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Minister Of Teatt Floats Idea Of City Manager With Indian Merchants Association

GREAT BAY The possible introduction of a City Manager to develop strategies aimed at attracting not only residents and cruise visitors to Philipsburg but also stop-over or stay-over guests was discussed recently.

A City Manager was one of the proposed strategies for improving the tourist product, which Hon. Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT), discussed with a delegation of the Indian Merchants Association (IMA) at a meeting last week.

The Minister outlined the actions already taken to enhance the Marketplace and improve the product and visitor experience in town and other parts of the island, and plans for the beautification of St Read more

Purchasing Power Caribbean Netherlands Declined In 2022

Purchasing power in the Caribbean Netherlands declined in 2022, partly due to high inflation. Statistics Netherlands CBS reported this last week on the basis of new figures.

 

KRALENDIJK--Purchasing power in the Caribbean Netherlands declined in 2022, partly due to high inflation. On Bonaire, purchasing power declined by 4.2% compared to 2021, on St Eustatius by 3.3% and on Saba by 1.6% Read more

DATE ISSUED: Monday 1st July 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 2nd July 2024 A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT! WEATHER:This afternoon: Hot, hazy, and breezy. Brief showers are possible.This evening through Tuesday midday: Warm and breezy with isolated showers and possible thunderstorms.Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 27C / 81FSunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:41 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: Today through Tuesday midday: Northeast to easterly with a moderate to fresh breeze of 13 to 20 mph, with higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: The plume of Saharan dust exits the region today Read more

DATE ISSUED: Sunday 30th June 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Monday midday (12:00 LST) 1st July 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Monday midday: Hot, hazy, and breezy. There is a low chance for isolated showers.Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:41 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Monday midday: Northeast to east with a gentle to moderate breeze of 10 to 17 mph, and higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: A plume of Saharan dust is affecting the region and limiting precipitation Read more

Pfp: Reaction To Supreme Court Opinion

Failures to Protect Constitution and Autonomy of Country Sint Maarten

PHILIPSBURG – Disappointed was the sentiment within the Party for Progress (PFP) after the Supreme Court in the Netherlands issued their opinion on the Braam case in Curacao. The disappointment, however, is not with the opinion that has been issued, but with the fact that St. Maartens democratic process was interfered with by the Cabinet of the Governor Read more

Mp Emmanuel: Clarity Needed On Former JacobS Government Deal With Gridmarket

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — MP Christophe Emmanuel, leader of the Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) party, has voiced strong concerns over revelations that the former Silveria Jacobs government signed an exclusive agreement with GridMarket in violation of GEBE’s concession.

GridMarket is a private company that approached the former National Alliance led government in 2021 with the hopes of securing the facilitation of clean energy on St Read more

Chris Says GovtS Reliance On GebeFor Power Crisis Solution Problematic

~ Lack of renewable energy solution glaring ~

MP Christophe Emmanuel, the lone Member of Parliament to propose a solution to the GEBE power crisis, stated on Tuesday that he must distance himself from the St. Maarten government’s approach to dealing with the matter. The MP said he is critical of the method because the government relies too heavily on information provided by GEBE and the lack of a plan to finally shift to renewable energy sources. GEBE lies to the people of St. Maarten to protect itself Read more

Final Reminder: Submit Your 2023 Final Profit Tax Return, Form, And Payment By July 2Nd

The Tax Inspectorate kindly reminds all domestic and foreign taxpayers that the deadline to file their 2023 Final Profit Tax Return and Form at the Tax Office (Vineyard Building) and submit payment (if applicable based on the return) is Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Payments can be made via bank transfer (NAF W.I.B. 324800-03 | USD W.I.B. 324800-05) or in cash to the Receivers’ Office cashiers on Pond Island.

Tuesday, July 2, 2024, is also the last day for taxpayers to request an extension for filing, if needed Read more

Vromi State Of Affairs Minister Patrice Gumbs Provides Comprehensive Update

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Minister of VROMI and Deputy Prime Minister Patrice Gumbs issued a media statement on Tuesday, 25 June 2024, where he provided a comprehensive update on the state of affairs within the Ministry of VROMI and what his Cabinet has been and will continue to work on following his swearing in.

The Ministry of VROMI has faced challenges for many years, Gumbs stated Read more

Schedule For Postulation Day

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Central Voting Bureau is pleased to announce the schedule for Postulation Day, Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024, at the House of Parliament.

On Postulation Day, representatives or deputy representatives from each political party will formally submit their candidate lists to the Central Voting Bureau for the parliamentary election of August 19th, 2024. To facilitate an orderly process, each party has selected a specific time slot for submission, as listed below Read more

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday 25th June 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 26th June 2024WEATHER:This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Hot, humid, and hazy. Brief showers are possible.Forecast High: 33C / 91F               Forecast Low: 28C / 82FSunset Today: 6:52 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:39 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Northeast to easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 18 mph and higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: A thick plume of Saharan dust brings drier conditions across the region and restricts significant shower activity Read more

Junior Ranger Program For Nature Kicks Off At Nature Foundation

The Nature Foundation Sint Maarten is thrilled to announce the successful launch of its newest iteration of a Junior Ranger Program, which commenced last Saturday, June 22 with great enthusiasm and participation from the selected rangers. This program, part of the CORENA project, aims to engage young nature enthusiasts and foster a deeper appreciation for the environment.

