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Wescot-Williams: “I Hope The French/Dutch Op Program Can Still Be Salvaged, After More Than A Year Of Deliberate Inaction.”

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — It might have come on a quiet Sunday afternoon, but the revelation that the governments of French and Dutch St. Maarten have picked up the pieces of the OP cooperation agreement for St. Maarten/St. Martin is most welcomed news.

In August 2014, in my former capacity of Prime Minister, I signed the letter of intent with French St. Maarten for cross border cooperation between both sides, the so-called ETC operational program. Very specific procedures needed to be followed, amongst which making the proposed projects public.

After years of negotiating this breakthrough cooperation agreement, this project was torpedoed by former Prime Minister William Marlin due to his aversion to French/Dutch Cooperation Read more

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Mauricia-Peterson: Stop Playing With People’S Feelings With Empty Election Promises

Stop playing with the people’s feelings.

For decades, we the people, have been hearing over and over solutions to each and every problem in Sint Maarten during election time. After that nothing is done in the best interest of the people. The thing is it is not the solutions at risk here, but the livelihood of our people. While the dump is an ongoing problem for years, and solutions have been highlighted throughout each election time, this is my take.

We need to start educating our people from home on how to separate their garbage and also dispose of it, via all media houses and DCOMM Read more

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Minister Wuite Signs Off On Repairs For Melford Hazel Sports Center And Basketball Courts

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In line with the vision of recovery, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Jorien Wuite informs that repairs to the Melford Hazel Sports Center along with several basketball courts in various districts on the island have been signed off on to be executed within the coming weeks. The National Sports Institute (NSI) will be the executing agency to oversee the repairs with funds made available through the approval of a subsidy by the Government of St Read more

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Minister Of Telecommunications De Weever Commends Local Radio Stations On World Radio Day

POND ISLAND, Sint Maarten — The Acting Minister responsible for Telecommunications Cornelius de Weever, would like to congratulate radio station owners, staff and listeners on the occasion of World Radio Day which is being observed around the globe today, Tuesday, February 13.

The theme for World Radio Day 2018 is “Radio and Sports.”

“Radio is a very powerful tool, and we once again experienced that on September 6, the day hurricane Irma made landfall and caused catastrophic damage to our beloved island.

“For several weeks, several radio stations served as beacons of hope as they provided information to the community and to loved ones abroad who were following developments on the island right after the hurricane.

“I would like to take this opportunity to commend our radio stations, the owners, the staff, technicians, program producers and hosts for the very important role that they played after the hurricane.

“In the past, pre-Irma and today, radio continues to perform a very important role and this will continue for the foreseeable future.  Thank you for what you do every day 365 days a year,” Acting Minister of Telecommunications Cornelius de Weever said on Tuesday.

Radio has shaped lives across many countries around the world.

Radio is still the most dynamic, reactive and engaging medium there is, adapting to 21st century changes and offering new ways to interact and participate.

World Radio Day was first celebrated in 2012, following its declaration by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) General Conference.

It was subsequently adopted as an International Day by the United Nations General Assembly Read more

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Smcp Is Not Associated With Any Political Party

It is being rumored that the Sint Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) is an off-shoot of the DP, a satellite of the NA and that it is financed by the UPP Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- In line with the vision of recovery, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Jorien Wuite informs that repairs to the Melford Hazel Sports Center along with several basketball courts in various districts on the island have been signed off on to be executed within the coming weeks. The National Sports Institute (NSI) will be the executing agency to oversee the repairs with funds made available through the approval of a subsidy by the Government of St Read more

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POND ISLAND:--- The Acting Minister responsible for Telecommunications Cornelius de Weever, would like to congratulate radio station owners, st, ff and listeners on the occasion of World Radio Day which is being observed around the globe today, Tuesday, February 13.
The theme for World Radio Day 2018 is “Radio and Sports.”
“Radio is a very powerful tool, and we once again experienced that on September 6, the day hurricane Irma made landfall and caused catastrophic damage to our beloved island.
“For several weeks, several radio stations served as beacons of hope as they provided information to the community and to loved ones abroad who were following developments on the island right after the hurricane.
“I would like to take this opportunity to commend our radio stations, the owners, the staff, technicians, program producers and hosts for the very important role that they played after the hurricane.
“In the past, pre-Irma and today, radio continues to perform a very important role and this will continue for the foreseeable future Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- It is being rumored that the Sint Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) is an off-shoot of the DP, a satellite of the NA and that it is financed by the UPP Read more

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“Where is the integrity in government?”

