The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) released the official schedule of events for Carnival 2018 on Christmas Day. Framing the release of the schedule as a gift to Carnival lovers on Christmas, the foundation erased all doubt that St. Maarten’s largest annual event will be held in 2018 and included on the schedule a night called “Shaking Off Irma”. Per usual, the schedule is presented through SCDF’s long-standing corporate sponsor Scotiabank. ~ 27 days to shake off Irma ~ Following the passing of hurricane Irma, the SCDF is determined to repeat the efforts of 1996 when one of the…
Author: The Publisher
HARBOUR VIEW – His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday on Christmas Eve released his Christmas Day Message to the people of Sint Maarten. My Fellow Sint Maarteners, I extend warm Christmas greetings to you and yours at home and abroad. Christmas is a special time of the year. It is the season of hope anchored in God’s enduring gift of love. As we celebrate this season I call on you to reflect on the power of God’s Christmas gift to us. And in doing so I encourage you to project that gift in our relationships with our families, with our neighbors,…
GREAT BAY — Minister of Culture, Silveria Jacobs, issued the following Christmas Message to the people of Sint Maarten. Christmas is a time of joy, peace, family gatherings, food and celebration. Culturally and traditionally we would herald the season with many church services, cantatas, choirs caroling, programs depicting and celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus, who we learned from childhood came into the world to save us all, food, drink and merry making. In thinking of what Christmas truly means, we must reflect on who Jesus is – the son of God, the Messiah, the chosen one, a curious and…
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…
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,…
