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An Island Of Strong Women

By Lilia Burunciuc, World Bank Division Director for the Caribbean

During one of my visits to Sint Maarten, I spoke with a woman who works as a taxi driver. She had once held a job in a hotel that was highly seasonal, leaving her with little or no income during the off-season and few opportunities to increase her earnings. Determined to change her situation, she moved into the transport sector, starting out as a taxi driver. She worked long hours during the high season, saved money, and later rented an additional vehicle and hired another driver Read more

Lder De Democratic Party: La Estabilidad Debe Guiar Las Conversaciones De La Coalicin

Debemos centrarnos en los asuntos nacionales; no hay tiempo para distracciones.

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – La lder de Democratic Party, la Parlamentaria Sarah Wescot, confirm que los lderes de los partidos de la coalicin se reunirn para analizar la situacin poltica actual, en particular la que involucra a los miembros del Consejo de Ministros.

La lder del DP indic que Democratic Party abordar estas conversaciones priorizando la estabilidad y la continuidad de la gobernanza.

Seal que Sint Maarten enfrenta una serie de desafos apremiantes que requieren la plena atencin del gobierno Read more

Xoey Fitzpatrick Aventurin Captivates Audience With Talent, Culture, Wins Junior Carnival Crown

2026 Junior Carnival Queen Xanisha Xoey Fitzpatrick Aventurin (second left) flanked by second runner up YSheyda Madramootoo (left), MP Sjamira Roseburg (third left), first runner-up Kayla Fontenelle (fourth left) and Kyrie Fleming, who placed third (right).

MADAME ESTATE--The St. Maarten Junior Carnival Pageant 2026 reached a thrilling climax on Saturday, March 28, asXanisha Xoey Fitzpatrick Aventurin was crowned Junior Carnival Queen, earning 845 points and standing out in a field of talented young contestants at the Aleeze Convention Center.

The packed audience witnessed a showcase of creativity, culture, and youthful excellence, as Xoeys performances left a lasting impression on judges and spectators alike.

The competition concluded with Xoey winning the crown as well as Miss Amity, Miss Popularity, Best Speech, Best Talent and Best Carnival Costume Read more

St. Maarten Attracting Less Foreign Investment, Says New Cbcs Report

A Central Bank of Curaao and St. Maarten (CBCS) graph showing the average foreign direct invest-ment (FDI) inflows as percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in tourism-intensive Caribbean coun-tries between 2011 and 2022. The asterisks depict countries with Citizenship by Investment pro-grammes.

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten has attracted less foreign direct investment (FDI) since 2011 than other tourism-intensive Caribbean countries, according to a new study by the Central Bank of Curaao and St Read more

Rahim Hussein

REWARD--St. Dominic High School says the achievements of its students in the May 2025 International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma examination session has surpassed the global average.

This year, 17 candidates registered, including 16 diploma and 1 course candidate, with 138 subject entries this session. Fourteen candidates successfully completed all the requirements to be awarded the IB Diploma after two years in the programme. With an 88% pass rate, the DP candidates of St Read more

Mp Kotai Proposes One-Time Car Disposal Fee To Tackle Abandoned Vehicles, Help Public Transport

DP MP Viren Kotai

 

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Viren Kotai plans to propose legislation to introduce a one-time disposal fee for all new vehicle registrations Read more

Wever Donates Audio Equipment To St. Dominic Primary School

MP Chris Wever (left) handing over the donated items to St. Dominic Primary school manager Shanirah Illidge (right) and pupils.

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Christopher Wever, in partnership with Klass Electronics and through his trademark "Wever Works" activities, has donated a JBL speaker system and two microphones to St Read more

Mp Kotai Urges Teatt To Address St. MaartenS Digital Invisibility

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Viren Kotai called on the minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) to take action to correct St. Maartens exclusion from international dig Read more

Six Parties Sign Intent To Form Coalition With Jennifer Geerlings-Simons As President

Coaltion partners at signing ceremony on Tuesday.

 

PARAMARIBO, Suriname--Suriname is getting its first female president. The entire country seemed glued to its television sets Tuesday night, to watch leaders from the NDP, ABOP, NPS, A20, PL and BEP put their signatures under a declaration of intent to form a coalition for the 2025-2030 Government.

Read more

Suriname Elections: President SantokhiS Vhp Toe-To-Toe With Ndp Candidate Geerlings-Simons

Workers at a polling station.

By Marvin Hokstam

PARAMARIBO, Suriname -- As election results in Suriname were trickling in on election day, May 25, 2025, United Reformed Party VHP of sitting president Chandrikapersad Santokhi and National Democratic Party (NDP) of deceased former president Desi Bouterse appear slated to win the National Assembly (DNA) Read more

Guyana Passport Issues Being Resolved

~ Sint Maarten Among 10 Consulates to Receive Biometric Kit ~

SAUNDERS, St. Maarten After months of delay, citizens of Guyana living outside their homeland will soon be able to receive their new passports, and the Sint Maarten Consulate is among 10 of 29 in the diaspora to receive the first set of biometric kits.

This announcement was made on Wednesday during a virtual meeting of Heads of Missions and Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper; and Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Senior Superintendent Stephen Telford.

