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Film Director Joel Ayuk: I Like To Think IVe Opened Doors For Film-Making In St. Martin

Joel Ayuk (right) with Nigerian actor Enyinne Nwigwe who plays policeman husband Mike in the film with their respective Best Screenplay and Best Male Actor awards at the Cameroon International Film Festival.

 

By Robert Luckock

MARIGOT--Joel Ayuk, director, writer and producer of the well-received domestic violence drama Chokehold, is set to depart for the 77th Cannes Film Festival in France, the most prestigious of all the film festivals, joining an array of international film directors, judges, revered actors and A-list celebrities.

The full-length movie Chokehold was filmed entirely in St Read more

Carnival Restructuring Policy Released In National Gazette

PHILIPSBURG--The Ministry of Justice, under the guidance of former Minister Anna Richardson, has published a new policy aimed at restructuring St. Maarten Carnival.

As stated in the recent publication of the National Gazette, the decision followed in response to a number of challenges currently facing the annual event, including inconsistent management structures, financial instability, under-representation of local culture, safety concerns and the need for better integration of technological advancements Read more

Minister Of Justice, Addresses Urgent Situation At New Start For Children Foster Home

SAUNDERS, Sint Maarten — In response to recent developments regarding the structural integrity concerns at New Start for Children Foster Home in Mary’s Fancy, the Minister of Justice, Lyndon C.J. Lewis, in collaboration with the Foundation Judicial Institutes St. Maarten (SJIS), is taking swift action to ensure the safety and well-being of the foster children residing there.

The recent article published in The Daily Herald Newspaper on Monday, May 6, 2024, brought to light the critical situation faced by 19 foster children who may soon need to relocate due to cracks in the building walls and foundation of the foster home Read more

To All The Mothers Of St. Maarten, We Thank God For You.

Thank God for that one Sunday in May where we get the opportunity to pour extra love and adoration upon you. We are given the opportunity to remind you that you’ve been the architect of our dreams and the backbone of our families. You’ve laughed with us in joy, and wiped away our tears in sorrow, you’ve been the comforting embrace we seek.

The Caribbean mother has always been a figure of immense power and beauty and a fierce protector. You have shown us that wisdom doesn’t always come from books, but often from the lived experience Read more

Carnival 2024 Wraps Up Challenging Year

~ Carnival 2025 scheduled from April 21 to May 5 ~

PHILIPSBURG--After a year filled with unprecedented challenges, St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) has closed the 53rd edition of Carnival.

Despite facing various obstacles, the SCDF expressed gratitude for being able to reach the finish line, with SCDF President Edwardo Radjouki saying in a press release on Sunday, This can never happen again, this is not who we are.

Reflecting on a Carnival that looked and felt different from previous years, Radjouki referred to the division of Carnival people by one individual to please that individuals personal feelings Read more

Desiree Winkel holding the St. Maarten flag at the summit of Mera Peak in the Himalayas. Via Winkels Instagram.

 

KATHMANDU, Nepal--Readers of our Special Editions and sport aficionados all over St. Maarten will be familiar with Desiree Winkels seven-summit project. Currently in Nepal, where she travelled to conquer another two summits, both over 6,000 metres high, Winkel has experienced extreme highs and lows within a few short days Read more

Lengthy Sentences For Perpetrators Of Old Street Area Jewelry Store Robbery

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten The Court of First Instance has handed down lengthy sentences to two serial perpetrators of an armed robbery that took place in the area of Old Street on December 2, 2023.

In its verdict of Friday, April 26, the Court meted out a 10-year sentence to perpetrator A.H. and a nine-year sentence to his co-perpetrator R.W. The sentences handed down by the Court reflected the demands made by the prosecutor when the case was handled in Court.

The masked two men committed the armed robbery on the jewelry store in Philipsburg in the early afternoon of December 2, 2023 Read more

Szv Now Covers Diabetic Foot Care Services

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten Social & Health Insurances SZV is excited to announce a new addition to our medical insurance coverage: services from The Diabetic Foot Care Sint Maarten Foundation (D-FOOT). This new benefit is a big step forward in ensuring our diabetic community has access to the necessary healthcare to improve their quality of life.

