SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI) hereby informs of the temporary closure of a section of Ebenezer Road, i.e. the intersection of W.R. Plantz Road and Johannes C. Paap Road, as part of the Hillside Stabilization Project.

This closure is necessary to facilitate critical construction and safety measures for the project. The closure will be in effect from today, Monday, March 10 th 2025 to Wednesday, April 9th, 2025.

The Hillside Stabilization Project is the Ministry’s response to severe erosion along the Ebenezer Trench that has led to the collapse of this essential infrastructure. Over the years, this has led to the inability of contractors to clean the trench and, in some cases, left residents of Ebenezer prone to increased flooding.

In 2010 residents expressed concern over the manner in which excavation and construction were taking place. In 2020 and 2021 letters were submitted to the Ministry highlighting eroding hill face and impact of falling soil.

Tropical storm rains in early August 2024 worsened the state of erosion, leading to the collapse of a septic tank and cistern from a residence in the hills of Valley Estate into the yard of neighbors below Ebenezer.

Upon taking office at the end of June, current Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs, finalized the halted three-year tender process for trench cleaning, issuing, in mid-August, the contracts for regular maintenance.

To support the operationalization of these contracts and to address the complaints and concerns of the residents, the Ministry identified the repairs of the trench and the stabilization of the eroded cliff face as critical.

Assessments began at the end of August 2024 and were completed in early February 2025. The closing of this section of the road will facilitate mobilization, allowing the project to begin with the creation of a staging area for equipment and dumpsters for removed debris (Phase One).

Phase two of the project will be the physical intervention into the hillside against erosion to reduce the chances of landslides in the future. In preparing the intervention, the Ministry received a report on the possible causes of the erosion, which the Minister stated underscored, in particular, the importance of sound spatial planning.

This is aided by things like the civil works permit and continuous oversight by the inspection department.

Minister Gumbs expressed his thanks to the residents of Ebenezer for their patience and their trust in him, his team, and the Ministry; and apologizes for the inconvenience that addressing this longstanding issue will inevitably have.

SINT MAARTEN (ST. PETERS) – Day by day we continue to give gratitude and appreciation for the seed, sun, rain, nature and the community members that continue to support St. Maarten Farmers Cooperative’s (SMFC’s) Farmers Market at the St Peters Rupert Maynard Community Youth Center.

This week we are grateful to harvest over 800+ pounds (400kg+) of produce from our farming project and partners in St Kitts. This strategic partnership continues to reap its rewards and serve its purpose by means of delivering healthier quality food at an affordable cost directly to our community members and networking supermarkets.

The long-term goal and aim are to ensure that prices for quality produce and goods can at all times remain at an equilibrium standard cost. This simply means that the cost of goods and fresh produce will remain at a balanced price at the market for as long as we can despite economic challenges and inflated prices. From here we can only hope it gets better based on the increase in production and cost for transporting goods.

As we continue to express how grateful we are, there is no other way to do so than to give back to those that have continuously supported us from that start. This Saturday we will be giving away a box of carrots divided into amounts community members supporting the farmers market. So get there early, as the early bird always gets the worm.

SMFC invites the general public to come out this Saturday March 8, 2025, for another day of jollification and get their hands on quality produce, products and positive community engagement at the Farmers Market.

This Saturday the Farmers Market will offer once again a wide variety of produce and products from the dedicated community, farmers and product developers.

The variety of items available this weekend will be fresh cold press juices, banana bread, local cookies, baked pumpkin Jonny cakes, veggie soup, honey, coconut oil, castor oil, fresh eggs, plants, gardening materials and locally made natural soaps, skin \ body care products.

Freshly harvested Produce available this week from our local and regional farmers will be season peppers, sweet peppers, avocado, carrots, pumpkin, cucumbers, sweet potato, papaya, pineapple, lettuce by Farm 4 You, salad mix, tayerblad, basil, mint, lemon grass, big leaf thyme, bayleaf, celery, parsley bak choy, chives and hot peppers.

The Farmers Market begins at 9 am until 2pm, so we encourage community members to come out early as 9am to get their first picks.

SMFC once again would like to thank the general public for supporting the Farmers Market. Your support continues to demonstrate the need for positive community development, engagement and agricultural\ product sustainability. See you on Saturday March 8, 2025, from 9am to 2 pm, at the Rupert Maynard Community Center, St. Peters.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - It was an inspiring moment when Kenneth Cook, a young entrepreneur with a deep passion for his craft, sat down for a meaningful conversation with Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina at the Government Administration Building. What was meant to be a simple meeting quickly turned into an exchange of motivation, ambition, and encouragement.

Kenneth, a driven young man with big dreams, shared his journey—his hard work, struggles, and the determination that keeps him pushing forward. His story resonated deeply with Prime Minister Mercelina, who sees him as a symbol of what’s possible for Sint Maarten’s youth.

"Kenneth’s passion and determination are truly remarkable," the Prime Minister said. "He is proof that with vision and hard work, anything is achievable. His drive is an inspiration for young people to follow, and I hope his story encourages others to chase their dreams just as fearlessly."

Prime Minister Mercelina reiterated his commitment to supporting young minds like Kenneth’s, emphasizing that the future of Sint Maarten depends on ambitious, forward-thinking individuals.

"We need to nurture and uplift young people who are working hard to make a difference. Their success is Sint Maarten’s success, and my government is dedicated to creating opportunities for them to grow."

The meeting ended on a powerful note —one as a leader, the other as a rising force ready to make his mark. It was a reminder that greatness begins with a dream and that Sint Maarten’s next generation has the power to shape the future.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Member of Parliament (MP) Omar Ottley reflected on his progress as a Parliamentarian and the leader of The United People’s Party over the past year since his swearing-in on February 10, 2024.

Despite the elections held in August 2024, Ottley has remained committed to his role in Parliament, emphasizing that his duty as an opposition member does not hinder his ability to promote progress and hard work for the people of St. Maarten.

As he marks one year as an opposition MP, Ottley has been actively involved in legislative initiatives.

He has submitted various draft legislations such as Amendment to Civil code to finally eliminate the abuse of the short-term contract, Amendments to LTU to regulate residency for children born in St. Maarten of non-documented parents, Amendment to LAV to revamp permit processing and implications for expedited fees, and Amendments to Profit Tax Law to implement a phased reduction in profit tax from 34.5% to 15%.

These amendments have begun the legislative trajectory and are currently being reviewed by the advisory bodies - soon to be handled on the floor of Parliament. Notably, he also successfully passed a motion for GEBE relief, which is now awaiting execution by the Government.

Additionally, Ottley co-legislated a budget amendment aimed at increasing Parliament's staffing, which he believes is essential for enhancing productivity and efficiency in legislative work.

MP Ottley and The United People’s Party prioritize transparency and communication with the public, ensuring that the citizens of St. Maarten are informed about the initiatives and efforts undertaken by their representatives in Parliament.

Through these actions, Ottley aims to foster a collaborative environment and address the needs of the community effectively.