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Knops Abruptly Leaves Tense Meeting With Jacobs, Irion

~ Knops disrespectful, says Jacobs ~

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs says she and Finance Minister Ardwell Irion were stunned when Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops abruptly ended his live stream during a virtual meeting on Tuesday about the conditions for Dutch financial support to St Read more

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No Decision Yet On Reopening Of Pjia And Port St. Maarten

~ No quarantine for some returning residents ~

PHILIPSBURG--Government has yet to decide when the countrys external borders will be reopened to visitors and on the protocols that will be put in place for doing so, said Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Ludmila de Weever during the live virtual Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday morning Read more

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Richardson Says She Will Not Back Down On Tough Immigration Stance

PHILIPSBURG--Justice Minister Anna Richardson said during the live virtual Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday morning that she will not back down from strictly enforcing the countrys immigration regulations.

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Pfp Questions Doran About Plans To Issue 14,000 Sq. Metres Water Rights In Long Lease

PHILIPSBURG--The Party for Progress (PFP) has submitted a number of questions to Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Egbert Doran on issues such as long-leased land, water rights and plans to issue approximately 14,000 square metres of water rights in long lease.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On June 16th, 2020 State Secretary Knops held and chaired a meeting regarding several urgent matters, including the conditions for further liquidity support from the Kingdom Council. Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion were in attendance Read more

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Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) June 18, 2020

WEATHER: This afternoon through Thursday midday: Fair to partly cloudy with a few brief showers possible.

Forecast High:32C / 90FForecast Low:27C / 81F

Sunset Today:6:50 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:5:37 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Thursday midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 08 to 15 mph.

SYNOPSIS:

An approaching tropical wave will reach the Lesser Antilles tonight Read more

Usm To Hold Webinar On Human Rights In The Face Of Coivd-19.

PHILIPSBURG:0--- On Saturday, 20 June 2020, the University of St. Martin (USM) in collaboration with the Sint Maarten Anti-Poverty Platform will hold the first-ever webinar with local and international guest experts. The full-day event, open to the public via Zoom and broadcasted via Facebook, will be dedicated to various topics that fall under the theme Human Rights in the Face of COVID-19.

According to USM President Dr. Antonio Carmona Bez, the purpose of this webinar is to create a space for critical reflection and in-depth analysis into the state of human rights since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on 11 March 2020.

Following lockdown, schools were closed and thousands of formal and informal workers were left without an income Read more

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Iron Debunked Rumors On Salaries And Vacation Pay For Civil Servants.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion announced on Wednesday that the stimulus payments through the SSRP are moving along smoothly for persons that already in the system both for income and unemployment support. He said thus far he said 991 applications have been screened with NAF 471,000.00 paid out. The Minister said the deadline has been extended to June 22nd and thereby called on all persons that are in need of income support to apply on time through the SSRP website.
The Minister said that the government already informed the unions that unless a decision is taken on the vacation pay for civil servants no payment could be processed since they cannot make changes in the system with a solid decision Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion said on Wednesday that St. Maarten is not treated as equal partners from the part of the Kingdom. He said that the State Secretary does not show any respect to St. Maartens Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs Read more

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~ Lack of liquidity stifles airport budget.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Workers at PJIAE supported by the ABVO are currently in industrial action as of early Wednesday morning. SMN News learned that the employees are protesting the proposed salary cuts, vacation pay, bonus, and the reduced salaries proposed by management of PJIAE.
SMN News learned that the union and its workers submitted a letter to the government and the boards of PJIAE on Tuesday.
SMN News asked Prime Minister Jacobs for an update on the ongoing industrial action at PJIAE Read more

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We Are In Serious Times, That Require Strong Forward Thinking Leadership ," Says Ud Board

PHILIPSBURG:--- The board of the United Democrats (UD) held an urgent meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss the latest developments. and issues affecting our people and our country.

One of the main premises of the meeting was to hear from the party leader, MP Sarah Wescot-Williams, and get the boards perspective on some key issues, we as a people are faced with today.

"We surely have not been blind to the issues plaguing our people and our country for the past months Read more

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Ud, Usp And Pfp Factions Want Urgent Meeting Regarding The Assistance Programs Of The Ssrp And The Assistance By The Government Of The Netherlands To Fund These Programs.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Three factions in Parliament have requested an urgent meeting of Parliament to hear from the Government regarding the SSRP payroll and unemployment programs and the status of the liquidity assistance from the Netherlands.

This matter has taken on more urgency, given the deadline of June 15th as communicated by State Secretary R. Knops, and the reliance on the second tranche of 29M NAF to fund the SSRP programs.

In their letter to the Chairperson of Parliament the three factions also mentioned a June 12th letter by Knops to the Second Chamber, confirming that Aruba and Curacao have met the conditions and thus will be receiving the second half of the liquidity assistance in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic Read more

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Mp Heyliger-Marten Tells Government Put Our Local Heavy Equipment To Work First

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Faction Leader for the United People’s Party in Parliament of St. Maarten, the honourable Grisha Heyliger-Marten, is demanding that government “put our local contractors and
companies to work first.”
In a press release issued Tuesday by MP Heyliger-Marten she asked whether the mistakes of the past would repeat themselves where foreign contractors are allowed to bring their own heavy equipment to the island despite many local companies owning the same types of machines.

