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Bus Drivers Request Increase In Bus Fares Starting January

United Bus Drivers Association president Claude Omeus.

PHILIPSBURG--From January 2023, bus passengers will pay more for a bus ride if it is up to United Bus Drivers Association. President Claude Omeus said the increase is necessary due to the high cost of living on the island.

  I dont think it is unreasonable for us to finally get the increase in fares, as maintaining our buses is not cheap also, said Omeus, stressing that the cost of living continues to skyrocket while gas prices are increased almost bi-weekly.

  Bus drivers have taken note of the announcement by Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Omar Ottley about the increase in minimum wage Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- United Bus Drivers Association is looking forward to the implementation of its increasing of their bus fares come January 2023. The association had taken note of the accountment by the Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Omar Ottley increasing the minimum wage and applauded this initiative Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Silveria Jacobs; Minister of Education Culture Youth and Sport (ECYS), Drs. Rodolphe Samuel; along with the Head of the Department of Culture Ms Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Silveria Jacobs; Minister of Education Culture Youth and Sport (ECYS), Drs. Rodolphe Samuel; along with the Head of the Department of Culture Ms Read more

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Dutch State Secretary Or Government Does Not Know Miedema.

~ Proposal to refinance loans seems like a scam.~

PHILIPSBURG:---Dutch State Secretary Alexandra Van Huffelen in a letter to the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion in response to his letter enquiring of the Dutch loan and guarantees said that Miedema is not known to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or anyone in the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations Read more

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Dp Is Back! Membership Meeting On November 12

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Democratic Party of St. Maarten (DP), the oldest political party in the country, is gearing up to once again offer the island’s residents knowledgeable and experienced representation that will stand on the party’s founding principles that values hope and dreams for a vibrant future and a decent standard of living for all St. Maarteners. It is time for the DP to once again give light in all this darkness, so our people can move on.

Popularly called The Red Machine, the party will host its general membership meeting on November 12 at the John Larmonie Center in Philipsburg at 6:30pm Read more

~ Stakeholders are still not paid, and they can walk out on carnival. ~

PHILIPSBURG: --- Member of Parliament Rolando Brison called on the government to look into the status of St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) whose financials are not in order. The UP member of Parliament said that this foundation is receiving government subsidies and they are expected to share information with the government in order to comply with the subsidy ordinance Read more

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by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Caribbean marketplace is cluttered with twenty-plus territories positioning themselves pretty much in the same way and offering similar benefits. Smart positioning will make one tourist destination stand out from the rest. It makes the difference from being average to becoming a dominant market player.

Positioning is one of the most powerful marketing concepts. It creates an identity or image of a destination in the mind of tourists in terms of an awareness that distinguishes it from competing destinations Read more

Ottley Presents Architectural Renderings For The Philipsburg Market Place

PHILIPSBURG On Wednesday, October 5th, the acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication (TEATT) Omar Ottley presented architectural renderings for the Phillipsburg Market Place. The Market Place has been an ongoing issue since the passing of hurricanes Irma and Maria. The Minister stated that he is elated to be a part of the solution.

Ottley received the final architectural renderings on Wednesday morning which includes enhanced structures with removable components to prepare for a possible hurricane and on-site storage for the vendors Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Today, October 10, 2022, is the first anniversary of the URSM (Unified Resilient Sint Maarten Movement). In the first place, I would like to congratulate the Board, the Advisory Council, the Committee members, the Candidates, and of course all URSM members and the people of Sint Maarten on the first anniversary of the URSM. The URSM is a Party of inclusion that respects and embraces diversity. The URSM believes that inclusion is a method and tool to promote a unified opinion and sentiment of Country identity for Sint Maarten Read more

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Charlotte Brookson Academy Receives Culture Time Proceeds

From left: Culture Time founder and host Fabian Badejo, Charlotte Brookson Academys school manager Tatiana Arrindell and Culture Time co-host Rhoda Arrindell. (Stephen Kleinhuis photo)

 PHILIPSBURG--The organisers of last week Fridays Culture Time 35th Anniversary Show at Philipsburg Cultural Centre donated the proceeds of the event to Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performing Arts (CBA).

