GREAT BAY — Prime Minister of Sint Maarten Rafael A. Boasman issued the following Christmas Greetings to the people of Sint Maarten. As Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, it is with mixed emotions that I address you today as we enter into what is considered the most joyous and festive season in our culture. While we prepare to celebrate this Christmas season with family, loved ones and friends, we cannot help but to do so with an underlying sentiment of uncertainty and awe in our hearts. 2017 will be a year that will live on, for decades, in the minds…
Author: The Publisher
GREAT BAY – With the clock counting down to Christmas, families have already been looking at their holiday meals shopping requirements. Cooking up a storm for this holiday season is one of the Christmas traditions. Part of the excitement of the holidays is the traditional foods of the season. However, some of these foods can pose hazards that can ruin more than just a holiday meal – they can cause serious illness and even death. As part of Collective Prevention Services (CPS), Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Safe Holiday Season calendar of observances, in collaboration with the…
PHILIPSBURG – “I give clothes and food to the elderly man who lives here”, community police officer Arcella Leonard gestures towards a torn-down home. Within the demolished structure one can see a small room, no larger than 6 m2, which is fashioned from plywood, zinc and a bed sheet. Leonard is one of the eight community officers on the St. Maarten police force. Her assigned districts are Dutch Quarter and Belvedere. Both districts include some middle-class housing, mostly low-income housing and a few shack-areas. Photo caption: Elvis Jamanika of the National Dutch Police force and community officer Arcella Leonard patrol…
PHILIPSBURG – Since the passing of Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria, The Rotary Club of Sint Maarten has spent its time, effort and financial resources with a direct focus on the children of Sint Maarten. According to the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten President, John Caputo, “It was a very conscious decision made by our Club after the hurricanes. We recognize that our children are the future of our island and the world, so it just seemed logical to focus on both the intermediate and long term needs of our students, knowing that much immediate term aid was available. We…
Harbour View – On December 22, 2017, the Governor of Sint Maarten, His Excellency drs. E.B. Holiday, requested the fraction leader of the Democratic Party, Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams, to finalize the formation of an interim government as formateur. After Mr. Meyers returned the commission to form a new government on December 20, 2017, the Governor held consultations on December 21 and 22, 2017 with Mr. Meyers, Mr. Brownbill and Mrs. Wescot-Williams. These consultations were a result of the declaration of October 29, 2017, signed by the United Peoples Party, Democratic Party and MP C.E. Brownbill to form a new Government,…
PORT ST. MAARTEN – Five cruise ships with over 10,000 cruise passengers and crew will be visiting the destination on Christmas and Boxing Day. The Marella Celebration and Independence of the Seas will be in port on Monday, December 25 and Grandeur of the Seas, Azamara Quest, and Jewel of the Seas will be in port on Tuesday, December 26. On Christmas Day there will be over 5,000 cruise passengers and crew visiting the destination and a similar number on Boxing Day. Port St. Maarten Management is calling on all stakeholders and the community to give the cruise ship guests…
Philipsburg –On March 9 & 10, 2018 SXM DOET will be back for its fourth year in a row. The SXM DOET team; Fleur Hermanides, Melanie Choisy and Laura Bijnsdorp are hoping the community comes out in full force for the largest volunteer event in the Kingdom. “There is no denying that as a nation we have endured a lot this year. With this in mind, we hope that everyone will utilize this great opportunity to make a change in our community.” Melanie Choisy states. The goal of SXM DOET is to ensure that locally existing organizations successfully execute a project,…
Philipsburg — The Chuchubi Foundation together with The American Protest Church of the Hague, Netherlands, have presented two donations to the St Maarten Home (Stichting Zorgverlening Wit Gele Kruis) and the St Maarten of Tours Catholic Church towards their Hurricane Irma relief program. This year in exchange of the Christmas Gift Project, which has been running for over 10 years, the Chuchubi Foundation felt it fitting to focus on the victims of Hurricane Irma. Every year, the Church organizes a fundraising bazaar in support of ministries and decided to assist St Maarten in this manner in the hurricane recovery efforts.…
The Hague — It is now possible to start immediately with the reconstruction of Sint Maarten. State Secretary Knops wrote this in a letter to the Second Chamber. Now that Sint Maarten has agreed to the establishment of an Integrity Chamber and the strengthening of border control by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee and the Dutch Customs, the two conditions that have been imposed on the reconstruction aid have been met. Via a bridging phase, the so-called early recovery, 7 million euros is immediately made available for projects that can start quickly and have a direct impact on the population. This…
Cole Bay — Mid Isle pulled off a feat this week. After hearing that Christmas gifts were needed for children at the ACE Foundation ‘All children’s Education Foundation School’, Mid Isle went into action. With less than 24 hours’ notice Mid Isle Rotarians purchased and wrapped the required number of gifts for children aged 3-8 years old. Along with this presentation were the items and goods that the Interact Club of St. Dominic’s’ High School had collected. Making the presentation were President Anjali, Secretary Denise and VP Vanesca of the Interact Club of SDHS. Photo caption: In photo Secretary Denise,…
