SXMElections.com

Major Houtenbos New Commander Of The Marine Detachment Of Sint Maarten

Major of the Marines Niels Houtenbos (left) and Major of the Marines Arie Noordam (right).

POINT BLANCHE Major of the Marines Niels Houtenbos took over command of the Marine Detachment on Sint Maarten on Thursday, November 28, 2024.

He took over command from Major of the Marines Arie Noordam. This happened during a ceremonial meeting on board HNLMS Holland.

Several dignitaries were present during the ceremony, including the Governor of Sint Maarten, Mr. Ajamu Baly, President of Parliament Sarah A Read more

Soualiga Corporate Toastmasters Celebrates Its 20Th Anniversary With A Grand Gala

Soualiga Corporate Toastmasters Club (SCTMC) proudly Celebrated its 20th anniversary Saturday November 23, 2024, at the Paradise Hall. Among the guests were the keynote speaker, the founding members and First president the Honorable President of Parliament Sarah A, Wescot Williams, past presidents and members of the Club.

Celebrating milestones is one way that Toastmasters reflect on the progress made over the years and as well as consider opportunities for the future.

As our Keynote Speaker, the President of Parliament said that it is an incredible honor to stand before you today as we gather to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our beloved Soualiga Corporate Toastmasters Club! Two decades have passed since we first came together with a visionto cultivate communication, leadership, and personal growth in a supportive community.

Speech by MP Sarah Wescot-Williams on the 20th anniversary of the Soualiga Corporate TM Club.

As the founder of this club, she remembers our initial meetings filled with excitement and a hint of uncertainty Read more

Edson Hato To Leave As Representative Of Vnacs

WILLEMSTAD – Mr. drs. E. (Edson) Hato, MBA, has announced that he will continue his career elsewhere. As of the 1st of December 2024, he will stop as the representative of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curaao and Sint Maarten.

Mr. Hato: I have fulfilled the role of representative of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curaao and Sint Maarten with great passion. An educational and intensive period, in which I have worked for a fruitful cooperation between the four countries in the Kingdom. Although I can agree with the ultimate objective of this cooperation – a good relationship between the countries – I have a different view on the way in which we can achieve that goal Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Monday, December 02, 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) December 03, 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Generally fair to partly cloudy and breezy with isolated showers possible.Forecast High: 32C / 90F               Forecast Low: 26C / 79FSunset Today: 5:36 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:29 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: East northeast to east with a light to moderate breeze of 06 to 16 mph, and higher gusts possible.SYNOPSIS: Despite a drier atmosphere, pockets of moisture in the wind flow may cause isolated showers Read more

Cbcs Reduces Both Reserve Requirement Percentage And Pledging Rate

Influenced by domestic and global financial market developments

Willemstad / Philipsburg The Centrale Bank van Curaao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) has decided to reduce its reserve requirement by 0.50 percentage point to 18.50% while the pledging rate was lowered further from 5.25% to 4.75%. The decision to adjust monetary policy is anchored by the normalization of economic and monetary conditions across the union. This easing of monetary policy is supported by a solid and stable foreign exchange position and adequate import coverage in the monetary union Read more

Annual Thanksgiving Service This Sunday

New Testament Baptist Church

 PHILIPSBURG-Some 25 years ago, the first public Thanksgiving Service was held on December 5th, 1999, following the decision of the then Executive Council on December 1st 1999, to mark the passage of the Atlantic hurricane season without significant incident or impact to St. Maarten.

According to a release from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS), In understanding and respecting the multiple religious practices on the island and ensuring that all are present to participate in this moment of Thanksgiving for carrying us through another safe Hurricane season Read more

Lions Club To Host Its Annual Christmas Bingo Spectacular

Lion Wally Havertong calling the bingo balls at last years Lions-held Christmas Bingo.

 PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Lions Club is gearing up to host the highly anticipated Annual Lion Wally Havertong Christmas Bingo Spectacular. This years event will take place on Saturday, December 14, at the Aleeze Convention Center in Madame Estate. Doors open at 7:00pm, with the bingo games starting promptly at 8:00pm.

Lion Ketty Paines, Fundraising Chairperson for Sint Maarten Lions Club, confirmed that preparations are in their final stages Read more

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

French Ambassador At The Hague St. Maarten Day Celebration

THE NETHERLANDS, 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. Maarten in The Hague. Guests included the French Ambassador to the Netherlands His Excellency Mr.FranoisAlabrune, his colleague from Germany His Excellency Dr. Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, the Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba His Excellency Mr 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.

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 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

Vromi To Sell M/V Island Scout (Imo Number: 9215220)

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI) announced during Wednesdays press briefing its intention to sell the Island Scout (IMO number 9215220). Under Article 13, Section 1 of the Landsverordening houdende maatregelen tot opruiming van schepen en wrakken in zee en op het zeestrand (National Ordinance containing measures for the removal of ships and wrecks at sea and on the sea beach)

The Island Scout is a 69-meter-long tug/supply ship that was beached and successfully salvaged, with efforts from both the Ministry of VROMI and TEATT following the passing of Tropical Storm, later Hurricane, Ernesto 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

14Th Anniversary Of Constitution Day To BeCelebrated On October 14Th 2024

PHILIPSBURG On October 10, 2010, Sint Maarten took its place as a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, an event that forever changed our islands path and identity. In celebration of this historic milestone, Constitution Day is commemorated annually on the second Monday in October. This year, Constitution Day falls on Monday, October 14, 2024.

This years theme,Jollification Season: Building Home, Building Community, Building Nation, will spotlight Sint Maartens resilience, diversity, and the collaborative spirit that has shaped our nation Read more

Temperatures Above Existing Background (Base) Levels Detected At The La Soufriere Volcano

Saint Vincent According to information received from the Seismic Research Centre at 2:38 p.m. today (Monday October 7, 2024); a low thermal anomaly (temperatures above existing background/base levels) was detected at the summit of the La Soufriere volcano by the NASA FIRMS hot spot detection system on Sunday October 6, 2024. This low thermal anomaly as detected by NASA FIRMS is currently ongoing.

Potential scenarios associated with the detection of the thermal anomaly include a Sulphur fire in the crater, a small phreatic (steam) eruption that may have exposed hot underlying rocks, or the start of new extrusion of lava in the crater.

Analysis of multi gas data collected on October 4, 2024 by the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) Soufriere Monitoring Team, and further reconnaissance via sea along the West Coast today (Monday October 7, 2024) are still underway Read more

Com Approves Amendment To 2024 Budget

Finance Minister Gumbs Submits it to Parliament: Council of Ministers has approved the amendment to the 2024 budget, and it has already been sent to Parliament, said Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs.

Civil Servants, Subsidized Schools will Receive COLA at Same Time in 2025, Finance Minister Assures

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten There will be no distinction between civil servants and subsidized schools in terms of payment of Cost of Living Adjustment, (COLA), next year, Minister of Finance, Marinka Gumbs has assured Read more

Ser St. Maarten Chairman Pays Visit To Ser Aruba

PHILIPSBURG— After a 16 month delay due to the non-appointment of its Board, a delegation of the Social Economic Council (SER) visited the SERs of Aruba and Curacao last week. The Sint Maarten delegation consisted of SER Chairman, Harlec Doran and the Secretary-General, Gerard Richardson 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