The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation is again calling on Parliament to ban single-use plastic products such as plastic bags, straws and cutlery and Styrofoam food containers in an effort to reduce marine litter and pollution on St Maarten. Single use plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental catastrophes of this generation. These types of plastics are also a major contributor to the current situation at the Philipsburg landfill. At least 9 million tons of plastic enters the world’s oceans each year, a rate that has increased 100 times in the past 40 years. If current trends continue there will…
Author: Desk Editor
GREAT BAY — Sint Maarten (DCOMM) — Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), announces that the old Fire Station across from the Clem Labega Square will be demolished. The demolition works will take place on Thursday and Friday July 19 and 20 from 6.00AM to 5.00PM. Vendors at the Market Place are hereby reminded to take note of the aforementioned demolition works. Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconveniences this may cause.
GREAT BAY — Sint Maarten (DCOMM) — Food wholesalers and warehouse depots are requested to have their facilities storm/hurricane ready by having a plan in place to prepare and secure their properties in the event of a storm/hurricane threat, the Office of Disaster Management said on Tuesday. Every effort must be made to be prepared to take timely action in clearing the surroundings of storage areas of loose pallets and other materials in the event of a weather-related threat. Every business has a role to play in being storm ready for the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Beryl was an…
Tuesday July 17 the EU representative for Sint Maarten, Mrs. Carol Voges, chaired an ad hoc Executive Committee meeting of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA). The objective of the meeting was to initiate discussions with the OCTA membership on the future of the association post Brexit. The majority of OCTA’s current membership consists of British Overseas Territories. Their exit will prompt an array of operational and strategic constraints for the association. Consequently, the existing articles of association were reviewed and the possibilities for cooperation with the British Overseas Territories with respect to regional programming, diplomacy and lobbying after…
The Department of Statistics (STAT) from the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunications, embarked upon an Economic Census Survey (ECS) approximately 10 weeks ago and has received information to date from over 1800 actively operating entities. Department Head of STAT, Makini Persaud-Hickinson said she remains very pleased with the cooperation of the business community so far and feels very confident that the census will provide a good baseline of statistics for the country. The ECS is now in its final phase, where STAT is verifying the non-visible/micro businesses who are registered but not necessarily operating from an openly…
The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) hereby informs the public that strict enforcement will be implemented with regard to compliance of the Building ordinance and the conditions of issued building permits. In accordance with Article 7 of the Building Ordinance, it is prohibited to erect a building or partially renovate a building without complying with the conditions as stated in the Building Ordinance or the Building Decree, without a building permit or contrary to the conditions of the issued building permit. Please be aware that specifically the following general building permit conditions are most relevant:…
SIMPSON BAY — St. Maarten (Tuesday July 17, 2018) — “It is quite a giant step forward into the long anticipated terminal building,” declared the Chief of Operations (COO), Michel Hyman. The Managing Board which also comprises of the CFO and Acting CEO, Ravi Daryanani officially announced this week that the Departure and Arrival Operations will be temporarily transferred to the ground floor of the terminal building. The projected date for this new venture is November 2018, whereby the operational activities will be carried out from the former Baggage Claim through the B-Gates area at the original terminal building of…
GREAT BAY — Sint Maarten (DCOMM) — On Monday July 16, the Minister and Cabinet members welcomed the Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary, Michael Somersall at Schiphol Airport as he arrived to take up his duties in the Netherlands. Together this team of dedicated persons will work towards repositioning, reviving and rebranding Sint Maarten in the Netherlands. Courtesy visits were also made to the Ministers Plenipotentiary of both Curacao and Aruba, where the Honorable Drs. Jorien Wuite received updates on developments, shared experiences and the working environment in The Hague. The key words expressed during said visits being cooperation and collaboration, shows the…
GREAT BAY — Sint Maarten (DCOMM) — On Monday July 16 the Minister Plenipotentiary, Jorien Wuite, accompanied by staff member Kelly Busby, paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, where she was cordially received at the famous Torentje” at the Binnenhof in The Hague. After exchanging words of welcome, their familiarity with the city and updates on the current state of affairs pertaining to the plans of the government in reference to the recovery process, Prime Minister Rutte informed Minister Plenipotentiary Wuite of the particular governance and his broad based team of Ministers, Portfolio Ministers…
PHILIPSBURG — Solidifying his commitment to economic revitalization, Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Transportation Minister Stuart Johnson announced Sunday, he plans to have a “formal sit-down” with Port St. Maarten’s Supervisory Board and Management within the next few weeks concerning the sustainability of the cruise industry, the entity’s legal structure, and in particular its procurement processes and compliance functions. The announcement came one week after Minister Johnson toured the A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities. In a press statement issued by the Ministry of TEATT Minister Johnson said he was “happy to learn that the Cruise and Cargo facilities were getting back…
