SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - The Chinese Consul-General, Mr. Zhang Weixin on behalf of the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Willemstad, donated 105,000 USD to the Government of Sint Maarten which was earmarked for temporary housing.

As we are now in a different phase of recovery, this money was utilized with the Consulate-General’s approval for start-up and monthly costs associated with the Hurricane Irma Reintegration Program Shelter, which is located in Sucker Garden.

To this Minister Lee, expressed “I would like to thank Consul-General Weixin for supporting the reallocation of their donation to assist some of the neediest in our community.

Their contribution helps our people to live in a safe, decent, nurturing and supportive environment, where they can recover and restructure their lives and to reintegrate back into our community.”

The Hurricane Irma Reintegration Program Shelter (HIRPS) aims to help homeless people reintegrate themselves back into society after being displaced as a result of the devastation suffered by Hurricane Irma in 2017.

The Consul-General with his staff toured the facility with the head of Department of Foreign Relations, Mrs. Khalilah Peters and the Manager of the facility, the Dr. J Foundation during a visit to the island, after which he expressed his “satisfaction with the project and wished the island a smooth reconstruction and a better future.”

On March 30, 2018, a total of forty-three (43) persons were transferred to Hurricane Irma Re-Integrated Program Shelter (HIRPS) in Sucker Garden. Since then Twenty (20) persons have rotated out of the shelter and several others have been admitted.

Several of the persons that have rotated out have found permanent lodging or their roofs have been repaired, either through insurances, various repair programs or own savings.

As the various roof repair programs continue several persons whose roofs are being repaired are expected to rotate into the HIRPS for temporary housing.

There are three (3) Social Workers (SW) active at the shelter, whose tasks include; counseling, assisting with resumes and job coaching, assisting with find apartments for rent, assisting the seniors in addition to several other tasks. 

The shelter is monitored by security 24 hours a day to enforce the rules and regulations of the shelter and ensure the safety of the residents and premises at all times.

In order to assess eligibility for admittance to the HIRPS, please contact Dr. Judith Arndell at 721-520-4747 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or the Social Workers at the Department of Social Services at the Government Building 721-542-5694.

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) – Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS) Wycliffe Smith, has called upon the nation to observe two minutes of reflection at 9.06am on September 6 which marks one-year to the day of the passing of Hurricane Irma, one of the most destructive hurricanes in the Atlantic basin.

Minister Smith would like the population to reflect on where they had been prior to Irma and to give thanks to God for life and strength.

The explanation given for 9.06am; Minister Smith said the nine represents the ninth month in the calendar, and six represents the sixth day of the month which is when Irma struck the country.

SOUALIGA NEWSDAY BRIEF

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - Tourism Minister Stuart Johnson recently met with Nzinga Lake President of the St. Maarten Small Properties Association SMSPA for an update on the challenges and progress being made with small hotels.

Johnson toured three small hotels, LAMA Guest house, Joshua Rose Guest House and Kary's Guest House, as part of his commitment to working with the hotels on St. Maarten as they repair their properties post Irma. He spoke to the hotel operators who explained some of the challenges they face with repairs.

The hotel industry on St. Maarten suffered a massive blow when the most powerful hurricane on record, hurricane Irma, blew in for a short spell, destroying many properties in her path.

Since then several of the larger resorts have already started repairs, and some have reopened their doors to guests, despite not being fully operational.  But very worrisome is the challenges faced by small properties, some of whom still await insurance settlements, so they can repair their businesses, many of which have been in families for generations.

Minister Johnson quickly reached out to some of the small hotel operators who have been struggling and promised to get support from the government to assist in their recovery.

Considering that many of the hotels are ten or 14 rooms, their limited financial resources will make it difficult for a full recovery on time, which has a long-term negative impact on their ability to provide service.

The Minister stated that the small hotels were significant not just for the economy but because of the role they play in expanding and solidifying the regional hub function of Princess Juliana International Airport.

To support these smaller properties, the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunication TEATT will be working closely with the SMSPA to raise the profile of the small hotels in recognition of the significant role they play in attracting regional visitors to the destination.

During the annual carnival celebration or just for shopping or an extended weekend of partying, the smaller hotels have consistently been the mainstay for the visitors from the neighbouring islands.

