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Parliament adopts Constitution Day

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten officially has ditched Kingdom Day, December 15, as an official holiday and replaced with it Constitution Day, which is to be observed annually on the second Monday in October, starting this year.

Parliament unanimously adopted the law on Thursday to make the day official and strike Kingdom Day from the calendar. The establishment of this newest holiday comes ahead of the fifth anniversary of St. Maarten’s attainment of country-within-the-Dutch-Kingdom status and the coming into force of the St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo on Thursday said that three public schools namely the Genieve De Weever School, Martin Luther King School, and Charles Leopold Bell School, were asked what they were in need of for their sports activities.

The schools indicated that sports materials such as baseballs, and bats, soccer balls, and shin guards were a necessity and these were donated by Independent Member of Parliament Leona Marlin-Romeo on Thursday, September 10th 2015.

This is a mere fraction of the bigger picture on the adopting a school program where, certain needs of schools are met through donations from the private sector.

This is part of promoting social and community responsibility and is part of the MP’s give back to the community program Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of Parliament from the National Alliance Faction and Democratic Party dispatched a letter to the Chairman of Parliament requesting an urgent meeting to debate the statements made by Attorney General of St. Maarten Guus Schram on September 11th 2015.
The le Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- The Democratic Party said in a press release that the buzz word independence has been carried and dropped many times during parliamentary debates recently. The Faction of the Democratic Party considers it opportune at this time to reiterate its stance on the political future of our country.

Politically going forward, in our opinion there is only one way, as going back is not an option.
Our faction has remained steadfast over the years about the political future of our island.

Back in 1994, it was our belief that the Netherlands Antilles had served its time Read more

Dennis: Prosecutors need to do job without any bias

PHILIPSBURG--The Prosecutor’s Office on St. Maarten and the Attorney-General stationed in Curaçao must stick to their core responsibility to “find the truth” and not act on “perceived” political biases from The Hague or elsewhere, Justice Minister Dennis Richardson said on Wednesday.

The Prosecutor’s Officer “should distance itself” from any political statements or perceptions, said Richardson who was in Parliament for a second time this week to continue discussions with Members of Parliament (MPs) about the protocol he signed with The Hague that should result in a boost of manpower and finance for the justice service.

If the Prosecutor’s Office decides to work on political perceptions or decide to paint people as guilty without first seeking the truth, such an action would be like putting “a machete to the root of our system and cannot be accepted,” said Richardson, referring to the judicial position of being innocent until proven otherwise Read more

No dismissal of laundering charges in Buncamper case

~ Case continues in January ~

PHILIPSBURG--In a brief preliminary ruling on proceedings concerning a breach in the investigation of the criminal cases against former Minister Maria Buncamper-Molanus (47), her husband Claudius Buncamper (52), notary F.E.G. (71) and co-suspects I.A.H. (46) and T.O.W. (69), it was decided that the breach was serious, but not enough to count the Prosecutor’s charge of money-laundering inadmissible, Judge Peter Lemaire relayed on Wednesday.

One week before, Prosecutor Dounia Benammar suggested the Judge declare the Prosecution’s case against the Buncampers inadmissible in relation to a second summons concerning a money-laundering offence which had been added in June, but not the case in its entirety.

Longstanding charges against the group entail involvement in fraud, forgery of documents and participation in a criminal organisation, relating to a transaction regarding a piece of land that had been given on long lease.

However, Benammar said last week that the same should not apply to suspect I.A.H Read more

Old Soremar building to become shooting range

COLE BAY--Government plans to spend some NAf. 2 million to acquire the old Soremar building in Orange Grove, Cole Bay, to use as a shooting range for police and other armed branches of the justice chain.

The location will be converted into a shooting range, the central dispatch of the police and also the nerve centre for the planned country-wide camera surveillance system, Justice Minister Dennis Richardson told Parliament on Wednesday.

Government has also earmarked some NAf Read more

MPs get calls from inmates

PHILIPSBURG--Justice Minister Dennis Richardson has been asked by Members of Parliament (MPs) to look into why they are receiving mobile phone calls from prisoners housed inside of Pointe Blanche House of Detention.

