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Minister Of Justice, Lyndon C. J. Lewis Union Meeting

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Minister of Justice, Lyndon C. J. Lewis, convened a meeting with members of the Nationaal Algemeen Politiebond (NABP) and the Algemene Bond van Overheid & Overige Personeel Opgericht (ABVO) this Monday. The meeting, requested by the unions, served as an introductory platform for their boards and members to familiarize themselves with the Minister’s cabinet and receive an update on several pressing matters including the pending National Decrees for justice personnel. During the discussions, Minister Lewis, who has an extensive background in law enforcement and in handling HR legal issues related to the same, clarified the specifics of the phases Read more

Grisha Commends Organizers Of Pazzazz Sxm Experience

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, expressed heartfelt appreciation to both organizers and attendees of the recent Pazzazz SXM Experience. This dazzling event, held over the weekend, highlighted the island’s rich cultural tapestry and warm hospitality, creating unforgettable memories for all participants. During a signature moment of the festivities, Heyliger-Marten told the jubilant crowd, “Our island is a captivating blend of cultures, offering a unique fusion of European elegance and Caribbean vibrancy Read more

I Will Not Pay Lip Service To Agriculture, Says Grisha

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten We have treated agriculture like a bastard child, said Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications. In her inaugural address last Friday, the minister said, The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how vulnerable we are when we depend almost exclusively on imported food to feed ourselves. I am announcing now that agriculture will receive the attention it deserves Read more

Cabinet Mercelina Prioritizes Inclusiveness And Communication With Public Servants

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Friday morning, May 10, 2024, the Council of Ministers (CoM) met with the newly proposed Employee Engagement Council (EEC), composed of 17 members from various departments and executing bodies within government. This initiative follows an independent employee satisfaction survey and recent exit interviews. The EEC analysed the survey results, which highlighted concerns over primary labor conditions, and has formulated 21 recommendations aimed at four specific target groups: colleagues, middle management, secretary generals, and political leaders, along with six general recommendations. Key priorities identified include enhancing open communication, implementing the full human resource cycle throughout the government, and increasing transparency through the publication of annual plans and quarterly progress reports, which are supported by monthly updates from middle management Read more

Grisha To Have Quick Scan Of Teatt, Says Economy Far From Its Best Shape

GREAT BAY Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, has signaled that she will have a quick scan done to give a more realistic picture of what our current (economic) situation actually is.

In her inaugural address Friday, May 3, 2024, the new TEATT minister, the 12th since 2010, said, it does not take a rocket scientist to see that our economy is far from its best shape.

True, we have faced some unprecedented challenges in the last decade, including the incredible devastation caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the global shutdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 Read more

Grisha Hears Market Vendors Concerns Over New Marketplace

GREAT BAY Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, met Friday, May 10, 2024, with market vendors to hear their concerns about the proposed new marketplace.

The market project had already been awarded to J&J Construction for a total of Nafl 1.2 million, however many of the market vendors were not satisfied with the design.

During the meeting, the vendors highlighted the lack of storage facility for their wares, as well as the need for better lighting, bathrooms, and security Read more

Say One, Say Two, Say The Thing

Dear Editor,

The editorial in the Daily Herald newspaper of Friday, May 10th, 2024 titled Bad apples regarding what the editor considers a major decision of the new Minister of Justice, Lyndon Lewis (NOW) whereas he announced his decisive action to correct justice workers suspensions. In so doing the new Minister of Justice intends to alleviate staff shortages and ensure fair labor practices Read more

No Debt Restructuring

The new government has been sworn in. There is still a discussion ongoing as to the two other members Christoph Emanuel and Rayeon Peterson as to whether they will be sworn in as Ministers.The Parliament at present consists of 13 Members, hopefully sooner than later the other two seats will be filled by Richniel Brug and Viren Vinod Kotai whose credentials are to be approved. In his presentation the Prime Minister of St. Maarten Dr. Luc Mercelina raised the matter of the countrys debt burden and the importance of the Dispute Regulation, the latter being thrown back and forth for some 14 years now with no end in sight.

