SURFACE WINDS: Today through Sunday morning: East-northeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze of 09 to 15 mph.
SYNOPSIS: Despite a relatively stable atmosphere, moisture associated with a weak surface trough may cause a few brief showers. The Atlantic high-pressure system will continue to generate mostly moderate winds across the region. Seas are expected to peak at 8 feet. Small craft operators and sea bathers are advised to exercise caution.
STATE OF THE SEA: Moderate to rough WAVES/SWELLS: 6 to 8 feet
SPECIAL FEATURE: None.
OUTLOOK through Monday morning: Partly cloudy with brief showers possible.
FORECASTER: Albert
The next weather forecast will be issued today at 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC).
Forecast
Special Bulletin
WEATHER: Today through Sunday morning: Partly cloudy with a few brief showers possible.
Prime Minister of St. Maarten Silveria E. Jacobs hosted the new Dutch State Secretary of Kingdom Relations and Digitalization, Ms. Alexandra van Huffelen in her first in-person meetings during her introductory tour of St. Maarten today, Friday, February 18, 2022. The first meeting was held with the Prime Minister, followed by a meeting with the full Council of Ministers. This was followed by a meeting with the Minister of Finance. State Secretary Van Huffelen was accompanied by the Director-General of the Government Information Service Henk Brons, Director of Kingdom Relations/Countries at the Ministry of the Interior Saskia de Reuver, Dutch representative on St. Maarten Chris Johnson as well as political advisors in her delegation for all three meetings. Prime Minister Jacobs was supported by Secretary General of the Ministry of General Affairs Hensley Plantijn, as well as her senior and legal advisors in the cabinet, while the Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance Arno Peels, as well as the legal and policy advisors of the Finance Cabinet, supported the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion. The Secretary General Cassandra Jansen and secretariat staff of the Council of Ministers were also in attendance to support during all three meetings held with the State Secretary.
Throughout the three introductory meetings, a positive commitment was pledged for the realization of the desires and goals of St. Maarten based on equity while maintaining good communication and transparency, openness, building trust and an understanding of the realities on both sides including an understanding of what is/is not possible for both St. Maarten and the Netherlands. https://www.sxmgovernment.com
State Secretary Van Huffelen confirmed that the intention of the Kingdom Act COHO, currently executed by the Temporary Working Organization (TWO), is to render assistance which will continue not only in monetary form but in strengthening the basis for a more robust and resilient Government. A more cooperative relationship has been pledged for future Kingdom Relations and this includes addressing poverty, climate change, education and the environment.
Prime Minister Jacobs and her cabinet expressed the challenges that the Government of St. Maarten faces in terms of among others capacity of staff, the high cost of living, the difficulty of hiring persons due to the 12.5% cost cutting measures to increase capacity and the yearly threat of hurricanes compared to the rest of the Dutch Kingdom to State Secretary Van Huffelen. Prime Minister Jacobs informed that based on the above, an assessment should be done collaboratively, of the effects of the measures on the affected workers, to be able to decide on the best way forward regarding the temporary measures.
Updates, concerns and queries were provided by each Minister related to their respective ministry. Follow up discussions will continue with relevant Ministers as they join on the various aspects of the project tour with State Secretary Van Huffelen during her three-day visit. The work visit began with meetings today, followed by a tour of the Pointe Blanche prison with Prime Minister Jacobs and the Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson. The tour will continue with a visit to other recovery projects on Saturday and Sunday. The introductory tour with State Secretary Van Huffelen will also include visits and meetings with various key stakeholders within the community.
“Today’s face-to-face meetings were enlightening, positive and a good start to continued respectful, equitable dialogue and negotiations in the days, weeks, months and years to come in Kingdom Relations,” Prime Minister Jacobs stated.
As of February 18th, there were twelve (12) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however thirty one (31) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to one hundred (100) of which twenty five (25) are locals, twenty nine (29) are tourists and forty six (46) persons are awaiting classification. The total number of confirmed cases has increased to nine thousand five hundred twenty three (9523).
The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) are monitoring ninety six (96) people in home isolation. Four (4) patients are hospitalized at the St. Maarten Medical Center. The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 has increased to eighty four (84).
The number of people recovered since the first case surfaced on St. Maarten has increased to nine thousand three hundred thirty nine (9339). Zero (0) persons are in quarantine based on contact tracing investigations carried out by CPS.
As the numbers continue to fluctuate, CPS will continue to actively execute its contact tracing measures.
Prime Minister of St. Maarten Silveria E. Jacobs hosted the new Dutch State Secretary of Kingdom Relations and Digitalization, Ms. Alexandra van Huffelen in her first in-person meetings during her introductory tour of St. Maarten today, Friday, February 18, 2022. The first meeting was held with the Prime Minister, followed by a meeting with the full Council of Ministers. This was followed by a meeting with the Minister of Finance. State Secretary Van Huffelen was accompanied by the Director-General of the Government Information Service Henk Brons, Director of Kingdom Relations/Countries at the Ministry of the Interior Saskia de Reuver, Dutch representative on St. Maarten Chris Johnson as well as political advisors in her delegation for all three meetings. Prime Minister Jacobs was supported by Secretary General of the Ministry of General Affairs Hensley Plantijn, as well as her senior and legal advisors in the cabinet, while the Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance Arno Peels, as well as the legal and policy advisors of the Finance Cabinet, supported the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion. The Secretary General Cassandra Jansen and secretariat staff of the Council of Ministers were also in attendance to support during all three meetings held with the State Secretary.