I am calling on the Ministers of Government responsible for these projects to ensure that this time around the people of St Read more

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Mp Urges Govt. To Give Preference To Local Contractors, Companies

MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten at PJIA with the equipment in the background.

PHILIPSBURG--United Peoples (UP) party faction leader Grisha Heyliger-Marten wants Read more

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Ud, Us Party, Pfp Request Urgent Meeting On Ssrp Progs., Dutch Aid

UD MP Sarah Wescot-Williams.

PHILIPSBURG--The three opposition factions in Parliament have requested an urgent meeting of Parliament to hear from government regarding the St. Maarten Stimulus and Relief Plan (SSRP) payroll and unemployment programmes and the status of the liquidity assistance from the Netherlands.

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Preguntas Sobre Los Derechos De Immigrantes

PHLIPSBURG--Los miembros del Parlamento de la PFP (parlamentarios) Melissa Gumbs y Raeyhon Pet Read more

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Supervisory Board Of Directors Telemgroup Request Shareholders Meeting With The Council Of Ministers

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Supervisory Board of Directors of the TelemGroup of Companies has recently requested a shareholders meeting with the Council of Ministers; specifically, with the Shareholder Representative and Prime Minister, Ms. Silveria Jacobs. The purpose is to discuss pending matters from the previous sitting government, with specific attention to the current situations brewing at the Telem group of companies.

The Supervisory Board in its communication to the government provided a proposed agenda which includes among other topics, the appointment of a fifth board member, a spot that had to be filled since the removal of Mr Read more

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Minister Of Justice And Minister Of Vsa Held Meeting To Discuss The Way Forward.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten The Government of Sint Maarten, under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor ( VSA), met during a closed door meeting on Monday, June 15, 2020 with the sole objective to deliberate on the plans to support the initiative of
Justice Minister Anna E Richardson. Key civil servants of both Ministries, and their respective legal counsels also attended the meeting.

Since the inception of the initiative to execute the percepts of the L.T.U (Ordinance on Admittance and Expulsion) and the L.A.V (Ordinance on Foreign Labor), as it relates to the protection of our borders, a Specialized Taskforce Committee has been commissioned to take the lead.

Both the Minister of Justice Anna Richardson and the Minister of VSA Richard Panneflek echoed the sentiments of the Council of Ministers that the execution of this initiative must be done in line with international human rights and maintaining dignity for all Read more

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Immigration And Border Protection Services Office Reopens On Wednesday By Appointment.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Cabinet of the Ministry of Justice on behalf of the Minister of Justice Anna Richardson on Tuesday stated that the Immigration and Border Protection Services will be open to the general public on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 by appointments only.

The office will be open from Monday to Thursday
from 08:30 A.M Read more

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Immigration And Border Protection Services Office Reopens On Wednesday By Appointment

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) The Cabinet of the Ministry of Justice on behalf of the Minister of Justice Anna Richardson on Tuesday stated that the Immigration and Border Protection Services will be open to the general public on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 by appointments only.

The office will be open from Monday to Thursday

from 08:30 A.M Read more

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Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, June 16, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) June 17, 2020

WEATHER: This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Partly cloudy and breezy with brief passing showers.

Forecast High:31C / 88FForecast Low:26C / 79F

Sunset Today:6:50 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:5:37 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Wednesday midday:Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 18 mph, and higher gusts possible.

SYNOPSIS:

Low level pockets of moisture drifting in the easterly trade wind flow may induce some brief isolated showers during this forecast period Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Government of Sint Maarten, under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor ( VSA), met during a closed-door meeting on Monday, June 15, 2020 with the sole objective to deliberate on the plans to support the initiative of Justice Minister Anna E Richardson. Key civil servants of both Ministries, and their respective legal counsels also attended the meeting.

Since the inception of the initiative to execute the percepts of the L.T.U (Ordinance on Admittance and Expulsion) and the L.A.V (Ordinance on Foreign Labor), as it relates to the protection of our borders, a Specialized Taskforce Committee has been commissioned to take the lead.

Both the Minister of Justice Anna Richardson and the Minister of VSA Richard Panneflek echoed the sentiments of the Council of Ministers that the execution of this initiative must be done in line with international human rights and maintaining dignity for all Read more

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Pfp Concerned About Human-Rights Protection In Immigration Clamp-Down

PHILIPSBURG--Concerned about compliance with international human rights standards, Party For Progress (PFP) is seeking clarity from Justice Minister Anna Richardson on her recent announcement that the countrys immigration laws would be strictly enforced, as well as encouraging those without residency permits to voluntarily leave t Read more

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Pm Jacobs Responds To Unions On Deferred Vacation Allowance Pay

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs has responded to representatives of Windward Islands Civil Servants Union/Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU) and Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) regarding the payment of deferred vacation allowance as part of cost-cutting measures for civil servants.

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