PHILIPSBURG:--- NOW Member of Parliament Lyndon Lewis extends heartfelt gratitude to the people of Sint Maarten as the island officially marks the end of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. MP Lewis expressed relief and appreciation that the nation has safely navigated another season without major threats or impacts.

“I am thankful that Sint Maarten has once again been spared from severe weather events this year,” MP Lewis stated. “We recognize the power and unpredictability of nature, and we are truly blessed to have come through this season safely.”

MP Lewis commended the dedicated efforts of emergency personnel, volunteers, and essential workers, as well as the preparedness and cooperation demonstrated by residents throughout the season. He emphasized that the collective vigilance and resilience of the community continue to strengthen the island year after year.

As the hurricane season concludes, MP Lewis encourages the public to remain cautious, look out for one another, and continue fostering unity and preparedness in all circumstances.

“I wish all residents a safe, enjoyable, and peaceful remainder of the year,” MP Lewis added. “May God continue to guide and protect our beloved Sint Maarten through every season ahead.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a public meeting on Monday, December 1, 2025.

The public meeting is scheduled for 13.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Prime Minister / Minister of General Affairs will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:
Question hour: Questions from MP F.A. Lacroes directed to the Minister of General Affairs regarding Sint Maarten's national strategy for fuel diversification, LNG transition, public utilities, and the implementation of community benefits (IS/368/2025-2026 dated November 19, 2025)


The intention of a question hour is to create the possibility for Members of Parliament to exercise their supervisory activities by posing questions and interact with Ministers on current matters. During the question hour only questions and answers will be given on the topic at hand. The procedure of the question hour is regulated in article 69 and further of the Rules of Order.
Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.
All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. 

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament 

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  The theme for World AIDS Day, which will be observed globally on Monday, December 1, 2025, is “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,” the Collective Prevention Service (CPS) said on Sunday.

World AIDS Day, observed annually on December 1st, serves as a crucial global initiative to unite people in the fight against HIV, show support for those living with the virus, and commemorate those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.

The day is a pivotal moment for governments, health organizations, and communities to renew their commitment to reach the UNAIDS target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

A primary objective of World AIDS Day 2025 will be to accelerate efforts toward achieving the ambitious 95-95-95 targets: of people living with HIV know their status, of all people with diagnosed HIV infection receive sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART), and of all people receiving ART achieve viral suppression.

CPS encourages the community to educate and inform themselves about the latest developments related to AIDS and HIV, and therefore, the topic is part of its annual calendar of health observances.

Achieving viral suppression is critical, as it means the virus is undetectable, rendering it impossible to transmit sexually or undetectable equals un-transmittable).

This scientific fact has fundamentally changed the social and medical landscape of HIV, allowing people with HIV to live long, healthy lives and preventing new infections.

Awareness campaigns on this day will heavily emphasize the importance of getting tested, starting treatment immediately, and understanding that modern ART is the most effective prevention tool available.

Finally, the commemoration serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing need to combat stigma and discrimination. Despite monumental medical progress, social stigma remains a major obstacle, preventing many individuals from seeking testing or adhering to treatment for fear of judgment, exclusion, or violence.

World AIDS Day is therefore a call to action for society to foster greater understanding and acceptance. By promoting open dialogue, celebrating the resilience of those living with HIV, and campaigning for inclusive policies, we can remove the final non-medical barriers to ending the epidemic, ensuring that the necessary healthcare and social support reach every individual, everywhere.

In 2024, an estimated 40.8 million people were living with HIV globally. Approximately 630,000 people died from HIV related causes in 2024, and an estimated 1.3 million people acquired HIV in 2024.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of VROMI is pleased to announce the installation of the long-awaited weighbridge. A weighbridge is a large scale and will be used to calculate the volume of waste going into the landfill. The weighbridge being installed can accommodate up to 80 tons and will assist in collecting data and the introduction of fees to support financing the waste sector in the future. This initiative is an activity to support the improvement of waste management through the Emergency Debris Management Program (EDMP), funded via the Trust Fund. At its core, EDMP will finance the rehabilitation of the current landfill and support modernizing waste management in Sint Maarten.
Throughout the course of today, Sunday morning, representatives of VROMI and the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) were on site for the installation being carried out by AVTO and Elicom. Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs confirmed that over the course of the week, the Ministry will receive training on the software and operations of the machinery.
Minister Gumbs thanked the staff of his Ministry, the NRPB, and the contractors for their continued work and dedication. He underscored that the upcoming changes are necessary in realizing the clean, sustainable future that we all want for Sint Maarten, recalling the project’s message, it will take all of us!