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Brug Says An Approved 2024 Budget Is Good For Sint Maarten!

In a media statement released on Tuesday afternoon, Richinel Brug expressed his appreciation to the Parliament of Sint Maarten for passing the 2024 budget. Brug, who is set to replace the leader of the URSM in Parliament once he swears in as Prime Minister, called this accomplishment significant in light of the current political situation.

Brug acknowledged the peculiar circumstances under which the outgoing Counsel of Ministers presented and defended the budget for the incoming Government, while assuming their roles as opposition members.

Brug highlighted the significance of this budget approval, noting that it not only guarantees the continuation of projects initiated before 2024 but also ensures the availability of funds to initiate the process of paying justice workers.

It is crucial to recognize that receiving a signed decree, without appealing the content, is just the first step in a long process Read more

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Candidates in this article:

My2cents: The Justice Ministry Is Busy Crumbling And Nobody Is Seeing It !!!

By means of this letter I would like to address all the Justice workers, but especially those that are holding a position within the different Justice workers unions.

I have been following the saga of the justice workers for a while with keen attention to the following process regarding the function book and this Justice Minister, Anna Elaine Richardson, that claims to it the right way.

I dont want to delve into the past as to how many persons were appointed or held the function of SG and were rid off under this Justice Minister Read more

Huhcf Adult Literacy Graduation 2024

In a heartwarming ceremony filled with pride, determination, and celebration, the Hearts United Holistic Care Foundation marked the successful completion of its Adult Literacy Program for the second time. On March 7th, 2024, amidst cheers and applause, 19 students donned blue graduation gowns and silver stoles, symbolizing their achievement and dedication to self-improvement. The event, held at the John Larmonie Center in Philipsburg, was a testament to the transformative power of education and the unwavering commitment of both students and educators.

The journey of these remarkable individuals began in June 2022, when they embarked on a path to literacy and empowerment Read more

Project Announced To Extend Potable Water Production Plant

From left: EEASM Director General Sebastien Gallego, SAUR Antilles Director Nicolas Touzet, President Louis Mussington, EEASM President Raphal Sanchez, and SAUR St. Martin Director Mlissa Nicolas at the press conference. (Robert Luckock photo)

MARIGOT--Water Authority tablissement des Eaux et de lAssainissement de Saint-Martin (EEASM) held a press conference at its headquarters in Hope Estate on Friday to announce an extension to the present drinking water production plant in Galisbay that will be built and commissioned in 2027 to significantly improve capacity.

With a provisional budget of 21 million euros, the aim is to increase daily production from 8,000m3 to around 14,000m3, explained Collectivit president Louis Mussington in his preamble Read more

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Telem Ceo Advises Staff To Read The Full Audit Report That Was Leaked.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Chief Executive Officer of TELEM Group of Companies Kendall Dupersoy penned a letter to his staff on Wednesday requesting that they read the full audit report that was leaked to all social media platforms.

Below is the memo sent to the staff of TELEM.

Click here to read the Audit Report done by SOAB.

Dear Team,

I hope this message finds you well Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  Orco Bank Sint Maarten reaffirms its commitment to the local community with its second annual donation drive, gifting 25 shoe box presents to 25 specially selected students of the esteemed Asha Stevens Primary School.
In a bid to spread holiday cheer and foster a sense of joyous giving, Orco Bank Sint Maarten proudly extended its support to the Asha Stevens Primary School for the second consecutive year 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

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Candidates in this article:

HARBOR VIEW, PHILIPSBURG:---Distinguished guests, good evening.
It is really great to see all of you here. On behalf of my wife Janique and I, welcome and thank you for joining us this evening. It is our pleasure to welcome everyone to our beautiful venue tonight here at the new location of my Cabinet at Falcon Drive #2.
A very Happy and Healthy New Year to one and all. May this be a year of dedication, devotion and discipline towards the prosperity of our beloved nation.
A new year brings with it a renewed and refreshed spirit of hope and reassurance of the will and ability to take on and seize the challenges and opportunities that lie on the horizon Read more

Prioritize The Sport Industry

~ a boost to our touristic economy ~

As sporting enthusiasts, we all have our particular sport that we are passionate about. One sport may attract more interest than the others, but sports in itself is globally healthy for the mind and body, as well as enjoyable pastime to all people that follow it.

