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25/03/2023

Carl and Sons bakery. Over 40 years of service to the people of St. Maarten.

28/02/2023

Robbery at Shiva's Gold and Gems. 3 of 4 suspects arrested

PHILIPSBURG--”Luckily there were no customers in our store,” Ajay Alwani, owner of Shiva’s Gold and Gems, said of the robbery at his Front Street business. Four armed men entered the jewellery store at 1:30pm Monday. One of them shattered display cases with a sledgehammer.

The robbers first grabbed expensive designer watches and then haphazardly grabbed jewellery from counters in the showroom. With about 20 per cent of Shivas’ collection, the robbers took off on two scooters, down Front Street, and then towards Over the Bank.

The havoc in the high-end jewellery business is painful to see. Broken glass everywhere! Empty jewellery counters. Alwani assessed the damage in the afternoon. His mind focused on solutions, he said: “Our security officers in Front Street need panic buttons. They must be able to alert each other in case of an emergency. This will be arranged this week.”

Front Street will become better prepared, said Alwani, who called the recent spree of robberies “disturbing”. “Especially for tourists. Luckily, there were no customers in the store at the time of the robbery,” he said.

Four men on two scooters came down the alley next to Shiva’s from Boardwalk Boulevard at 1:30pm Monday. All four of them wore black motorcycle helmets, their faces hidden behind dark visors. One of the men pointed his gun at the woman who was a security guard standing in front of Shiva’s entrance. A security officer with a watchdog was patrolling down the street.
“They came inside while holding a gun to the woman’s head. She was forced to lie down on the floor,” Alwani said. His sales staff watched as the showroom jewellery counters were shattered. “The robbers focused on the expensive designer watches. The other jewels were an afterthought,” Alwani said.

Although he could not see their faces, he thinks the boys are no older than 30. “They were young, and fast,” he said, suspecting that they have robbed before, albeit not a jewellery store. “They just grabbed jewellery; I guess not really knowing what pieces they actually took.”
The robbers spoke English, Alwani said. “After they took the jewellery, I heard them say, ‘Let’s go! Let’s go!’”

Police searched the Over the Bank area and traced three of the four suspects. “The suspected robbers were caught thanks to the quick response of patrols in the vicinity,” police explained. “The robbers fled the scene on scooters and holed up in a house in Over the Bank. Law enforcement officials swiftly got to the scene where the arrests were made and the stolen jewellery and watches were found, as well as a firearm.”

The suspects are currently held at the police station in Philipsburg.
Alwani and his team were relieved to hear the news of the arrests. “The quick action of the police is commendable. They have done an excellent job.”

The search for the fourth suspect continues. This investigation is led by the Special Unit Robberies (SUR) team of St. Maarten Police Force KPSM. This team is also investigating two armed robberies that took place on Saturday in Simpson Bay, targeting supermarkets. There the robbers also wore motor helmets with dark visors.
Police patrols have increased monitoring at high target areas in the districts in an effort to curb further robberies, KPSM said. “After a quiet end of the past year in terms of robberies, this worrisome phenomenon has once again resurfaced.”

SUR has tallied a total of 19 robberies with violence of varying degrees over the last eight weekends, including the snatching of chains, attempted and armed robberies.

SUR detectives urge anyone with information about these robberies to contact KPSM on tel. +1-721-542-2222 ext. 204 or 205, or the anonymous tip line 9300, or by leaving a private message via the page Police Force of Sint Maarten (Korps Politie Sint Maarten) if you know or suspect something.

(The Daily Herald)

28/02/2023

PHILIPSBURG--The Daily Herald has reported that the KLM Airbus that encountered a nose-wheel steering-system malfunction twice on Sunday remains at Princess Juliana International Airport awaiting repair. Its 259 passengers are expected to be able to resume their flight on Wednesday.

New parts for the nose-wheel steering-system arrived on the island Monday afternoon aboard an Air France aircraft. Aircraft mechanics from both KLM and Air France are set to fix the problem today, Tuesday, and the KLM Airbus is scheduled to leave St. Maarten on Wednesday evening for Amsterdam.

Due to the nose-wheel steering-system malfunction the plane currently cannot make turns on the tarmac at low speed. After landing on St. Maarten Sunday afternoon, the system failed and the pilot was not able to steer the plane off the runway towards the apron.