Throughout the three introductory meetings, a positive commitment was pledged for the realization of the desires and goals of St. Maarten based on equity while maintaining good communication and transparency, openness, building trust and an understanding of the realities on both sides including an understanding of what is/is not possible for both St. Maarten and the Netherlands.
State Secretary Van Huffelen confirmed that the intention of the Kingdom Act COHO, currently executed by the Temporary Working Organization (TWO), is to render assistance which will continue not only in monetary form but in strengthening the basis for a more robust and resilient Government. A more cooperative relationship has been pledged for future Kingdom Relations and this includes addressing poverty, climate change, education and the environment.
Prime Minister Jacobs and her cabinet expressed the challenges that the Government of St. Maarten faces in terms of among others capacity of staff, the high cost of living, the difficulty of hiring persons due to the 12.5% cost cutting measures to increase capacity and the yearly threat of hurricanes compared to the rest of the Dutch Kingdom to State Secretary Van Huffelen. Prime Minister Jacobs informed that based on the above, an assessment should be done collaboratively, of the effects of the measures on the affected workers, to be able to decide on the best way forward regarding the temporary measures.
Updates, concerns and queries were provided by each Minister related to their respective ministry. Follow up discussions will continue with relevant Ministers as they join on the various aspects of the project tour with State Secretary Van Huffelen during her three-day visit. The work visit began with meetings today, followed by a tour of the Pointe Blanche prison with Prime Minister Jacobs and the Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson. The tour will continue with a visit to other recovery projects on Saturday and Sunday. The introductory tour with State Secretary Van Huffelen will also include visits and meetings with various key stakeholders within the community.
“Today’s face-to-face meetings were enlightening, positive and a good start to continued respectful, equitable dialogue and negotiations in the days, weeks, months and years to come in Kingdom Relations,” Prime Minister Jacobs stated.
New Photo 1st Visit State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen The Latest
New Photo 1st Visit State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen The Latest
New Video 1 Great Job Minister LOVING IT! The Latest
1) St Maarten businesses are majority foreign owned, they are committing crimes, they should be more than fined, they should be ARRESTED.
FULL VIDEO ARTICLE: https://stmaartennews.org/new-video-1-great-job-anna-richardson/
2) As a St Maartener, I speak to everyone, and locals and legals AGREE. 3) St Maarten people are tired of watching police and authorities drive by illegals to harass and arrest locals 4) St Maarten is a sinking ship, hurricane to pandemic, yet the parasites won’t stop feeding until the host, St Maarten is dead, then they will move on to the next. 5) I lived in America and Europe, 18 years tital by law I had to have an ID at all times, if you cannot abide by the laws and rules locals have to… DO NOT CO E 6) Macos upset by local immigration doing their job, but defending the foreign slavemasters abusing undocumented employees. 7) When Dominicanos are your main sponsors, you are NOT for the St Maarten people, isn’t that right Gtomyko? You are a foreigner, and you are for YOUR people, the politcians and foreigners is how your bread is butter. So like any, you parasitically live of this island, with no positive contribution. Attacking locals who are doing their job in their country, a country that allowed you in to criticize and condemn using fake Christianity, to fool the dotin. Hhe question is…. why not YOUR own country? Because you are the maco, that dare not criticize your own country. You can feel every one with eyes wide open prayers, but you cannot hide your hands and thoughts, from who you call the almighty. 8) Only in St Maarten they are allowed to refuse to learn English, Dutch and French. 9) How long these fake reporters in St Maarten calling themselves journalist, but writing “BRAKING NEWS”. I had to CORRECT these fake reporters and journalists, CANNOT SPELL BREAK… But on his page pretending someone wants to steal story from his page. FIRST learn the English language, or French or Dutch. If they refuse to abide by laws, SEND THEM PACKING! 10) God don’t sleep, karma is deep, everything done in darknes…must see light. 11) St Maarten can never recover, being weighed down by tens of thousands of illegals. 12) Foreigners cutting us down, diminishing and and degrading locals for foreigners, can NEVER thrive, degrading the country and its people that took you in. 13) They got issues with locals, and they have ONE CHOICE! GT FO. You will NOT dictate to us or run us in our own country. They LUCKY, I don’t head Immigration. I would pack these charlatans on the same plane with them. Send them with all illegals to CURAÇAO… OH WAIT… CURAÇAO TURNS THEM BACK AT HATO AIRPORT.
Anna needs to tell that Parasite, to TRY IT , in his country. Monkeys believe St Maarten and St Maarteners, like ME… are the right tree to climb. I will die for my country …. But I taking every sellout, fake Christian, charlatan with me.