How does drag racing impacts your country?

Drag racing can have various impacts on a country, both positive and negative, depending on factors such as regulation, infrastructure, and public perception Read more

Dp: We Mourn With You And Wish You Strength To Restore Trust And Tranquility In Anguilla.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In a press release over the weekend, the Democratic Party of St. Maarten reacted to the horrific killings that shocked the community of Anguilla mid-week. The DP leader, herself of Anguillan descent was clearly distressed at the news.

It is with profound sadness we learned of the senseless killings that occurred in Anguilla last week. The shock of this heartless act at an emotion-filled time of burial of a loved one reverberated throughout our communities Read more

Sint Maartener At Un Climate Summit Calls For Equitable, Climate-Resilient Future Ahead Of Final Negotiations

 DUBAI:--- United Nations Climate Conference, COP28, is set to come to a close this week as countries negotiate the next set of climate change goals. Among the attendees of the conference is Riddhi Samtani, a youth activist from Sint Maarten part of Island Innovations Caribbean Climate Justice Leaders Academy (CCJLA) cohort. Representing her community on the global stage, Samtani has participated in speaking engagements and discussions with other delegates and heads of state, including Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Curaao Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas.

Having youth delegated from underrepresented communities is key to developing inclusive climate policies, something Samtanis sponsors NAGICO Insurances and Grant Thornton are keen to support as it aligns with their companys corporate social pillars Read more

Usp President Cecil Nicholas Officially Announces His Candidacy

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The USP established in 2014 has been a contender in every election since it was established, winning 2 seats in every election held since, with 3 seats being the highest awarded to the party in the 2016 election campaign.

Nicholas a founder and first president of the US Party first ran in 2016 at the bottom of the list as candidate number 19. In this upcoming election, he is running as the number 2 candidate behind his new leader Mrs Read more

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Chokehold Movie Delivers The Message That Domestic Violence Is Unacceptable

The Chokehold cast at the Friday press conference: from left; Simeon Henderson, Enyinne Nwigwe, Director Joel Ayuk (standing), Kenneth Okolie, Oremeyi Kareem, and Sherando Ferril. (Robert Luckock photo).

 MARIGOT--Timed to coincide with International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women, the premiere of locally-produced and -directed film Chokehold, written and directed by Joel Ayuk, took place at Caribbean Cinemas on Saturday night with the main actors in attendance.

Replicating a Hollywood premiere with red carpet, photo calls and a VIP reception, the international cast were dressed to the nines for the occasion.

Among prominent personalities from the community, Vice Presidents of the Collectivit Alain Richardson, Bernadette Davis and Dominique Louisy were present to support the film, as well as Territorial Councillor Martine Beldor.

Anticipating a large turnout, the 1-hour film produced by CANI TV Studios was shown in two theatres Read more

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Armand Meda To Run On Upp Slate, Resigns From Democratic Party.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday, November 19th, 2023, Democratic Candidate Armand Meda resigned from the party. This took place on the same day as the Democratic Party Candidate & Manifesto launch.

The former number 14 candidate on the DP list, has had a vigorous campaign under the slogan Forward, for almost a year that became very popular on Social Media and households on St Read more

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Strong Correlation Between Homelessness, Poverty And Mental Illness

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — There is a strong correlation between homelessness, poverty and mental illness. For years, government has stated that it would create a country-wide plan of action for the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders.

This is just what we need for when we look around our beautiful island, so many people are walking the streets with hopelessness in their eyes, hoping for hope again. We need to stop the quick fixes and temporary remedies, and examine the role of society in preventing and responding to mental health problems beyond the health system.

To protect people’s mental health, we need a country plan that focuses on prevention in schools, and the lingering social issues that plague our communities leading up to intellectually disabled people.

We see homelessness, poverty and mentally disabled people highlighted right now in our communities Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) has resumed its operations today after a temporary disruption caused by employee unrest. The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley, has successfully intervened and initiated discussions between relevant stakeholders to address the concerns raised by the employees.