As a result, the 259 passengers that were scheduled to fly to Amsterdam on Sunday evening are forced to stay over on St. Maarten for three nights. Airport handler Halley Aviation arranged accommodation for non-residents among passengers affected.

28/02/2023

Tonight's view from mullet bay . Rocket launched from Florida.

27/02/2023

KLM AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERS MALFUNCTION OF NOSE WHEEL STEERING SYSTEM.

On Sunday, February 26, 2023, confirmed reports from the PJIAE Airport Operations Tower declared that KLM Airbus Flight 729, with aircraft type (A-330-203), encountered a nose wheel steering system malfunction after it landed. The aircraft landed at Princess Juliana International Airport at approximately 3:26 PM.

KLM Flight 729 was later grounded. The passenger manifest declared a total of 225 passengers and 11 crew members on board from the Royal Schiphol Airport with a destination to St. Maarten. All were reportedly safe upon landing.

The Airport's Operations reported on the scene at 3:29 PM to further assess the situation, and the aircraft was towed off the runway to the main apron.

Following another unsuccessful attempt to takeoff at about 6:47 PM, 259 passengers were transported back to the terminal. The passengers were scheduled for departure to Amsterdam and were further delayed . Local Airline Handler, Halley Aviation has officially declared the flight canceled and have arranged hotel accommodations until further notice.

24/02/2023

Heinz finds Dominican sailor who survived on the brand’s famous ketchup, gifting him new boat

Elvis Francois, the sailor from Dominica who reported that he survived for 24 days eating Heinz ketchup, packets of garlic powder, and Maggi cubes, will receive a brand-new boat from the American food processor
Heinz, famous for its ketchup and other canned and bottled foods, said they found Francois after tracking him down.

They used their social media page to send out messages asking for the public’s help and today, the company reported that they found Francois and he is in Dominica.
“We’ve hopped into your DMs – let’s get Elvis his boat!” Heinz wrote.
Last December currents swept Francois’s boat out to sea while he was making repairs off the island of St Martin.

The 47-year-old reported at the time that while he attempted to contact family, he lost his cell phone signal and his boat drifted further into the ocean until it was spotted by a vessel, a Colombian Navy patrol plane.

A merchant ship later rescued Francois 120 nautical miles northwest of La Guajira, Colombia.
When he was found, he was reported to be in good health.

24/02/2023

Well known comedian Majah Hype has been Jailed in Georgia where he is facing charges for simple battery and felony charges for making ‘terroristic threats and acts’.
He has been detained at the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office adult detention facilities for the past four days.

According to the Cobb County Sheriff’s office, Hype, whose real name is Nigel Theron Joseph, was arrested and processed on February 19, 2023 and remains in custody without bond.

Despite his recent arrest, his social media accounts remain active and are likely being run by an assistant. There were no further details surrounding his arrest given by law enforcement.
This is not the comedian’s first arrest in Georgia. Majah Hype was previously arrested in January 2021 following an incident involving his ex-girlfriend, Latisha Kirby Farrell. At the time, he was charged with kidnapping, making terroristic threats, and simple battery. He later bonded out of jail on a $15,000 bond. The comedian also spent some time behind bars at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center outside Atlanta for the same incident.

It’s unclear if this latest arrest is related to that case, but it is reported his ex-girlfriend applied for a restraining order against him.

(Caribbean National Weekly)

21/02/2023

Lisa Hanna is ready to WOW

A BETTA PLACE Foundation is collaborating with Angelique Romou to host the first-ever Women in Leadership Gala dinner on Saturday, March 18, at Belair Community Center.

“Women in Leadership in St. Maarten has evolved over the past decade at an impressive rate with women holding many top leadership positions in the community,” Romou stated in a press release. “From female Prime Ministers to the first female Minister of Justice, female Presidents of Parliament, and CEOs (chief executive officers) – women in our community are breaking moulds.”

“Hence, the idea of incorporating more women empowerment initiatives, which aim to shed light on the movers and shakers in our community and abroad, to inspire and empower other women to be the best version of themselves and to create more ‘rooms’ where women celebrate and uplift each other,” she continued.

According to the release, the event is not only for women in leadership positions but women who are leading by breaking barriers in their respective areas, going against the conventional way of thinking and paving the way for others to follow, women taking up their role in their households and communities to lead by example.