The inaugural event took place at Mullet Bay, where the seven selected junior rangers, all 12 years old, gathered to embark on their first adventure Read more

 DATE ISSUED: Monday 24th June 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 25th June 2024WEATHER:This afternoon: Hazy and breezy with isolated showers. There is a low chance of thunderstorms.This evening through Tuesday midday: Warm and hazy. Isolated showers are likely.Forecast High: 32C / 90F               Forecast Low: 28C / 77FSunset Today: 6:51 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:39 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: Today through Tuesday midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 08 to 16 mph, and occasional gusts.SYNOPSIS: A tropical wave is affecting the region, bringing isolated showers and possible thunderstorms Read more

The Point Blanche Prison Invests In New Medical Equipment To Enhance Healthcare Services

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten In a significant move to address longstanding concerns about the quality of medical services, the Point Blanche Prison of Sint Maarten has purchased a comprehensive range of new medical equipment via the Sint Maarten Diagnostic Center. This investment is a pivotal step toward improving the healthcare facilities and ensuring that both inmates and staff receive the highest standard of medical care.

The new equipment, which includes essential diagnostic and treatment instruments, such as an otoscope, mobile BP apparatus, AED equipment, portable blood pressure, temperature and glucose meters, emergency crash kits, medication cabinets and more, aims to upgrade the prison’s healthcare capabilities significantly Read more

DATE ISSUED: Friday 21st June 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 22nd June 2024 WEATHER:This Afternoon through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers possible. Forecast High: 32C / 90F               Forecast Low: 27C / 81F Sunset Today: 6:51 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:38 A.M. SURFACE WINDS: This Afternoon through Saturday midday: Easterly to northeasterly with a gentle breeze of 8 to 12 mph. SYNOPSIS: Available moisture will influence cloudy skies and the possibility for brief showers across the local area Read more

Now Warns Public To Beware Of Instigators, Focus On Progress

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Board of the Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) Party on Thursday issued a strong warning to the people of St. Maarten to remain vigilant against the instigators within the opposition parties. These parties, having spent four years in government without making any significant progress, are now attempting to mislead the public by trying to cover the fact that their fingerprints are all over the country’s shortcomings.

“Remember why you voted them out in January Read more

Minister Lewis Re-Assures Prison Personnel,Says Political Game-Playing Has No Place

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Minister of Justice Lyndon Lewis re-assured personnel at the Point Blanche prison, as he did when he took office, that all their concerns have his fullest attention and to be careful with politicians who will seek to gain political mileage on the serious issues they (prison personnel) are contending with.

One of the first things the Minister did when taking office was to meet with prison management about several pressing issues and seek a responsible and prudent way forward Read more

Solar Energy Best Option For St. Maarten, Tno Concludes, But No Clear Plans In Sight

PHILIPSBURG--Solar energy appears to be the best option for increasing renewable electricity in St. Maarten, according to TNO, which studied the energy transition in Aruba, Curaao, and St. Maarten.

TNO, founded in 1932, is established by law as the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, an independent non-profit research institute.

Given that the demand peak in St. Maarten is between 10:00am and 2:00pm, solar panels are an attractive option, as their production peak aligns with this period Read more

Mp Emmanuel: 650 Thousand For SchoolRepairs Vanished, Calls For Investigation

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel has called on the Acting Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Lyndon Lewis to investigate the disappearance of over Naf 650,000 that was meant for the reconstruction and repairs of schools. MP Emmanuel said it has come to his attention that this is the primary reason why repairs at seven schools, since the passing of Hurricane Irma, are still not completed Read more

Grisha Steps In To Aid Winair Increase Flights To CuracaoAmid Jetair Bankruptcy Impact

GREAT BAY Hundreds of passengers who were bound for St. Maarten are currently stranded in Curaao, because of the unexpected bankruptcy of JetAir, which was to fly them to Princess Juliana International Airport.

There are also numerous travelers in St. Maarten eager to visit family and friends in Curaao who have been affected by the demise of JetAir.

Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten swung into immediate action upon receiving information from the CEO of WINAIR regarding a critical situation affecting air travel between St Read more

Bocce Champion Receives New Book About Slavery

Bocce champion Jurgen Leon (left) receiving the book from author Walter Hellebrand (centre), with Leons mother Maya Pandt looking on.

ST. EUSTATIUS--Jurgen Leon, a gold and bronze medallist at the recent Special Olympics in the Netherlands, received a copy of the newly released book From Slavery to Freedom.

Read more

A Robust Maintenance Program Needed At Cargo Facility, Says Grisha

GREAT BAY Hon. Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT) and the Port St. Maarten Group of Companies have agreed on the necessity to implement a robust maintenance program at the Cargo facility to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and cost management.

At a meeting held recently, the port made a commitment to prioritize the issue of maintenance and will work closely with the Ministry of TEATT to ensure that its operations align with St Read more

Sint Maarten Prepares For Reconstruction Of Sint Maarten Library

Sint Maarten The NRPB is pleased to announce that several pre-demolition activities have commenced in preparation for the reconstruction of the Sint Maarten Library, formerly known as the Philipsburg Jubilee Library. These preliminary steps include issuing several tenders, erecting fencing to section off the location, and ensuring safety once demolition begins.

On behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten, the NRPB implements the Fostering Resilient Learning Project (FRLP) to address the island’s educational needs after the destruction caused during the 2017 hurricane season Read more

Consistent With Global Market ExpectationsCbcs Keeps The Pledging Rate Unchanged

Willemstad/Philipsburg The Centrale Bank van Curaao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) decided to maintain its current monetary policy unchanged. Hence, the pledging rate will remain at 5.75%. 1 This decision is based on the Federal Reserves (Fed) decision to leave its target policy rate unchanged until more confidence is gained that inflation is moving sustainably toward its 2% target. In addition, although the import coverage, which is the main operational target of the monetary policy conducted by the CBCS, is expected to drop slightly to 4.6 months in 2024, it will remain well above the norm of 3 months Read more