On Monday, November 13th, Minister Ottley held a virtual meeting with Ms Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  Sint Maarten will work to advance its progress towards sustainable and resilient management of the islands coastal and marine environment through a 633,000 research-based project supported by the RESEMBID grant programme.

The Coastal Resilience Needs Assessment (CORENA) project is a partnership between the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI), and the non-profit conservation organization Nature Foundation St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- MP Wescot in her statement explained that NAF. 60 million guilders have been approved as loans for the budgeted capital projects in 2023 and it is remarkable that the CFT recently admonished the Finance Ministry to make haste with the projected capital loans and projects.

While the amended budget 2023 is nowhere yet in sight, let alone the 2024 budget, the CBCS has published the loan offer and the minister of finance has announced most of the projected capital projects, which according to the 2023 budget notes should be ready to go, stated MP Wescot.

Singling out 2 projects as an example, the MP stated that we wouldve expected that projects such as the Dutch Quarter improvements and the Philipsburg Market would have been eagerly announced by name and date.

In the capital budget 2023, an amount of NAf Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- In a heartwarming display of unwavering commitment to giving back to the community, popular Carnival band leader Omar Mr. Oezy Ottley of the TG Band, kept his word and on Sunday, October 29 and donated the entire sum of the Band Clash prize from Carnival 2023 to the Jason A. Peterson Foundation. Ottleys act of generosity comes as a testament to his belief that giving back transcends personal gain.
The prize of US $1,000 was won by Ottley and the TG Band in a fiercely competitive competition in Carnival Village Read more

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Upcoming Symposium On Nature Based Solutions.

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA) are proud to announce a symposium on Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for Ecosystem Restoration and Conservation on the Dutch Caribbean islands. This event, scheduled for November 10th from 13:30 to 17:00 AST on Aruba, will provide a unique platform for the exchange of knowledge and experiences in integrating innovative solutions to preserve and rejuvenate the diverse ecosystems of the Dutch Caribbean Read more

Drive With Extreme Caution. Avoid Flood Prone Areas.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs who is also chairlady of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), gave her second update for Monday, October 23rd.

A number of Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) have provided updates at midday with respect to post-Hurricane Tammy effects that are still impacting the country of Sint Maarten.

ESF-3 the Ministry of VROMI reports that water levels have started to subside Read more

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Tammy Now A Hurricane. Hurricane Watch And Tropical Storm Warning Remain In Effect. Eoc Activated.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- At 11:00 AM Tammy was upgraded to Hurricane status and is now a Category 1 hurricane. Conditions are favorable that Tammy could strengthen further.

The EOC (Emergency Operation Center) has been activated as of 12:23 pm today, Friday, October 20, to centralize the management of disaster response for Hurricane Tammy, the Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said on Friday afternoon.

Hurricane Tammy at 2:00 PM was located 390 miles southeast of Sint Maarten, according to the latest updates from the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten.

Maximum sustained winds are 75 miles per hour with higher gusts Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  The annual Police Week, serves to recognize and appreciate the unwavering dedication of the men and women who dedicate their lives as the vigilant guardians of our communities. A jubilant church service was rendered today at the St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church on Front Street, which immediately followed a parade and luncheon at the Government Administration Building in Philipsburg.

This year's Police Week brings together esteemed members of the Police Korps from Aruba, Curacao, the BES Islands, and the Netherlands, fostering unity, collaboration, and the celebration of shared commitment to safety and security.

Today, this solemn gathering, paused to reflect on the pivotal role police officers play in their daily lives Read more

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BONAIRE:--- The Bonaire Human Rights Organization delegation set out on their 3rd phase and is now 505 days on pilgrimage lobbying in Latin America and the Caribbean to put Bonaire on the list of Non-Self-Governing-Territories of the United Nations. Last Sunday the delegation traveled to Sint Maarten.
In December of 2022, the Dutch government openly promised a one-time handout of US$200 million for the crimes of slavery as compensation which has now been reduced to $5 million Read more