PHILIPSBURG – On Sunday afternoon, September 17, 2017, the Government of Sint Maarten – Governor Drs. Eugene Holiday and the full Council of Ministers – met with the mission team established by the Dutch Government, headed by Mr. Erwin Arkenbout and locally supported by the Representative of the Netherlands in Philipsburg (VNP), Mr. Chris Johnson. The Dutch mission is offering assistance in the recovery and rebuilding phase of Sint Maarten in areas required and desired by the government of Sint Maarten. The present mission team consists of a group of experts in various areas such as communication, telecommunication, crisis management,…
Author: The Publisher
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Philipsburg, Sint Maarten (17 September 2017)—Prime Minister The Honorable William Marlin of Sint Maarten releases the following briefing on the infrastructure, along with words of thanks. Please note that all was current at press time and is subject to change as work and talks progress. ROADS Main roads are cleared and work continues on inner roads to the districts. ELECTRICITY / WATER Several districts have received electricity and water thus far. Emphasis and priority is being placed in this regard also for the schools to receive the same. TELEPHONE / INTERNET SERVICE Major telecommunication services including TELEM and UTS is functioning, however…
PHILIPSBURG — On Friday September 15th 47 police officers from the Netherlands arrived on Sint Maarten and also on Sunday September 17th 8 officers from the BES-islands (Caribisch Nederland) and 13 from the V.K.C (Curacao) arrived on the island to assist the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) in collaboration with police forces from Aruba and Curacao, the Royal Marechausse, the Customs department, V.K.S and the Dutch Marines in helping country Sint Maarten get back on track after the devastation by hurricane Irma. They will assist in various assigned tasks including combating the violation of the curfew, dealing with looters…
Simpson Bay — On the 6th of September powerful category five storm Hurricane Irma struck Sint Maarten with 185 MPH winds, causing widespread damage to the island and its infrastructure. The storm also caused significant damage to the island’s nature and environment prompting the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation to conduct rapid qualitative assessments to determine the level of impact. Terrestrial and Marine Assessments were carried out from the 12th to the 16th of September and will continue after the passing of Hurricane Maria. Terrestrial Impacts: Hurricane Irma caused significant damage to the island’s flora. The majority of large trees, some…
GREAT BAY — On Sunday morning, the Prime Minister of Dominica, the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit paid a brief courtesy visit to the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, the Honouorable William Marlin. The Dominica Prime Minister said that he had to come personally to express sympathies to the government and people of Sint Maarten, because of the longstanding bond and friendship with Sint Maarten. The Prime Minister expressed the willingness of his government to assist with water, dry goods and some time next week, a shipment of provisions, plantains and avocados will also be sent. Sint Maarten’s Prime Minister gave a…
GREAT BAY — Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunications (TEATT) Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher met with the management team of TEATT on Saturday to discuss strategy and actions moving forward for the entire Ministry. Discussions during the meeting on Saturday centered around the Ministry’s vital input in drafting a short and long term economic recovery plan, with a tourism recovery plan at its core. The formalizing of this cohesive plan will also include other departments and arms of government, however, the Minister stressed, TEATT because of its sheer nature will play an important role. The Minister has been active with…
SXM Airport — Minister Responsible for Civil Aviation and the airport Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher on Sunday reported that almost 9,000 people have been evacuated from St. Maarten after the passing of hurricane Irma. The Minister has been present at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) almost every day to assist in the coordinating of the evacuation flights. As of Sunday, September 17, the Dutch Military moved 1,569 people to Curacao, the US military moved approximately 1,800 people, evacuations using commercial aircraft were approximately 4,000 people (including private charters), about 600 people were moved by Royal Caribbean cruise liners Majesty of the…
I am standing in line – or rather in a disorganized congregation of desperate souls- in the parking lot of St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport, once the second busiest airport in the Caribbean, now a shell of sheetrock, concrete, metal and glass; the main terminal building is completely gutted. My partner is some feet away, seeking shelter from the searing mid-day sun in the shadow of a delivery van flipped unto its side, all its windows blown out and its bonnet lying across the street. On the van’s bent fender a parrot is inexplicably perched, ogling the some one-thousand…
GREAT BAY — On Friday, September 15, the French authorities, represented by the Prefet Madame Anne Laubies and President Daniel Gibbs met with the Governor, drs. Eugene Holiday, and the Council of Ministers of Sint Maarten to discuss the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. The meeting continued with the Governor and a delegation of the Council of Ministers consisting of the Prime Minister, Mr. William Marlin, and Minister of Justice, Mr. Rafael Boasman, on Saturday afternoon, September 16. The curfew between Sint Maarten and Saint Martin, which was the source of misunderstandings was synchronized. Authorities agreed that effective Sunday, September 17,…
Philipsburg — Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher has asked residents to be vigilant and report all instances of price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The Minister had already received reports of price gouging before the hurricane impacted the area, and now wants to send a clear message to businesses that this will not be tolerated. Heavy fines will be issued to any supermarket, lumber company, ect., caught charging exorbitant prices. The public is also being asked to save their receipts and report suspected price gouging. This will assist the Economic Inspection Department is controlling and…
