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…
Author: The Publisher
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…
Fellow St. Maarteners, Residents of our beautiful Island, For many of us, 2017 could not end fast enough. It has been a year of unprecedented disaster in the form of Hurricanes Irma and Maria; a year in which many of our plans and even successes were blown away in six hours of pounding by a monster storm the likes of which have never been recorded in the history of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. But we are alive, by the sheer grace of God, and we hold on tenaciously to that saying that as long as there is life, there is…
Dear Editor, The people of Sint Maarten are growing increasingly frustrated with the uncertain and unstable position that the country was forced into by a few individuals who decided that it would be in their personal interest to bring this government down. Without any regard for the disastrous consequences that such a decision would have for our country and its people, they went full steam ahead hoping that they could gain more political power than that which was awarded to them by the people during the last elections. The outcome of that decision is clear for all to see and…
“LOCAL AUTHORITIES MUST CONSIDER LOWERING BRIDGE ENTRY FEES AS A STIMULUS TO ATTRACT AND KEEP THE LUCRATIVE YACHTING INDUSTRY IN SINT MAARTEN.” “APPROVAL OF THE STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCH KEEPING FOR SEAFARERS CODE (STCW Code) IS A GOOD STEP GOING FORWARD” “MORE LIGHTS NEEDED FOR THE SIMPSONBAY BRIDGE AND CAUSE-WAY BRIDGE” PHILIPSBURG, December 29, 2017 Gracita states: “in 2016 we publicly laid out our vision regarding the important position the Marine Industry plays in our overall tourism based economy, including the yacht sector. As we stated: Quote; “We have a well-established marine industry in St. Maarten in terms…
#1 Sint Maarten Police Force honors retiring Colleague On Friday December 29th 2017 the Sint Maarten Police Force took the time out to honor retiring Police Major Willy E. Williams Wiel b.k.a Wilma, who has been a long time veteran of the force. Major Wiel has spent the last 39 years of her life serving the community of Sint Maarten in various departments within the police. A small ceremony was held at the Philipsburg headquarters honoring Wiel for her service, where she received well wishes from colleagues and also from Chief commissioner Carl John who was in attendance. KPSM wished…
Pond Island — The University of St. Martin (USM), assisted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport with the recent MOU, will open to the general public as of Monday, January 8th, 2018 and the 10 week semester for the continuing students will kick off as of Monday, January 15th, 2018 and end on Monday, April 9th, 2018. The team at USM will all be back in office and open to the general public as of Monday, January 8th, 2018. The plan for the remaining terms in this academic year is to have two 10-weeks semesters for Spring…
Philipsburg — Parliament passes the budget 2017 amendments with 10 votes for and 0 against. Today Members of Parliament sat in an urgent plenary public meeting in the General Assembly Chamber of the House of Parliament at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance was present for this meeting. The agenda point was: Draft National Ordinance to amend the National Ordinance Budget 2017 in connection with changes to the Ordinary Service (IS/252/2017 – 2018 dated December 21, 2017) (ZJ 2017 – 2018 105) Ontwerp van Landsverordening tot wijziging van de Landsverordening begroting 2017 in verband met wijzigingen van de…
