News Release
 
Written by Roddy Heyliger, Government Information Service (GIS), Ennia Bldg., 
Longwall Rd., Philipsburg, Sint Maarten D.W.I. Tel. 00-599-543-1162, 542-4119, 
Fax: 543-1169; Email: gis at sintmaarten.net; 
 
For Immediate Release: Monday, April 05, 2010/N045
 
Sint Maarten delegation attends National Hurricane Conference
 
GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (GIS) ? A delegation of civil servants returned over 
the weekend after attending the 2010 National Hurricane Conference (NHC) in 
Orlando Florida.

According to Head of the Disaster Management Office Paul Martens, deliberations 
at the conference focused on lessons learned from hurricane strikes; state of 
the art programs worthy of emulation; and new ideas being tested or considered.

Other members of the delegation were: Fire Chief & Disaster Coordinator Winston 
Salomon, Sector ROB Beheer Edelmiro Jansen and Benjamin Ortega.

The main focus for disaster management officials were the tropical islands 
sessions, where presentations were given on hurricane experiences, coastal 
management, tsunami issues, and community disaster planning.

Disaster officials from Sint Maarten gave a presentation during the 
aforementioned sessions on the system of disaster management in the Dutch 
Caribbean.  Sint Maarten is also co-chair of the Topic Committee Tropical 
Islands/Latin America.

A session that focused on fire departments was also attended.

Jansen and Ortega attended sessions related to engineering, recovery, debris 
management etc.

The primary goal of the NHC is to improve hurricane preparedness, response, 
recovery, and mitigation in order to save lives and property in the United 
States and the tropical islands of the Caribbean and Pacific.

In addition, the conference serves as a national forum for federal, state and 
local officials to exchange ideas and recommend new policies to improve 
Emergency Management.

Conference delegates also discussed information about new or ongoing assistant 
programs; the ABC?s of hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and 
mitigation ? in recognition of the fact that there is a continual turnover of 
emergency management leadership and staff. 

Also attending from Sint Maarten was Roy Richardson from telecommunications 
provider UTS/Caribserve.  He gave a presentation on telecommunications in 
hurricanes and other disasters during the tropical islands sessions. 

The conference ran from March 29 to April 2 and took place at Hilton, Orlando.

PHOTO CUTLINE: Left to right, Edelmiro Jansen, Paul Martens, Winston Salomon 
and Benjamin Ortega.

# # #/10-045 
 
Roddy Heyliger
Sint Maarten Government Information Service (GIS)

News Release

 

Written by Roddy Heyliger, Government Information Service (GIS), Ennia Bldg., Longwall Rd., Philipsburg, St. Maarten D.W.I. Tel. 00-599-543-1162, 542-4119, Fax: 543-1169; Email: gis at sintmaarten.net;

 

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 13, 2010/N010

 

Haitians can seek information via Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Haitian Consul in Curacao

 

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten (GIS) – The Netherlands Antilles Bureau of Foreign Affairs and the Haitian Consulate in Willemstad, Curacao, are working together to assist Haitians in the Netherlands Antilles with getting information about their love ones in Haiti.

 

Specific telephone numbers have been assigned broken down into two groups where persons can call to register their name and provide information about family and love ones in Haiti. 

 

The first group are Haitians residing in the Netherlands Antilles who have the Dutch nationality, can call the Bureau of Foreign Affairs in Curacao at 09-4613933 and ask for R. May or S. Nicolaas.  Family members who also have the Dutch nationality can also call the aforementioned number between 7.30am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday.

 

The persons name once they call will be noted along with their request pertaining to family members in Haiti who they are not able to reach.

 

Haitians who left the Netherlands Antilles and are in Haiti, and are not able to get back, this information should be relayed to the Bureau of Foreign Affairs.

 

The Dutch Embassy in the Dominican Republic is also involved in the coordination of a possible air or sealift out of Haiti of persons from the Netherlands Antilles who may now be stranded in Haiti due to the disaster.

 

Haitian residents in the Netherlands Antilles without the Dutch nationality should contact the Haitian Consulate Office in Willemstad, Curacao at the following number 09-4613434 and ask for Interim Consul General Renan Chery or Vice Consul Jean Claude Selime.

 

The reason this has been broken down into two groups is for efficiency and to have an effective process of registration and getting the information to the correct persons during this dire situation currently unfolding in Haiti.

 

Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake on Tuesday around 5.00pm having a 7.0 magnitude followed by a number of aftershocks measuring over magnitude 5.0.

 

The earthquake was centered about 10 miles west from Port-au-Prince and had a depth of approximately five miles.

 

# # #/10-010

 

Roddy Heyliger

St. Maarten Government Information Service (GIS)

 

Best regards,
Roddy Heyliger

P.O.Box 945, Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Cell: 5204217-primary, 5816323-secondary

Public Relations & Communications
Secondary Email: roddyheyliger at yahoo.com

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
This e-mail message is intended only for the individual(s) to whom it is
addressed. This e-mail may contain information that is privileged,
confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not
the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you received this e-mail by accident, please notify the sender immediately and destroy this e-mail and all copies of it.

 

News Release

 

Written by Roddy Heyliger, Government Information Service (GIS), Ennia Bldg., Longwall Rd., Philipsburg, St. Maarten D.W.I. Tel. 00-599-543-1162, 542-4119, Fax: 543-1169; Email: gis at sintmaarten.net;

 

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 13, 2010/N006

 

Governor Richards Expresses Solidarity with the People of Haiti

 

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten (GIS) – Governor Franklyn Richards says that our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti at this point in time after the country just suffered a devastating earthquake according to preliminary reports.

 

Late Tuesday afternoon, Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake followed by a number of aftershocks measuring over magnitude 5.0.

 

“The prayers of the nation and government are with the people of Haiti.  Reports on damage and loss of life are not fully known and would become more apparent on Wednesday.

 

“Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti first and foremost and to the St. Maarten/St. Martin Haitian community.  We expect that many of our brethren have friends and family members living in Port-au-Prince and surrounding neighbourhoods.  We are in solidarity with you and you are in our prayers,” Governor Richards told the Government Information Service (GIS).

 

The earthquake was centered about 10 miles west from Port-au-Prince and had a depth of approximately five miles.

 

# # #/10-006

 

Roddy Heyliger

St. Maarten Government Information Service (GIS)

 

 

Best regards,
Roddy Heyliger

P.O.Box 945, Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Cell: 5204217-primary, 5816323-secondary

Public Relations & Communications
Secondary Email: roddyheyliger at yahoo.com

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
This e-mail message is intended only for the individual(s) to whom it is
addressed. This e-mail may contain information that is privileged,
confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not
the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you received this e-mail by accident, please notify the sender immediately and destroy this e-mail and all copies of it.

News Release

 

Written by Roddy Heyliger, Government Information Service (GIS), Ennia Bldg., Longwall Rd., Philipsburg, St. Maarten D.W.I. Tel. 00-599-543-1162, 542-4119, Fax: 543-1169; Email: gis at sintmaarten.net;

 

For Immediate Release: Sunday, November 29, 2009/N205

 

Governor Richards thankful for quiet 2009 hurricane season

 

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten (GIS) – Chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Governor Franklyn Richards, is thankful that once again the nation has been spared from a direct hit by a hurricane for the 2009 hurricane season.

 

“We have much to be thankful for having gone through the 2009 hurricane season without being struck by a storm and the costs that comes along with it in damages.  The 2009 hurricane season comes to an end on Monday, November 30 until next year June 1 when it all starts again.

 

“I would like to thank the people of our island nation for taking the necessary preparations for the season.  We had a number of storm systems that passed close to the island and these forced us into a emergency preparatory mode for possible damage should the system have changed direction.

 

“However, preparation at the beginning of every hurricane season is the key.  It’s an investment that must be made in order to protect life and property.  I would like to thank the public as well as the island’s disaster management team and emergency support functions for their role played in preparing the nation,” Governor Franklyn Richards told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Sunday.

 

For the 2009 hurricane season, nine named storms formed of which three became hurricanes (Bill, Fred, and Ida) and of those two became major hurricanes of over category three (Bill category four, Fred category three). 

 

Hurricane Bill became the first hurricane and first major hurricane of the season with 135 miles per hour winds.

 

Hurricane Fred, a category three according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, became the strongest hurricane on record south of 30 degrees North and East of 35 degrees West in the Atlantic Basin with wind speeds of 120 miles per hour.

 

# # #

 

Roddy Heyliger

St. Maarten Government Information Service (GIS)

 

 

Best regards,
Roddy Heyliger

P.O.Box 945, Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Cell: 5204217-primary, 5816323-secondary

Public Relations & Communications
Secondary Email: roddyheyliger at yahoo.com

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
This e-mail message is intended only for the individual(s) to whom it is
addressed. This e-mail may contain information that is privileged,
confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not
the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you received this e-mail by accident, please notify the sender immediately and destroy this e-mail and all copies of it.

