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PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) is in the final phase after steering the process leading to the establishment of the Soualiga Employer Association (SEA).
The establishment of the SEA is part of the process of nominating various representatives to the high council of state the Social Economic Council (SER). A list of names will be submitted to the Prime Minister hopefully by the end of the week of September 7.
President of the COCI Supervisory Board Benjamin Ortega said on Friday that COCI was mandated by the Prime Minister back in April and given the task to follow a legally and sound process where names would be submitted to fill the positions on the SER based on the establishment of an umbrella employer organization to ensure a better representation of employers organizations on the board of the SER.
The appointment of the 2020-2023 board was put on hold until a new structure was put in place Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Monday, August 31, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) September 01, 2020

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy and breezy with isolated showers.

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

Sunset Today:6:27 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:5:58 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Northeasterly to easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 16 mph Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Friday, August 28, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) August 29, 2020

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy and hazy with a few brief showers possible.

Forecast High:32C / 90FForecast Low:28C / 82F

Sunset Today:6:29 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:5:58 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: Northeast to east with a gentle to moderate breeze of 08 to 16 mph Read more

Tropical Weather Outlook

Read more

...New Tropical Storm Watches Issued For Portions Of The Northern Leeward Islands...

Tropical Depression Thirteen Intermediate Advisory Number 2A

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL132020

800 AM AST Thu Aug 20 2020

SUMMARY OF 800 AM AST...1200 UTC...INFORMATION

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LOCATION...15.4N 50.9W

ABOUT 830 MI...1335 KM ESE OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH...55 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 21 MPH...33 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1008 MB...29.77 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of St Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Monday, August 17, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) August 18, 2020

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Fair to partly cloudy, hazy and breezy.

Forecast High:32C / 90FForecast Low:28C / 82F

Sunset Today:6:37 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:5:56 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Easterly with a gentle to fresh breeze of 12 to 19 mph and possible higher gusts Read more

...Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Scheduled To Investigate Josephine This Afternoon...

Tropical Storm Josephine Advisory Number 12

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112020

1100 AM AST Fri Aug 14 2020

SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION

-----------------------------------------------

LOCATION...16.1N 54.7W

ABOUT 575 MI...920 KM ESE OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 16 MPH...26 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1006 MB...29.71 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Interests in the Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of this system.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

----------------------

At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Josephine was located near latitude 16.1 North, longitude 54.7 West Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Thursday, August 13, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) August 14, 2020

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Friday midday: Fair to partly cloudy and breezy with a local shower possible.

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

Sunset Today:6:40 P.M. Sunrise Tomorrow:5:55 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 18 mph Read more

Depression Becomes Tropical Storm Josephine...

Tropical Storm Josephine Advisory Number 8

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112020

1100 AM AST Thu Aug 13 2020

SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION

-----------------------------------------------

LOCATION...13.7N 49.2W

ABOUT 975 MI...1565 KM ESE OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 15 MPH...24 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1005 MB...29.68 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Interests in the Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of this system.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

----------------------

At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Josephine was located near latitude 13.7 North, longitude 49.2 West Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Monday, August 10, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) August 11, 2020

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Partly cloudy with isolated showers possible.

Forecast High:32C / 90FForecast Low:28C / 82F

Sunset Today:6:42 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:5:54 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Northeasterly to southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 08 to 15 mph Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Thursday, August 06, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) August 07, 2020

WEATHER:

This afternoon: Fair to partly cloudy with a few passing showers possible.

Tonight through Friday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers.

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

Sunset Today:6:44 P.M. Sunrise Tomorrow:5:53 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: East-southeast to east-northeast with a light to moderate breeze of 06 to 15 mph Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Monday, August 03, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) August 04, 2020

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Partly cloudy, becoming cloudy at times with isolated showers.

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

Sunset Today:6:45 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:5:52 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Southeast to east with a light to moderate breeze of 07 to 15 mph Read more

Tropical Weather Outlook

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL

800 AM EDT Sat Aug 1 2020

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Hurricane Isaias, located just east of Andros Island in the central Bahamas, and on Tropical Depression Ten, located over the far eastern Atlantic to the northeast of the Cabo Verde Islands.

A westward-moving tropical wave located about 600 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms Read more

AnguillaS Salt-Picking Event Called A Success

Heading out to the centre of the Salt Pond. Photos courtesy Clemvio Hodge.

Cakes of salt from the bottom of the pond.

ANGUILLA--Hundreds of the islands young and not so young flocked to the Road Bay Salt Pond in Sandy Ground on Saturday, July 25, to actively participate in the picking of salt, the culminating event of the three-day Salt Festival. As daylight broke, participants arrived to register for the activities, received their entry wrist band and waited for their ass Read more

Telem Group Reminding Customers To Adhere To Covid-19 Safety Protocols

POND ISLAND, Sint Maarten TelEm Group is reinstating its Coronavirus protocols in light of a new surge in the number of COVID-19 cases reported on St. Maarten within the past week. While the company has continued to put strict practices in place for both employees and members of the public entering all TelEm Group locations since re-opening to the public in April, the latest reports on positive cases has management and staff on additional alert.

