PHILIPSBURG — Today photo journalist took a series of photographs of buildings whose roofs have withstood the category 6 storm force winds of Hurricane Irma without much of a scratch. You can view these photographs below and see for yourself. When questioned about this phenomenon, architect Julian Bruney, of Independent Drafting, Estate Development & Surveying (I.D.E.A.S.), told this newspaper that this had everything to do with the pitch of the roofs. “Anything above a 22-degrees pitch withstand storm force winds better.” says Bruney. “The higher the pitch, the better they stand. The old people always build that way.” Bruney explains…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG — UTS employees and management are positive and full of resolve following a full status-check of company, staff and operations following the passing of hurricanes Irma and Maria. After carrying out as many emergency repairs as possible, around the clock, during the past weeks, a full assessment was done to cover the entire scope of damage and repairs needed to restore full mobile and broadband internet service to our Eastern Caribbean islands. The company’s infrastructure sustained major damages as a result of the aforementioned hurricanes, with hurricane force winds bringing down the main telecommunication tower on the roof of…
PHILIPSBURG — Former general manager of Telem and UTS, Mr. Dennis Franklin Rombley, has passed away. From 1979 Mr. Rombley served in various roles at Landsradio from Technical manager, project manager and eventually General Manager of Landsradio and the restructuring and rebranding of the company to Telem in 1995. During this year he coordinated rebuilding of the telecom network after the devastation of Hurricane Luis. In 1996 he was appointed general manager of Antelecom, which was rebranded as UTS until 2001. Serving as secretary of Island government telecom committee as to research the Telecom Market on St Maarten. Then Eventually…
MONT VERNON – Now that the airport in L’Espérance near Grand Case has reopened for commercial flights, the army that was based there has relocated to nearby Mont Vernon, around the funeral home that belongs to Etienne ‘Toochie’ Meyers. On Saturday evening, the first convoy of army tucks arrived at the location. Later that same evening, helicopters of the French armée de terre (ground troops) started flying on and off to the new army base. This operation continued on Sunday. Photo caption: The French military has established its base at the funeral home of Toochie Meyers in Mont Vernon –…
The ambition to rebuild St. Maarten as fast as possible is understandable. Everybody wants to go back to business as usual, the economy needs to get going and people need jobs and an income. But fast is not always good and even though we are not into advice, we’d like to note that it is better to think first and act later. The destruction Hurricane Irma has inflicted on our island ought to serve as a lesson. The devastating storm has relentlessly exposed our weak points – in construction in particular. Rebuilding cannot be more of the same. If you…
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten (Sunday September 24th, 2017) — Social & Health Insurances SZV will re-open Monday thru Friday as of Monday September 25th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm permitting stable electricity, water and internet connections. SZV will re-open one central office location offering limited services primarily for ZV insured customers and slowly expand over the coming weeks towards normal operations, conditions permitting. Scheduled appointments up until September 29th will be re-scheduled by SZV and customers will be contacted, eliminating the need to visit the office to re-schedule. “We are happy to have the office open again to the public,…
PHILIPSBURG – Due to the severe damage that was caused by Hurricane Irma to both the social and economic infrastructure of Sint Maarten, the Government of Sint Maarten will develop a national recovery plan to guide the reconstruction and recovery of Sint Maarten. A work group to draft the National Recovery Plan was established by national decree. The work group will take the various damage and needs assessments into consideration and will consult both local and international stakeholders as part of the assignment to draft a comprehensive national recover plan that will serve as a roadmap for the reconstruction and…
“Two days after Irma people had no more food and water” By Hilbert Haar GREAT BAY – Radio station Laser 101 was the heart and soul of the disastrous month of September that began with Hurricane Irma. The nine members of the station’s hurricane team started broadcasting a day and a half before Irma devastated the island with two things in mind: providing up-to-date accurate information and keeping morals on the highest possible level. Radio station Laser 101 was the island’s heart and soul The station passed this test on both counts with flying colors, as anyone who tuned in…
Pond Island – TelEm Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, is instructing all company personnel to report for work 9 a.m. Monday, September 25th, to begin the process of normal work routines following the passage of Hurricane Irma and Tropical Storm Maria. Shortly before the passage of Hurricane Irma, all staff were ordered home until further notice to prepare for the storm. On Friday, Mr. Dupersoy said the company’s main building on Pond Island is now receiving water and power from GEBE and also the main backup generator is in good working condition. The TelEm Group building has…
PHILIPSBURG — Based on reliable information, the Detective Department with assistance from the police forces of Aruba and Curacao, the Netherlands, Caribbean Netherlands, the Royal Marechausse, VKC, VKS, the Custom Department, Coast Guard and Dutch Marines presently on the island have started investigations against persons who have been involved in the looting of large amounts of merchandise in the aftermath of hurricane “Irma”. Police starts criminal investigations based on reliable information On Thursday September 21st a male suspect identified with initials S.C. was arrested at his home in Philipsburg for the possession of a large quantity of stolen items for…
