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5000th COVID-19 vaccine administered at the Belair Community Center

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – On Thursday, March 18, the vaccination campaign against the COVID-19 virus reached another milestone. At the Belair Community Center, the 5000th vaccine was administered to 68-year-old, Rudy Peter St. Luis.

Originally from Dominica but calls Sint Maarten his home for the past 49 years, St. Luis main reason for taking the vaccine is that he expects that they're going to require a person to be vaccinated in order to be able to travel in the future, and he would like to travel again. He would like to encourage those who are still doubtful of taking the vaccine to take it: ''It didn't hurt at all, and I feel normal, so I will tell all my friends to come by and take it too.''

The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Services (CPS) is currently vaccinating the second priority risk group, consisting of persons 60 years and older. The total amount of registrations is gradually increasing. However, the number of registered people 60 years and older are still low. The Vaccination Management Team (VMT) hopes this number will grow as this group is most at risk of the severe side effects from the COVID-19 disease.

Persons in this priority risk group are encouraged to register because the Pfizer vaccine is especially effective within this age group. A low number of registrations might affect the next supply of vaccines coming from the Netherlands. The Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine is shown to be effective against the British COVID-19 variant, of which there are known cases on the island. This variant has caused a sudden peak rise in active cases and hospitalizations in for example Aruba.

CPS reminds the community that although active cases currently are relatively low, persons should remain cautious and practice COVID-19 public health safety guidelines.

The CPS and the VMT hope that others will also register to take the vaccine just like Mr. St. Luis and 5000 other fellow Sint Maarteners. You can still register, even if your 'priority group' has not been called. The more registrations received, the easier and faster the VMT can plan the appointments and request the next shipment of vaccines from the Netherlands.

Registration can be done via the online registration form which is available in English, Spanish, and Creole, and can be found via the following link: https://forms.sintmaartengov.org/form.aspx?v=OGtn05kNmb

If you have a friend, parent, neighbor, or relative that may need assistance with registration, transportation, or emotional support, CPS asks the community to 'please do your part'. More information about the vaccine or help with the registration process will also be provided by the Cole Bay Community Helpdesk and Dutch Quarter Community Helpdesk which are currently equipped to help you with this between 8:30 AM and 12:30 PM from Monday to Friday. Do not forget to bring a form of identification.

Organizations who would like to organize an information session for their employees can contact the following email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The paper-based “COVID Vaccine Registration Form” can be picked up at several locations, including CPS at the Vineyard Office Park Building, the Division of Labor Affairs at the Simpson Bay Public Service Center in Simpson Bay, doctors’ offices, the Government Administration Building, and select pharmacies.

If you need help with the registration process, your appointment, or wish for more information about the vaccination campaign, you can also call CPS at 914 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sint Maarten, protected together.

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Higher turn-out on Saba, CDA most votes

SABA (THE BOTTOM) - A total of 446 valid votes were cast during the Second Chamber elections on Saba on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Raymond Knops (CDA) was the biggest vote-getter with 180 votes. The only candidate from Saba in these elections, Lysanne Charles (BIJ1) amassed 105 votes.

The elections went well. “I am content with the high turn-out,” said Chairman of the Main Voting Bureau Island Governor Jonathan Johnson. These elections the voter turn-out was 49.6%. Saba has 907 eligible voters. The turn-out was higher compared to the last parliamentary elections in 2017 when 383 valid votes were cast, representing a voter turn-out of 43.3%.

The Christian Democratic Party (CDA) secured the highest number of votes on Saba: 192 in total, of which 180 for number 5 candidate State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops. CDA candidate number 52, Koos Sneek from St. Eustatius, got 4 votes.

The BIJ1 party was the second highest vote-getter on Saba with 113 votes in total, of which 105 were for number 13 on the slate, Lysanne Charles. Number three on Saba was the Democratic Party D66 with a total of 42 votes, of which 22 votes for number 1 on the slate, Sigrid Kaag. Number 20 on the D66 slate, Jorien Wuite from St. Maarten received 9 votes on Saba. In the 2017 Second Chamber elections, D66 received the most votes on Saba: 115.

The liberal democratic VVD party ended as number 4 on Saba with 28 votes in total. Minister of Medical Care Tamara van Ark, number 2 on the VVD slate, got 15 votes on Saba, more than party leader and number 1 on the slate, Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

The green left party GroenLinks received 19 votes on Saba, the Party for Freedom PVV got 12 votes, Forum for Democracy 9, Party for Animals PvdD 8, the Labor Party PvdA 7, the Socialist Party 5, ChristianUnion 4, Volt 3, U-Buntu Connected Front 2, JA21 1 and DENK 1.

