GREAT BAY — Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson believes the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) should guard its tone and refrain from levying insults towards Parliament and the government of St. Maarten. Richardson’s US party holds the political responsibility for the Ministry of Tourism and Economic Affairs and that of Justice. ~ Government will not be irresponsible in talks with the Dutch ~ He said St. Maarten has been through a disaster of epic proportions, the aftermath of which have seen the usual, proud resilience from its people. He said the SHTA…
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SXM Airport — Today another major shipment of emergency equipment arrived on Sint Maarten. An Airbus A400 from the French air force landed today on Princess Juliana International Airport bringing shelter homes, police supplies and medical supplies. The shelter homes will be used as temporary housing for people whose home has been destroyed in the hurricane. The shipment also contains important medical supplies and machines such as incubators, echoes and anesthetics equipment. The Airbus A400 of the French Armed Forces, landed today 11:30 at Princess Juliana International Airport in Philipsburg, Sint. Maarten. The Netherlands and France worked together to provide…
GREAT BAY — In an email dated October 20, 2017, Monique Hoogwerf, “Coördinator Onderwijs Caribisch gebied” wrote as follows: DUO understands that due to the passing of Hurricane Irma, many former student on St. Maarten may be unable to fulfill their obligations as it pertains to the repayment of their DUO study debt. As such, DUO has decided to provide former students residing on St. Maarten with some much needed relief by suspending all study debt repayment obligations until December 2018 via a special measure. The conditions of this special measure are: DUO must know that the student is living…
PHILIPSBURG — The Rotary Club of St Martin Sunrise continues to help with their Island’s Relief Efforts. On Saturday October 14th they donated cases of water, toys and games to 15 daycare centers. This is according to a press release issued on Friday, October 19th, 2017. The press release states that according to President Damali Bryson, the daycare centers are a group that is in constant need of these essential items and the Rotary Club was only too happy to help. In addition to the daycare centers, Rotary Club of St Martin Sunrise has been actively helping other organizations such…
CAY HILL — The Ambulance Department of the Ministry VSA and the Dutch Regional Ambulance Organisation (RAV) are teaming up to provide much needed relief to the staff of the Ambulance Department in St. Maarten. Following the devastation of hurricanes Irma and Maria, Minister Lee made a request to the Department of Foreign Affairs (BZK) in Den Haag to provide the ambulance personnel in St. Maarten with much needed relief. “We’ve recently received the final approval from BZK on our request as part of the three and a half year cooperation agreement with our counterparts from the Regional Ambulance Organization…
GREAT BAY – The new Dutch government will not have a Minister for Kingdom Relations. Instead, the portfolio has been downgraded to the level of a State Secretary. The successor of Minister Ronald Plasterk (Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations) in the new cabinet is Karin Hildur (Kajsa) Ollongren but her portfolio covers Home Affairs and Housing. Her state secretary at the ministry of Home Affairs in charge of Kingdom Relations is Raymond Knops – and that is the man St. Maarten will have to deal with. Knops turns 46 on November 10. He is a former soldier and currently a…
PHILIPSBURG — Winair’s CEO, Michael Cleaver, in an interview with TODAY News Online used the opportunity to highly commend the staff of Winair. “I am really proud of the employees. They have come through like champions.” Cleaver said. “The same goes for the workgroup working on our rebuilding efforts and for the many people, who to our surprise, even people you would not expect it from, came out and helped us tremendously. They are all champions in my book and people know I don’t say that easily.” Cleaver told Today News Online that the old office building has been gutted…
PHILIPSBURG — As a way to commemorate their 28th Anniversary, Office World donated 1000 composition books and other school supplies to the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Silveria Jacobs. The books are welcomed at an ideal time, especially after the passing of Hurricane Irma whereby many children may have lost their books and/or school supplies. Minister Jacobs expressed her congratulations and gratitude to the management and staff of Office World for serving the community and businesses with supplies for the last 28 years. “Every little bit counts and we are very happy for the donation of school supplies…
PHILIPSBURG – It is with deep concern and mounting frustration that the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) is witnessing our Government’s ongoing reluctance to engage in a cooperative dialogue with Holland with regards to securing much needed recovery funds for the country. Our unconcerned Parliament seems to sit by and let Government get away with unnecessary political games to the detriment of the recovery of the nation. This while people are without roofs, without secure income and without a strong economy to look forward to. The conditions put on the table by the Dutch, the installation of an…
PORT ST. MAARTEN – Port St. Maarten Management welcomes the news that the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), has committed to a multifaceted million-dollar campaign to display that the majority of Caribbean destinations are operating normally, unhindered by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and are ready to welcome visitors. “The FCCA and our Member Lines have been working tirelessly toward hurricane relief efforts, and this initiative is also a vital tool to assisting the Caribbean by stimulating the economy,” said Michele Paige, President, FCCA in a statement. “Many Caribbean destinations fortunately missed any impact from the hurricanes, and most affected destinations worked…