News Release

 

Written by Roddy Heyliger, Government Information Service (GIS), Ennia Bldg., Longwall Rd., Philipsburg, St. Maarten D.W.I. Tel. 00-599-543-1162, 542-4119, Fax: 543-1169; Email: gis at sintmaarten.net;

 

For Immediate broadcast: Monday, November 16 2009/N196 Special EOC Advisor 5.00pm

 

Severe rainfall watch is in effect for St. Maarten; Motorists advised to exercise extreme caution

 

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten (GIS) – The Netherlands Antilles & Aruba Weather Service has issued a special bulletin at 3.00pm with respect to a “severe rainfall watch” which is in effect for St. Maarten.  This watch is in effect until 6.00pm.

 

Motorists are hereby advised to exercise extreme caution while driving home from work late this afternoon.

 

Heavy showers leading to local flooding are possible over sections of the island are anticipated.  Residents are urged to avoid driving in low lying areas and in flooded streets until the anticipated heavy rain has tapered off or ended and the anticipated flood waters have subsided.

 

In case there are lightening strikes very close to your location, switch off and disconnect any sensitive electronic equipment.  Also disconnect any phone line from your computer.

 

Motorists should exercise extreme caution while driving in hilly areas and to be on the lookout for possible rock falls.

 

Persons who do not need to be on the road at this point in time should remain at home until weather conditions improve.

 

The Welgelegen road in Cay Hill has been closed to all vehicular traffic for the period Monday afternoon and evening due to the anticipated heavy rainfall.

 

Residents are advised to continue to monitor radio broadcast for any additional information that may be issued by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and for weather reports issued by the Netherlands Antilles & Aruba Weather Service. 

 

# # #

 

Roddy Heyliger

St. Maarten Government Information Service (GIS)

 

Best regards,
Roddy Heyliger

P.O.Box 945, Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Cell: 5204217-primary, 5816323-secondary

Public Relations & Communications
Secondary Email: roddyheyliger at yahoo.com

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
This e-mail message is intended only for the individual(s) to whom it is
addressed. This e-mail may contain information that is privileged,
confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not
the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you received this e-mail by accident, please notify the sender immediately and destroy this e-mail and all copies of it.

News Release

Written by Roddy Heyliger, Government Information Service (GIS), Ennia Bldg., 
Longwall Rd., Philipsburg, St. Maarten D.W.I. Tel. 00-599-543-1162, 542-4119, 
Fax: 543-1169; Email: gis at sintmaarten.net; 

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 30, 2009/N169

Governor calls on residents to continue to monitor weather reports as hurricane 
season still has eight weeks to go

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten (GIS) ? Chairman of the Emergency Operations Center 
(EOC) Governor Franklyn Richards, is reminding residents that the 2009 
hurricane season is not yet over, don?t be fooled by the lull in activity, and 
to continue to be vigilant by monitoring weather reports over the next eight 
weeks.

Richards added that it was mid-October when major Hurricane Omar, a category 
three system passed 55 miles from St. Maarten last year causing different types 
of damage to the island, however due to the quick response of all concerned, 
the island made a quick recovery and was back in business within a short period 
of time.

So far for the 2009 hurricane season, there have been six storm systems, namely 
four tropical storms (Ana, Claudette, Danny and Erika) and two major hurricanes 
(Bill and Fred).  Bill became a category four and Fred a category three 
hurricane system.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the US Climate 
Prediction Center announced recently that the El Nino weather pattern will 
strengthen this fall and should produce a below average hurricane season for 
the Atlantic and Caribbean.

The stronger the El Nino, the lesser the impact will be of storm formation.

The US National Weather Service is forecasting between seven to 11 storms in 
the Atlantic and Caribbean region this year due to the El Nino effect with 
three to six becoming hurricanes.

?As a nation, we should fare well this hurricane season, however as the theme 
of our Office of Disaster Management & Preparedness says, ?It Only Takes One,? 
hurricane to ruin the season.  Continue to maintain a state of preparedness 
until the end of the season,? Governor Franklyn Richards told the Government 
Information Service (GIS).  

Governor Richards would like to express his deepest sympathy to the family, 
friends and governments who are currently dealing with the aftermath of an 
earthquake and tsunami.

On Tuesday an earthquake caused a tsunami that killed more than 100 people in 
the South Pacific.  On Wednesday an earthquake shook Western Indonesia killing 
dozens.

The hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

# # # 

Roddy Heyliger
St. Maarten Government Information Service (GIS)