Voters on Saba could cast their votes during three days: on Monday, March 15, Tuesday, March 16 and Wednesday, March 17. On Monday and Tuesday, people could cast their vote at the Fire Station in The Bottom and on Wednesday both in The Bottom and at the Eugenius Johnson Center in the Windwardside.

The ballots were counted at the two voting stations on Wednesday evening after the closing of the polls. Before the elections, Island Governor Johnson had encouraged people to vote because the Second Chamber takes decisions that affect the island.

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Almost 46,600 coronavirus fines issued, 258 arrested for curfew riots

SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS – The public prosecution department said on Thursday it had issued almost 46,600 fines since the first measures to stem the spread of coronavirus were implemented on March 16, 2020.

Of them, just over 9,000 were issued for ignoring the curfew, which was introduced on January 23. In addition, police have arrested 258 people in connection with the three days of rioting following the introduction of the curfew.

Sixty of them were minors under the age of 18. Together they face 343 charges, including 98 of public violence and 98 of incitement, either verbally or via social media, the department said.

Officials are also dealing 417 criminal cases resulting from the coronavirus measures of which involved 112 involved threats against police officers. In a further 76 cases, council wardens, hospital staff and public transport workers were the victims, the public prosecutor said.

(DutchNews)

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People Smugglers targeting illegals with the promise of taking them to the US/BVI

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) would like to inform the general public that it has come to the attention of KPSM that persons living on the island, mainly persons with an illegal status are being approached and targeted by persons in the community, who are taking their money with the promise of getting them smuggled to the US and/or British Virgin Islands, KPSM said in a Wednesday evening media statement.

“In some cases, people were defrauded: money was paid, but the receivers of the money never intended to carry out a trip.

“Besides that, we, of the police department, would like to make it known that these boat trips are not only an illegal act, but are also dangerous as the boats used are not adequate for handling rough seas, can easily go under and cause you to lose your life. This has happened in the past far too many times.  

“Remember your life is precious no matter how difficult your circumstances may seem,” the statement concludes.

The above statement was also provided by KPSM in Spanish and Creole.

 

Comunicado de prensa

El departamento de policía desea informar al público en general de lo siguiente:

Ha llegado a nuestro conocimiento que personas que viven en la isla, principalmente personas en situación ilegal, están siendo abordadas y dirigidas por personas de la comunidad, tomando su dinero con la promesa de hacerlos pasar de contrabando a los Estados Unidos y/o a las Islas Vírgenes Británicas.

En algunos casos las personas fueron estafadas: se pagó dinero, pero los receptores del mismo nunca tuvieron la intención de realizar un viaje.

Además, nosotros, del departamento de policía, queremos hacer saber que estos viajes en barco no sólo son un acto ilegal, sino que también son peligrosos, ya que las embarcaciones utilizadas no son adecuadas para manejar mares agitados, pueden hundirse fácilmente y hacer que se pierda la vida. Esto ha ocurrido en el pasado demasiadas veces.  

Recuerde que su vida es preciosa, por muy difíciles que parezcan sus circunstancias.

Depatman Police Sint Maarten an nan pati Hollander a, ta renmen fer nou konen. Ak tout moun kap viv san papye yo ,ki vle di illegal, ak tout lot nan te a ki dakor peye moun nan kominote a pou travese yo st.Thomas/Us Virgin Islands.

Pami ka sa yo gen anpil moun ki pedi lajan, yo apres yo fin peye yo pa mennen yo.

Kidont, nou menm depatman police la vle fer kler pou nou, ke bato say o pa menm legel pou fer trajer sa yo, e li trer danjere pou nou e yo pa gen ase kapasite pou trasevese gro lanmer for sa yo. Se fasilman yo ka kouler epi nou tot pedi la vi nou.

Pa bliye ke ka sayo rive anpil fwa deja nan ane pase yo.

Kidonk song eke la vi noun pi enpotan ke tout bagay sa yo.

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Emmanuel: Prime Minister must explain her position on petition

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Christophe Emmanuel on Wednesday said that Prime Minister (PM) Silveria Jacobs must explain her position on the petition submitted to the United Nations and added that the Chairperson of Parliament Rolando Brison as well as the initiator of the petition Grisha Marten-Heyliger, is busy undermining their own initiative.

