PHILIPSBURG - All Windward Island Bank (WIB) branches will close at 2.00pm on Friday, September 20 with respect to the passing of Hurricane Jerry. The bank will resume regulare banking services on Monday, September 23rd.
PHILIPSBURG - Due to impending weather conditions, SZV offices and phone lines will be closed today at 2:00pm. Our office will resume regular opening hours on Monday September 23rd. For updates and general information, visit our website www.szv.sx or Facebook page: SZV Social & Health Insurance.
PHILIPSBURG - On Wednesday, September 18th, 2019, the patrol from Philipsburg Police Station was directed to a popular restaurant on the L.B. Scott road where an armed robbery had taken place, police said in a statement on Thursday evening.
According to information gathered at the scene, three masked men dressed in black entered the establishment about 22.30 in the evening. Two of the three suspects were brandishing firearms and under threat robbed the cashiers of the cash.
The robbers also took cellular phones and money from all the patrons in the restaurant before escaping on foot in the direction of St. Johns. The Special Robbery Unit and the Forensics Department are investigating this serious matter.
The Police Force of Sint Maarten is requesting the community to assist with information that can lead to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. (Sint Maarten Police Force)
GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), announces that the water drainage system along the Walter Nisbeth Road on the Pondfill will be cleaned on Sunday, September 22.
The aforementioned will take place from 8.00AM to 5.00PM on Sunday. The contractor is Gardenboyz Cleaning Services.
The works will start from the drain area opposite Beach Plaza Casino and end at the old NV GEBE building.
The drain cleaning works entail the removal of the concrete slabs that cover the drain; removal of the dirt, sludge built up, and debris. An excavator will be used to remove the aforementioned.
The materials collected will be placed into a dump truck and transported to the Pond Island Landfill. A septic truck will also be onsite. Pressurized water will be used to clean out the drains.
Ministry VROMI is seeking the cooperation from business owners and residents along the aforementioned stretch of road where the works will be carried out to park their vehicles on the other side of the road. This will facilitate the quick cleaning of the drainage system.
Motorists are advised to be vigilant and observant of the heavy equipment that will be in use in the aforementioned area.
Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.
SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS - The Honorable Stuart Johnson, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication is in The Netherlands where he spent much of Wednesday speaking with the Netherlands Bureau for Tourism & Conventions (NBTC) on solidifying collaboration agreements for improving St. Maarten's Marketing Strategy.
Johnson, who adjusted the first half of the planned European Tour to promote St. Maarten, wasted no time on arrival in The Netherlands. He has already met with the Partnership Development Manager Thijs de Groot and the Project Manager for Strategy and Branding Emilie Zonnevylle for the NBTC. During Wednesday's meeting, Johnson discussed with NBTC how St. Maarten can improve its branding effort with some support and how the island can benefit from expanded use and gathering of information.
He said improving the way we collect and use data can assist St. Maarten, where it pertains plans for increased brand recognition. "In general, creating a better and more sustainable strategy for branding St. Maarten as a preferred vacation destination is our ultimate goal," said Johnson.
According to Johnson, there has to be a "paradigm shift" in terms of how we brand the destination. Increased focus will be put into deciphering what the data collected by TEATT from visitors and focus groups are saying about St. Maarten as a vacation destination.
Johnson said, "The discussions were fruitful and will continue as the NBTC and TEATT through the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau STB, work on details of their plans including Kingdom relation-building."
The NBTC 2030 development plans titled, Perspective 2030 was shared and highlighted with a presentation to Johnson and his delegation.
"We must focus on quality tourism for our country and continue to lead by example in every sector of the industry," Johnson stated.
Some of the areas identified for improving St. Maarten's destination marketing strategy include, Influence marketing putting more of our local artist out into the wider-world to sell the destination. He explained that where it concerns Influence Marketing, it is an opportunity to both showcase the local talent and use their skillsets as artists to captivate their audience and promote St. Maarten.
"The plan is also to increase our reach through networking and to solidify our message of being open for business as "the best vacation destination on earth" by capitalizing on positive stories from visitors to further strengthen our message," said Johnson.
PHILIPSBURG - The Philipsburg Jubilee Library will be temporarily closed for staff training on the mornings of Monday, September 23 rd & Monday September 30 th , 2019, until 2:00 pm.
The library will re-open on said days from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, the library has re-opened at its new location upstairs on the second floor of the Adolphus Richardson Office Machines building at Walter Nisbeth Road 3.
The library continues to offer customers access to our range of library materials, such as the children’s collection and a small selection of Adult Fiction and Non- Fiction, our Internet Café, photocopying and a cozy atmosphere where children and persons of all ages can learn, read and experience the wonderful world of books.
The normal opening hours of the library are Mondays, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Tuesdays through Fridays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Saturdays 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. For the aforementioned Mondays the opening hours will be 2 pm to 5 pm. The library would like to apologize for the inconvenience this may cause to our loyal patrons.
PHILIPSBURG - On Wednesday morning September 18th, 2019, about 08.00 am the patrol from Philipsburg was directed to the Dollison drive whereby a man threatened his parents with a firearm, police said on Wednesday.
After a short investigation at the location, the patrol arrested the man with the initials R.D.P.F. for threat with a firearm. After being detained the suspect was brought over to the police station in Philipsburg and held for further investigation.
A search was done at the house of the suspect, but no firearm was found. This investigation is ongoing. (Sint Maarten Police Force)
PHILIPSBURG - It is with great sadness, that the management and staff of Police Force of Sint Maarten announce the unexpected death of their beloved former colleague and friend, Inspector Eric E.F WIEL.
Inspector E.E.F Wiel had served in the Police Force for about than 46 years. He has worked on the islands of St. Eustatius and St. Maarten before his retirement about two-years ago.
Inspector E.E.F Wiel was the team leader at the traffic department for many years. He has been a role model and mentor for many of the younger officers working under his command.
He was very hard working, reliable and loyal to the police force. He will be surely missed. Deepest sympathy goes out to his entire family and all friends, from the management Team and entire staff of the St. Maarten Police Force (KPSM).
COLE BAY - On Monday September 16th, 2019 about 09.45, the police patrol arrested the notorious burglar A.R. on the Waterfront road, police said on Tuesday.
The suspect was taken into custody after burglarizing two businesses in the area of Cole Bay. After being detained he was taken to the police station in Philipsburg where he is being held for questioning. (Sint Maarten Police Force)
SINT MAARTEN/TRINIDAD - Nine Caribbean Airlines employees participated in the 2019 edition of the prestigious World Airline Road Race (WARR), held in Amsterdam from September 05-09.
Now in its 38th year, WARR is a professionally run volunteer-driven four-day event, put on by airline members who host fellow colleagues in their home country.
WARR is one of the largest annual airline athletic events in the world, attracting over 1,500 participants from 60-plus airlines. The race brings together employees, family and friends from the airline community across the globe, fostering team-building and great camaraderie.
Caribbean Airlines was proud to have a team represent the airline for yet another year. The Caribbean Airlines Team participated in both the 5K and 10K races and successfully completed both events.