PHILIPSBURG:--- Interim Minister of Finance Micheal Ferrier, former Minister of Finance and consultant for the Ministry of Finance Martin Hassink, Arno Peels the Secretary-General of Finance, and Rodney Richardson boarded a Pilatus aircraft with registration number M-YFLY on Tuesday as they head out to Curacao where they will board KLM to continue their journey to Brussels to seek financing for a Waste to Energy Plant (WTE) for St. Maarten.
The aircraft belongs to well-known businessman Saro Spadaro, a personal friend of interim Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier.
It should be noted that both Ferrier and Spadaro have their own private aircraft and are holders of a pilot license but they do not have a commercial pilot license that would authorize them to transport passengers, especially a government delegation.
When the delegation arrived at the Princess Juliana International Airport a number of photographs were taken as the concern persons want to know where government integrity is especially when they begin to wheel and deal with persons within the business community especially since the current interim government supported the establishment of an integrity chamber on St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Prime Minister and National Alliance candidate for the upcoming parliamentary election, William Marlin says housing in the reconstruction phase of the country, will be one of the top priorities that the party will continue to focus on in the new governing period.

Marlin said in a press release on Monday that the urgent need for proper and affordable housing and the improvement of communities have become clearer as the various communities are canvassed.

Making affordable housing available for persons to own their own homes and proving economical options for persons interested in renting are areas that the party will continue to build on.

“The National Alliance will focus quite a bit on making homes available for our people to purchase and for that quite some work needs to be done because presently too many of our people are on contracts and don’t qualify for mortgages at the bank to get an opportunity in their young age to purchase a home with a mortgage of 30 to 35 years so that when they reach the age of retirement, they are not saddled with the problem of still having to pay a mortgage or a high rent".

Marlin said former National Alliance Minister of VROMI Christophe Emmanuel had engaged in talks with property owners with the intention of developing properties in a public/private partnership for persons to be able to purchase their own homes Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Former St. Maarten Prime Minister William Marlin believes that the move by The Hague to dissolve the St. Eustatius Island Council, send the Executive Council and Acting Island Governor home and replace them with a Dutch Government-appointed Commissioner, is a dangerous precedent.

“It is sad that in the 21st Century, we still have this form of colonial developments in the region and so close to home where the elected representatives of an island is put aside by others”, Marlin said on Sunday, while responding to a question on the radio programme Breakfast with de Robert on The Voice of St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Once a year, the District Governor (DG) of Rotary District 7020 makes an official visit to each club in the district, between July 1st and December 31st. The purpose of the visit is to allow the DG to communicate directly with all Rotarians in our District. He is there to listen to the club leadership and gain a better understanding of their club, to provide helpful and friendly advice to club officers as requested and to answer questions about Rotary International and the District Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday, February 12, at the Government Administration Building, Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier was presented a copy of the book “Fiscale Wetgeving (Tax law) 2018" by the Managing Director of PricewaterhouseCoopers Paul van Vliet, Associate Partner. The Minister is thankful to PricewaterhouseCoopers and will dis Read more

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POND ISLAND:---  Destination Sint Maarten/St. Martin is once again profiled in a major U.S. media publication, the USA Today. On Monday, February 12, in its Travel Section under the title, “Best beaches in the Caribbean, 2018 edition,” there were 51 photos featuring the aforementioned in the Region, and destination St. Maarten/St. Martin was mentioned in the number two spot pointing out that the island’s 37 beaches are back in business.
The feature written by Melanie Reffes as a special to USA Today starts out, “Even if you’ve been there and done that, chilling on a Caribbean beach never gets old.
“Whether you like snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing, people-watching on party beaches or the sand-less-traveled, our island-by-island guide can help you find the best sandy swaths under the sun.”
Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Cornelius de Weever said on Monday that once again this is positive promotion for the destination after the hurricanes of September 2017.
Minister De Weever was quoted in the publication as saying: “A fan of the beach closest to the city, minister of tourism Cornelius de Weever gives a thumbs-up to Great Bay Beach where the ‘boardwalk bars host spirited happy hours, there’s a lot of shopping in adjacent Philipsburg and as the pier is at the end, it’s perfect for cruise shippers looking to spend an afternoon on the sand.’”
“Keeping travelers and the travel and tourism trade informed on how we are progressing is very important for the destination Read more

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Alianza Progresista Del Caribe Condena Atropello De Holanda Contra El Gobierno De St Eustatius

La Alianza Progresista del Caribe (CPA), una asociación formada durante una reunión de COPPPAL en St Maarten, en mayo de 2017, con organizaciones miembros de los restantes países no autónomos en general, a nivel mundial y regional, con un énfasis particular en las islas de las antiguas Antillas Holandesas.

