By Hilbert Haar MONT VERNON – On Wednesday, September 20, at 12.15 p.m. the power came back at our condo in Mont Vernon, just fifteen days after Hurricane Irma devastated the island. I still have no internet and no phone connection, but I am not complaining. Just yesterday, Phyllis Meit said on Laser 101 that she had lived through Hurricane Luis in 1995 – four months without water and electricity! This report chronicles my personal experiences at Residence Mont Vernon – located at the top of Orient Bay on the French side – during and after Hurricane Irma. It contains…
Author: The Publisher
Pond Island – TelEm Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, and Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Mr. Eldert Louisa, have praised the dedicated work of company personnel who came out hours after the passage of Hurricane Irma, on September 6th, to render assistance to customers and the general public of St. Maarten. Photo caption:Temporary cell site constructions such as this one on top of TelEm Group’s Earth Station on Pond Island is helping with vital communication links in Sucker Garden, Philipsburg and further afield days after the passage of hurricane Irma. According to the two top officials, Technical staff…
We’ve seen help coming from all corners on the French side of the island. Firefighters from Marseille, Guadeloupe and Guyana, members of the French foreign Legion from Russia – an unprecedented outpouring of assistance. The same on the Dutch side where help came from Aruba and Curacao, from Nijmegen and Friesland, and of course from many other places too. We’ve never seen so many damaged cars and shattered windshields in our life. And of course, we heard the stories about senseless looting – who needs a flatscreen TV when there is no electricity? – but we also heard Glen Carty…
PHILIPSBURG — The St. Maarten Tourist Bureau (STB) on Thursday stepped in to correct information and salvage a Spirit Airlines relief flight for Friday morning that was announced by the Prime Minister on Wednesday. To assist residents of the island of St. Maarten returning home following hurricane Irma, Spirit Airlines is operating this relief flight. The public should take note of the following: The number to call to make the reservation is 1-888-778-2436. The Spirit Airlines flight will depart Fort Lauderdale on Friday, September 22 at 9:00am and will arrive in Sint Maarten at 12noon. Travelers need to report at…
Cay Hill — Early this morning, an unidentified patient was photographed in the process of being loaded into the cabin of a Bell 430 Helicopter, owned and operated by National Helicopters Inc.. The helicopter touched down on the parking lot behind the St Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) shortly after 8.am and departed just before 9am. Photo by TODAY Photo Journalist, Milton Pieters.
“The day before, I knew I had to prepare. Having had the experience of a few hurricanes ever since childhood, and after seeing what was to come on the radar, I thought I would prepare as best as I could for the worst, and it was the most I had prepared for any hurricane,” says Rhoda Arrindell, owner of SOiL, after hurricane Irma passed through St. Maarten – destroying the business she had spent all her resources on opening it the year ago. By Julie Alcin “I went shopping with my kids and stocked up on the necessary supplies. We…
PHILIPSBURG — As the situation begins to normalize on the island of Sint Maarten and curfews issued during the evening hours, persons continue to violate this law and venture out on the streets without a hurricane pass. Between Wednesday September 20th and Thursday September 21st a total of 10 persons were arrested for the violation of the curfew. Three females in the group are also residing illegal on the island. All persons were taken to the Philipsburg Head Quarters were they will be processed and brought before the Prosecutor who will decide on how to further deal with these cases.…
PHILIPSBURG – Notice to all Sint Maarten residents: The management of Spirit Airlines, has planned a flight to Sint Maarten that will bring residents of Sint Maarten who are stranded and would like to return home from the United States of America. Residents with a Dutch passport or a valid Resident and / or Work Permit will be allowed to return to Sint Maarten. The Spirit Airlines flight will depart Fort Lauderdale on Friday, September 22 at 9 am and will arrive in Sint Maarten at 12 noon. Travelers need to report at the airport for 6 am. Reservations are…
PHILIPSBURG People of St. Maarten, Hurricane Maria, an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm, has crawled past our island, dumping a significant amount of rain and brushing us with tropical storm force winds that still keep whistling in our heads. But through it all God has been with us. We therefore need to fall on our knees and thank Him for sparing us from the real wrath of Maria which has continued on its path of destruction towards the US Virgin Islands, particularly St. Croix, and the British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our…
(CTO Release) — The minister of tourism Robert Tonge sent this update in the early hours of this morning. It’s a running commentary of affected communities, most of which may be unfamiliar to you. The prime minister’s principal adviser Hartley Henry has said prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit will be airlifted to Antigua this morning from where he’ll deliver an address from the studios of ABS television at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Caribbean Time (4:30 p.m. in the UK) Roseau: Severe flooding and heavy damage throughout the city. No fatalities reported. The hospital and community centre lost their roofs. Kings Hill badly…
