PHILIPSBURG – On Monday, December 18th, 2017 representatives of the University of St. Martin and the Ministry of Education finally arrived at an agreement and signed the MOU securing the continuity of education for students of the USM. This, after the representatives of University of St. Martin had not seen it possible to sign the proposed MOU on December 11th, 2017. However, after hearing an interview by the Minister on the topic on December 12th, the University promptly contacted the Department of Education with a willingness to resume talks, which commenced on Wednesday December 13th. Joint Press Release by the…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG – Neighboring islands are benefitting immensely from the way Hurricane Irma brought St. Maarten’s cruise industry to its knees. Cruise ships that had St. Maarten on their itinerary before the hurricane changed everything are now massively turning to destinations like the French-speaking islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Guadeloupe expects this season 100,000 more cruise visitors than previously expected. In October alone, Guadeloupe received 51 additional cruise ships, bringing the total for the upcoming season to 230. Martinique is also looking forward to an exceptional tourism season. The island will see the arrival of 200 cruise ships carrying between them…
Simpson Bay – The Princess Juliana International Airport Air Traffic Services (ATS) met with the ATS team of the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport out of Anguilla. The Civil Aviation management was also in attendance, to lend its expertise as air space matters are on a state level. The meeting was held at the PJIAE Air Traffic Service tower on Thursday November 30, 2017. “The meeting was hosted to foster cooperation between both parties and exchange shared concerns. It is evident that both airports were affected by hurricane Irma, but it is rewarding that we’ve been successful at resurrecting operations,…
GREAT BAY – The Sint Maarten Fire Department, which falls under the Ministry of General Affairs, has decided in consultation with the Ministry of VROMI to limit the type of consumer fireworks to be sold and lighted in the year’s end of 2017 celebrations on Sint Maarten. This decision was taken in the interest of general safety of the districts and is based upon the assessment of both the Fire Department and Ministry of VROMI which shows that there are still many exposed roofs and buildings with tarpaulins. Roofs and buildings are less protected against fireworks that has an effect…
Philipsburg — Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT) Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher on Tuesday thanked the general media on St. Maarten for its cooperation and professional working relationship over her 10-month tenure as Minister. Over approximately 10 months, the Minister issued 123 press releases with pictures in an effort to keep the public informed about the Ministry of TEATT. That averages out to 12 articles a month from the Minister or about 3 per week. The Minister said she respected the fact that the media had its job to do and she strove to always maintained an open line…
PHILIPSBURG — As per January 1st, 2018 customers of the Social & Health Insurances SZV will be encouraged to use alternative payment options as cash payments will no longer be accepted. SZV offers customers four (4) alternative payment options: check, via Maestro card, bank transfer or direct deposit to the account(s) of SZV. Customers who do not have a bank account and/or bank card have until March 1st, 2018 to arrange this as after this period the no cash policy at SZV will be strictly enforced. Banking details and instructions can be found on the website of SZV and at…
PHILIPSBURG – The Supreme Court in The Hague wrote history on Monday with a ruling that establishes that imposing life imprisonment is possible in the Netherlands. Before this ruling, life sentences were routinely thrown out because they violated article 3 of the European Human Rights Treaty. Based on the same argument, the Common Court of Justice threw out the life sentences against Sherwan Roberts and Curley Allison Richards in Philipsburg on September 18, 2012. Instead, the court sentenced the so-called Regatta-killers to the maximum temporary prison sentence of 30 years. With good behavior, the two men will now be released…
PHILIPSBURG – The Grandeur of the Seas arrived at the port in Philipsburg on Sunday morning under what looked like a fortunate omen. As the cruise liner of Royal Caribbean entered the port, it started to rain and shortly after a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky and the Grandeur of the Seas seemed to be at the end of that rainbow. That’s were the fortunate part of the omen ended because later in the morning the island experienced heavy rainfall, making it not all that attractive for cruise passengers to take a walk through the town. The Grandeur of…
Port St. Maarten — Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Mellissa Arrrindell-Doncher on Sunday welcomed Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) and its ship Grandeur of the Seas back to the shores of St. Maarten calling the occasion a “great early Christmas gift for St. Maarten.” The Minister was joined aboard the ship by almost 100 persons selected as hurricane heroes by her cabinet. The hurricane heroes initiative came from RCCL executives who wanted to make the company’s return to the island a memorable one and an occasion that showed that RCCL stands with St. Maarten by recognizing some of those…
THE HAGUE – The court has to present an interim-verdict in the case against two police officers who were involved in the arrest of Aruban Mitch Henriquez in 2015; Henriquez died a few days after the violent arrest. New independent research by three professors pierces the investigation by the police, Sam Jones reports on Caribisch Netwerk. Gerald Roethof, the attorney for the Henriquez family writes this in a letter to the public prosecutor’s office. With the letter, Roethof reacts to the statements of three professors intensive care medicine on Saturday afternoon in the radio program Argos. The three conclude that…
