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DATE ISSUED: Thursday, 14 November 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)
VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 15 November 2024

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

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

Sunset Today: 5:36 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:19 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS:   This afternoon through Friday midday: Light & variable, becoming calm at times.

SYNOPSIS:   Moisture and instability associated with a frontal boundary will increase the probability of showers during this forecast period Read more

DATE ISSUED: Wednesday, 13 November 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)
VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 14 November 2024

WEATHER:   This afternoon through Thursday midday: Partly cloudy, Hot & Humid, with brief local showers possible.

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

Sunset Today: 5:36 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:18 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS:    This afternoon through Thursday midday: Light & variable, becoming calm at times.

SYNOPSIS:    A relatively drier atmosphere will restrict significant shower activity, while hot & humid conditions persist Read more

French Ambassador At Celebration Of St. Maarten Day In The Hague

St. Maarten Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell (centre) flanked by Ambassador of Germany Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut (left) and Ambassador of France Franois Alabrune.

 

THE HAGUE--St. Maarten/St. Martin Day was celebrated in the Netherlands on Monday with a reception at the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of St Read more

All Schools Open Tuesday Except Flooded Mac Bfm

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Lyndon Lewis has announced that all schools in St. Maarten will resume normal operations on Tuesday, November 12, following recent inclement weather that brought heavy rainfall and localised flooding to the island.

Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Friday, 8 November 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 9 November 2024A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6PM TONIGHTWEATHER:This afternoon through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy and slightly hazy, becoming cloudy at times with isolated showers.Forecast High: 33C / 91F              Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 5:37 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:16 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: East-southeasterly with a light to moderate breeze of 06 to 14 mph, and higher gusts possible.SYNOPSIS: Moisture and instability associated with a multilayered trough will cause showers and possible thunder across the region Read more

Community Meetings Give Feedback For Trust FundS School And Library Projects

A scene during the presentation at John Larmonie Center.

PHILIPSBURG--The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) said it has concluded the latest round of community consultations for the Fostering Resilient Learning Project (FRLP).

These events, held in early October, were designed to inform and engage residents about the project, which focuses on reconstructing safe educational and cultural spaces as part of St. Maartens ongoing recovery efforts post-Hurricane Irma. This phase of the FRLP includes rebuilding Sister Marie Laurence and Charles Leopold Bell schools, as well as reconstructing the St Read more

Corona Loans Interest 2.9%

Main ENNIA branch

THE HAGUE--The Netherlands is asking for an interest of 2.9% for the refinancing of the COVID-19 loans to Curaao and St. Maarten. This lowest percentage applies because together with their joint Central Bank of Curaao and St. Maarten (CBCS) they reached a solution to safeguard pensions of insurer ENNIA recently.

Dutch State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Zsolt Szab announced this to the Second Chamber of Parliament in The Hague. Now that both countries and the Central Bank have also signed the ENNIA Main Lines Agreement, Curaao and Sint Maarten will pay the low interest on this refinancing, he wrote.

During the pandemic-related crisis, Curaao and Aruba each borrowed an amount of 900,000 in Netherlands Antillean guilders and Aruban florins respectively Read more

DATE ISSUED: Friday, 18th October 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 19th October 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy, becoming cloudy at times with isolated showers and a chance of isolated thunderstorms.Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 5:48 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:07 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: Southeasterly to easterly with a light to moderate breeze of 7 to 15 mph.SYNOPSIS: Pockets of moisture trailing a recent tropical wave will account for cloudy periods, isolated showers and a chance of isolated thunderstorms, particularly during the latter part of this forecast period Read more

Court Upholds Teatt Order To Close Down District 721

PHILIPSBURG--The Court of First Instance has upheld a recent decision by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten that closed down District 721, at least until the nightclub on Welfare Road gets a new operational licence. Read more

Minister Of Finance Warns Merchants To Stop Imposing Purchase Limit For Cards

Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs.

~Says offenders will be blacklisted~

PHILIPSBURG--Businesses in the country that continue to impose a purchase limit on consumers who use their debit or credit cards for payments, can be blacklisted, have their machines taken away and not receive a machine from any bank in the country.

Read more

Night time view of Dock Maarten filled with mega yachts. (Edward Penagos photo)

By Robert Luckock

PHILIPSBURG--The construction of Dock Maarten in Great Bay is nothing new. Its evolvement has been progressing steadily in different phases over the years, mostly unseen from the general public. While not fully completed in other areas on shore, the marina itself has now reached its zenith, poised to welcome to its newest slips some of the largest mega-yachts in the world for the 2024/25 season.

As of this writing, the marina is fully booked Read more

Lt. Colonel Hugues Loyez: I Have The Best Job, In The Best Location

Lieutenant Colonel Hugues Loyez. Robert Luckock photo.

MARIGOT--On meeting Lieutenant Colonel Hugues Loyez, the new Commandant of the Gendarmerie of St. Martin and Saint Barthlemey, one is struck by two things: his youthfulness for such an important assignment (hes 36), and his good command of English, better than that of his predecessors.