Entre nuestros miembros en crecimiento figuran Puerto Rico, San Andrés, Providenciales y las Islas Vírgenes de los Estados Unidos, B.V.I., los territorios de ultramar franceses y holandeses.

El CPA ha seguido con consternación e incredulidad el trato dispensado por el gobierno holandés al pueblo de las antiguas Antillas Neerlandesas, especialmente las islas BES de Bonaire y San Eustaquio Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation and its volunteers on Sunday began the process to repair the home of a local resident which was severely damaged by hurricane Irma, which battered the island in September last year.

The damaged home is located on Bush Road and it represents the first housing project to be executed by Tzu Chi Foundation following the devastating hurricane.

The project is being executed in collaboration with Key to Freedom Foundation and its Director Elvision Adamus Read more

William: Draft Law Short Term Contracts Watered Down To Primarily Benefit Businesses

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Former Prime Minister William Marlin says the draft national ordinance to amend the civil code to stem the abuse of short term labor contracts has been watered down to such an extent that the original intention of the law is no longer visible.

The current draft on the table, he adds, primarily benefits businesses and seems to make a mockery of the system Read more

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William Calls For Extension Of Time For Voters To Collect Voting Cards In Districts

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Former Prime Minister and number 23 candidate on the National Alliance slate, William Marlin is calling on authorities to extend the period within which voters can pick up their voting cards from polling substations within the various districts.

He also urges authorities to, in extending the time, also seriously consider opening the polling substations after hours as well as on weekends to better accommodate persons who work late and those available only on the weekend.

Voters in some districts were given just five days, 5th of February to 9th of February (9am to 5pm), to collect their voting cards at locations in the various districts Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Prime Minister and number 23 candidate on the National Alliance slate, William Marlin is calling on authorities to extend the period within which voters can pick up their voting cards from polling substations within the various districts.

He also urges authorities to, in extending the time, also seriously consider opening the polling substations after hours as well as on weekends to better accommodate persons who work late and those available only on the weekend.

Voters in some districts were given just five days, 5th of February to 9th of February (9 am to 5 pm), to collect their voting cards at locations in the various districts Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Prime Minister William Marlin says the draft national ordinance to amend the civil code to stem the abuse of short-term labor contracts has been watered down to such an extent that the original intention of the law is no longer visible.

The current draft on the table, he adds, primarily benefits businesses and seems to make a mockery of the system Read more

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Frans Asks Gebe To Expedite Restoration To Parts Of Cay Bay.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament and leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party Frans Richardson is calling on GEBE to at least explain to residents of Cay Bay why they are still without electricity 6 months after the passing of hurricane Irma.

Richardson said while he fully compliments the staff and management of GEBE for the work they have done in restoring St Read more

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CEO praises workers who kept services going during emergency.

Pond Island – TelEm Group management called its workers back to their main building on Pond Island, Monday, following last week’s emergency closure due to raging fires on the dumpsite nearby.

Many members of staff, especially Customer Service personnel, Technicians and engineers not affected by last week’s closure continued working throughout last week’s incident, however, the majority of TelEm Group workers, located in the main building were unable to continue their daily duties because of the closure.
“Technically we could have called staff back to work on Friday, but we wanted to be extra cautious that the air in the building was as clear and as safe as it could be for personnel coming back to work and also for customers visiting the building,” said TelEm Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Read more

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PHILIPSBURG – On Sunday morning February 11th Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin together with Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier, Minister of Justice Cornelius Deweever, and Minister of VROMI Miklos Giterson lead a delegation of technocrats to French St Read more

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Work Together And Develop An Equal Kingdom

When your house is on fire you do not fight about who is to blame or how the fire may have started. Before you do anything else, you try to minimize the damage and then you try to extinguish the fire.

Burning houses. That seems the best way to describe the current situation on Sint Eustatius (Statia) and Sint Maarten: Caribbean parts of our Kingdom. The Statian government has been sent home by Secretary of State Knops. According to the Dutch government, this is due to an administrative culture best characterized as lawless and severe financial mismanagement Read more

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