MP Emmanuel reminded all Parliamentary factions that he had forewarned that they were playing a dangerous game with the Dutch government. He said the Prime Minister of St. Maarten will now have to explain how or if government will proceed with the Caribbean Reform Entity (COHO) after the same entity is being used as a central piece in the petition against the Netherlands. “She has to say if she supports the petition yes or no, simple,” the MP said.

MP Emmanuel said that since some MP’s are of the opinion that the Prime Minister represents the people internationally and not the duly elected Parliament, then the PM must speak to the people. He said in 2015 former Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs questioned the Netherlands regarding decolonization for St. Maarten. “He spoke at the time for the people, so the PM has precedent. Speak to the people on the issue,” Emmanuel said.

He noted that on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers Press Briefing the PM said that government has reached a far-along stage on the implementation timeline for the country packages. “This is the same country package that is part and parcel of the COHO. The same COHO that the petition says is discriminatory and should not be imposed on St. Maarten,” the MP said. “So what is the position of the Prime Minister,” MP Emmanuel repeated.

He also pointed out that Chairperson of Parliament Rolando Brison as well as the co-initiator of the petition Grisha Marten-Heyliger stated on Wednesday afternoon that the PM should continue her negotiations and work with on the establishing of the COHO because the petition is Parliament’s responsibility not hers.

“If the PM emerges and says well the petition is Parliament’s business and not the Executive branch, them she might as well dissolve Parliament and call new elections. What is going to happen down the road when and if the petition comes out in favor of St. Maarten? Is Parliament going to say ok PM, roll back everything? How can government proceed without knowing if the legislative support for many of the aspect of COHO is there? What happens when the COHO law gets to Parliament? Are we going to say that’s not our responsibility?”

“Pick sense out of this nonsense for me please. So through one side of your mouth you are telling State Secretary Knops in writing that COHO has majority support in Parliament. Through the other side of your mouth you are telling the United Nations that the same Parliament does not support the implementation of the COHO, but the PM can continue implementing something that further erodes St. Maarten autonomy. This is a dangerous, disingenuous and infantile game that is being played. They have to stand somewhere. It can’t be both places,” the MP said.

Though the MP is signatory to the motion of November 2020 authorizing the initiative to pursue St. Maarten’s decolonization status, he said some of the language in the petition did surprise him and the “suddenness that it was sprung on Parliament.”

“My stance has never changed. I remain against the implementation of the COHO. I am not sitting on the fence waiting to see which side the ball will fall on. I am against the COHO, plain and simple.” he said.

“In case anyone forgot, allow me remind you. I was the lone MP that warned my colleague MP’s and the sitting government, not to sign the agreement with the Dutch that, among other things, demanded salary and benefit cuts, an unrealistic country package and the establishment of a Caribbean Reform Entity (COHO) that strips St. Maarten of its autonomy and basically all administrative control.

“State Secretary Raymond Knops as well as Dutch MP’s also warned about decolonization efforts vis-à-vis liquidity support and other aspects in the agreement. I asked the government and my colleague MP’s how can you give the Prime Minister the green light to sign the agreement with the Dutch with decolonization still on the table. I said it was a dangerous game to sign now, accept the money and then put the same money at risk later by continuing with the UN process after the Dutch clearly said it could be a problem.”

The MP said he will not let the government or the MP’s who support the government off the hook when it comes to COHO. He said the Prime Minister still has to return to Parliament to answer and face more questions and it would be interesting to see how the COHO is handled now that the petition has been submitted.

With regards to COHO the petition reads: "The discrimination by the Dutch government against its own island citizens becomes undeniable when the COHO’s scheme of recessionary, balanced-budget policies that will ensure the islands’ ongoing indebtedness to the Netherlands, coupled with the Dutch government’s imposition of neo-colonial authority over the islands, are contrasted with the Dutch government’s actions towards its European citizens and those of other EU nations."

“The COHO is a central part of the petition. How are you going to reconcile supporting the PM and this nonsense of an entity, and still push for an investigation into the same COHO concept via the UN? And how will the PM continue to advocate for this Dutch control mechanism knowing that it has been used it as motivation for the UN petition? Does the PM support the petition yes or no?”

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Woman’s screams scare off three armed robbers attempting home invasion

SINT MAARTEN (ST. JOHN’S ESTATE) - Detectives of the Special Unit Robbery are investigating an attempted home invasion that occurred in St. John’s early Tuesday morning, March 16th, 2020 around 02.00 am.