The event aims to empower women; it will boast a jam-packed evening filled with inspirational women, a group of motivating panellists, and guest speakers that will leave the attendees in awe of their esteemed rise to the top, inspired, and motivated to aspire to become all that they have ever dreamt to be.

The aim is to have a record attendance of at least 120 to 150 attendees (primarily women) from the various industries on the island, and surrounding islands; we celebrate female leaders that surround us in St. Maarten, the Caribbean, and the world.

One of the goals of the event is to raise funds for girls to attend a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) summer programme in the United States (US).

Another goal is to have a vast group of “female leaders” from various industries share their insights and experiences about their road to success. One of these exclusive professionals include keynote speaker, Member of Parliament (MP) Lisa Hanna. Hanna is a respected, courageous Politico in CARICOM, a former Cabinet Minister of Youth and Culture, a Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the four-term elected MP for the rural constituency of Southeast St. Ann in Jamaica.

On the corporate panel there will be leaders such as Brenda Wathey CEO of Wathey Group of Companies, Ida ZIN -KA-IEU CEO of IZ Consulthink, May-Ling Chun Director of Tourism and other panellists.

On the political panel there will be leaders such as Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, Minister for Education and Social Development of Anguilla, St. Maarten’s Minister of Justice Anna Richardson, Alida Francis Government Commissioner of St. Eustatius and other panellists.

The audience will also be wowed by female entertainers and the evening will end with a silent auction of luxury goods and prizes to raise funds which will go back into the community towards women-focused initiatives.

One of the causes is to raise money for young girls to attend an all-expense-paid trip to a STEM summer programme in the US. “We must realise that science, technology, engineering and mathematics professions are still heavily male-dominated and that the gender gap is even wider among students in post-secondary STEM courses,” said Romou.

She said one explanation commonly offered for this gender gap is a lack of confidence among girls and women in their technical skills and STEM career prospects. “Therefore, through this gala, we will be providing young girls on the island, who have an interest and/or show a raw talent in STEM, to have an opportunity to be exposed to advanced opportunities in the STEM field through the STEM summer programme.

The Women in leadership Gala Dinner will be held on Saturday, March 18, at Belair Community Center from 7:00pm to 11:00pm. This is a Black Tie event and the ladies are expected to dress to impress in their best evening wear.

The price per ticket will be $200 individually and $1,500 for a table of eight. The entrance ticket includes a four-course dinner, an open bar, an evening of entertainment and excellence bar none.

“The Women in Leadership Gala will be an exciting and thought-provoking evening. Attendees are going to be inspired, motivated, entertained and in awe of the stories and advice passed on to them from fellow women in the room.

“Ultimately, we want women to walk away saying that this event was engaging, encouraging, progressive and optimistic for them, inspiring them to aspire to achieve everything within their power and beyond,” Romou concluded.

21/02/2023

Former Miss Guyana World and former Miss Guyana Universe, Ruqayyah Boyer, has gone missing in the United States.
The 33-year-old woman, according to a missing person’s bulletin, was last seen on the 16th February at the Chicago Union Station in Chicago, Illinois.

21/02/2023

A church pastor who was crossing the street was hit and killed by a car after she tripped and fell.
Aracely Courtenay, 50, was a beloved leader at Emmanuel Church of God in Flatbush, Brooklyn. On Saturday night she was leaving a nursing home on Ditmas Ave near East 21st Street after visiting her mother. Police believe she tripped in a depression in the road, then was struck by an oncoming car.
The driver stayed at the scene and was not charged in the fatal accident.
"There was so much more she wanted to do. For all of us, trying to continue the missions she started," said her son, Curt Courtenay.
Pastor Courtenay leaves behind a husband, three children, and her first grandchild due in a few months.
The church is asking for prayers as they process the loss.

Funeral arrangements are now being made - while it is a profound loss for the church, the service is also expected to be a joyous celebration of her ministry and how much she accomplished in 50 years.

10/11/2022

02/08/2022

Stay informed

02/08/2022

First case of Monkeypox on the french side.

MARIGOT--Health authority Agence Regional de la Santé (ARS) confirmed on Monday a case of monkeypox has been identified in French St. Martin....

30/07/2022

Please be guided