We do not want to have to return to a situation where we are forced to turn paying customers and visitors away as occurred during the early days of this pandemic, said TelEm Group CEO, Mr Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  TelEm Group is reinstating its Coronavirus protocols in light of a new surge in the number of COVID-19 cases reported on St. Maarten within the past week. While the company has continued to put strict practices in place for both employees and members of the public entering all TelEm Group locations since re-opening to the public in April, the latest reports on positive cases have management and staff on additional alert.

We do not want to have to return to a situation where we are forced to turn paying customers and visitors away as occurred during the early days of this pandemic, said TelEm Group CEO, Mr Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Monday, July 27, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) July 28, 2020

WEATHER:

This afternoon through tonight: Generally cloudy and breezy with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Tuesday morning through midday: Partly cloudy and breezy.a

Forecast High:31C / 88FForecast Low:25C / 77F

Sunset Today:6:48 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:5:50 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Northeasterly to easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 08 to 16 mph Read more

No Decision Made On Lockdown Three New Cases Confirmed By Cps

PHILIPSBURGMinister of Public Health Social Development and Labor (VSR) the honourable Richard Panneflek deflated rumours circulating on Friday of a pending lockdown of St. Maarten. I would like to make it clear that no decision to lockdown the island has been made contrary to the malicious voice note that circulated earlier today, said Minister Panneflek.

In a press release issued late Friday the minister did confirm that three new cases were reported by the Collective Prevention Services (CPS) bringing the total active COVID-19 cases to 19 Read more

Central Bank Calling For Integrated Approach To Economic Recovery

CBCS interim president Jose Jardim during the virtual presentation of CBCS 2019 annual report.

St. Maartens economy will decline by 24.5 per cent this year, said Jardim (right). In 2021 a rebound of 10.3 per cent growth is expected. For monetary union partner Curaao, these prognoses are respectively minus 20.4 per cent and plus 6.6 per cent. To illustrate the growing dependence on their hospitality industry in both Dutch Caribbean countries, he explained that 41 per cent of foreign exchange earnings came from tourism in 2019, compared to just 14 per cent two decades ago.

~ Kingdom countries should work closely together ~

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG--The corona[virus Ed.] crisis combined with the spill-over effects of the economic crisis in Venezuela on Curaao and the impact of Hurricane Irma in St Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Thursday, July 23, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) July 24, 2020

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

WEATHER:

This afternoon through tonight: Partly cloudy to cloudy and breezy with scattered showers and a chance of isolated thunderstorms.

Friday morning: Partly cloudy and breezy with a few showers.

Forecast High:31C / 88FForecast Low:25C / 77F

Sunset Today:6:50 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:5:48 A.M Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Thursday, July 16, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) July 17, 2020

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Friday midday: Partly cloudy with passing showers.

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

Sunset Today:6:51 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:5:46 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: Northeasterly to easterly with a light to moderate breeze of 06 to 14 mph.

SYNOPSIS:

Relatively low moisture levels in the atmosphere will act to restrict any significant precipitation despite the presence of an upper level trough in the region Read more

Dcomm Intensifies Covid-19 And Hurricane Season Public Awareness Campaigns

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) The Department of Communication (DCOMM), has intensified its public awareness campaigns for COVID-19 and the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.

Observations have been made where there are some persons within the community who are not adhering to proper public health hygiene protocols in connection with the national COVID-19 emergency. 

Even though the state of emergency has been lifted and the country went through four phases of re-opening, residents and the business community must adhere to public health measures that have been put in place to protect the health of the nations communities.

The wearing of face coverings, proper hand hygiene, sneeze and cough etiquette, and social distancing are key to preventing a resurgence of the COVID-19 infection.

DCOMM Department Head Maurice Lake said on Tuesday that DCOMM has been active since February where COVID-19 is concerned, with a multi-level awareness campaign that further intensified over the past five-months.

The campaign includes multi-language Public Service Announcements (PSAs) via various mediums (broadcast media e.g Read more

Police Make Arrest In Statia Shooting Case

Suspect in the June 13 shooting on Kapelweg in St. Eustatius A.M. (second left) being escorted to a police vehicle.

Members of the Caribbean Netherlands Police Force and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee moments before forcing the door to the suspects home.

Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Friday, July 03, 2020 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) July 04, 2020

WEATHER: This afternoon: Partly cloudy with light haze.

Tonight through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy with light haze and a brief passing shower possible.

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

Sunset Today:6:52 P.M.Sunrise Tomorrow:5:42 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: East to east southeast with a gentle to moderate breeze of 08 to 16 mph.

SYNOPSIS:

Despite the close proximity of a tropical wave, a relatively stable atmosphere will continue to restrict precipitation across the region Read more