United St. Maarten Party (USP) leader Frans Richardson was the first to raise the issue in Parliament with the minister on Wednesday Read more

Buncamper Court Case to continue January 13th 2016 --- Three more witnesses have to be heard.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Buncamper family still has wait a few more months before they know whether or not the case brought against them by the Prosecutor’s Office will be thrown out or not. The Court of First Instance ruled on Wednesday that three more witnesses have to be heard by the Judge of Instruction and continuation of the management hearing will take place on January 13th 2016.
Last week Wednesday the Prosecutor’s Office willingly dropped the second charge they brought against the Buncamper’s due to prosecutorial misconduct by the prosecutor that was handling the case Read more

Urgent Plenary Session about Landfill scheduled for Friday with Minister of VROMI.

>PHILIPSBURG:----  An urgent Plenary Session of the House of Parliament that was scheduled for September 9 will take place on September 18.

Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Claret Connor will be present for the public sitting of the House.

The public Plenary Session is set for Friday, at 10.30am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point is the dumpsite (landfill) in Philipsburg and the plans for a waste to energy system for the country’s garbage problems.

This urgent plenary session of the House was initially requested by the National Alliance (NA) faction Members of Parliament (MPs) Hon Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- International Peace Day in Sint Maarten will be commemorated on September 21st. The Rotary Club of Saint Martin Sunrise invites the general public to a Peace Declaration Event at the Peace Monument located at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library on Monday, September 21st , 2015 at 8:45 a.m sharp.
September 21st is designated as International Peace Day through United Nations General Assembly resolutions 36/67 of 1981 and 55/282 of 2001. It is a Day established for an annual commemoration of non-violence and ceasefire Read more

style="text-align: center;">Involved in Sabotage with new airline --- Three Wise Men Fired.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Three senior employees of WINAIR namely its chief pilot Jeff Oliver, Chief of Operations Elvis Quealy and Chief of Security Michel Carter were suspended last week after management of WINAIR found out that they have been consulting with the persons that are involved in establishing a new Airline called St Read more

Parties Upset About Delay Landfill Meeting

St. Maarten – Opposition parties National Alliance and Democratic Party are upset about the postponement of a meeting they had requested about the landfill. “We do not take the postponement lightly,” the parties said in a press statement last night.

The meeting was initially moved to last Wednesday – beyond the four day term between a request and a meeting being held – due to the absence of Vromi-Minister Marcel Gumbs, the closing and opening of parliament and the swearing in of new ministers.

“All valid reasons for us to agree to Wednesday Read more

Opposition Wants Meeting About Zebec Deal

St. Maarten – Opposition parties National Alliance and Democratic Party have “wasted no time” to request a meeting of parliament about the settlement between the Harbor Group of Companies and developer Zebec, the parties said in a press statement last night.

“The government-owned harbor company and its representatives have in the recent past labeled the action by Zebec as “wholly without merit,” the opposition parties point out Read more

Questions About Funding  For Ghost Boxing Event (Roy Jones And Danny Santiago That Never Took Place)

St. Maarten – Did the government pay $185,000 to the Keaton Corporation for the boxing match between Roy Jones and Danny Santiago that never took place? MP Sarah Wescot-Williams has posed pointed questions about this issue to Finance Minister Martin Hassink and Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor in a letter dated September 2.

Connor has in the meantime moved to the Ministry of Vromi so his successor Ernest Sams will have to deal with the matter.

Wescot-Williams notes in a brief press release that the government “quietly” announced that the fight was postponed, due to hurricane Danny (actually, it was due to Tropical Storm Erika – ed.) and that it had “contributed” to the fight.

“What government did not say is that it entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the foreign Keaton Corporation to organize this event to the tune of $185,000,” the MP wrote, adding that she had taken note of media reports about Jones’ legal troubles.

