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PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel on Monday said the statement by the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) about raising the rent of its tenants feels like there is more to the story than the foundation is saying and questioned governments role.
SMHDF General Director Helen Salomons informed the media that the World Bank (WB) Trust Fund Steering Committee has denied SMHDFs request for the US $45 million in funding. She said that the rejection is for reasons unknown Read more

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Minister Ottley Invited To Serve As Member Of The Committee On Credentials At Paho/Who Directing Council.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), 73rd Session of the Regional Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Americas, has invited the Honorable Omar Ottley, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour to serve as a member of the Committee on Credentials of the 59th Session, from September 20th- 24th, 2021.
The PAHO Directing Council meets annually to discuss constitutional, program policy, administrative and financial matters, elect the Member States to serve on Boards and Committees, and present awards.

As a member of the Committee on Credentials, Minister Ottley will work with representatives of two other Member States to evaluate all the Delegations' credentials Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, September 17th, 2021 the Social Economic Council (SER) represented by the Chairman Mr. Damien Richardson, paid a visit to the Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and presented her with the 2020 annual report.

During the presentation of the report, the Chairman gave the Prime Minister a summary of the pending advice Read more

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Mp Gumbs Proposes To End ParliamentS Membership To Parlatino

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – With an eye to redirect Sint Maartens limitedresources into initiatives that would deepen cooperative ties between the Dutch Caribbean and other islands in the region, Party for Progress (PFP) leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Melissa Gumbs on Friday submitted a proposal to Parliament that would end the bodys membership to the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).

Parliament, and by extension the country and people of Sint Maarten, spend US $30,000 in annual membership fees plus a travel budget of NAf Read more

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Emmanuel Questions If 52 Million From Home-Porting Was Realized

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel has called on government to provide a report on the countrys first home-porting experience, in particular if the estimated US $52 million was realizednow that the service is over totheCelebrityMillenium.

The MP said that currently the people of St. Maarten are only hearing tax, tax, tax from the government, with no other revenue generating measures or cost saving measures being mentioned.  As such, he said, this would be the opportune time to Let us know if we managed to derive that famous US $52 million from home-porting, the MP said.

St Read more

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Irion Clarifies Tax Reform Concerns, Encourages Healthy Discussions

Finance Minister Ardwell Irion.

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Ardwell Irion sought to clarify concerns regarding the recent tax reform suggestions presented in Parliament recently Read more

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Travel Requirements To Be Adjusted As Of October 1St. More Travel Opportunities From The Latin American Market.

PHILIPSBURG:--- As of October 1st, 2021, the banned travel countries list will be eliminated, and these countries will be placed in a new very high risk, category that will have the following requirements.

Travelers originating from these countries must be fully vaccinated and must provide valid proof of a negative PCR test not older than 48-hours before departure on the last leg to destination Sint Maarten. With respect to non-vaccinated travelers, these persons are required to provide valid proof of a negative PCR test not older than 24-hours before departure on the last leg to the destination.

Once the requirements have been fully complied with, travelers will be allowed entry into the country Read more

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Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel has called on the government to provide a report on the countrys first home-porting experience, in particular, if the estimated US $52 million was realized now that the service is over to the Celebrity Millenium.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The MP said that currently, the people of St. Maarten are only hearing tax, tax, tax from the government, with no other revenue-generating measures or cost-saving measures being mentioned. As such, he said, this would be the opportune time to Let us know if we managed to derive that famous US $52 million from home-porting, the MP said.
St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday said the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion proved once again that the financial information he shares with the Parliament and the people of St. Maarten cannot be trusted. The misinformation and hiding of the truth continue, MP Emmanuel said.
The MP was referring to the disclosure by Minister Irion that a 7.5% sales tax for online purchases is on the table as part of the governments tax reform plans Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The young writers of Teen Times have submitted a proposal for legislation that would mandate schools and other public spaces to provide free female sanitary products. The proposal follows a global movement to end what is known as Period Poverty and is Teen Times second legislation proposal presented this year to Parliament through a Member of Parliament.

Coordinator of Teen Times Nichele Abreu-Smith presented the document on behalf of her group to MP Angelique Romou who is the Chairlady of Parliaments Committee for Youth, Education, Culture and Sports Read more

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Emmanuel Questions If 52 Million From Home-Porting Was Realized

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel has called on government to provide a report on the countrys first home-porting experience, in particular if the estimated US $52 million was realized now that the service is over to the Celebrity Millenium.

The MP said that currently the people of St. Maarten are only hearing tax, tax, tax from the government, with no other revenue generating measures or cost saving measures being mentioned. As such, he said, this would be the opportune time to Let us know if we managed to derive that famous US $52 million from home-porting, the MP said.