According to the preliminary investigation, three (3) men attacked and assaulted the victim with the initials B.B.K. when he exited his house after noticing that his electricity had been disconnected. The three suspects fled the scene after the victim's wife began to scream.

Descriptions of the suspects were given the officers, who began searching the immediate area. Shortly after, two men who were in possession of firearms were spotted by one of the officers, running towards Saunders.

They matched the description of the suspects that tried to commit the home invasion a few minutes earlier in St. John’s.

The two suspects got into a Hyundai I-10 and drove off in the direction of Ebenezer. The officer later lost sight of the vehicle in the Saunders area.

After a brief search, the officers later encountered I-10 in Ebenezer. It was immediately confiscated in connection with this investigation. The investigation into this attempted home invasion is still ongoing.

It is only together that we can combat these types of crimes. The detectives investigating this case is asking anyone who has information about the attempted home invasion to contact the Sint Maarten Police Force KPSM at +1 721- 542 22 22 ext. 204 or 205 or the anonymous tip line on 9300 (free of charge).

You can also leave a Private Message via our Facebook page (Police Force of Sint Maarten – Korps Politie Sint Maarten) if you know or suspect something. (KPSM)

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Swimming lessons for children restart, as coronavirus rules are softened slightly

SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS – Minor changes to the current coronavirus regulations come into effect on Tuesday, following the government announcement of last week.

Children up to the age of 12 can now take swimming lessons at indoor pools again, with one eye on safety during the summer holidays. In addition, adults over the age of 26 are allowed to take part in sport with up to three other people outdoors, as long as they keep 1.5 metres apart.

Indoor sports centres and gyms remain closed. Non-food shops, which have been allowed to serve customers by appointment for the past three weeks, will be able to accept more clients, if they are big enough.

The change means that shops with floor space of less than 50 square metres will be able to have two customers, while those with more will be able to book an appointment for one customer per 25 square meters, up to a maximum of 50.

The appointment must have been made at least four hours ahead of the visit and each appointment must be for at least 10 minutes.

Travel

The government has extended its recommendation not to travel abroad unless it is an essential journey until mid-April but from Tuesday the rules for travelling to the Netherlands have been relaxed slightly.

Although travel to the Netherlands from outside the EU is current frowned upon, the government has agreed that more people should be exempt from the travel ban. This means business travellers, students, highly skilled migrants, professionals from the cultural and creative sectors and people in long-distance romantic relationships may now travel to the Netherlands from outside the EU.

All travellers to the Netherlands must still be able to show two negative tests if they travel by plane or boat, a PCT test that is no older than 72 hours, and fast antibody test.

Future plans

If infection rates come down, the government hopes to reopen cafe terraces for a maximum of 50 people and allow colleges and universities to restart physical lessons next month.

The current one visitor per 24-hour regulation will also be expanded to two, and shops will have fewer restrictions. The next press conference will be held on March 23.

(DutchNews)

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‘Coronavirus will have a lasting impact on Amsterdam tourism’

SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS – The impact of coronavirus on tourism in Amsterdam will be enormous again this year, according to economists at ABN Amro bank.

They estimate tourist spending in the capital will fall by €8bn this year, when compared with the record earnings of €18.6bn in 2019 and that tourist numbers will be down 67%.

In 2020, the number of foreign tourists visiting Amsterdam fell 83% while the number of domestic visitors more than halved. About one third of the €18.6bn generated by tourism in 2019 was spent on air travel and organised tours, both of which have been hammered by coronavirus restrictions.

In addition, business travel will remain at a much lower level than before coronavirus, because online meetings have really taken off, ABN Amro said. The forecasts are based on a recovery in European tourism from August and intercontinental flights resuming in October.

Amsterdam city council is currently working on plans with local companies and residents to ensure the days of mass budget tourism are over.

(DutchNews)

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Minister Samuel addresses CCSI

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) – The following remarks were made by Drs. Rodolphe E. Samuel, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport, Co-host of the Virtual Caribbean Safe School Initiative (CSSI) Pre-Ministerial Forum, and incoming chair of the CSSI.

