Dutch Caribbean — The naval ship Zr.Ms. Van Speijk intercepted 1,600 kg of cocaine on New Year’s Eve. The drugs were hidden on board a Tanzanian flagged merchant ship that was en route to the Dominican Republic. It was the second drug seizure within two weeks. On 22 December the Van Speijk held a go-fast with 550 kg of cocaine on board. The NH-90 onboard helicopter discovered the suspicious merchant ship on Christmas Day. Zr.Ms. Van Speijk shadowed the ship during the night, to drop off the boarding team of the American Coast Guard, the so-called Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET),…
Author: The Publisher
Our nominations for Person of the Year certainly garnered a lot of responses. Our choices were based on who made headline news in 2017. As a media outlet, our hint should have given our readers an idea as to what our choice would be and why. However, we did receive via email some good arguments why others should have been on this list of nominees. AJ wrote: “Person of the year should be Glen Carty and or the Laser 101 storm watch team. He may not have made as many headlines as your other nominees but they played a critical role for…
Philipsburg — Michael Granger is StMaartenNews.com’s choice for Person of the Year. No one has helped make more headlines in 2017 than Michael Granger in his role of PR & Communication Officer for the Ministry of TEATT headed by the Honourable Melissa Arrindell-Doncher. Every minister’s office, especially the Prime Minister’s cabinet, should have a capable and a competent spokesperson or communications officer so that the media can be adequately informed and kept up to date in a timely fashion on matters regarding the ministry. The media and the general public are the big winners when a ministry disseminates information via…
Fellow residents of St. Maarten here on the island or abroad, it is with mixed emotions I address you as 2017 comes to its end and 2018 approaches. It is customary that at the end of the year we reflect on the occurrences of the past year and make resolutions for the coming year. Our resolutions are made with optimistic expectations. As we all look back at 2017 from January to December, I am sure that most of you, if not all of you, share the mixed feelings I have about the year. 2017 was no normal year for St.…
“Don’t let the disaster that befell us get the better of us.” It would take more than a few words to adequately describe the year which has become last year and a year we have put behind us. A year we would rather forget, but are reminded of every waking moment, because of the indelible marks it left on all our lives here in our sweet St. Maarten land. Not only will the memories of this past year haunt us for a long time to come, the scars and wounds it left will take a long time to heal. It…
Philipsburg — Due to health reasons, SMCP Candidate, Shenella Brown, will not be able to contest the upcoming parliamentary election on February 26, 2018. Nevertheless, Shenella has still managed to remain active, in her hometown district, Dutch Quarter. Together with district members, she has been seeking to ascertain the grievances of the people within the district and how she can best help to resolve the various complaints as a member of the community as well as a prospective member of Parliament. In both cases it starts with listening to the grievances of the people. To briefly summarize the outcome of…
by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert Maybe I should have suggested a headline ‘The quest for the Caribbean heart and soul and purifying its society’. But there are more and different perspectives to it. It should be a top resolution for the New Year. Tourists and especially the new generation of so called Millennials will become the core customer group from the Caribbean source markets for travel and leisure. They are known to be looking for authenticity when the they visit destinations. They wish to find, understand and experience original culture or at least significant remnants of it. Culture may be one…
Thinking differently Fellow citizens, What a test 2017 turned out to be. At the start of the year, none of us could have imagined going through a year that has brought about such dramatic changes to so many lives. The one thing we were sure of, was our faith in the almighty to see us through, come what may. In 2017 I received the most privileged opportunity of my life to serve you, the people of St. Maarten, as Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT). Though my entire life has been dedicated to service in one way…
Philipsburg — The Sint Maarten police force started 2018 with a very high note, after a suspect wanted by the Anguilla Police was arrested here on the island. During a routine check at a local adult entertainment establishment, police noticed a gentleman fitting the description of a wanted suspect. Upon attempting to establish his identity, the suspect gave the officers a false name. When asked for his identification the suspect then admitted to officers as being sought by Anguilla police, and even went as far as to compliment the officers for being able to recognize him in a crowded place.…
Philipsburg — The following address is the New Year’s Message from Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Ms. Silveria Jacobs. With a new year, we are granted new opportunities and chances to make a difference, give our life a different course, or just continue to do as we have been doing. A new year for the people of St. Maarten, however, brings forth opportunities for us to rebuild better and stronger than we once were. After the passing of Hurricane Irma, the morale and energy of the people were shattered, however, soon after our people have shown that their…
