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Two out of Three Cruise vessels cancel port calls for Wednesday and Thursday. Cargo operations normal.

>POINTE BLANCHE::----– Port St. Maarten management said on Monday that due to the approach of Tropical Storm Danny to the Leeward Islands during the past few days, this led cruise lines to review their port call itineraries, and out of the safety of passengers and crew, their visits to the destination were altered.

Oasis of the Seas has cancelled its port call for Wednesday, 26 August and Freedom of the Seas has done the same for Thursday, August 27 Read more

Steps Closer To Business Mobility In The Greater Caribbean

PORT OF SPAIN, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago - The movement of people within the Greater Caribbean Region has existed since time immemorial and has spanned centuries and generations.

Persons of our Region have always moved in search of greater opportunities and economic advancement.

Over the last few decades efforts have been made towards formalizing the movement of people and their economic activity Read more

Tzu Chi Volunteers Spruce Up Ace School For New Academic Year

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - All Children’s Education (ACE) Foundation teachers and pupils returned to school on Monday in a repaired, freshly painted, cleaned and decorated premises thanks to the efforts by Tzu Chi volunteers who worked over the vacation to spruce up the school just in time for the start of the new academic year.

The clean up efforts covered several days during the summer break in early August and focussed on bringing the school back up to par for teachers and pupils to educate and be educated in comfort.

The clean up efforts started on Saturday August 1 and continued until Thursday, August 6.  A total of 48 volunteers participated in the exercise Read more

Liberty of the Seas cancels port visit due to medical emergency and returns to Bermuda

PORT ST. MAARTEN – On Monday the cruise ship Liberty of the Seas canceled its port call due to a medical emergency. The vessel had to divert back to Bermuda where the person disembarked.

The newly renovated Liberty of the Seas is packed with all the phenomenal onboard experiences you’d expect from the innovative class type of vessel besides new offerings that would add to the cruising experience.

The vessel belongs to Royal Caribbean International and is part of the Freedom Class which also includes Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.

Liberty of the Seas carries over 3600 passengers’ double occupancy, and 1360 crew Read more

Liberty of the Seas cancels port visit due to medical emergency and returns to Bermuda

>PORT ST. MAARTEN:--- On Monday the cruise ship Liberty of the Seas canceled its port call due to a medical emergency. The vessel had to divert back to Bermuda where the person disembarked.

The newly renovated Liberty of the Seas is packed with all the phenomenal onboard experiences you’d expect from the innovative class type of vessel besides new offerings that would add to the cruising experience.

The vessel belongs to Royal Caribbean International and is part of the Freedom Class which also includes Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.

Liberty of the Seas carries over 3600 passengers’ double occupancy, and 1360 crew Read more

Kerry urges "genuine democracy" at US flag ceremony in Cuba

HAVANA--U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry declared a new era in relations as he celebrated restored diplomatic ties in Havana on Friday, but he also urged political change in Cuba, telling Cubans they should be free to choose their own leaders.

The first U.S. secretary of state to visit the Caribbean island in 70 years, Kerry presided over a ceremony raising the U.S. flag over the newly reopened American embassy.

His comments drew a firm riposte from Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, who defended his Communist government at a joint news conference and criticized the United States' own record on rights Read more

Gumbs apologises for suicide comments

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs has issued an apology Friday for comments he made about suicide at the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday. The Cabinet's Press Secretariat attributed "his outburst to frustration with what he has called the ongoing destructive conduct of certain media and community elements."

An emotional Gumbs on Wednesday heavily condemned persons, who he believes continue to paint the island black with negative comments Read more

Emotional Pm Marcel Gumbs: “Don’T Destroy Our Country”: “If You’Re Suicidal Do It; Jump Off A Plane Or Something”

The Council of Ministers during yesterday’s press briefing. From left Ministers Connor, Gumbs, Richardson, Hassink and Bourne-Gumbs. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten – It was supposed to be a solemn press briefing by the Council of Ministers yesterday morning but in the end, Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs turned up the heat and let all his frustrations fly Read more

Erna Mae Francis Contributes To “Amazing” Book: Success From The Heart Comes With Stunning Bonus Offer

