PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) made two separate arrests on Tuesday, August 12th, 2020, in connection with a case of domestic violence and aggravated assault.

• In an ongoing investigation into a serious assault that had taken place in a nightclub on the airport road on July 12^th, 2020, the detective arrested the man with the initials J.G. on Tuesday morning. According to the information gathered, an argument ensued between the suspect J.G and the victim F.F. that ended in a physical altercation.

During the altercation that had taken place inside the establishment, the victim was severely injured with an ashtray. The victim suffered serious lacerations to his face and his neck. He was taken to the Sint Maarten Medical center where he was immediately operated on. An arrest warrant was later issued by the prosecutor office for the suspect who is a French residence. The officers were able to locate and arrest him on Tuesday. After being interrogated he is being been held at the police station in Philipsburg pending further investigation.

• On Tuesday the police patrol arrested the man with the initials K.S.A.S. for ill-treating his girlfriend and threatening to kill her. Earlier on Tuesday morning, the victim made an official complaint at the detective department against her boyfriend. According to the victim, this was not the first time the suspect had abused or threatened her life. The suspect was incarcerated pending further investigation. Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone; it does not discriminate; abuse happens within all relationships. The bottom line is that abusive behavior is never acceptable, and won’t be tolerated whether from a man or woman.

KPSM Press Release.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- National Disaster Coordinator/Fire Chief Clive Richardson, is reminding the Sint Maarten community not to let their guard down and remain vigilant as we approach the peak period of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season for hurricane development which runs from mid-August to mid-October.

There is currently Tropical Depression #11 (TD#11) that is several hundred miles out in the Atlantic Ocean east of the Lesser Antilles, which is a stark reminder that we are in the hurricane season.

Even though TD#11 does not pose a direct threat to Sint Maarten at this point in time, residents and the business community are requested to monitor the progress of the system due to the fact that the tropical depression is east of the island chain.

The depression is expected to become a tropical storm on Wednesday night. If this takes place as forecasted, it will be called Josephine.

The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) and the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten (MDS) will continue to keep you informed as the system approaches the Lesser Antilles.

Two hurricane forecasting organizations have further upgraded the season to being extremely busy. The Colorado State University (CSU) Tropical Weather & Climate Research in its latest season hurricane forecasting report of August 5 calls for “…an extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce – National Hurricane Center (NHC) falls under the NOAA – on August 6 in its report said: “Atmospheric and oceanic conditions are primed to fuel storm development in the Atlantic, leading to what could be an ‘extremely active’ season.”

The updated NOAA outlook calls for up to 25-named storms, of which seven to 11 will become hurricanes, including three to six major hurricanes of Category 3 or more. To date there has already been nine named storms so far for the season with the last one being Isaias.

The remaining storm names for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season are: Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paulette, René, Sally, Teddy, Vicky, and Wilfred.

To learn more about hurricane hazards and how to prepare for a storm/hurricane strike, visit the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your “Hurricane Season Readiness Guide’ and “Hurricane Tracking Chart.”

In addition, you can also download the ‘Disasterprep Sint Maarten’ app for Android and Apple phones by going to the Google and Apple stores.

Listen to the Government Radio station – 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane.

For official weather-related information, check out the website of the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com

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

PHILIPSBURG:---The House of Parliament will sit in a Plenary Public session on August 13, 2020.

The Public meeting which was adjourned on July 28, 2020, will be reconvened on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at 14.00 hrs. The meeting will be held in a virtual setting. The Council of Ministers will be in attendance.

The agenda points are:
2. The lack of approval of various programs that are beneficial to the economic reform and growth of the country.
3. The Focus Audit done by the General Audit Chamber of Sint Maarten in May 2020 referencing “The Reconstruction Funds for Sint Maarten” (IS/888/2019-2020 dated May 29, 2020)

This meeting was requested by MP C.A. Buncamper, MP S.A. Wescot-Williams, MP M.D. Gumbs, MP A.E. Arrindell, MP R.A. Peterson and MP C.T. Emmanuel
Due to measures taken to mitigate the coronavirus (COVID-19), the House of Parliament is only allowing persons with an appointment to enter the Parliament building.

The parliamentary session will be held virtually and will be carried out live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1 www.pearlfmradio.sx, via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and Parliament’s Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on, August 13, 2020.
The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 10.00 hrs. and will be held in a virtual setting. Representatives of NPower SXM / 4c Foundation will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:
Presentation COVID-19 NPO Stakeholders Survey Report
(IS/1014/2019-2020 dated July 3, 2020)
MP R. Brison requested this meeting

Due to measures taken to mitigate the coronavirus (COVID-19), the House of Parliament is only allowing persons with an appointment to enter the Parliament building.

The parliamentary session will be held virtually and will be carried out live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1 www.pearlfmradio.sx, via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and Parliament’s Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten