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…
Author: The Publisher
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…
~ St. Maarten’s underground economy has been grounded to a halt. StMaartenNews.com brings you an analysis ~ The current population of St. Maarten is 42,797 as of Tuesday, May 4, 2020, based on the latest United Nations estimates. The exact number may be twice as high. According to the Justice Department, one in two persons in St. Maarten is an undocumented immigrant who operates ‘underground’. COVID-19 is now forcing them to come out of the shadows. St. Maarten has, by far, the largest informal economy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Unregistered businesses, craft workers, street and beach vendors, literally…
PHILIPSBURG – A little more than a week after some of them received help from some Good Samaritans, scores of Venezuelans on Dutch St. Maarten are without food still and begging for help. A group in Cay Hill wants to plead with Parliament for a temporary residence and work permit. “Please accept and help us for now.” Contrary to general belief, Venezuelans are not granted political asylum on the French side but are deported when caught by the gendarmerie. A group of Venezuelans in Philipsburg recall the story of Alfonso, who, after arriving at Grand Case airport, was arrested by…
~ BES-islands get subsidy to waive fixed tariffs ~ PHILIPSBURG – Saba Electric, the distributor of electricity in Saba, Statia and Bonaire has waived the fixed tariff for all customers until the end of the year. The Dutch government has granted the three islands a subsidy to make this possible. In St. Maarten, utilities company GEBE has not gone that way: it has instead lowered the fuel clause from $0.23 to $0.18 per kilowatt. The country’s National Energy Policy (April 2014) put the average electricity consumption at 1,500 kilowatts per month. Based on this number, the lower fuel clause will…
