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…
Author: The Publisher
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…
PHILIPSBURG – The former branch manager of the court in St. Maarten, Maritsa James-Christina, still has to repay the court more than a million dollars, even though the court for civil servants declared a higher claim against her by the Common Court of Justice inadmissible. The lien on an apartment building she co-owns also remains in place. In January of this year, the civil servants court ruled James-Christina’s dismissal lawful. The ruling obliges the former branch manager to repay $1,015,295 to the Common Court of Justice. The Common Court, however, wanted James-Christina to repay the real damages she has caused…
PHILIPSBURG — Today, Wednesday, May 6th, 2020, is the start of International Nurses Week, which ends on the birthday of Florence Nightingale (founder of modern nursing), May 12th. As we find ourselves in the middle of a worldwide health crisis, this year’s theme is ‘’compassion’’. This theme is even more fitting due to nurses worldwide who are risking their lives for our health. It is a difficult time for everyone. Regular routines are disrupted, the forever presence of fear for contracting the virus, and distancing is hard, especially in times like this when you want to hold and comfort a…
PHILIPSBURG — There is a small group of people organizing and delivering food boxes to people in the communities. Since late March, they have been out silently helping. The group started the initiative when it became apparent that the need for getting families food was growing rapidly, and the situation becoming dire. This group sprang into action the Saturday following our news article about the plight of a group of Venezuelans in Cole Bay. These good Samaritans delivered food supplies to these Venezuelans in three different districts, in Cole Bay, Cay Bay, and Philipsburg. At that time, this group of…
~ Carnival plans to sail to the Caribbean again on August 1 amidst a congressional investigation into its handling of the coronavirus crisis ~ PHILIPSBURG – On August 1, Carnival Corporation is planning to restart its cruise operations out of three ports; Galveston, Port Canaveral, and Miami, Travel + Leisure reports. Cruises leaving from Florida will include the Horizon, Magic, Sensation, Breeze, and Elation. Anyone returning to U.S. soil from a cruise ship is now required to quarantine for 14 days before they will be allowed to fly. For this reason, Carnival Corporation chose three ports that can easily be…