  The cash presentation was made to school manager Tatiana Arrindell on Tuesday, said Fabian Badejo, host of the long-running PJD-2 radio programme Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, October 5th, the acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication (TEATT) Omar Ottley presented, architectural renderings for the Phillipsburg Market Place. The Market Place has been an ongoing issue since the passing of hurricanes Irma and Maria. The Minister stated that he is elated to be a part of the solution.
Ottley received the final architectural renderings on Wednesday morning which include enhanced structures with removable components to prepare for a possible hurricane and on-site storage for the vendors Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  After nearly three decades, St. Maarten Academys Key Club was rechartered with budding service boys and girls under the leadership of the schools Vice Principal Joanna Trim. The new Key Club, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Aruba, kicked off its first activity by recognizing World Suicide Prevention Month on the last Wednesday of September.

Donned in orange and black to mark the occasion, Key Club members gathered in the schools courtyard at the break on September 28, 2022, to acknowledge the importance of the mental health of teenagers and honor the memory of those teenagers who lost their struggle to suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic years 2020-2022 Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The organizers of last Fridays Culture Time 35th anniversary show donated the proceeds from the event to the Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performing Arts (CBA), said Fabian Badejo.
The cash presentation was made to Tatiana Arrindell, the school manager on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, said Badejo, host of the long-running PJD-2 radio program.
The 35th-anniversary show was a resounding success both in terms of the performances and the turnout, said Badejo.
Culture Time co-host, Dr Read more

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Senior citizens from both sides of the island gathered in the Senior Citizens Recreational Center in Hope Estate to celebrate International Day of Older Persons on October 1.

HOPE ESTATE--Senior citizens from both sides of the island gathered in the Senior Citizens Recreational Center in Hope Estate to celebrate International Day of Older Persons on October 1. This large, combined gathering was the biggest since the pandemic waged and seniors were happy to be able to mingle and enjoy a meal together just like old times.

  The lunch was organized by St Read more

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Da De Diversion Comunitaria En Hope Estate

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – El Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario, Familia y Asuntos Humanitarios (CDFHA) dentro del Ministerio de Salud Pblica, Desarrollo Social y Trabajo (VSA) organiz su tercer Da de Diversin Comunitario gratuito el sbado 24 de septiembre de 2022 para la comunidad Hope Estate y sus alrededores. Bajo el lema “Ponemos la unidad en la comunidad”, los residentes salieron a interactuar de una manera divertida y participar en este alcance comunitario.

Este Da de diversin comunitaria gratuito tena como objetivo reunir a las familias para un da de diversin y espritu comunitario, mientras que el departamento retribuy a la comunidad al brindar una plataforma para que los miembros de la comunidad aprendieran sobre los servicios del departamento y conocieran a sus bomberos Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Community Development, Family, and Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA) within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor (VSA) hosted its third free Community Fun Day on Saturday, September 24, 2022, for the Hope Estate Community and surrounding neighborhoods.
Under the theme We put the unity in the community, residents came out to interact in a fun-filled manner and partake in this community outreach.
This free Community Fun Day was intended to bring families together for a day of fun and community spirit, while the department gave back to the community by giving a platform for community members to learn about the department's services and meet their firefighters Read more

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PHILIPSBURG: ---- Its been five years since Hurricane Irma and Maria impacted St. Maarten/ St. Martin in September 2017, Irma was the largest hurricane that struck the island after Luis in 1995. However, five years later and the destruction caused by Irma is still visible. Many people are still unable to repair their homes, some people are still lodging with friends and families since they lost everything in the monster storm. Life has not been the same since the passing of Irma and Maria while the pandemic kicked off in March 2020 has added more fire to the fury Read more

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Ebenezer. The Forgotten Neighborhood

EBENEZER, Sint Maarten — According to Gromyko Wilson, since the passage of hurricane Irma in 2017 there are a number of neighborhoods that has been neglected.
These include areas such as Dutch Quarter, Fort Willem and most outstanding is the Ebenezer Estate.

During a tour of this area following the recent tropical system which is now tropical storm Earl there are several streets without street lightening and some roads the street poles are still turn since the passing of Hurricane Irma back in 2017.

Surprisingly, some of the main streets doesn’t have LED lightening while some of the cross streets have no lights at all Read more

Gebe Recovered Data Not Usable, Two Companies Hired Post Ransomware Attack.

