Author: The Publisher

~ Winners, losers and food for thought ~ PHILIPSBURG — Political scientist Julio Romney has assessed the results of the August 19 snap parliamentary elections in St. Maarten, where he believes some politicians have to begin considering their political future. Romney was positive about the Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement (URSM) and the Democratic Party (DP), as these two increased their seat counts from two to three seats. “I think that the electorate felt somewhat comfortable with the leader of URSM. URSM didn’t do much campaigning at all. They were busy trying to out fires dealing with St. Maarten problems…

~ St. Maarten Government t to sell recovered items on boat if unclaimed in two weeks ~ PHILIPSBURG — Owners of items on the Island Scout sea vessel that ran aground on Great Beach in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ernesto, have just about two weeks to claim them from the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI). A notice published this week by the VROMI Ministry announced that the minister has decided, based on Article 9, sub 1 of the LANDSVERORDENING houdende maatregelen tot opruiming van schepen en wrakken in zee en op het zeestrand, to…

~ National Alliance remains largest party in St. Maarten after final recount ~ only minor changes to MPs vote tally ~ PHILIPSBURG — While some Members of Parliament-elect from the August 19 snap elections gained votes following the Central Voting Bureau recount, which ended late Wednesday night, the seat allocations remain unchanged and the official seat count is the same. The final vote count for the members of parliament after this week’s recount shows the following: Luc Mercelina (URSM) gaining two more votes from preliminary count with his final tally at 1317 Ludmilla de Weever (PFP) remains at 690 votes…

Success factors By Hilbert Haar The idea to establish a support fund for struggling local businesses sounds sympathetic and I agree that businesses that have trouble making ends meet through no fault of their own deserve that support. Whether any business manages to keep its head above the economically troubled waters obviously depends not only on the market but also on a range of other factors. I get it: somebody has an idea that sounds good and turns it into a business, expecting that the products or services this company is going to provide will find buyers. If there are…

~ Establishing a Community Investment Fund to Support Local Businesses: A Path to Sustainable Growth for St. Maarten ~ In recent weeks, the potential closure of Carl & Sons Unique Bakery has highlighted the urgent need for greater community support for local businesses in St. Maarten. The bakery, a cherished institution with a loyal customer base, narrowly avoided a government auction due to outstanding tax debts. This close call has sparked a wider debate about the challenges faced by local businesses, especially in the face of growing competition from foreign-owned enterprises and regulatory hurdles. In response, a call to action…

PHILIPSBURG — The National Alliance wishes to express our heartfelt gratitude to MP Jacobs, who has announced her resignation as the leader of our party, effective September 19, 2024. MP Jacobs has been at the helm of the National Alliance since 2018 and has served the people of St. Maarten with dedication and passion for over a decade. Related news: MP Silveria Jacobs resigns as leader of the NA During her time as our leader, MP Jacobs guided the National Alliance through both challenging and triumphant moments. Her commitment to our party and her genuine care for the people of…

PHILIPSBURG — Offices in the TelEm building on Pond Island are currently unused due to layoffs and staff reductions and the debate about what to do with it is raging on social media. One thing is for sure: the building belongs to the company and not to the government. So selling the property to government and housing the telecom provider elsewhere does sound like a viable option though. Suggestions on social media range from, indeed, selling the building and use the proceeds to improve the company’s financial situation, to using it as an alternative for the current parliament building and…

PHILIPSBURG — About half a year from now the Antillean guilder will cease to exist and be replaced by the Caribbean guilder, the new common currency of the monetary union of Curacao and St. Maarten. The new currency has been long in the making. When both countries obtained autonomous status on October 10, 2010, they already announced the introduction of the Caribbean guilder. It took almost fifteen years before this will become a reality. In a changing financial environment citizens have expressed concerns about the money they are using to pay for almost everything. According to data provided by the…

 CUL-DE-SAC — Throngs of participants supported the Stop Youth Violence march organized by the KPSM on Friday, August 23, during the mid-morning hours. The gathering took place at the Scott’s property in St. Peters and moved along to the various schools with music trucks starting at St. Maarten Academy, then MPC, and ending at St. Dominic. The activities comprised prayers by various members of the clergy at each school and affirmations from local celebrities including DJ Kembe, King James and DJ Outkast, among others. The gathering featured strong support from the students of each school, politicians from the various political…

St. Peters, August 22, 2024 — A dedicated group of St. Peters residents convened to explore the revival of the Community Council of St. Peters. The meeting, organized by members of the St. Peters Activity Committee, marked a significant step toward strengthening community bonds and enhancing local representation. During the gathering, attendees discussed plans to host a series of community-based activities through the end of the year. These events aim to foster reconnection among residents and promote a renewed sense of togetherness within the St. Peters community. “In bringing back the Community Council, we hope to create a platform where…