He officially started in St. Martin on August 1 but benefited from a one-month induction period in July with his predecessor, Colonel Maxime Wintzer-Wehekind, to make the relevant contacts and discover the lay of the land Read more

Energynautics: Solar Panels Key To St. MaartenS Energy Future, But Diesel Generators Needed First

NV GEBE Temporary Manager Troy Washington (left) receives the Energynautics report from National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) head Claret Connor.

 PHILIPSBURG--NV GEBE has received a comprehensive report from Energynautics GmbH, an energy consultancy firm, detailing key recommendations to improve the utility companys energy i Read more

DATE ISSUED: Friday, 27 September 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)
VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 28 September 2024

WEATHER:
This afternoon: Partly cloudy with brief showers and possible thunder.
Tonight through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy with brief local showers possible.

Forecast High: 32C / 90F               Forecast Low: 26C / 79F

Sunset Today: 6:05 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:02 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS:    This afternoon through Saturday midday: East-southeasterly to easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 5 to 14 mph.

SYNOPSIS:    Lingering moisture associated with a recent tropical wave will cause brief showers and possible thunder, particularly during the early part of this forecast period Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Monday 16th September 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 17th September 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Hot and hazy. Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 28C / 82F Sunset Today: 6:13 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:01 A.M. SURFACE WINDS:This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Northeast to easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 18 mph. SYNOPSIS:Relatively dry and stable conditions persist and maintain hot and sunny conditions Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Monday, 9th September 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 10th September 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Mostly cloudy with isolated showers and a chance of isolated thunderstorms.Forecast High: 32C / 90F               Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:19 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:00 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 15 mph and occasional higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: Lingering moisture and instability trailing a recent tropical wave will cause cloudy periods, isolated showers and a chance of isolated thunderstorms across the region Read more

DATE ISSUED: Thursday 5th September 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 6th September 2024 WEATHER:This afternoon: Hot and humid. Isolated showers are likely.Tonight, through Friday midday: Warm and humid with scattered showers. Isolated thunderstorms are possible. Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 27C / 81F Sunset Today: 6:23 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:59 A.M. SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: East to southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 18 mph; higher gusts are possible. SYNOPSIS: Relatively stable conditions and gentle winds maintain hot and humid conditions despite likely showers Read more

Operation Starts To Relocate Beached Vessel Island Scout

VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs and TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten overseeing the relocation of the vessel on Wednesday.

PHILIPSBURG--Authorities on Wednesday began the major operation to relocate beached vessel Island Scout from the waters near the site of the former Great Bay Beach Hotel, where it got stuck during the passing of tropical storm Ernesto.

The vessel is being moved to Port St Maarten and eventually out of St Maartens waters.

Government had issued a Ministerial Decree on Thursday last in which a 48-hour notice was issued to the owner of Island Scout Read more

Gumbs Streamlines Process For Third-Party Invoicing

Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs

PHILIPSBURG--With effect from September 1, third-party vendors that have delivered goods and services to the government of St. Maarten will be required to submit their invoices centrally to the Ministry of Finance Accounting Department. The invoices can be forwarded electronically to the email addres Read more

CUL DE SAC--Three St. Maarten Academy students emerged the top performers for the country at this years May-June Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations with Grade One passes in nine subjects each.

Competing for this years valedictorian spot at the schools December commencement ceremony are Ferley Feliz Valerio, Liliana Jack and Khesha Deodatt. The three girls, all now age 17 years, were among 70 Form Five students sitting the CSEC examinations.

Valerio earned top honours in Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English A, Geography, Human and Social Biology, Information Technology, Mathematics and Physics, all with a straight A profile Read more

Cbcs Donates Naf. 10,000 To Nature Foundation St. Maarten

Nature Foundation St. Maarten Manager Leslie Hickerson (centre) accepts the donation from CBCS President Richard Doornbosch (right).

PHILIPSBURG--The Central Bank of Curaao and St. Maarten (CBCS) donated NAf. 10,000 to Nature Foundation St. Maarten during the unveiling of the new Caribbean guilder Cg. currency at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino on Thursday evening last week.

A similar donation was made to the Carmabi Foundation in Curaao.

Established in 1996 and 1997, respectively, Carmabi and Nature Foundation St Read more

DATE ISSUED: Friday 23rd August 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 24th August 2024 WEATHER:                                                              This afternoon: Hot, slightly hazy and breezy.Tonight, through Saturday midday: Warm and breezy with isolated showers. Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low:  29C / 84F Sunset Today:6:33 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:57 A.M. SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: East to northeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 18 mph and higher gusts. SYNOPSIS: A plume of Saharan dust is reducing visibility, air quality, and moisture levels across the region Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Thursday, 22 August 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 23 August 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Friday midday: Partly cloudy and Hot with light haze, becoming cloudy at times with brief local showers.Forecast High: 33C / 91F              Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:34 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:57 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 16 mph, and possible higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: Available moisture associated with patches of low-level clouds moving across the local region will account for brief passing showers Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Monday 19th August 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 20th August 2024 WEATHER:This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Fair to partly cloudy and hazy with brief isolated showers possible. Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 28C / 82F Sunset Today: 6:36 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:56 A.M. SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: East northeasterly with a light to gentle breeze of 6 to 15 mph. SYNOPSIS: Moisture trailing a tropical wave may cause brief isolated showers across the local area Read more