By the Caribbean Journal staff

St Maarten is seeing more and more new flights and resumed service as the island works to recover from last year’s storms, led by a major resumption in service by American Airlines.

That includes the imminent return of American’s nonstop flight from Charlotte to St Maarten, which begins Nov. 4; along with the resumption of nonstop flights from both New York and Philadelphia beginning Dec. 19.

The relaunches “show the resilience of St Maarten,” St Maarten Tourism Minister Stuart Johnson said in a statement.

“The new airlifts from carriers such as American Airlines shows their commitment to St Maarten and their belief in our country and people’s resilience,” Johnson said. “It also gives people in the region more ease of access to the USA and elsewhere and shows the importance of our airport as a hub destination for our regional partners.”

The expanded service also comes as the destination works to complete the new Main Terminal at Princess Juliana International Airport, which is set for November.

American has “a long-term commitment to with St Maarten and it is great to be able to grow our presence on the island,” said American Airlines’ managing director for the Caribbean, Alfred Gonzales.

The Charlotte and Philadelphia flights will both operate daily on Airbus A-319 aircraft.

The view from the Grand Case Beach Club’s pool deck.

The New York flight, which will operate weekly on Saturdays, will run on a Boeing 757 aircraft with 176 seats.

St Maarten has been working to make a major comeback, with this winter particularly crucial.

Le Petit Hotel in St Martin.

It’s getting a boost from the relaunch of several hotels, particularly on the French side of the island, including the Grand Case Beach Club and Le Petit Hotel.

The premier hotel on the Dutch side, the Sonesta Ocean Point, will reopen Nov. 15, while its sister property, the Sonesta Maho Beach resort, is planning to relaunch Feb. 1, 2019.

— CJ

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Sandals Resorts International is making a push to eliminate single-use plastics across its regional portfolio, the company said this week.

The company said all 19 Sandals and Beaches resorts across seven Caribbean islands would be eliminating the 21,490,800 single-use plastic straws and stirrers used across the resorts each year by Nov. 1.

Eco-friendly paper straws will be available on request, however.

“Love is at the crux of all Sandals Resorts, and this love extends to the oceans and communities around them,” said Adam Stewart, Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts International. “We care deeply about our commitment to preserving both marine wildlife and human health within the many beautiful islands we’re connected to. Eliminating single-use plastic straws and stirrers is only the beginning of our journey toward helping create a plastic-free sea in the region we call home.”

Sandals also announced a partnership with Oceanic Global, a nonprofit focused on issues that impact marine areas, to conduct an audit for both the front and back of house to determine a roadmap to eliminate all single-use plastic across its resorts.

It said it would be exploring opportunities to eliminate other plastics across its resorts by 2019.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Sandals Resorts International, the first all-inclusive brand to join our mission,” said Lea d’Auriol, Founder of Oceanic Global. “Seventy percent of our world is made up of oceans. It’s critical that we take steps to protect this precious resource – and Sandals is sending the message to companies with a major presence along ocean shores that they have a responsibility to take action, and that preserving ocean health can be both efficient and effective.”

— CJ

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Puerto Rico is offering aid to homeowners … the Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico, told the newspaper.
In states … of a flood-prone part of Puerto Rico. “Our community is very united …

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CASTRIES, St Lucia — The next general elections in Saint Lucia are constitutionally due in 2021. However, Richard Frederick, a former government minister in a previous United Workers Party (UWP) administration, believes there will be a change in leadership long before that date. The current UWP administration is headed by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, who […]

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By Ray Chickrie Caribbean News Now contributor GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Georgetown is once again re-emerging as the diplomatic capital of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and will welcome a high level visit from the foreign minister of China, Wang Yi and a large delegation to Guyana this weekend, September 21-22. Wang Yi will also pay a […]

The post China foreign minister to visit Guyana and Suriname appeared first on Caribbean News Now.

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