PHILIPSBURG — The coronavirus lockdown has led to a wave of layoffs or salary deductions. “This is a similar situation to Hurricane Irma, when many employers did not pay their employees. Employees who brought their case to court were proven right,” says attorney Cor Merx. He advises, “Take advantage of the time you have now to write a letter to your employer.” An employment contract is binding: both the employee and the employer must adhere to the agreements made. This contract cannot be terminated unilaterally unless there is an “urgent reason” that is “promptly” communicated so that the employee can…
Author: The Publisher
By Hilbert Haar “Unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards;” That’s how the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines solidarity. Ah, I did not need the dictionary to understand what this term means: in times of crisis you help each other to the best of your abilities and as far as resources available to you will allow. So if you have, say 100 and someone in distress has 1 and you need 50 to survive, you are able to give away 49 or 50 without losing any sleep over it. The…
~ Covid-19 Update – St. Maarten ~ PHILIPSBURG — All food suppliers are allowed to make deliveries on both sides of the the island (Dutch and French sides) as of tomorrow, Tuesday, April 7, to clients, including smaller grocery stores, and shipments to the neighbouring islands. Deliveries are also allowed to individual clients (read residents) who can make orders online, via WhatsApp or telephone. The contact telephone numbers and e-mails will be published by government within short for residents to access grocery stores/supermarkets nearest to their homes for only urgently needed items.This delivery service is only for essential items, not…
Solidarity is defined as: unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group. In a recent article by Kathryn Jean Lopez for the National Review, she said ‘to stand in solidarity with the vulnerable is to become vulnerable’. The people of St. Maarten, like people all over the world right now are vulnerable. Vulnerable to disease and death and vulnerable to the certain economic recession this pandemic will bring in the months and years to come. The number of deaths have shown the absolute poor state of our health care…
PHOTO CAPTION: Broadcasting the word per speaker in the different districts and shanty towns on the Dutch side of St. Maarten in the different languages English, Creole and Spanish was the objective of a speaker car that toured the Dutch side of St. Maarten, starting in Cape Bay today, as can be seen the above photo. Photo provided by DCOMM. Publisher’s Note: The recordings that were broadcasted via the speaker car in the various districts were made in English, Spanish and Creole. For a copy of these recordings – in order to distribute them via social media to your family…
MHF opens a Mental Health Support line – Call 311 CAY HILL — The Mental Health Foundation understands that many persons are confronted with elevated stress levels during this global Covid-19 pandemic. The consequences of this pandemic can take a toll on our mental health. The World Health Organization established that mental health is a human right and services should always be available near and within the community. MHF supports the WHO stance and is, therefore, opening the support line. Since COVID 19 is preventing access to our regular care services, the foundation has decided to become more accessible through…
Dear Editor, Decision makers in our islands are going to be challenged with tradeoffs that have better medical assurances on the one hand and quicker economic recovery on the other hand. Both sides of this tradeoff are currently unpredictable although there are probably epidemiologists with considerable insight into where the cards are likely to fall in the near future. For the economic growth return it will depend on the structure of any economy and its dependence on exports and people exposure. In the case of Sint Maarten we are clearly almost totally dependent on exports and our exports are dependent…
PHILIPSBURG – Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion and his team, with the information and recommendations gathered by the ESFs and their relevant teams and task forces, prepared a Support Relief Plan (SRP) costing ANG 254 million for the first 3 months. In a press release issued by the cabinet of the ministry of Finance, the minister explains that economies across the world have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and St. Maarten is no exception. The necessary measures of closing the borders in order to control the spread of the virus has resulted in a practical halt of all…
MINISTERS & PARLIAMENTARIANS AGREE TO SALARY REDUCTION IN SOLIDARITY INITIATIVE ~ Liquidity support 2019 becoming a reality ~ PHILIPSBURG – Current and previous Ministers back initiative to support island recovery with a ten percent salary cut. The Minister of Finance, Ardwell Irion sought and received the support from his colleagues in both the Parliament of St. Maarten and the Council of Ministers. The Minister of Finance presented his colleagues with the initiative as far back at February, that expressed solidarity with the people of St. Maarten by the top officials of the country. All signatories agreed that legislation will be…
Update Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs & SMMC Receives Medical Equipment from the Netherlands for St. Maarten Philipsburg—St. Maarten is now the recipient of the much-needed medical equipment sent this morning on the Military C 17 aircraft, from the Netherlands at approximately 2:00 pm on Sunday, April 5, 2020, to SXM Airport. The equipment was received by a delegation consisting of Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, Dr. Felix Holiday representing St. Maarten Medical Centre (SMMC), ESF 6 Coordinator Fenna Arnell, SXM Airport CEO Brian Mingo, SXM Airport COO Michel Hyman and Head of the Dutch Representation Office in St. Maarten Chris…
