December 31, 2025 No comments
Port St. Maarten to Welcome New Year with Dual Inaugural Calls from Sun Princess and Allura
PORT ST. MAARTEN – Port St. Maarten Group (PSG) is proud to announce a historic start to the New Year as it welcomes two magnificent vessels for their maiden calls to the "Friendly Island." On January 1, 2026, the Port will host Princess Cruises' next-generation masterpiece, the Sun Princess, alongside Oceania Cruises’ elegant new addition, the Allura. This double inaugural visit underscores St. Maarten’s enduring appeal as a premier Caribbean destination and highlights the Port’s capacity to handle the industry’s most advanced and luxurious ships simultaneously. The arrival of the Sun Princess, the largest ship ever constructed for Princess Cruises, represents a significant milestone in maritime engineering and guest experience. Boasting innovative architectural designs and sustainable liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology, the vessel brings...
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December 30, 2025 No comments
House Fire in Ebenezer Contained. One Resident Treated for Smoke Inhalation
SINT MAARTEN (EBENEZER) - In the early morning hours of Monday, December 30, 2025, just before 3:00 AM, officers of the St. Maarten Police Force (KPSM) and personnel from the Fire Department responded to reports of a house fire in Ebenezer. Upon arrival, emergency responders found the residence fully engulfed in flames. A preliminary assessment confirmed that all residents had safely evacuated the property prior to the arrival of emergency services. Fire Department personnel acted swiftly to bring the blaze under control, preventing the fire from spreading to neighboring properties. One resident was subsequently treated at the scene by ambulance personnel for smoke inhalation. The Forensic Department and Fire Department are currently conducting a joint investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
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December 28, 2025 No comments
MP Ludmila de Weever: An Early Voice for Environmental Awareness in Sint Maarten
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Green Dream Projects Foundation proudly recognizes MP Ludmila de Weever for her early and meaningful contribution to environmental awareness in Sint Maarten. Her advocacy was featured on the cover of EnviroNews in August 2007, at a time when public engagement on plastic reduction and sustainable consumer behavior was still developing across the island. The photograph captures MP Ludmila de Weever holding a reusable cloth bag printed with the message “Thank You For Not Using Plastic! Sint Maarten.” The image represents a practical, community-centered approach to environmental action—encouraging residents to reduce single-use plastics through simple, visible choices that connect daily life with environmental responsibility. Notably, the same issue of EnviroNews also featured my article...
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December 28, 2025 No comments
Beyond Kultura finalizing Reading Program 2025 in Sint Maarten
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Beyond Kultura Events Foundation (BKEF) has conducted its reading program in schools from September-December 2025. At the start of the school year, the books of ‘Martino, the Salty story of a Slave boy’ (bilingual Dutch/English) by author Loekie Morales and ‘From Slavery to Freedom’ written by several Kingdom wide authors, were distributed to the primary and high schools in Sint Maarten, Saba and Statia for reading purposes. The Oranje Primary school in St. Maarten, which in January 2026 will be celebrating 175 years of existence, was visited by Doris Dedier, our Beyond Kultura certified reader and storyteller. She conducted a combination of reading and storytelling. The students were also engaged in acting out the stories that were told. The Freckle Bunch-Tropical Shelter book by Loekie Morales, served...
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December 28, 2025 No comments
Minister Plenipotentiary Emphasizes the Importance of Forums such as the 36th InterExpo Kingdom Relations Congress
THE NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE) – Minister Plenipotentiary Her Excellency Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell attended the 36th InterExpo Kingdom Relations Congress in The Hague, held under the theme “Fifteen Years After 10/10/10.” The three-day congress brought together political leaders, academics, policymakers, and experts from across the Kingdom to reflect fifteen years of constitutional development and to engage in dialogue on the future of Kingdom relations. Reflecting on the congress, the Minister Plenipotentiary emphasized the importance of forums such as InterExpo: “Thirty- six years marks a unique opportunity to reflect on more than three decades of dialogue, and to document key outcomes of this important forum. Such a record enables the countries and other participants to respond meaningfully and to prepare effectively for the...
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