023 dated September 30, 2022) and Thank the Chair for her services thus far and relieve her from her duties (IS/026/2022-2023 dated September 20, 2022)
The latter agenda point was requested by MP W.V Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Dr. Shana Lewis, a TEDx speaker, Licensed Professional Counselor, and a National Certified Counselor turned Executive Wellness Coach will be joined by thirteen (13) world-renowned speakers including Khaliah Guillory of the Nap Bar and Dr. Felecia Phillips at her 1st annual retreat titled, Selfcare is the New Sexy. The retreat is being hosted in St. Maarten on Sept 29th - 3rd Oct 2022 with an itinerary that includes an exclusive All White Welcome Party, Daily Yoga, Conference, Domestic Violence Benefit Gala, and so much more
Selfcare is the New Sexy is based on the premise that when a woman has sufficiently cared for herself, she is able to show up powerful, confident, clear, assertive, and focused and that's SEXY Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Honorable Member of Parliament (MP) Ludmila de Weever sounded the alarm that the deafening silence coming from the management of GEBE is very concerning and requested an urgent public meeting. The meeting request was also supported by MPs Christophe Emmanuel, Melissa Gumbs, and Sarah Wescott-Williams Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Today, Thursday, August 11th, 2022, the Honorable Member of Parliament (MP) Ludmila de Weever met with representatives from Royal Caribbean Group (RCG), namely Vice President of Destination Development Joshua Carroll and Manager of Destination Development Mario Eges during their recent visit to Sint Maarten.

MP de Weever was delighted to catch up with the team that helped bring the home porting project with Celebrity Cruise Lines to fruition during her tenure in office as Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunication Read more

~Careers in Cruising Initiative~

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Government of St. Maarten and Royal Caribbean Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Port Facility signifying the beginning of a partnership that will create an expansion of St. Maartens job market within the cruising industry.

This has been a joint initiative of the Honorable Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson together with the Honorable Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Omar Ottley, whereby job seekers will now gain access to lucrative careers onboard the cruise lines of Royal Caribbean Group, from line entry to executive-level positions.

Present at the ceremony were the Council of Ministers, Members of Parliament, the Ministries of Justice, and the NESC (National Employment Service Center), together with the Management of Labor Affairs Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---People like to be asked, and people like to be thanked. These were a few words echoed by our former Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication and current Member of Parliament, the Honorable Ludmila de Weever right here at Port St. Maarten, just 11 months ago as St. Maarten and the Royal Caribbean Group launched our joint Homeporting Venture with Celebrity Millennium Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On May 11th, 2022, the Council of Ministers attended the Royal Caribbean Group and Government partnership signing ceremony at the Dr. A.C Wathey Cruise & Port facility. At this ceremony, the MOU was signed by the Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Omar Ottley and Ms. Wendy McDonald who is the regional Vice president of government relations of RCG Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United People's Party Rolando Brison is singing the praises of the St. Maarten EHAS team for their hard work and dedication during the COVID-19 global pandemic and appealing to Minister of Health Omar Ottley to consider establishing a permanent department "to develop, review and implement health guidelines for all incoming passengers."

Brison says the (EHAS) Electronic Health Authorization System team along with United People's Party UP Ministers Panneflek, de Weever, and Ottley are the "unsung heroes that have saved the economic viability of St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Faction leader for the United Peoples Party Grisha Marten Heyliger in her closing remarks on Monday at the closing of the parliamentary year said that a foundation is a key requirement for any development to be successful.
The Foundational element of building a nation has to include the vision of their people.
That vision can form part of the developmental framework for what St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Today, Thursday, August 26, 2021, former Senior Manager of Port St. Maarten Roger Lawrence was ceremoniously sworn in as Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT) at the cabinet of His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday. Lawrence was put forth by the United Peoples (UP) party as candidate minister after former Minister of TEATT Ludmila de Weever accepted her seat in Parliament.
Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs stated, I welcome Minister Lawrence to the Council of Ministers and trust that the good rapport had during the screening process will set the tone for continued cooperation and cohesion in the execution of our governing program and the balance of this governing term Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On July 26, the Honorable Ministers of General Affairs Silveria Jacobs; Justice, Anna Richardson; Finance, Ardwell Irion; TEATT, Ludmila de Weever; and Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, drs Read more

Kick Off Of Football Clinic For Boys And Girls.

The St. Maarten Tourism Bureau is pleased to announce the successful kick-off on Monday, July 26, where the organization FUNDACION REAL MADRID CLINICS DUTCH ANTILLES, together with the REAL MADRID FOUNDATION and our Local Partner Flames United FC, started the Real Madrid Foundation football clinic for boys and girls (6 until 13 years) which will run until Friday 30 of July 2021 on the friendly island of Sint Maarten.

The goal of the organization in conjunction with the Sponsors is to motivate the practice of football on the island as well as to encourage the values inherent in the sport, to give them the opportunity to train as their idols do and contribute to their personal development Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Bureau for Intellectual Property Sint Maarten (the Bureau or BIP SXM) met with the Honorable Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication (Minister of TEATT), Ms. Ludmila de Weever last Friday, July 16th, 2021, to present the audited Financial Statement 2020 and to discuss other pending items.
The Bureau is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the Minister of TEATT for its seventh Financial Statement (2020), as well as its seventh multi-annual budget and policy plan (2021-2025) submitted late last year Read more

Simpson Bay:--- Low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines officially launched its first route network with non-stop flights to St. Maarten from Miami and Orlando, Florida at the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on Saturday, July 10, 2021. The air service will embark on weekly flights on Saturdays using an Airbus 320 with a seating capacity of 186. This venture serves as a part of Frontiers growing network out of South Florida.

