PHILIPSBURG – The deadline for application for COVID-19 Income Support for vendors and taxi drivers for the month of April 2020 expired on Sunday, May 10th. Payments will commence from next Friday, May 15th. As the St. Maarten Stimulus and Relief Plan is reviewing applications, the question arises who should get the income support in case a permit holder ‘rents out’ his permit. Subletting, sharing and selling permits is a common practice in St. Maarten. A few hundred entrepreneurial individuals pay between $650 and $1300 per month to permit holders to operate a taxi, a watersport activity, beach spot, or…
Author: The Publisher
~ The Government of The Netherlands has asked the Red Cross to coordinate the humanitarian aid for Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten ~ PHILIPSBURG — The consequences of the corona pandemic can be felt everywhere. The impact in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom is significant. The islands are largely dependent on tourism, which has come to a complete standstill. Unemployment on the islands is increasing rapidly, resulting in more and more households falling below the poverty line. There is an urgent need for emergency assistance. The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations has made €16 million euros available.…
PHILIPSBURG — Locally-owned and operated passenger handling company, Juliana Airport Handlers (JAH), refutes allegations published by online blogsite, SMN-News.com. In what is considered a malicious and reckless article, JAH has retained legal representation to take measures to ensure that the blogsite is held to legal and professional standards. In a press statement, the company’s managing director, Dylcia Lake wrote: “Juliana Airport Handlers (JAH) has taken note of an article written by SMN NEWS, wherein a picture is presented to the public that employees at JAH were abandoned and not paid their salaries for the month of March and April 2020.…
PHILIPSBURG — NAGICO Insurances will reopen to the public as of Wednesday; May 13, following the announcement by the Prime Minister and Head of EOC, Silveria Jacobs on Sunday, of government’s plan to reopen businesses on the island in strategically planned phases. In a statement, NAGICO indicated that while the green light has been given, to reopen their office immediately, NAGICO’s management took the decision to officially re-open its doors to the public on Wednesday, May 13, to allow for certain health and safety measures to be fully implemented. “The health and safety of our clients and staff is our…
AIRPORT ROAD — The COVID-19 pandemic has and continues to affect St. Maarten residents. In these times of uncertainty, we are tasked with planning our path forward, ensuring our health and well-being. WINAIR’s continued survival as a critically important business contributing to the economic engine of St. Maarten and the region must be maintained. Throughout this pandemic, WINAIR is aware of its mission to facilitate assistance by performing repatriation flights and providing relief flights to bring needed supplies and essential personnel to assist St. Maarten with combating this pandemic. By repurposing WINAIR, we ensure the safety of our critically important…
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad — The President of Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL), Nigel Baptiste, announced today a profit attributable to shareholders of the parent of US$81.7 million for the six-month period ended March 31, 2020, a decline of US$36.1 million or 30.6% below the corresponding period last year. These results reflect preliminary estimates of the financial impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the Group as a result of increased operating expenses during the latter half of March 2020 and the setting aside of additional provisions of US$55.3 million for the first half of Fiscal 2020 (2019 – US$20.3 million)…
PHILIPSBURG — As of Monday, May 11, the government will be implementing a phased approach to the de-escalation process. Essential businesses and some other businesses will be allowed to open from Monday to Friday and on Saturdays, only deliveries will be allowed. On Sunday all businesses must remain closed. This approach to the de-escalation of the lockdown will be done across four phases until mid-June. This is subject to the number of COVID-19 cases continuing on the downward trend it is presently on. The key messages taken away from the address of the Prime Minister and the coordinators of the…
PHILIPSBURG — On Friday, May 8, 2020, officers at the Pointe Blanche Prison executed a random search after concern that a weapon may have been concealed in the facility. The management of the Prison enforces a zero-tolerance approach and does not take any chances when it comes to concerns of weapons suspected of being in the Prison. Considering the fact that in recent years there have been incidents at the Prison, the slightest hint of such a risk is not taken lightly and is tackled immediately. Safety and security are absolute priorities for both the Prison and the Ministry of…
PHILIPSBURG – Cutting the vacation allowance for all civil servants who earn more than 4,000 guilders a month, a ten percent salary cut for those who earn more than 8,000 guilders, a freeze on bonuses and increments. Finance Minister Ardwell Irion floated those ideas on Thursday during a meeting with all unions representing civil servants and members of the committee Civil Servants Union (formerly known as the GOA). Unionist Claire Elshot-Aventurin posted details about the meeting on Facebook, labeling the minister’s ideas as wishful thinking, followed by a question mark. Elshot wrote that a decision about these cost-cutting measures would…
PORT ST. MAARTEN – On Thursday, the Caribbean Princess cruise ship was in port for fuel bunkering. The vessel belongs to Princess Cruises. One crew member with St. Maarten heritage who works onboard the vessel, will be allowed to disembark as the person returns home, and will have to follow the public health and security protocols of the Collective Prevention Service (CPS). All cruise vessels have to adhere to stringent public health measures as well as to the rules and regulations related to the national State of Emergency. Port St. Maarten has a “Sterile Port Protocol” in place since mid-March…