The Minister’s speech is as follows:

As incoming chair of the Caribbean Safe School Initiative, and in my capacity as co-host of this forum and Minister of Education, Culture Youth & Sport, I bring you greetings from St. Maarten. COVID-19 and the increasing hazards that our region has been challenged with, substantiates the need for us to continue working as islands, countries and as a region on comprehensive school safety.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017, MECYS was catalyzed to make a number of strides toward ensuring education sector resilience. In July 2018 MECYS installed the Safety & Emergency Management Committee (SEMC). The SEMC was commissioned to adapt the Comprehensive School Safety Framework at the national level; set up plans and strategies for safety and emergency management; continuous disaster preparedness and maintenance; and crisis management. That same year, we began the consultative process on the school safety Roadmap. We trained stakeholders on assessing hazards in schools; safety & Emergency Response guidelines were approved and schools began to work on their school safety & emergency plans. In 2019, safety & Emergency teams were installed in each school; school safety material was distributed to schools, school evacuation procedures were drafted and work began on the Safety Ambassadors Program for elementary schools.

St. Maarten signed on to the Antigua & Barbuda Declaration in April 2019 because we are committed to disaster risk management in our education sector and that commitment is one that we all share. By April 2020, our very recent commitment to the Antigua & Barbuda Declaration and progress made in the area of school safety were quickly tested as we faced the specter of another rapid onset that was this time invisible, insidious, persistent and just as crippling.

COVID-19, which very much like Irma has resulted in devastating impacts to all our sectors, has given us further pause to review our definition and understanding of risk. We have learnt that risk is as much about the unknown as it is about the known.

As Ministries of Education, we can only start to tackle the interconnected nature of systemic risk by becoming connected ourselves. We must do this despite territorial and political boundaries, across sectors and regardless of language differences. The recent and ongoing events have taught us if nothing else that our experiences are shared, that we can learn from each other and that none of us want to be caught off guard. Let us use the opportunity presented by the Virtual Pre-Ministerial Forum on Safe Schools to share our experiences and set the basis for the continued advancement of the school safety agenda in the Caribbean through the CSSI.

The genius of this virtual forum is that it allows all stakeholders to participate and in so doing, builds stronger collaboration among the Ministries of Education in the Caribbean with relevant private sector entities, non-governmental organizations as well as other regional and international entities.

The Third Ministerial Forum will be hosted by St. Maarten and will be defined by you the ministers, based on your national and regional priorities for action and dialogue for the remainder of 2021. It is our intention that this virtual forum will serve as the necessary catalyst. We ask you to ensure the participation of your Permanent Secretaries and School Safety Focal Points, during the entirety of the forum.

I wish to formally recognize the partners who have worked together to make this event possible. As incoming chair of the Regional Safe School Working Group and the CSSI, I fully endorse this Virtual Forum. We must continue to make progress in the area of school safety as the sustainability of our nations depend on it.

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Stay-over visitors figures show recovery is underway

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – The Sint Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB) says that the number of stay-over visitors to the destination is on the increase and this is a sign that recovery of the tourism sector is underway.

In the months of November, December, and January the destination welcomed 32,669 stay over arrivals. December being the month that recorded the highest number of stay-over arrivals, welcoming 13,488 visitors in total.

The breakdown of the arrivals of November, December, and January showcases that 55% of all arrivals were from the US, and 23% from France.

March 2021 marks one-year since the country closed its borders due to the COVID-19 outbreak which later became a global pandemic.

“The restart of tourism started back in the summer of 2020 when we re-opened the Princess Juliana International Airport to visitors based on COVID-19 public health and safety protocols. Our airline partners have been slowly increasing the number of flights to the destination.

“Tourism is the economic sector that has been hardest hit by COVID-19 around the globe including here. 2020 was the worst year in tourism history where there were one billion fewer international arrivals.

“We must be thankful for what has been achieved so far to date based on the on-going pandemic and what is currently happening in our main travel markets. Based on our managed re-opening, our recovery is slowly making progress even though travel restrictions remain in place in many countries.

“Sint Maarten is resilient, and we will continue to do what is necessary to maintain the growth in collaboration with the private sector and other stakeholders as we continue to be able to compete with the business regionally and globally and emerge stronger from this,” Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Ludmila de Weever said on Monday.

Director of the STB May-Ling Chun, said the past year has been like no other. “The destination was well on its way to recovery after the hurricanes of September 2017. A lot of progress was made in 2018 and 2019, until the pandemic brought global tourism to a standstill which also included Sint Maarten from March 2020 to July 2020, a five-month period.

“The pandemic is now in its second year, but there is much hope with respect to the roll out of vaccines around the world including Sint Maarten. Every destination around the world is facing the same challenges, but we are all working diligently towards recovery,” Chun said on Monday.

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