INTERNATIONAL, 24 February 2020, Health - While a sudden increase in new cases of COVID-19 is of concern, the spread of coronavirus is not yet a pandemic, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday. “Does this virus have pandemic potential? Absolutely, it has. Are we there yet? From our assessment, not yet,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists in Geneva. "My strong appeal to all countries is to assume their responsibilities and to know that they can fully count on the @WHO to support them in that effort," -- UN Secretary-General visits the World Health Organization, meets with @DrTedros, discusses #COVID19 outbreak. He explained that the decision to use the word ‘pandemic’ is based on an ongoing assessment of the geographical spread of the virus, the severity of disease it causes, and the impact on society. “For the moment, we are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this...
INTERNATIONAL, 24 February 2020, Human Rights - People’s basic human rights – their birth-right – are “under assault”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday, as he launched a Call to Action aimed at boosting equality and reducing suffering everywhere. People’s basic human rights – their birth-right – are “under assault”, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday, as he launched a Call to Action aimed at boosting equality and reducing suffering everywhere.“Human rights are our ultimate tool to help societies grow in freedom,” he told Member States on the opening day of the UN Human Rights Council’s 43rd session in Geneva."Human rights are about the dignity & worth of the human person. They expand the horizons of hope, enlarge the boundaries of the possible & unleash the best of ourselves & our world."-- @antonioguterres at the Human Rights Council. http://bit.ly/3c90zC7 “To ensure equality for women and girls. To advance sustainable development. To prevent conflict, reduce human suffering and build a just and equitable world.In his speech to...
INTERNATIONAL, 24 February 2020, SDGs - Because the production of everything we eat transforms the environment, the United Nations agriculture chief told a high-level UN meeting on biodiversity that careful discussions are needed to decide on the scale of acceptable transformations. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), told negotiators on Monday that as agriculture and food systems are “at the heart of the concept of sustainable development”, they are central to deliberations regarding the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework, which is expected to be adopted at the UN Biodiversity Conference in October. Negotiations have begun in Rome for a new global agreement to safeguard all life on Earth.196 Parties to the CBD are debating a 'zero draft' of the #biodiversity2020 framework to be adopted at #COP15 in October.https://cbd.int/doc/press/2020/pr-2020-02-24-post2020-en.pdf …Photos ©FAO/Alessandra Benedetti “Biodiversity is fundamental for ecosystems, for human beings, and is the basis of food diversity," said Mr. Qu, opening the second meeting of the Open-ended Working Group established by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which FAO is hosting. He spoke about the enormous challenge of feeding more than nine billion people in 2050 – in ways that assure healthy diets while not overexploiting natural resources. “I...
INTERNATIONAL, 24 February 2020, Peace and Security - It is no longer enough to reaffirm past agreements on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to a senior UN envoy, who said on Monday that it is time to “find our way back to a mutually agreed mediation framework” to resume meaningful negotiations towards a two-State solution. “While there may be different interpretations and proposals how, this remains our shared objective”, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov said, briefing the UN Security Council via video conference from Jerusalem. Before updating the members on the situation on the ground, he began by detailing a developing situation that began over the weekend after Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it had fired at two Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants who were attempting to plant an explosive device along the Gaza perimeter fence. “Since then more than 60 rockets have been fired...
SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) – Member of Parliament (MP) Silveria Jacobs, currently serving as Prime
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – On Friday, February 21, 2020 Members of Parliament (MPs) participated in
SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – The St Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) in collaboration
SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) – The 40th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is taking place from
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – The Windward Islands Bank (WIB) has alerted its clients to fraudulent and suspicious emails that
SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) – The central dispatch directed the police patrol to the Welfare road on Saturday morning February
GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Student Erolene Mingo’s poster that was submitted to the Caribbean Mosquito Awareness (CMAW) Competition
SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND)—The Department of Interior and Kingdom Relations (BAK) continues their awareness campaign, under the slogan: “St. Maarten plastic-free by 2023”. In the coming weeks, the plastic free by 2023 campaign will actively engage the community and schools. Information about the dangers of single-use plastic will be shared and ideas will be provided on how you can reduce your single plastic use and use alternative products. In addition, BAK initiated two school competitions thereby actively involving our students in the awareness and in the process of being “plastic-free by 2023”. Our students play a significant role in shaping the future of St. Maarten. As such Schoolboards have been requested to have all primary and secondary schools participate in the competition. The first competition is a creative logo competition in which students are asked to design a logo for “plastic free by 2023”. Per school a logo will selected...
SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is well-known among racing sailors for its close and intense competition. But the 40th Anniversary Edition of the event, scheduled for March 5-8, is also an island-wide festival of sailing, parties and music. And if you’re a cruising sailor visiting the islands, the best way to participate is to hoist sail and join the on-the-water fun. And the easiest, coolest way to do that is sign up for the Island Time class, the division especially created and designed for cruising sailors. Sponsored by Hank Schmitt—who runs the free crew network Offshore Passage Opportunities (www.sailopo.com) and organizes the annual NARC Rally from Newport, R.I. to St Maarten—the Island Time class is now in its fifth year. “A lot of cruisers raced when they were younger, and still have those competitive juices,” said Schmitt. “But they don’t have a race boat and...
SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – Despite the fact that all stakeholders agree on the necessity for adequate victim support, Sint Maarten still has no victim support office or any structural form of support for crime victims. The Law Enforcement Council is sounding the alarm. Since 2012, the Council has, in multiple reports - including its initial report: ‘Victim support in Sint Maarten’, the ‘State of law enforcement’ and in the meantime, two review inspections - tried to draw attention to the importance and urgency of setting up and arranging victim support. In that context, the Council has made recommendations to achieve this and, where necessary, carry out improvements. However, after seven years, the Council has to conclude that despite the fact that all parties involved have subscribed to the need for victim support, this has not yet led to the establishment of a victim support office or any structural form of...
SINT MAARTEN (CAY HILL) - St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) recently purchased a new mobile X-Ray Machine to help broaden the scope of medical care given at the hospital. The new General Electric Optima Digital Portable X-Ray Machine will be used to take portable X-Ray images of critical patients on the wards who cannot be transported to the Radiology Department for various reasons. Supervisor of SMMC’s Radiology Department, Johan Sabajo said “after undergoing successful application training on the technical aspects of machine handling and operational techniques to capture high-quality radiology images, we are pleased to announce that the new mobile X-Ray machine is fully operational. While this machine replaces our previous portable machine, the application training for the new digital machine has certainly helped us improve our skills in taking digital portable X-Rays.” The new mobile X-Ray Machine replaces an older one and will be used for diagnostic purposes for...
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on, February 26, 2020. The Continuation Central Committee meeting which was adjourned on February 18,...
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on, February 26, 2020. The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 11.00 hrs....
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The House of Parliament will sit in a Plenary Public session on Wednesday, February 26, 2020. The Public meeting is scheduled for 1.00 hrs. in the...
SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - The deadline for Carnival 2020 registered booth holders to make full payment for their alotted booth is Monday, March 2. The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation...
SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - Motorists have a number of options to pay their 2020 vehicle tax. At the Receiver’s office in the Government Administration Building in Philipsburg or at...
SINT MAARTEN/MIAMI – Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL), working in partnership with St. Maarten port representatives, has taken a significant step in advancing its
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – This year’s Saint Martin / Sint Maarten Annual Trade Show (SMART) will be hosted at the new Secrets Saint Martin
SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – The deadline for Carnival 2020 registered booth holders to make full payment for their alotted booth is Monday, March 2. The
SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) – Motorists have a number of options to pay their 2020 vehicle tax. At the Receiver’s office in the Government Administration
SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND)—The Department of Interior and Kingdom Relations (BAK) continues their awareness campaign, under the slogan: “St. Maarten plastic-free by 2023”. In the
SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) – The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is well-known among racing sailors for its close and intense competition. But the 40th Anniversary
SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – Despite the fact that all stakeholders agree on the necessity for adequate victim support, Sint Maarten still has no victim support
SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS – Large open plan offices are having a major impact on worker health, with noise, loss of concentration and headaches among the
SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS – Couples who divorce wil be at less risk of having to sell their home under reforms to the National Mortgage Guarantee
SINT MAARTEN (DUTCH QUARTER) – On Tuesday morning at about 10:00 am the central dispatch received a call from a supermarket in the Dutch Quarter
SINT MAARTEN (MAHO) – The Police Patrols were directed to a jewelry store in the vicinity of Maho on Saturday night, February 22nd, 2020, at
SAINT MARTIN (ORIENT BAY) – It’s a wrap for the Caribbean Foiling Championships after 3 days of racing in kitefoiling and windfoiling, despite unusual light
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on, February 26, 2020. The Continuation Central Committee meeting which
PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST FOR ST. MAARTEN DATE ISSUED: Monday, February 24, 2020 @ 18:00 LST (22:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday evening (18:00 LST) February 25, 2020
SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND)—The Department of Interior and Kingdom Relations (BAK) continues their awareness campaign, under the slogan: “St. Maarten plastic-free by 2023”. In the coming weeks, the plastic free by 2023 campaign will actively engage the community and schools. Information about the dangers of single-use plastic will be shared and ideas will be provided on how you can reduce your single plastic use and use alternative products. In addition, BAK initiated two school competitions thereby actively involving our students in the awareness and in the process of being “plastic-free by 2023”. Our students play a significant role in shaping the future of St. Maarten. As such Schoolboards have been requested to have all primary and secondary schools participate in the competition. The first competition is a creative logo competition in which students are asked to design a logo for “plastic free by 2023”. Per school a logo will selected...
SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is well-known among racing sailors for its close and intense competition. But the 40th Anniversary Edition of the event, scheduled for March 5-8, is also an island-wide festival of sailing, parties and music. And if you’re a cruising sailor visiting the islands, the best way to participate is to hoist sail and join the on-the-water fun. And the easiest, coolest way to do that is sign up for the Island Time class, the division especially created and designed for cruising sailors. Sponsored by Hank Schmitt—who runs the free crew network Offshore Passage Opportunities (www.sailopo.com) and organizes the annual NARC Rally from Newport, R.I. to St Maarten—the Island Time class is now in its fifth year. “A lot of cruisers raced when they were younger, and still have those competitive juices,” said Schmitt. “But they don’t have a race boat and...
SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – Despite the fact that all stakeholders agree on the necessity for adequate victim support, Sint Maarten still has no victim support office or any structural form of support for crime victims. The Law Enforcement Council is sounding the alarm. Since 2012, the Council has, in multiple reports - including its initial report: ‘Victim support in Sint Maarten’, the ‘State of law enforcement’ and in the meantime, two review inspections - tried to draw attention to the importance and urgency of setting up and arranging victim support. In that context, the Council has made recommendations to achieve this and, where necessary, carry out improvements. However, after seven years, the Council has to conclude that despite the fact that all parties involved have subscribed to the need for victim support, this has not yet led to the establishment of a victim support office or any structural form of...
SINT MAARTEN (CAY HILL) - St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) recently purchased a new mobile X-Ray Machine to help broaden the scope of medical care given at the hospital. The new General Electric Optima Digital Portable X-Ray Machine will be used to take portable X-Ray images of critical patients on the wards who cannot be transported to the Radiology Department for various reasons. Supervisor of SMMC’s Radiology Department, Johan Sabajo said “after undergoing successful application training on the technical aspects of machine handling and operational techniques to capture high-quality radiology images, we are pleased to announce that the new mobile X-Ray machine is fully operational. While this machine replaces our previous portable machine, the application training for the new digital machine has certainly helped us improve our skills in taking digital portable X-Rays.” The new mobile X-Ray Machine replaces an older one and will be used for diagnostic purposes for...
SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND)—The Department of Interior and Kingdom Relations (BAK) continues their awareness campaign, under the slogan: “St. Maarten plastic-free by 2023”. In the coming weeks, the plastic free by 2023 campaign will actively engage the community and schools. Information about the dangers of single-use plastic will be shared and ideas will be provided on how you can reduce your single plastic use and use alternative products. In addition, BAK initiated two school competitions thereby actively involving our students in the awareness and in the process of being “plastic-free by 2023”. Our students play a significant role in shaping the future of St. Maarten. As such Schoolboards have been requested to have all primary and secondary schools participate in the competition. The first competition is a creative logo competition in which students are asked to design a logo for “plastic free by 2023”. Per school a logo will selected...
SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is well-known among racing sailors for its close and intense competition. But the 40th Anniversary Edition of the event, scheduled for March 5-8, is also an island-wide festival of sailing, parties and music. And if you’re a cruising sailor visiting the islands, the best way to participate is to hoist sail and join the on-the-water fun. And the easiest, coolest way to do that is sign up for the Island Time class, the division especially created and designed for cruising sailors. Sponsored by Hank Schmitt—who runs the free crew network Offshore Passage Opportunities (www.sailopo.com) and organizes the annual NARC Rally from Newport, R.I. to St Maarten—the Island Time class is now in its fifth year. “A lot of cruisers raced when they were younger, and still have those competitive juices,” said Schmitt. “But they don’t have a race boat and...
SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – Despite the fact that all stakeholders agree on the necessity for adequate victim support, Sint Maarten still has no victim support office or any structural form of support for crime victims. The Law Enforcement Council is sounding the alarm. Since 2012, the Council has, in multiple reports - including its initial report: ‘Victim support in Sint Maarten’, the ‘State of law enforcement’ and in the meantime, two review inspections - tried to draw attention to the importance and urgency of setting up and arranging victim support. In that context, the Council has made recommendations to achieve this and, where necessary, carry out improvements. However, after seven years, the Council has to conclude that despite the fact that all parties involved have subscribed to the need for victim support, this has not yet led to the establishment of a victim support office or any structural form of...
SINT MAARTEN (CAY HILL) - St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) recently purchased a new mobile X-Ray Machine to help broaden the scope of medical care given at the hospital. The new General Electric Optima Digital Portable X-Ray Machine will be used to take portable X-Ray images of critical patients on the wards who cannot be transported to the Radiology Department for various reasons. Supervisor of SMMC’s Radiology Department, Johan Sabajo said “after undergoing successful application training on the technical aspects of machine handling and operational techniques to capture high-quality radiology images, we are pleased to announce that the new mobile X-Ray machine is fully operational. While this machine replaces our previous portable machine, the application training for the new digital machine has certainly helped us improve our skills in taking digital portable X-Rays.” The new mobile X-Ray Machine replaces an older one and will be used for diagnostic purposes for...
