New York Times foresees “months of duress and uncertainty”
Photo caption: Holland House Beach Hotel also completely shutdown as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. PHILIPSBURG – Most of the 51 units at the Princess Heights Boutique Condo Hotel in Oyster Pond are empty these days but its partial owner, former Minister of Public Health Emil Lee, says in an article published in the New York Times that the business More...
Pandemic drives up food prices
PHILIPSBURG – Price increases in supermarkets trigger a storm of complaints on social media. Food shoppers post pictures of items that cost a lot less two weeks ago than they do now. “They are killing More...
Report: use World Bank Trust Fund money for emergency economic response
PHILIPSBURG – Use the balance of the World Bank Trust Fund to finance a $200 million emergency economic response to support the local economy. That is the focus of a proposal by a private sector task force to More...
The Golden Guilder
On St. Maarten, banks and the government are advising the general population to use guilders as much as possible, as a way to save dollars. I agree wholeheartedly with this advice. Here is why. When the dollars More...
Business survey paints dark scenario
PHILIPSBURG – Within three to six months 45 percent of workers currently employed in the private sector will lose their jobs. This appears from a survey among 580 businesses by the St. Maarten Hospitality and More...
Private sector pleads with government for short-term rescue package
PHILIPSBURG – Private sector organizations and labor union WIFOL applaud the government’s initiative to project support for the next twelve months but they plead at the same time for a short-term rescue package More...
Recommendations for Our Challenging Times Ahead
Dear Editor, In these challenging times, we must come together to help our country of St. Maarten and her people get through yet another crisis. The impact of COVID-19 on St. Maarten likely will be far more devastating More...
Valya Pantophlet new Head of Economy, Transport & Telecommunication (ETT)
Philipsburg—After having served as the Head of the Department of Economic Licenses for the last 6 years, Valya Pantophlet has now moved on to head the division of Economy, Transport & Telecommunication (ETT). More...
Tax inspectorate issues hundreds of warrants
PHILIPSBURG – During the last three months of the year, bailiffs of the tax inspectorate issued more than 1,400 warrants to private citizens and businesses whose fiscal obligations apparently are not current. More...
A lousy day in Downtown Philipsburg
GREAT BAY — The decrease in cruise ship arrivals in St. Maarten is clearly felt by businesses in Philipsburg. Since November 1st, the start of the tourist high season, fewer of the mega-sized cruise ships More...