Although important, I am of the opinion that Debt cancellation has to be a priority Read more

Minister Of Justice, Addresses Urgent Situation At New Start For Children Foster Home

SAUNDERS, Sint Maarten — In response to recent developments regarding the structural integrity concerns at New Start for Children Foster Home in Mary’s Fancy, the Minister of Justice, Lyndon C.J. Lewis, in collaboration with the Foundation Judicial Institutes St. Maarten (SJIS), is taking swift action to ensure the safety and well-being of the foster children residing there.

The recent article published in The Daily Herald Newspaper on Monday, May 6, 2024, brought to light the critical situation faced by 19 foster children who may soon need to relocate due to cracks in the building walls and foundation of the foster home Read more

To All The Mothers Of St. Maarten, We Thank God For You.

Thank God for that one Sunday in May where we get the opportunity to pour extra love and adoration upon you. We are given the opportunity to remind you that you’ve been the architect of our dreams and the backbone of our families. You’ve laughed with us in joy, and wiped away our tears in sorrow, you’ve been the comforting embrace we seek.

The Caribbean mother has always been a figure of immense power and beauty and a fierce protector. You have shown us that wisdom doesn’t always come from books, but often from the lived experience Read more

Prime Minister MotherS Day Message 2024

Honorable Mothers of St. Maarten,

On this special day, I extend my deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to all the mothers of our beloved St. Maarten. Your tireless dedication, unwavering love, and selfless sacrifices are the foundation upon which our society thrives.

Today, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, let us reflect on the immense contributions mothers make to our families, communities, and nation. Your nurturing spirit, resilience, and strength inspire us all to strive for a better tomorrow.

As Prime Minister, I am humbled by the opportunity to express my sincere thanks to each and every mother in St Read more

Minister Jansen-Webster HonorsNurses On International Nurses Day

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In commemoration of International Nurses Day, the honorable Minister of VSA Veronica Jansen-Webster made a special visit to the St. Maarten Medical Center and White and yellow Cross on Friday. The visit was a heartfelt gesture to express gratitude and appreciation to the unsung heroes of healthcare, the nurses.

Minister Jansen-Webster is deeply connected to the nursing profession through personal experience, having grown up with a mother, the esteemed Cecilia Webster-Cox affectionately known as Sis, who dedicated decades to serving the community as a nurse Read more

Pm Mercelina Goes On A Surprise Visit To Gebe Power Plant

Philipsburg — On Tuesday, the Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, accompanied by Acting Minister of Public Works and Minister of Health Veronica Jansen-Webster, made a surprise visit to the GEBE Power Plant in Cay Bay Read more

New Minister Of Finance Marinka Gumbs Addresses Nation With Vision Of Unity, Progress

~ First female Minister of Finance ~

In a humbling address to the nation, newly appointed Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs, the first woman to hold the position, stood before her fellow St. Maarteners to express profound gratitude and outline a vision for the future of the island’s economy and society.

The Minister began by acknowledging the divine grace that has allowed her to take on this pivotal role Read more

Money Grows On Trees

St Peters – Its been an amazing past 8 months putting this project together. Every step of the way, everyday you face a challenge that allows you to exercise your mind and actions toward finding the right solution mentally, physically, spiritually or financially.

You can never tell the challenges you may face until you take your journey head on. Some of us may be faced with one of the above challenges, but today we will try to address those that are faced with financial challenges and perhaps offer an ecological solution.

Matshona Dhliwayo is a Canadian based Philosopher, Entrepreneur, and authorand is credited with saying, “Money doesn’t grow on trees, but grows on intelligent minds”.The phrase “money doesn’t grow on trees” is a metaphor that means money is not an unlimited resource that can be easily accessed, like leaves on a tree.It often appears in situations where someone is asking for money without having put in any effort to earn it.

We can agree to a part of this paragraph and respectfully disagree to another.

What we can agree to is the fact that it often appears in situations where someone is asking for money without having put in any effort to earn it Read more

Szv Now Covers Diabetic Foot Care Services

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten Social & Health Insurances SZV is excited to announce a new addition to our medical insurance coverage: services from The Diabetic Foot Care Sint Maarten Foundation (D-FOOT). This new benefit is a big step forward in ensuring our diabetic community has access to the necessary healthcare to improve their quality of life.

