By Tom Clifford With so many ships in dock, the roads were busier than usual. I had to be in Simpson Bay by 10am. Past nine, the clock was ticking. My driver and I were stuck in traffic. She had a solution, she volunteered, and then, before I could reply, detoured by negotiating a warren of narrow back streets. “Where in Simpson Bay?’’ she inquired. “Welfare Road” I said, hanging on to my seatbelt. “It’s a big road,’’ she said. “Hold on. It’s Commodore Suites.’’ “Ah, why didn’t you tell me. Everyone knows where they are.’’ Just a few minutes…
Author: The Publisher
By Terrance Rey Once upon a time, working in the hospitality industry on St. Maarten was a path to progress. Waiters, bartenders, maids, and casino attendants took pride in their work — and they were rewarded for it. Their tips were theirs. In fact, some built their houses with the tips they earned serving tourists, one plate or one drink at a time. Fast forward to today, and that story has changed — for the worse. Many restaurants, hotels, and casinos now include a 15% “service charge” in the bill, claiming it’s for the staff. But in reality, those tips…
By Tom Clifford I am not a food critic. I could never admonish a naughty carrot or petulant potato or castigate a bean for being unappetizing on my plate. But settings where food is digested, cafes, restaurants, shops, fast-food outlets, now they have been of interest to me in the past. The Chinese and Japanese had given me a perspective on this that I thought was unshakeable. The pleasures of lunch, dim sum being served from a trolley in Hong Kong, and sushi in a Tokyo establishment at night were the pinnacle, I believed, of eating out. This is admittedly…
By Tom Clifford The taxi driver almost passed it. She’d been there before but the modest entrance continues to catch her out, she exclaimed after a quick application of the brakes. It had been raining. The muddy path leading to our destination, set back from the busy road, was slippery. It seemed strangely fitting. As if keeping with tradition. I was stepping back in time to be a guest of heritage. The Old House in the French Quarter gives the visitor a precious insight into the story and culture of the island. It is basic. No fancy entrance, as the…
By Tom Clifford Airlines have been warned of potential risks when flying in Venezuelan airspace due to “heightened military activity.” The warning by the United States Federal Aviation Administration comes amid a massive buildup of the US military in the region. Issued on Friday the FAA’s NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) alert cites the “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela’’. It added that the situation could pose risks for aircraft. Crucially, it stopped short of prohibiting flights over the country. Aircraft operating in the area were instructed to “exercise caution,” “at all altitudes, including during overflight,…
By Tom Clifford They are situated in Bel Air, beside a funeral parlor, and across the road from a general hospital under construction. Donovan Smith, one of Antek’s two managing directors, laughs off any suggestion that this was planned as a location bordering on the philosophical. “The hospital and funeral home were there before Antek was built. We work well with our neighbors, and appreciate the work that that they both do. I can take some solace that from the cradle to the grave I am in good company,’’ Smith, 40, says. It used to be that one way to…
PHILIPSBURG — The Netherlands will extend a loan of 30.3 million guilders (XCG) to St. Maarten, based on a positive advice from financial supervisor Cft. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has indicated that the country’s debt quote remains “manageable” on the condition that loans that mature during the next couple of years will be refinanced by the Netherlands. This appears from the framework risk-regulations of the central Dutch government, published by outgoing state secretary for Kingdom Relations Eddy van Marum. In its 2025 budget, St Maarten included investments for the purchase of emergency power generators, the building of a new…
By Tom Clifford It is with no disrespect to the people of Curacao that there will be people today reading of their footballers inspirational exploits who will be asking, where is it? The tiny Caribbean nation became the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup. Haiti, who last appeared in the World Cup in 1974, also achieved their qualification goal with a 2-0 win over Nicaragua. Ironically, Haiti secured their decisive qualification victory in Curaçao, where the team have been forced to play their home qualifiers due to unrest in their homeland. Panama meanwhile, grabbed the other automatic…
By Tom Clifford Prime time. Gathering clouds bending the light as the sun calls it a day. Night approaches unapologetically. Rain is coming. The first drops will arrive in a few minutes, almost tentatively. A splatter here, a splatter there, and then with greater assuredness until a downpour will deliver moisture to the thirsty earth. The clues to the changing weather are easily apparent and provide an early warning system. The breeze is picking up, and the waves caressing the beach are lapping with increasing intensity, almost machine-like in their regularity. I can honestly say, without fear of contradiction, that…
By Tom Clifford The most significant geo-political relationship is between the US and China. The second is usually considered that between China and Japan. Tokyo and Beijing are currently embroiled in a bruising row over Taiwan after Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, suggested that her country could potentially become militarily involved in the event of an attempted Chinese invasion of the self-governing island. China’s ruling Communist party claims Taiwan is a province and has vowed to annex it – by military force if it can’t convince or coerce Taiwan to accept what it calls “reunification”. But Taiwan is overwhelmingly opposed,…