My country that I support will bless me, cutting down people and a country that took you in means, these ungrateful big mouths will forever be cursed, in this here, MY COUNTRY. Stay blessed SXM, FAKE PRAYERS CANNOT CATCH YOU.
PHILIPSBURG, The Ombudsman of Sint Maarten, Gwendolien Mossel was recently elected with overwhelming support as a Director of the Caribbean & Latin American Region of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). With her election, Ms. Mossel joins her colleague, the Ombudsman of Curaçao Mr. Keursly Concincion, on the Board of Directors of the IOI. The International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), established in 1978, is the only global organization for the cooperation of more than 200 independent Ombudsman institutions from more than 100 countries worldwide. The IOI is organized in six regional chapters (Africa, Asia, Australasia & Pacific, Europe, the Caribbean & Latin America, and North America). In its effort to focus on good governance and capacity building, the IOI supports its members in a threefold way: training, research, and regional subsidies for projects. Ms. Mossel is looking forward to working with her colleagues on the IOI Board and is scheduled to attend the upcoming annual meeting of the IOI Board of Directors slated for May of this year in New York.
Inauguration of prison officers at the Prison and House of Detention
On Friday, February 16th, 2022, the Minister of Justice, Ms. Anna E. Richardson swore in six (6) prison officers and one civil servant at the Prison and House of Detention Sint Maarten. As of date, Xiomara F. Romney, Jermila M. Carty, Lissaira A. Ortega, Lyshon G.H. Hemmings, Oren J. Howell, Rodalio Flemming and Carlos Gomez, will officially be taking up their position as prison officer and prison sewing instructor.
The ceremony, hosted by Ms. Sabina Amparo from the human resources department, started off with a prayer by pastor Vernon Illidge followed by an opening speech by the prison director, Mr. Steven Carty, who congratulated the officers: “Today we are not only celebrating the swearing in of correction officers, but we are also acknowledging the rise of leaders. We are celebrating leaders who are committed to excellence and to professionalism. Fairness represents predominant characteristics of a grounded corrections professional, and we live it daily. We execute our responsibilities with precision, with integrity and with humility. I am honored to be part of this process and to share in this occasion and I count it my honor to be here and to be a support to my team.” The prison director thanked the Minister of Justice for making this a priority and his staff for getting the job done.
The Minister of Justice was invited to say a few words of encouragement and stated: “This day was long overdue and a longtime coming, but it finally came. Despite the length of time, the changes and the missed promises, on this day, the class of 2012 and 2014 finally crossed the proverbial stage, were recognized and officiated to be known as a prison officer. In spite of the delays, these officers remained committed and in service to the facility, the residents and the community of Sint Maarten and for that, as Minister of Justice, I am grateful. Once again, I express a heartfelt thank you to these and all officers, staff and management at the Point Blanche Prison for their committed service”.
There was much anticipation for the long-awaited swearing in ceremony. The prison is often seen as the forgotten child, and the staff have been neglected for years. The prison has been one of the main priorities of this Minister of Justice since her tenure and she will continue to fight for the urgent improvements needed within the entire prison system. During the Minister’s speech she wished the prison officers well in their chosen paths and expressed thanks to the graduates for taking up the call to serve in the justice field. “All justice agencies have a particular role to play in the justice chain, and your duty will not be overlooked”.
The prison officers, led by senior prison officer Mr. Ronald Lake, took their oath before the Minister of Justice at the prison facility in Point Blanche and received their official statutory declaration.
Carlos Gomez, who has been the sewing instructor at the prison for multiple years, was also sworn in. For years, Mr. Gomez has been responsible, together with the inmates, for creating the uniforms for prison personnel and the inmates. The uniforms worn in the photo by the prison officers were made by Mr. Gomez and the inmates. He has also been employed in Curacao for some years where he was responsible for organizing a similar sewing facility in their prison and has created uniforms for inmates and personnel there as well.
As prison officers, it is their duty to execute their profession with fairness, precision, integrity, and humility. The ceremony was well attended as the prison management team, fellow colleagues, friends and family were present to witness and celebrate the swearing in of the prison personnel and congratulated the graduates on their inauguration.
Photo from left to right: Lissaira Ortega, Jermila Carty, Xiomara Romney, Minister Anna Richardson, prison director Steven Carty, Lyshon Hemmings, Carlos Gomez, Oren Howell, Rodalio Flemming and Ronald Lake.
Members of the Committee for District Councils met with representatives of the Cay Bay Community Council during a meeting of the committee held on, February 17, 2022.4 New Videos Empty Boat Filled With Belongings Drift to Anguilla Shore NO PEOPLE President of the Community Council, Ms. Sharon Cangieter gave a presentation outlining the concerns of the community of Cay Bay in the areas of, disaster management, safety and security, sports and recreation.
The Committee for District Councils will be convening meetings with the various community councils in Sint Maarten for discussion on challenges and needs within the respective community. Previously members of the Committee of District Councils met with representatives of the Dutch Quarter Community Council.https://stmaartennews.org