“SZV is committed to providing comprehensive healthcare services to our community. The addition of D-FOOT services to our coverage is a significant step in ensuring our diabetic population receives the specialized care they need Read more

Statement From Formateur Dr. Luc Mercelina Regarding Proposed Candidate Ministers

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — “In response to recent media coverage referencing a statement from his Excellency Governor A. Baly indicating the presence of seven candidate ministers, Formateur Dr. Luc Mercelina issues this corrective statement to clarify the accurate count of ministerial candidates,” stated the press release.

It has come to the attention of the Formateur that there may have been confusion regarding the proposed number of candidate ministers expected for May 3 Read more

Counterfeit Naf. 100 Banknotes In Circulation

PHILIPSBURG WILLEMSTAD The Centrale Bank van Curaao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) has detected counterfeit NAf. 100 banknotes in circulation. The counterfeit NAf. 100 banknotes are of very good quality, making them challenging to distinguish from genuine NAf Read more

Governor Baly Receives Final Report From Formateur L. Mercelina

HARBOUR VIEW, PHILIPSBURG On April 23, 2024, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten received the updated final report from formateur L. Mercelina.

The formateur has accepted the commission to form a new government which has the support of a majority in Parliament comprised of the fractions of URSM, PFP, DP and NOW Read more

Postal Services Of Sint Maarten Completes Scquisition Of Cpost InternationalS Operations

Sint Maarten, Postal Services of Sint Maarten (PSS N.V.) completes the acquisition of Cpost Internationals N.V.s (Cpost) operations, to include PuntoMio, EuroMio, and MoneyGram services effective 25 March, 2024. This strategic move represents a significant milestone for PSS N.V., solidifying its position as a leading provider of postal and financial services in the region.

The integration of Cpost operations into PSS N.V. represents a significant advancement in international shipping solutions, offering customers in Sint Maarten improved convenience, efficiency, and affordability for their cross-border shipments.

Marinka Gumbs, Director of PSS N.V., expressed her enthusiasm with the acquisition, remarking, I am thrilled to witness the realization of our efforts to finally reintegrate MoneyGram services at the post office Read more

District Governor Visits St. Maarten

District Governor of Sub-District 60B, Lion Dr. Carlisle Goddard, PMJF recently made his official visit to the St. Maarten Leo Club, St. Maarten South Leo Club, and the Sint Maarten Lions Club.

The District Governor was met upon his arrival by a welcoming delegation that included Lion Felix Richards, President of the Sint Maarten Lions Club, Zone Chairperson 2B, Lion Oralie Boirard, MJF, Past District Governor Lion Wally Havertong, PMJF, and Lion Dennis Lake.

The District Governor visit included an enlightening radio interview streamed live on the Viewpoint with Wendell Moore show where he expounded on the responsibilities of a District Governor and shared his experiences in visiting the various of Lion and Leo clubs within his District which comprises of 16 English and Dutch speaking islands with St Read more

Update: Party For Progress St. Maarten

After a challenging, and at many times unclear, frustrating and incoherent screening process, the formation process has moved forward with the submission of the final formateur’s report to Governor Ajamu Baly.

Nine names were submitted: seven for the seven local posts and two for the Minister Plenipotentiary and Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary posts in the Netherlands. This includes PFP’s very own Raeyhon Peterson and Patrice Thierry Gumbs Jr Read more

Get Up And Stand Up With R4cr!

St Peters The 1973 Hit Song Slogan by the great Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, today plays one of the roles towards motivating many community oriented activist. The phrase GET UP, STAND UP, stimulates our minds and souls to ACT ! Act on behalf of nature, cultural preservation, injustice, prejudice, workers rights, quality education, protecting our children, the right for peace and justice, oppertunity and over all love for humanity.

None of the above, is worth giving up the fight, and because some choose not to give up the fight, it brought an abundance of possibilities to those that deserved it.

Resources for Community Resilience (R4CR) has done just that Read more

Island Gems SupportsAnimal Care Groups

CAY HILL — The stray and unwanted pet population on the island continues to be a challenge for residents, visitors and the animal care organisations working tirelessly to curb the problem on both sides of the island. To this end, Island Gems Charity Foundation has made its annual donation to three very active groups to aid with spay/neuter campaign and awareness.

Receiving each US $750 in vet care coverage via St. Maarten Veterinary Clinic are St. Maarten Animal Welfare Foundation, SXM Paws and I Love My Island Dog Association Read more