~ Information is too sensitive for public debate. ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs told parliament on Friday that many of their questions could not be answered on the floor of parliament since the information is too sensitive.
Jacobs said that based on the information the shareholder received it showed that the management of NV GEBE hired two companies after the March 16th, 2022, ransomware attack Read more

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Witu Demands An Explanation From Doran

Philipsburg — President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson met with mainly WITU members of Government subsidized school boards on Wednesday afternoon.

“The reality of their hardship caused by the non-payment of the vacation allowance was brought forward,” Johnson said.

Present in the meeting were union colleagues of the WISCU/PSU, NAPB, SMCU, ABVO and WIFOL in soalidarity.

Johnson before delving into the outcomes of the general membership meeting referenced his concerns about the remarks made by Deputy Prime Minister Egbert Doran.

“I believe the Honorable Minister Doran owes teaching, non-teaching staff and by extension the nation an explanation or an apology,” Johnson stated.

In the spirit of transparency, Minister Doran should explain the outcome of the meeting held with the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion regarding the solution of the vacation allowance payment which he alluded to during the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on August 10, 2022.

He added, “it seems to be obvious from listening to remarks made in the recent Council of Ministers Press Briefing that he not only misspoke but gave a false hope to educators.”

The WITU President expressed that, “in these challenging and financially difficult times you simply do not make such frivolous statements.”

However, if Minister Doran has a solution we are eager to hear such Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson met with mainly WITU members of Government subsidized school boards on Wednesday afternoon.

"The reality of their hardship caused by the non-payment of the vacation allowance was brought forward," Johnson said.

Present in the meeting were union colleagues of the WISCU/PSU, NAPB, SMCU, ABVO, and WIFOL in solidarity.

Johnson before delving into the outcomes of the general membership meeting referenced his concerns about the remarks made by Deputy Prime Minister Egbert Doran.

"I believe the Honorable Minister Doran owes teaching, non-teaching staff and by extension the nation an explanation or an apology," Johnson stated.

In the spirit of transparency, Minister Doran should explain the outcome of the meeting held with the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion regarding the solution of the vacation allowance payment which he alluded to during the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on August 10, 2022.

He added, "it seems to be obvious from listening to remarks made in the recent Council of Ministers Press Briefing that he not only misspoke but gave a false hope to educators."

The WITU President expressed that, "in these challenging and financially difficult times you simply do not make such frivolous statements."

However, if Minister Doran has a solution we are eager to hear such Read more

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Documentos Revelan Que Dos Compaas Recolectores De Basura Fueron Descalificados

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – De las cinco empresas adjudicatarias del Gobierno de St. Maarten para la recoleccin de residuos slidos de 2021 a 2026, dos haban sido descalificadas durante el proceso de licitacin. Sin embargo, actualmente estn bajo contrato por una suma total de NAf. 9.689.971,65 en cinco aos.

El Daily Herald tiene una copia de la carta que Melissa Gumbs y Raeyhon Peterson, miembros del parlamento (MP) del Partido para el Progreso (PFP), la cal enviaron el lunes a la presidenta del parlamento, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, solicitndole que revise los documentos adjuntos para verificar su autenticidad.

Los documentos presentados por el PFP fueron filtrados por una fuente annima y comprenden copias de la lista de verificacin de integridad de los documentos de licitacin que cada participante en el proceso de licitacin de contratos de basura deba completar, segn los trminos de referencia (ToR) para esta licitacin.

De los documentos se desprende que alrededor del 60% de los participantes fueron descalificados; al menos 12 de 19 postores no cumplieron.
Los nombres de Avyanna Cleanup and Construction, que actualmente recolecta basura en Cay Hill y el rea circundante, identificada como Parcel 5, y Garden Boyz Cleaning Services BV, actual recolector de basura para Parcel 2, que comprende Pond Island, Over the Pond, Illidge Road, Madame’s Estate , Guana Bay y Hope Estate, estn en la lista de descalificados (DQ) Read more

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South Reward:--- The Haitian Association of St. Maarten (HASMA) lent its support to the bus drivers and their associations during their general meeting with Minister Ottley Sunday afternoon at Milton Peters College.

President of the United Bus Drivers association Mr. Claude Omeus along with his board presented a list of proposals that was submitted to the former Minister of TEATT Mr. Roger Lawrence for an amendment to the public transportation ordinance.

 Present in the meeting were members of the United Buss drivers association, Soaliga Bus Drivers association, Minister of VSA and interim Minister of TEATT Mr Read more

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