St Read more

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Emmanuel: Finance Minister Proves Again He Cannot Be Trusted With Financial Information

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday said the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion proved once again that the financial information he shares with the Parliament and the people of St. Maarten cannot be trusted. The mis-information and hiding of the truth continues, MP Emmanuel said.
The MP was referring to the disclosure by Minister Irion that a 7.5% sales tax for online purchases is on the table as part of the governments tax reform plans Read more

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Teen Times Submits Legislation Proposal To Mp Romou To End Period Poverty

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The young writers of Teen Times have submitted a proposal for legislation that would mandate schools and other public spaces to provide free female sanitary products. The proposal follows a global movement to end what is known as Period Poverty and is Teen Times second legislation proposal presented this year to Parliament through a Member of Parliament.

Coordinator of Teen Times Nichele Abreu-Smith presented the document on behalf of her group to MP Angelique Romou who is the Chairlady of Parliaments Committee for Youth, Education, Culture and Sports Read more

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Emmanuel Asks If Schiphol, Ballast Nedam Conflict Will Affect Airport Re-Construction

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — An ongoing situation in the Netherlands between Schiphol International and contractor Ballast Nedam has prompted Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel to write to Minister of TEATT Roger Lawrence to obtain information on any potential fallout for the re-construction of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA).

In the week of August 27, 2021, several media outlets in the Netherlands reported on the significant financial losses of Schiphol International Airport in the first half of 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic Read more

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Mp Emmanuel Questions Doran About Re-Locating People From Landfill To Foga

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel on Wednesday dispatched a letter to the Minister of VROMI Egbert Doran with a number of questions regarding the reported relocation of persons living on the landfill to brand new homes to be built at the area known as the Foga Housing Development Project in Sucker Garden.
Emmanuel said in his letter to the Minister that persistent rumors and unconfirmed reports must be addressed post haste as there were existing plans for the area Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On 14 September 2021, the Island(er)s at the Helm program hosted its first Kingdom-wide event with societal partners and other stakeholders. This meeting is the start of a five-year collaboration that brings together researchers and societal partners to use technical, traditional, and contemporary knowledge practices to study climate change adaptation. Working closely together, the Island(er)s at the Helm program will co-create sustainable and inclusive solutions for social adaptation to climate challenges in the (Dutch) Caribbean.

In this event, participating organizations and researchers exchanged ideas for collaboration within the Island(er)s at the Helm research program Read more

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7.5% Tax Proposed For Online Purchases, To Level Playing Field, Stimulate Buying Local

Finance Minister Ardwell Irion in Parliament on Thursday.

~ 12.5% VAT off the table ~ 

PHILIPSBURG--If a proposal currently on the table goes into effect, consumers purchasing items online such as from Amazon will be required to pay a 7.5 per cent tax on the items, they buy on the world wide web.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley hereby extends his deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Sint Maartens 59th COVID-19 victim, who has passed away. Minister Ottley wishes the family strength and peace during this time.

As of September 15th, there were thirteen (13) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however twenty (20)) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to one hundred eighty-seven (187) Read more

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Author Morales Reads At Leonald Conner School

Author Loekie Morales (right) and teacher Sharleen Dickenson (left) with group-five pupils at Leonald Conner School.

CAY BAY--Leonald Conner School invited author Loekie Morales Read more

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Sarah: Govt. Has Lackadaisical Attitude Towards Parliament

UD MP Sarah Wescot-Williams in Parliament on Wednesday.

PHILIPSBURG--United Democrats (UD) Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams on Wednesday chided government for its lackadaisical attitude towards the countrys highest legislative body, stating that government is taking the Parliament of St Read more

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Central Committee Reconvenes On Reform Of The Tax System On Sint Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Central Committee of Parliament, will meet in a session on September 16, 2021.

The Central Committee meeting, which was adjourned on August 30, 2021, will be reconvened on Thursday, September 16, 2021, at 15.00 hrs in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance will be present.

The agenda point is:

Reform of the tax system on Sint Maarten
(IS/652/2019-2020 dated March 5, 2020)

This meeting was requested by MP S.A Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- An ongoing situation in the Netherlands between Schiphol International and contractor Ballast Nedam has prompted Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel to write to Minister of TEATT Roger Lawrence to obtain information on any potential fallout for the re-construction of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA).
In the week of August 27, 2021, several media outlets in the Netherlands reported on the significant financial losses of Schiphol International Airport in the first half of 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel on Wednesday dispatched a letter to the Minister of VROMI Egbert Doran with a number of questions regarding the reported relocation of persons living on the landfill to brand new homes to be built at the area known as the Foga Housing Development Project in Sucker Garden.
Emmanuel said in his letter to the Minister that persistent rumors and unconfirmed reports must be addressed post-haste as there were existing plans for the area. One of his 10 questions to the Minister queried if there is any validity to the report that persons living on the landfill will each be compensated financially to move as well as the legal status of these individuals Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- During the Central Committee meeting on Tuesday, September 15, 2021, convened for the purpose of ratifying the parliamentary committees and hear from the Prime Minister on the position of government in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, MP Wescot-Willams chided the government for its lackadaisical attitude towards the parliament of Sint Maarten.

The MP was particularly taken aback by the matter-of-fact presentation by His Excellency on behalf of the government of St Read more