The delay stemmed from a change of systems at the Central Passport and Immigration Office in Georgetown, which now requires all applicants to submit their biometrics before the travel document can be processed Read more

Mps Kotai And Lewis Call For Immediate Action To Safeguard Tourism Sector After Video Surfaced

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Viren Kotai and Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) MP Lyndon Lewis have called for immediate action to protect St Read more

Sarah To Spearhead Drafting Of A Referendum Ordinance

DP MP Sarah Wescot-Williams.

 

~ As required by constitution ~

 PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams said she will be spearheading the drafting of a referendum ordinance for St Read more

New Leader Of Dp Confirmed

Daniel Hodge.

WILLEMSTAD--Daniel Hodge is the new political leader of the Democratic Party (DP) in Curaao. Hodge, who made his appearance as chairman at the end of last year, was officially presented last Saturday as leader of the DP, one of the oldest political parties in Curaao.

Read more

Voluntary Interruption Of Drinking Water Production In Saint-Martin

An unacceptable hostage of the population and the tourist economy

The SAUR Group strongly condemns the voluntary interruption of drinking water production on the island of Saint-Martin, which occurred on December 23, 2024 This action was carried out by seven SAUR Saint-Martin agents following instructions from UGTG Guadeloupe, resulting in the shutting down of the island’s only water production plant.

The gesture was accompanied by the illegal removal of essential boxes when the installation was restarted, putting the entire population in a situation of health, humanitarian and economic emergency.

Although pedestrian access to the Galisbay site was possible on December 23, the strikers proceeded the next day to complete and reinforced closure of the site, preventing any attempts to restart the water production plant Read more

Some participants with their certificates.

Another group of participants.

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Entrepreneurship Development Center (SEDC) completed two cohorts of the Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) on Wednesday, December 10.

Read more

Edson Hato To Leave As Representative Of Vnacs

WILLEMSTAD – Mr. drs. E. (Edson) Hato, MBA, has announced that he will continue his career elsewhere. As of the 1st of December 2024, he will stop as the representative of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curaao and Sint Maarten.

Mr. Hato: I have fulfilled the role of representative of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curaao and Sint Maarten with great passion. An educational and intensive period, in which I have worked for a fruitful cooperation between the four countries in the Kingdom. Although I can agree with the ultimate objective of this cooperation – a good relationship between the countries – I have a different view on the way in which we can achieve that goal Read more

Cbcs Reduces Both Reserve Requirement Percentage And Pledging Rate

Influenced by domestic and global financial market developments

Willemstad / Philipsburg The Centrale Bank van Curaao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) has decided to reduce its reserve requirement by 0.50 percentage point to 18.50% while the pledging rate was lowered further from 5.25% to 4.75%. The decision to adjust monetary policy is anchored by the normalization of economic and monetary conditions across the union. This easing of monetary policy is supported by a solid and stable foreign exchange position and adequate import coverage in the monetary union Read more

Governor Swears In Four New Mps

Governor Ajamu Baly (centre) and the newly sworn-in Members of Parliament.

HARBOUR VIEW--Governor Ajamu Baly on Tuesday administered the oath to the four new Members of Parliament (MPs) Veronica Jansen-Webster (Unified Resilient St. Read more

Praise For St. Maarten Project At Oranje Fonds Event

THE NETHERLANDS — The Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten, Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, supported the Sint Maarten finalists for the ‘Apples of Orange’ awards of the Oranje Fonds at the prize giving ceremony in The Hague. The Apples of Orange are a kingdom-wide annual award recognizing and rewarding three initiatives that successfully connect different groups, or that contribute to people being able to participate in society again.

The ‘Adopt a Grandparent Experience (AGE)’ project of Sint Maarten’s Hearts United Holistic Care Foundation was one of ten finalists out of a total of 212 entries Read more

Sarah Re-Elected Parliament Chair, Roseburg Vice Chair, De Weever Second Vice Chair

From left: the elected first vice chairperson, chairperson and second vice chairperson of Parliament.

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams was, on Friday, re-elected as Chairp Read more

In Light Of Global Financial Market Expectations Cbcs Reduces The Pledging Rate

Willemstad/Philipsburg The Centrale Bank van Curaao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) decided to ease its monetary policy stance by reducing the pledging rate1 by 0.50 percentage point to 5.25%. This decision is based on the solid and stable foreign exchange position and import coverage in the monetary union, and the expected reduction of the federal funds rate. However, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBCS will continue monitoring the domestic and international economic developments closely, particularly the key indicators for monetary policy in the union, and will adjust its policy if necessary.

According to the latest projection, the deficit on the current account of the balance of payments of the monetary union is expected to drop from 15.8% of GDP in 2023 to 13.9% in 2024, due mainly to an increase in net current transfers from abroad, stated executive director, Dr Read more

Governor Outlines Govt.S Plans At Opening New Parliamentary Year

Members of Parliament during the session.

 ~ Robust post pandemic recovery ~

PHILIPSBURG--The establishment of a sustainable solid waste management system; the restructuring and redesign of the tax system and stimulating the agricultural sector are amongst the list of the policies to be pursued by government in the new term (see related stories).

Governor Ajamu Baly outlined the plans during his remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2024-2025 parliamentary year on Tuesday Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, 3 September 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 4 September 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Partly cloudy, Hot & Humid with light haze and brief local showers possible.Forecast High: 33C / 91F              Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:24 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:59 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Wednesday midday: East-southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 15 mph.SYNOPSIS: A dry and stable atmosphere will restrict significant shower activity and support hot temperatures across the local region Read more