Johnson hopes to be able through the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau STB to be able to tailor special promotional programs to promote the distinct individual features of the small hotels on the island as a means of helping them develop their clientele and generate year-round heads in beds.

While working with hotels on their rebuilding, Johnson said that a critical focus is ensuring that we are already putting the necessary action plans in place for destination marketing.

This should also consider our real identity and what we offer which must include the smaller properties. The ultimate goal is maximizing visitor arrivals once the hotels are reopened.

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - Algemeen Pensioenfonds Sint Maarten (APS), the General Pension Fund of Sint Maarten has been invited to Parliament to present on Tuesday August 14^th.

APS’ current local loans, investments and upcoming projects have a value of 369 million guilders. In the presentation to Parliament, APS will highlight the impact of Irma on the Fund, the fast tracking of projects and the “harsh realities” of the complexities of the Sint Maarten capital market and how APS addresses these with its strategic investment policy and project management procedures.

Managing Director of APS, Nadya Croes-van Putten will be presenting APS’ financial position, investment policy, strategy, and overview of the project portfolio of the Pension Fund.

APS makes local and international investments as a means to secure its funds for current and future pension payments to its 4400+ participants. Last month, Minister of Finance Perry Geerlings was given an introduction presentation by APS. The presentation in Parliament on Tuesday will provide Parliament with further insight into the Pension Fund and the various project management phases that an investment undergoes.

“It is important for our Government to be informed on the role of APS and the impact the Pension Fund can make towards the development of the country within the coming years. We aim to secure the pensions of our participants, and in doing so, contribute to an improved and sustainable economic status for Sint Maarten.

“The type of investments we are making will positively affect the current and future generations of this country. The returns will remain in Sint Maarten, unlike many overseas investments; Sint Maarten can be less dependent on foreign debt. We are clear in our strategy and vision, and it is important for our Government to be fully informed and engaged.” - Nadya Croes-van Putten, Managing director of APS

APS internal figures show as per June 2018, the total APS pension asset of 692 million guilders consists of 369 million guilders in the local investment portfolio and 248 million guilders in the international portfolio. In the presentation to Parliament APS will further highlight the growth and the development of the local investments, including new projects. Hurricane Irma had a minimal impact on the Fund and its investments.

According to APS’ upcoming presentation, two of the “harsh realities” of Sint Maarten’s capital market are; 1. There is enough money to invest, but not enough projects to invest in, 2. When you do find a project to invest in, it is either too big or too risky for one investor alone.

These “realities” have resulted in the country being reliant on foreign investors, who are in the lead when it comes to the country’s economy. “Unfortunately, a bulk of the returns do not remain in the country, revenues flowing back out of the country.”

APS has embarked on several large local real-estate development projects, own projects and receive financing requests for projects. APS takes pride in the assessment and due diligence procedures that are meticulously carried out in order to ensure that risks are managed effectively, without losing sight of the main investment goals of the Pension Fund.

“Our main goal is to achieve a good return on investments with an acceptable amount of risk. Not every “good” project fits the risk appetite of a pension fund.” Post-Irma several projects have been fast-tracked, however, the strict the project management procedures remain.

APS has to ensure that; adequate value in the function and the cost is guaranteed – contractors are asked to apply value engineering to their proposals to reduce costs and time, conditions exist for an efficient and timely building process, the project is financially solid to avoid unnecessary cost-overruns, and that the risks are properly identified and mitigated. “We take the necessary time to ensure that sound investments are made.”

Ongoing real-estate development projects include the Mary’s Fancy Plantation monument, this project was delayed due to the passing of hurricane Irma. “This project is a national heritage site and once completed, will include a restaurant and luxury boutique hotel. The next phase is the preparation of the demolition plan while preserving the monument.”

The next real-estate project is the Oryx Hills residences in Cay Hill. Oryx Hill consists of 62 residential units, creating affordable housing options, for which 300 persons have expressed interest. The groundbreaking event for the construction will take place on Tuesday, August 14^th in the afternoon at 4pm. Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2019.

More investment projects of APS include private investments totaling 40 million guilders. APS also has a financing commitment of 32 million guilders with the SMMC in the New Hospital. Included in its investment portfolio of 2018, APS has established the first Sint Maarten Investment Bank, which will be launched January 1^st, 2019. For 2019, APS aims to commence with two new large projects of its own; 1. APS office building, 2. A public parking facility.