Erna Mae Francis co-authored Success from the Heart. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – Success from the Heart is a book published by a company called New Peaks. It contains a chapter written by Erna Mae Francis-Cotton of the Victorious Living Foundation. In many ways this is, as the email we received about the publication described it, an “amazing book,” if only because the authors give away bonuses they claim to be worth a stunning $15,078. The book itself is for sale at amazon.com for just $18.95 Read more

Gumbs says Govt did not ask for crime meeting to be closed door

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs made it clear on Wednesday that no member of the Council of Ministers had requested that Parliament have the urgent Central Committee meeting on crime on Monday convened behind closed doors.

Gumbs told reporters at the biweekly Council of Ministers press briefing which resumed yesterday that Parliament invited the council to a closed door session Read more

Officer Benjamin’s funeral schedule released, road closures announced

PHILIPSBURG--Slain bike patrol Police Officer Gamali “Benji” Kwasi Benjamin will be laid to rest at the Methodist Cemetery in Philipsburg after a ceremony with honours tomorrow, Thursday.

At 10:30am his body will depart Royal Funeral Home to the Philipsburg police station.

At 10:45am a brief ceremony will be held at the Philipsburg police station while the uniformed departments will stand in front of the police station.

At 10:55pm the procession of uniformed departments will leave the police station and head to Front Street where it will stop for a brief moment in front of Oro Diamante, where the Benjamin shot on Wednesday, August 5.

At 11:30am, the procession will arrive at the Philipsburg Methodist Church.

At 12:00pm the official part of the ceremony will start at the church.

The viewing of the body will take place at the Methodist Church on Front Street from 12:00 to 1:45pm Read more

Kerry warns US will not accept restrictions in South China Sea

KUALA LUMPUR--U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday accused China of restricting navigation and overflights in the disputed South China Sea, despite giving assurances that such movements would not be impeded.
  Addressing a regional meeting in Kuala Lumpur that has been dominated by the South China Sea, Kerry said China's construction of facilities for "military purposes" on man-made islands was raising tensions and risked "militarisation" by other claimant states.
  Kerry's blunt criticism of Beijing, in front of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, is likely to lift the South China Sea up the agenda when Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Washington next month, some experts said Read more

Julius Garvey Speaks At Tribute To His Father

St. Maarten – The Freedom Fighters Foundation welcomes Julius Garvey, son of Marcus Garvey as one if its prominent guests on August 16 at its 16th annual tribute to Marcus Garvey. The Jamaican attorney Michael Lorne and French-side historian Daniela Jeffrey are also part of the lineup.

Marcus Garvey is considered the pioneer of Black Nationalism. He founded the United Negro Improvement Association (Unia) in 1914 Read more

Pm Gumbs: “Your Island Needs You” Tearful Goodbyes To 27 Students At The Airport

St. Maarten -The ceremony to mark the departure of 27 students who left St Maarten yesterday to further their studies in the Netherlands is a timely reminder of what must be done to encourage them to come back and take up responsible positions in the public and private sector.

For the fourth straight year, it was a time for parents, guardians, siblings and close friends bid Bon Voyage, something that is not easy to do under the circumstances. It was a time for emotions that were in some cases uncontrollable Read more

The Future Beckons You Back To St. Maarten, Sxm Airport Managing Director Tells Holland-Bound Students

SIMPSON BAY, St. Maarten — "You are leaving home as teenagers, and will be returning as adults in a few years. Between now and then, you will experience life in a manner you have never done before," Regina LaBega, Managing Director of Princess Juliana International Airport, SXM Airport, told about 30 students who left the island Sunday, August 2, to further their studies in the Netherlands.

SXM Airport, in collaboration with Domino's Pizza, continued a tradition began four years ago, by organizing a "Bon Voyage" party for the students who were joined by their families and friends who came to bid them farewell.

"That moment has arrived to show that you are grown up; that you can stand on your own feet; that you don't need anybody to tell you what to do, when to study or when to come back home from the disco.

Free at last! But it is what you do with that freedom that will determine your success Read more