“SZV is committed to providing comprehensive healthcare services to our community. The addition of D-FOOT services to our coverage is a significant step in ensuring our diabetic population receives the specialized care they need Read more

President Of Parliament Continues Courtesy Visits

From left: Parliament Secretary General Garrick Richardson; President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams with TWO local team members Leona Romeo and Tjandra Lake.

PHILIPSBURG--President of Parliament, Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams is continuing her courtesy introductory visits Read more

Statement From Formateur Dr. Luc Mercelina Regarding Proposed Candidate Ministers

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — “In response to recent media coverage referencing a statement from his Excellency Governor A. Baly indicating the presence of seven candidate ministers, Formateur Dr. Luc Mercelina issues this corrective statement to clarify the accurate count of ministerial candidates,” stated the press release.

It has come to the attention of the Formateur that there may have been confusion regarding the proposed number of candidate ministers expected for May 3 Read more

Counterfeit Naf. 100 Banknotes In Circulation

PHILIPSBURG WILLEMSTAD The Centrale Bank van Curaao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) has detected counterfeit NAf. 100 banknotes in circulation. The counterfeit NAf. 100 banknotes are of very good quality, making them challenging to distinguish from genuine NAf Read more

Governor Baly Receives Final Report From Formateur L. Mercelina

HARBOUR VIEW, PHILIPSBURG On April 23, 2024, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten received the updated final report from formateur L. Mercelina.

The formateur has accepted the commission to form a new government which has the support of a majority in Parliament comprised of the fractions of URSM, PFP, DP and NOW Read more

District Governor Visits St. Maarten

District Governor of Sub-District 60B, Lion Dr. Carlisle Goddard, PMJF recently made his official visit to the St. Maarten Leo Club, St. Maarten South Leo Club, and the Sint Maarten Lions Club.

The District Governor was met upon his arrival by a welcoming delegation that included Lion Felix Richards, President of the Sint Maarten Lions Club, Zone Chairperson 2B, Lion Oralie Boirard, MJF, Past District Governor Lion Wally Havertong, PMJF, and Lion Dennis Lake.

The District Governor visit included an enlightening radio interview streamed live on the Viewpoint with Wendell Moore show where he expounded on the responsibilities of a District Governor and shared his experiences in visiting the various of Lion and Leo clubs within his District which comprises of 16 English and Dutch speaking islands with St Read more

 

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, 23 April 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) 

VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 24 April 2024

WEATHER:

This afternoon: Fair to partly cloudy and hazy.

Tonight through Wednesday midday: Partly cloudy and slightly hazy, becoming cloudy at times with isolated showers.

Forecast High: 32C / 90F              

Forecast Low: 26C / 79F

Sunset Today: 6:31 P.M.                  

Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:50 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: 

This afternoon through Wednesday midday: East-southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 14 mph.

SYNOPSIS: 

A plume of Saharan dust hovering over the region will continue to reduce visibility and air quality through the next 24 or so hours Read more

Sarah Attends Intl. Mp Conference In Norway

Participants in a session facilitated by St. Maarten MP Wescot-Williams pause for a photo.

PHILIPSBURG--President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams recently returned to the island from Oslo, Norway, where she attended the 8th International Parliamentarians Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action (IP Read more

DATE ISSUED: Monday 22nd April 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) 

VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 23rd April 2024

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Fair to partly cloudy and hazy with a few brief showers possible.

Forecast High: 31C / 88F               Forecast Low: 26C / 79F

Sunset Today: 6:31 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:50 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: 

This afternoon through Tuesday midday: East southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 8 to 15 mph.

SYNOPSIS: 

A plume of Saharan dust will reduce visibility and air quality through midweek Read more

Education Institutes In Kingdom Work Together

Group photo

WILLEMSTAD--Eighteen educational and knowledge institutions from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom and the Netherlands will continue, build and intensify their joint efforts in the fields of education, research and science. For example, they want to pursue and develop joint educational programmes.

