PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Colorado State University (CSU) Tropical Weather & Climate Research Center issued in April its seasonal hurricane activity and is forecasting up to 23 named storms for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

Of the 23 named storms, 11 could become hurricanes, including five that could become major hurricanes (category 3-5). According to the CSU, there could be 115 days of storm activity or three months and three weeks, 45 hurricane activity days, and 13 major hurricane activity days.

The hurricane season officially starts on June 1st and ends on November 30th.

The Office of Disaster Management (ODM), which falls under the Fire Department (Ministry of General Affairs) and is headed by Fire Chief/Disaster Coordinator Clive Richardson, is appealing to all residents and businesses to start preparing for a busy hurricane season ahead. Do not wait until June 1st or the last minute to make such preparations.

You have the time now to prepare in a timely manner for what has been described as an extremely active hurricane season.

The 2024 storm names are Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Francine, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Milton, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sara, Tony, Valerie, and William.

The community is urged to learn more about hurricane hazards and how to prepare for a storm/hurricane strike by visiting the Government website www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane. There, you can download your “Hurricane Season Readiness Guide" and “Hurricane Tracking Chart.”

Listen to the Government Radio station—SXMGOV 107.9FM—for official information and news before, during, and after a hurricane. You can also follow weather-related news and information, as well as national addresses by the Prime Minister and chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), by going to the @SXMGOV Facebook Page.

For official weather-related information, check out the website of the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/

Remember, it only takes one hurricane to make it a bad season. Be prepared!

PHILIPSBURG:---  On Tuesday, the Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, accompanied by Acting Minister of Public Works and Minister of Health Veronica Jansen-Webster, made a surprise visit to the GEBE Power Plant in Cay Bay. The visit aimed to establish a more transparent communication channel between the Government and GEBE officials, emphasizing collaboration's importance in ensuring essential services' sustainability.
"The sustainability of GEBE needs to be a collective priority which requires all stakeholders to be involved," stated Prime Minister Mercelina during the visit, highlighting the significance of unity in addressing the challenges faced at the power plant.
A crucial aspect of the visit involved direct engagement with GEBE employees, reflecting Prime Minister Mercelina's commitment to remaining connected with the citizens. Recognizing the invaluable contribution of the workforce, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for collective efforts in securing the future of GEBE.
Following the visit, an official meeting with GEBE's management is scheduled. This meeting will explore addressing the power plant's short-term and long-term needs, including its carrying capacity, particularly in anticipation of additional large-scale building projects in the nation.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Mercelina and the delegation ensured that citizen concerns regarding load-shedding and billing challenges would form part of further considerations with GEBE Management. Clearer communication and improved customer service are among the priorities identified to enhance the overall experience for GEBE consumers.
The surprise visit underscores the Government's proactive approach to addressing critical issues affecting the community and reaffirms its commitment to fostering collaboration for the betterment of the St. Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In light of recent developments regarding the vetting process for incoming Members of Parliament, the opposition members in Parliament representing the United People’s Party (UP) and the National Alliance (NA) have formally submitted a letter to the President of Parliament, the Honourable Sarah Wescot-Williams, urgently requesting that the vetting of the documents for incoming MPs not be further delayed and that it be handled by Friday this week.

The Honourable Omar E.C. Ottley and the Honourable Silveria Jacobs, faction leaders of the two largest political parties, issued a joint press release on Tuesday afternoon in which they clarified the stance of the "Super Seven” Members of Parliament regarding the delay in vetting the documents for the incoming members of Parliament who will replace Dr Luc Mercelina of the Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement (URSM), now Prime Minister and Grisha Heyliger-Marten of the Democratic Party (DP), now Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication (TEATT).
The letter issued by the UP/NA factions in Parliament requests the urgent handling of the Vetting process to review and accept the credentials of the incoming MPs. The members are also seeking clarity on the resignation of the former MPs who are now members of the Council of Ministers in the Executive Branch of Government.

"Following the Coalition Government's failure to ensure the timely vetting of incoming Parliamentarians' documents, a narrative has emerged suggesting that the Super Seven Members are deliberately delaying this process. It is crucial to emphasize that we are not opposed to performing the administrative duty of vetting the documents of the incoming members of Parliament and welcoming them to the floor of Parliament to commence their service to St. Maarten," the release stated.

The members submitted the letter to Parliament on Tuesday, following Monday's Public Meeting, in which they attempted to voice their concerns regarding the meeting's handling. The release states that the UP/NA members of Parliament will ensure that the work of Parliament continues post haste.
"Our concern lies with the Coalition's failure to ensure that this matter was handled promptly when they still had a majority in Parliament. It is evident that the formation process lacked the transparency our elected officials and the general public have come to expect as a standard and that this may have been, in part, responsible for the creation of the vacuum that was left when the two former members of Parliament resigned before securing their replacement.”
No one should overlook this failure as it shows a lack of experience and proper planning, and the people of St. Maarten deserve to be made aware of this lapse in responsibility explained MP Ottley.
MP Doran added, “I have witnessed firsthand the chaos and lack of transparency within the new coalition. It’s concerning to see the uncertainty within the public. The coalition should be honest with the public instead of playing games within and casting the blame on the NA/UP factions.”
They are requesting that the Public Meeting of Parliament be convened
so that the work for the people of St. Maarten can continue without unnecessary hindrance.
The seven parliamentarians have reiterated their "unwavering commitment" to uphold the principles of democracy and accountability in serving the best interests of the people of St. Maarten.
"We will not falter in this duty. As we navigate through this process, we remain committed to ensuring that the voices of the people, the true backbone of our democracy, are not just heard but also respected and acted upon in Parliament."
The UP/NA factions underscored the significance of a functioning Parliament to support the recently sworn-in Executive Branch of Government and effectively serve the people of St. Maarten and urged that the meeting be convened before Friday May 10, 2024.

PHILIPSBURG:--- New Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Martin, has pointed out that one of her priorities will include the Marketplace.
Speaking shortly after being sworn in by Governor Ajamu on Friday, Heyliger-Marten said, “One of the key areas we definitely have to work on is improving our product.”
“We have allowed the town to degenerate into what some now call a ‘ghetto.’ That is not who we are. We have to reverse that image. Let’s face it, the town needs a facelift,” said Minister Heyliger-Martin.
“There is an urgent need for the beautification of Philipsburg, including the Marketplace, so we can restore it to its past glory. This will receive my full attention,” said the minister, adding, “The image of our island, our tourism product, is everybody’s business.”