Author: Desk Editor

PHILIPSBURG — Redeveloping cooperative tourism and marketing activities between the French and Dutch Tourism Bureaus for greater collaboration on destination marketing under the theme ‘One Island Cooperation,’ was the main priority identified by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunications TEATT Stuart Johnson and First Vice President of the Collectivite de Saint Martin Valerie Damaseau when they met on Wednesday, July 11. Damaseau hosted Johnson and his delegation at her office on Sint Martin for an introductory meeting during which the Memorandum of Understanding MOU signed by Johnson’s predecessor which laid the groundwork for the rebirth of joint destination…

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PHILIPSBURG — On Friday July 13th, Ombudsman Nilda Arduin presented the 2017 Ombudsman Year Report to Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin at the Government Building. Under the theme “Gearing towards Excellence” – the report highlights the Ombudsman’s focus on the relief, recovery and rebuilding needs of the community since the passing of Hurricane Irma. As a result, among others two systemic investigations have been launched into the country’s preparedness to deal with Disaster management, and the operations of the Rent Tribunal. Upon invitation of the Prime Minister, a presentation by the Ombudsman for the Council of Ministers and Secretary General’s will…

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NEWTOWN SQUARE — PA. (July 16, 2018) — AMResorts, an Apple Leisure Group (ALG) company, announced today its entry into St. Martin with the signing of a new resort brand management deal to bring its Secrets Resorts & Spas brand to the island. With the addition of this new resort, ALG maintains its position of having the largest pipeline of all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, with more than 6,000 rooms in development. The official announcement was made by Alex Zozaya, CEO of ALG, and Tommaso Sandretto, CEO of Sole Resorts, at an event held by Daniel Gibbs, President of the Collectivity…

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PHILIPSBURG — Minister of Finance Perry Geerlings outlined critical elements of his strategic plan focused on driving efficiency and restructuring government, during an introductory meeting with over 100 civil servants from the Finance Ministry, Thursday afternoon at the Government Administration Building in Philipsburg. Geerlings told his team the roadmap for a healthy and sustainable St. Maarten has been laid out in the governing program 2018 -2022 entitled ‘Building a Sustainable Sint Maarten,’ and encouraged them to familiarize themselves with it, as their activities over the coming years will have to be aligned with strategic objectives of the governing program. The…

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GREAT BAY — Sint Maarten (DCOMM) — Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), is advising parents and guardians to be vigilant when their children are at the beach swimming or at the swimming pool during the school holiday season. Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for seven per cent of all injury-related deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO adds that there are an estimated 360,000 annual drowning deaths worldwide; Global estimates may significantly underestimate the actual public health…

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Simpson Bay — St. Maarten (Sunday July 15, 2018) — Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ravi Daryanani of the Princess Juliana International Airport – SXM – was among panelists at the recently concluded Caribbean Aviation Day hosted by the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), the Caribbean Development Bank and ALTA, at the Hilton Barbados Resort. The “Executive CEO Chat” addressed the theme: “Challenges facing the Caribbean Aviation Growth an Intra-Connectivity.” The other panelists included the CEO of LIAT, Julie Reifer – Jones, Managing Director of Bahamas-air, Tracy Cooper, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization,…

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MARIGOT — On Saturday July 14th, The Council of Ministers including Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin and the Acting Governor His Excellency Reynold Groeneveldt attended the annual Bastille Day Celebrations on French St. Martin. The celebrations included an Ecumenical Church Service at the Marigot Catholic Church, official parade of uniformed troupes, Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Collectivity Memorial Monument and concluded with the official speeches and toast. Bastille Day is a holiday that celebrates the French National Day, marking the anniversary of the storming of Bastille on 14 July 1789, a key turning point during the French Revolution.

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PHILIPSBURG — SINT MAARTEN — July 15, 2018 – The Rotary Club of Sint Maarten hosted a “Pop-Up” dinner party in support of Sister Marie Laurence Primary School on July 8, 2018.  A first of its kind on St. Maarten, a Pop Up Dinner is when a chef, but in this case, 5 top chef’s prepare a meal in a setting where you usually would not think to host a dinner party.  The Rotary Club of Sint Maarten adopted the Sister Marie Laurence Primary School after the passing of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which was severely damaged after the storm and then…

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PHILIPSBURG — On Sunday, July 15th Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin addressed the audience gathered at the Government Administration Building for the celebration of International Justice Day. “International Justice Day is celebrated around the world annually on July 17th. On Sint Maarten the Ministry of Justice has chosen to join in the celebration of this day. I would like to wish the Minister of Justice and all the men and women that serves this important Ministry, Happy International Justice Day, today is your day and we are here to celebrate it with you. “Sint Maarten Stand Strong, Justice for all”…

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Great Bay — St. Maarten —  On July 15th, 2018, young people worldwide will be celebrating the international World Youth Skills Day (WYSD. The United Nations General Assembly designated the international day in order to raise awareness on the importance of training and development in the labor market. The aim of World Youth Skills Day, is to raise awareness of the high unemployment amongst youth, and advocate the importance of training and development as key determinants for economic growth; hence, bridging the gap between education and the labor market. On World Youth Skills Day, policy-makers are encouraged to address legislation that focusses on…

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