  This special collaboration was highlighted during a recent knowledge mission led by caretaker Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science OCW Robbert Dijkgraaf in Curaao.

  Together with my fellow ministers from the other three kingdom countries, we have worked hard in recent years to increase cooperation within the kingdom, successfully Read more

 

DATE ISSUED: Thursday, 18 April 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) 

VALID UNTIL: Friday morning (12:00 LST) 19 April 2024

HIGH SURF ADVISORY HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Friday midday: Fair to partly cloudy with light haze and brief local showers possible.

Forecast High: 31C / 87F              

Forecast Low: 25C / 77F

Sunset Today: 6:30 P.M.                  

Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:53 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: 

This afternoon through Friday midday: Light and variable winds of 01 to 04 mph, becoming calm at times.

SYNOPSIS: 

Increasing concentration of Saharan dust is expected across the region during the next few days Read more

Swept Under The Rug

I presented a motion in June of 2021 almost 3 years ago asking that the subject of debt cancellation for St. Maarten be discussed. I was moved to do so after discovering that St. Maarten was paying 12.7 million guilders annually on an almost 1 billion guilders debt. It is no secret that it would take some 100 years to pay it off, hence my motion which was unanimously supported.

The International Monetary Fund had also suggested that the Dutch government look at Debt cancellation, however what came afterwards due to the covid19 pandemic is additional loans of some 300 million guilders Read more

Collectivit Formally Opens Its School Of Public Management

Collectivit President Louis Mussington talks at the opening of School of Public Management in Grand Case Beach Club on Tuesday.

MARIGOT--The first Public Management School for St. Martin (Ecole du Management Public (EMP)) officially opened in Grand Case Beach Club on Tuesday with an introduction to the first twenty candidates and an overview of the courses starting on the same day.

The opening ceremony was attended by Collectivit President Louis Mussington, Dput (MP) of St Read more

 

DATE ISSUED: Thursday, 11 April 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) 

VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 12 April 2024

A SMALL CRAFT WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

WEATHER:

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

Forecast High: 31C / 88F              

Forecast Low: 25C / 77F

Sunset Today: 6:28 P.M.                  

Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:58 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: 

This afternoon through Friday midday: East-northeasterly to northeasterly with a moderate to fresh breeze of 15 to 22 mph, and occasional higher gusts.

SYNOPSIS: 

Available moisture across the local region will account for periods of cloudiness and isolated showers Read more

PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST FOR ST. MAARTEN

DATE ISSUED: Wednesday 10th April 2024 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 11th April 2024

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6:00 AM THURSDAY,

11TH APRIL 2024

WEATHER:

This afternoon through Thursday midday: Partly cloudy and breezy. Isolated showers are possible.

Forecast High: 31C / 88F               Forecast Low: 26C / 79F

Sunset Today: 6:28 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:59 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: 

This afternoon through Thursday midday: Northeasterly with a moderate breeze of 13 to 18 mph.

SYNOPSIS: 

The Atlantic high-pressure system will maintain moderate winds and relatively stable conditions during this forecast period Read more

Island Gems SupportsAnimal Care Groups

CAY HILL — The stray and unwanted pet population on the island continues to be a challenge for residents, visitors and the animal care organisations working tirelessly to curb the problem on both sides of the island. To this end, Island Gems Charity Foundation has made its annual donation to three very active groups to aid with spay/neuter campaign and awareness.

Receiving each US $750 in vet care coverage via St. Maarten Veterinary Clinic are St. Maarten Animal Welfare Foundation, SXM Paws and I Love My Island Dog Association Read more

Governor Baly Meets With Formateur Mercelina For Update On Formation Progress

HARBOUR VIEW, PHILIPSBURG His Excellency Governor Ajamu G. Baly met with formateur Dr. Luc Mercelina on Thursday March 28, 2024 and received an update on the progress of the formation.

The formateur requested an additional extension to present Governor Baly the final formation report as the background screening of the candidate
ministers is presently still ongoing.

Taking this into account, Governor Baly granted the commission for Dr Read more