News

MARIGOT—The 2016 French-side carnival was officially launched on the waterfront last night with Territorial Councillor in charge of culture affairs Rollande Questel handing over the symbolic key to carnival committee President Jean-Philippe Richardson. Richardson, who has said this is his last year at the helm of carnival, told the crowd there’s still time to join a troupe.

CAYHILL:--- The St. Maarten Medical Center is hosting a weekly radio program, Care Connect, as part of its yearlong 25th anniversary celebrations. During the upcoming 12 weeks we extend an invitation to all members of our community to join us as we share valuable information with you. Our primary focus with this program will be on important issues and areas of interest which will include our mission and vision, history, our care processes and also health topics. We have put together a pro...

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Nature Foundation recently removed fish traps which were placed illegally inside of the Man of War Shoal Marine Park. The fish traps or fish pots were found close to the Proselyte Dive site. Nature Foundation staff noticed the fish traps during a routine patrol in the Marine Park and removed the illegally placed traps from the ocean. “As the legally mandated Management Authority for the Man of War Shoal Marine Park we removed the fish traps from within the Marine...

PHILIPSBURG:--- According to information provided to SMN News certain key players that were in negotiations to construct a new hospital is trying to put pressure on the current coalition to allow them to move ahead with the planned project. SMN News understands that the $100M building were going to be financed by an Austrian Company while a wing of the hospital will be used by the investors that were planning to build a separate hospital in Simpson Bay for medical tourism.

POINTE BLANCHE:---- Port St. Maarten accommodated 1,901,617 cruise passengers in 2015, approximately five per cent less than in 2014 when for the first time the destination hit the two million mark (2,001,996, vessel calls 692). Cruise vessels in 2015 made 683 port calls. Port St. Maarten has come in as the #1 cruise port in the Caribbean, the second year in a row by Cruise Fever.net readers who were asked to vote on the best cruise ports in the Caribbean in the 2015 Cruise Fever Fan Awards.

DATE ISSUED: Monday, January 04, 2016 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) January 05, 2016 WEATHER: Today through Tuesday midday: Partly cloudy and breezy with local showers possible. Forecast High: 29°C / 84°F Forecast Low: 24°C / 75°F Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:45 A.M. Sunset Today: 5:50 P.M.

NOTICES Protect Pets Animal rights groups urge all pet owners and firework players to be aware that fireworks activities cause extreme distress to some animals. This distress can lead to erratic behaviour and even panic. Owners should put measures in place to keep their pets safely inside or comforted. Fireworks players should try to limit animals’ exposure to fireworks.

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday, December 29, 2015 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) December 30, 2015 WEATHER: This Afternoon through Wednesday midday: Partly cloudy and breezy with occasional passing showers. Forecast High: 29°C / 84°F Forecast Low: 24°C / 75°F Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:43 A.M. Sunset Today: 5:46 P.M.

PHILIPSBURG--Parking is included in the Westward extension of Boardwalk Boulevard, but that parking is not on the beach in the vicinity of Walter Plantz Square and will not impede beachgoers, says St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies.

Volunteers Needed Community Outreach Mentorship and Empowerment Center (COME) is looking for volunteers in the following areas: Adult Literacy Teachers, Cooks (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and an all-round person. For more information call 542-2575 or email: comecenter2012@gmail.com