PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), Department of Infrastructure Management was busy on Saturday night and Sunday cleaning up after the torrential rainfall event that the country experienced on Saturday evening, according to department head Claudius Buncamper.

On Sunday morning infrastructure crews started to clear drains and waterways as well as other road debris from small rock falls to other debris that washed unto the road from more than six inches of rainfall that the country received.

Storm water pumps will remain operational until water levels in the Salt Pond and Fresh Water Ponds reach an acceptable level.

A number of the country’s roads were flooded as well as surrounding areas including Zaegersgut road, Bush road and partially the L.B. Scott road.

A trench was dug on the beach near the Sonesta Great Bay Hotel & Casino in order to facilitate the large volume of rainwater that had collected in the Fresh Water Pond basin to flow into Great Bay. Current floodgates could not contain the volume of water and therefore were breached.

Link 1, phase 2 in Cay Hill was closed to all motorized traffic due to rock falls in that particular area.

An infrastructure preliminary assessment carried out revealed that there was some serious flooding in the Cay Hill area in the vicinity of the St. Maarten Medical Center.

Puma road and the Octavious Richardson Street were flooded out completely. The residential areas of St. Peters and Ebenezer experienced a lot of water, but no serious flooding was detected in an initial on scene assessment by public works.

In Suckergarden and Arch road, flooding took place. Several vehicles ended up in the trench due to the high water levels while other cars stalled on the country’s road network. The Police assisted in removing the vehicles from the trenches.

The Dutch Quarter area also experienced serious flooding in the area of Quiltor drive, but as the water subsided vehicular traffic was able to navigate through the area.

The Cole Bay area suffered some serious flooding especially on Orange Grove road, Wellington road, Wigley Street, and Washington Street. Water levels were very high and moving fast. Public works immediately closed off these areas and re-opened them once water levels subsided and passage through those streets was declared safe.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten —Arlene Halley, co-Director of National Institute of the Arts (NIA), was among six persons who were inducted into the Order of Orange Nassau during this year’s King’s Day celebration at Fort Amsterdam.

Halley, who along with Clara Reyes, guides St. Maarten’s newest performing arts institution NIA, became a Member in the Order of Orange Nassau as a result of her years of dedication and work in the fields of education, arts and culture.

For Halley, news of the induction came as a complete surprise.
“I was astonished really, but I was also completely elated. What was really interesting to read was the documentation that was involved with the process; the recommendations and the supporting letters that went in. Reading through all of that was like reading a resume of my life. It gave me new perspective on my contributions to education, youth and dance. When you are doing things, you know, often you do them not because you are looking for any rewards or acknowledgments; you do them because they are your passion or because you know that it is in the best interest of young people and of your island, so to read through and reflect on my journey from other people's perspectives was quite fascinating," Halley said.

Halley said she was thrilled to be a part of the entire King’s Day celebration, the first of its kind in over a century. She said that this year’s event, honoring a king instead of a queen for the first time in 123 years, signaled the fact that change and continuity can go hand and hand. Halley’s careers in art and education have also been one of transformations and adjustments, though anchored in her steadfast devotion to her love of the arts. She said that this induction has only strengthened her desire to remain on her path.

"It is just added motivation to continue doing what I have been doing over the years and now with this new vehicle that is NIA. At NIA we aim to lay the strongest foundation of excellence in culture and arts, so that future generations can both look back and enjoy what we did, but also immerse themselves in the various forms of arts and continue to build on what we have developed. That is central to our mission and I think that this induction acknowledges not only the kind of work that I have done, but also the work that we are doing and will continue to do," Halley said.

Halley said that she was extremely pleased to hear the governor reiterate his support for the creation of a national centre for the performing arts during his address.

“It is important that the performing arts continue to develop into the future and in order to ensure this we must provide a physical space where performance artists can go and exhibit their talents, the skills they have honed in classes and so on. So to hear the governor again acknowledge the need for such was very powerful,” Halley said.

She said that she wanted to thank those who had nominated her and who had submitted supporting letters on her behalf.

“Reading through those beautiful words really touched me and I am honored, not only by the induction, or its ceremony, but also by the people who think so highly of my contribution to arts and education on St. Maarten,” Halley said.

SIMPSON BAY, Sint Maarten - The link between Sports and Education should be an obvious one, so when former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell came calling, we at SXM were most happy to assist her in her efforts,” said Regina LaBega, managing director of Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM).

The Symposium will be held from 8 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, May 10, at the National Institute of Professional Advancement (NIPA), in Cay Hill, under the theme, “Creating Better Students and Athletes Through the Interplay of Sports and Education.”

It will feature workshops by St. Maarten and international presenters on topics such as “Sports, Health and Nutrition,” “Education and Sports,” “The Role of Coaches,” “Women in Sports,” and “Athletes and Drugs” among others.

Coordinator of the Symposium, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell expressed gratitude to the  “SXM family for your generous contribution toward our efforts.”  The Symposium is open free to the general public.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens Philip would like to congratulate Sint Maarten Mother’s and Grandmother’s on Mother’s Day, Sunday May 11.

Mother’s Day, has been internationally accepted as the day where many citizens around the world observe, recognize and appreciate the contributions made by this special individual.

Minister Lourens says Sint Maarten mothers and grandmothers have made immeasurable contributions to their families and children, and congratulates them on this special day for the nurturing role that they play in life and in society.

“On Mother’s Day let us embrace our mother’s and grandmother’s, and show them our appreciation and gratitude for what they have given us every day of the year.  Mother’s build progressive and strong societies.

“On behalf of the Council of Ministers, my family, and I take this opportunity to extend best wishes and to salute all our mothers and grandmothers, as well as to those fathers who carry out the role of both mother and father, by thanking them for being there for us through thick and thin and for their selfless devotion to the family. 

“May God bless them all,” Minister of Education Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip said on Friday.