Minister of Tourism Ludmila de Weever stated, Today marks another celebration for St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB) hosted a movie premiere recently in honour of Ms. Bianca Dijkhoffz featured role in In the Heights.

This was done in recognition and appreciation of the countrys local talents as part of the orange tourism. Orange tourism is part of sustainable tourism, generating cultural, economic, and social development through responsible tourism management of cultural heritage, arts, and creative industries.

Ms. Dijkhoffz celebrated her achievement in the presence of her family, friends, and supporters Read more

By Kelly Murphy, Washington, DC, USA.

PHILIPSBURG:---Ludmila de Weever, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications of St. Maarten, opened the 5th Annual CaribAvia Summit & Retreat last week underlining the importance of having sustained airlift and reliable aviation partners to aid in economic recovery in the post-pandemic era.

St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On behalf of the Hon. Minister of Justice, Ms. Anna E. Richardson; the Hon. Minister of TEATT, Ms. Ludmila de Weever; the Hon. Minister of VSA, Mr. Omar Ottley, and the Sint Maarten Tourist Bureau, we would like to express our appreciation to the hardworking Immigration and Customs Officers at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA)and at the Harbor for ensuring a smooth operation of their services on Saturday, June 5th, 2021.

On Saturday, Sint Maarten welcomed our first call for homeporting of 2021, as well as a new flight service coming to the island Read more

Maagical St. Maarten Pacesetter For Large-Scale Homeporting Operations In Ne Caribbean.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The launch of the largest homeporting operation that the destination has ever seen will commence on Saturday, June 5 at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities in Point Blanche when Celebrity Cruise Lines 2200-passenger capacity Celebrity Millennium departs for a one-week cruise out of Port St. Maarten.

Celebrity Millennium will be a landmark at Port St. Maarten every week as the vessel picks up and drops off passengers for the next eight-plus weeks generating a considerable amount of economic activity for the destination over this extended period due to this deployment.

On Saturday morning there will be the Homeporting Inauguration ceremony to kick-off this historical first for the country Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- During the week of April 22nd to April 26th, St. Maarten was given the unique opportunity of hosting the Pretty Boy Experience, an event that usually takes place in Barbados organized by Pretty Boy Worldwide. The Pretty Boy Experience is an artist showcase organized by the first-ever Caribbean pop record label, Pretty Boy Records founded by Trevor Pretty.

Francia Adamus, also known by her stage name Cay Hill, is a 20-year-old singer/songwriter who was born and raised in the district of Cay Hill on Sint Maarten Read more

~ Looks forward to working as legislator ~

Philipsburg Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic, and Transportation (TEATT) Ludmila de Weever has decided to take up her seat in Parliament. After careful consideration during this delicate time and after close consultation with the many who keep St. Maartens best interests at heart, I decided to accept the parliamentary seat in accordance with article 105, paragraph 2 of the Electoral Ordinance, Minister De Weever stated.

On April 21st, the Central Voting Bureau (CVB) informed the Minister that she was elected to Parliament and had the option of choosing to take up her seat Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (Ministry of TEATT), Ludmila de Weever, said on Wednesday that the Ministry of TEATT and the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry of VSA), are working on a ministerial regulation that would allow the nightlife entertainment businesses to remain open until 2.00AM.

The publication of the regulation may come as soon as this weekend which would permit those businesses to remain open instead of having to close at 12.00 AM which was the initial stipulation that was introduced for a two-week period in relation to the nations COVID-19 public health and safety protocols Read more

Ministries Teatt, Vsa Meet With Business Sector Reps To Ramp Up Vaccination Campaign For Quicker Economic Recovery.

PHILIPSBURG:--- As part of the countrys economic recovery efforts, representatives of the Ministries of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) and the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), recently held a virtual meeting with a majority of the tourism industrys stakeholders to discuss how to further profile the importance of the countrys vaccination campaign, the latter, seen as a key instrument in the further economic recovery of the nation.

The goal is to vaccinate at least 70% of the local population by June 1st in order to achieve what epidemiologists refer to as herd immunity, i.e., where a sufficient number of people in a community become immune to an infectious disease.

As Minister of TEATT, I would like to thank the private sector for their participation and contribution and look forward to their continued cooperation and support in this important endeavor.

Our national recovery is dependent on the current vaccine strategy along with the other continued observance and application of COVID-19 public health and safety protocols within the community Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines (NASDAQ: ULCC) today announced plans to begin service at Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) in St. Maarten with nonstop Miami and Orlando flights beginning in July 2021.

Were overjoyed to add St Maarten to our route map this summer with nonstop Miami and Orlando flights, said Daniel Shurz, Senior Vice President of Commercial, Frontier Airlines. St. Maarten is a premier vacation destination known for its sun-filled outdoor activities and amazing scenery Read more