Wescot-Williams has asked the ministers for a copy of their agreement with Keaton Read more

Mp Emmanuel Puts Retail Prices On The Agenda; Le Grand Marché Reacts

National Alliance MP Christophe Emmanuel shows products from Le Grand Marché (left) and French-side competitor Super U. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

Game on: Carrefour ready for the battle with Super U

St. Maarten – National Alliance MP Christophe Emmanuel brought the price differences between supermarkets on the Dutch and the French side into focus at a press conference in the parliament building yesterday morning, but Anil Sabnani, managing director of Le Grand Marché is not buying his story Read more

Agreement About Crash Course In Journalism

St. Maarten – The Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the university and Bureau Telecommunication and Post (BTP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly support the “I AM SXM” initiative of MP Tamara Leonard whereby St. Maarten students interested in journalism and seeking a career in this field, will be educated at t Read more

Prosecution Ready To Drop Second Case Against Buncampers

“We have not attempted  to cover this up”

St. Maarten – Prosecutor Dounia Benammar put on a hair shirt on behalf of the prosecutor’s office yesterday morning to atone for procedural violations that threaten to jeopardize part of the trial against former Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Maria Buncamper-Molanus and her husband Claudius.

Benammar concluded that the prosecution has to be declared inadmissible in the second summons it brought against the couple Read more

Buncamper-Trial Moves To January: Attorneys Ask Court To Declare The Prosecution Inadmissible

St. Maarten  –The Buncamper-case reached a critical stage yesterday and it remains to be seen whether there will be a trial at all against the former Minister of Public Health Social Development and Labor at all. The decision is in the hands of Judge Peter Lemaire, who will rule next Wednesday on the most far-reaching request from the defense to declare the prosecution inadmissible in both cases it has brought against the ex-minister and her husband Claudius.

The prosecution has asked the court to declare it inadmissible in the second summons against both Buncampers, but to continue with the prosecution of Sint Maarten Building Supplies (SBS) director Ivan H Read more

2015 International Peace Day Invitation

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten -International Peace Day in Sint Maarten will be commemorated on September 21st.

The Rotary Club of Saint Martin Sunrise invites the general public to a Peace Declaration Event at the Peace Monument located at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library on Monday, September 21st , 2015 at 8:45 a.m sharp.

September 21st is designated as International Peace Day through United Nations General Assembly resolutions 36/67 of 1981 and 55/282 of 2001. It is a Day established for an annual commemoration of non-violence and ceasefire Read more

Urgent Plenary Session About Landfill Scheduled For Friday With Minister Of Vromi

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – An urgent Plenary Session of theHouse of Parliament that was scheduled for September 9 will take place on September 18.

Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Claret Connor will be present for the public sitting of the House.

The public Plenary Session is set for Friday, at 10.30am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point is the dumpsite (landfill) in Philipsburg and the plans for a waste to energy system for the country’s garbage problems.

This urgent plenary session of the House was initially requested by the National Alliance (NA) faction Members of Parliament (MPs) Hon Read more

Canadian company to develop medicinal products from Jamaican marijuana for international market

KINGSTON, Jamaica--Canada-based Timeless Herbal Care (THC) Limited announced Saturday it has secured a US $100 million deal to develop medical marijuana products here in Jamaica for the international market.

Courtney Betty, the Jamaican-Canadian who heads THC, did not go into great detail, but said the deal would create job opportunities for many Jamaicans. He said the deal was buttressed by the decision of the Jamaican Government to decriminalise “ganja” for medicinal purposes.

Betty used the opportunity in a speech at the Association of Consultants and Physicians of Jamaica (ACPJ) Reception and Banquet, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, to urge physicians and private sector businesses to get on board with medical marijuana treatment, saying Jamaica was destined to become a hub for investment in medical marijuana.

“This is not about smoking marijuana, but it is about developing medical products that will be able to help patients,” said the president and CEO of Timeless Herbal Care, a nutraceutical pharmaceutical company that produces medical marijuana products.

“It really is about private corporations and businesses, and our expectation is that there will be many companies that will start coming to Jamaica looking to invest because of the tremendous intellectual property and resources that sit here at the University of the West Indies.” A high point of the ACPJ banquet was the honouring of its past president and consultant neurologist Dr Read more

Doligez leaves Préfecture for new posting in France

MARIGOT--A farewell cocktail party was held in the Préfecture on Tuesday to say goodbye to Secretary-General of the Préfecture for St. Martin and St. Barths Matthieu Doligez who is to assume a new post in Gap in the Alps of Haute Provence, Southern France, as Cabinet Director for the Préfet.

As is customary on these occasions, speeches were given followed by a presentation of gifts.

Those paying tribute to his service included Préfète Anne Laubies, President of the Collectivité Aline Hanson and his counterpart on the Dutch side, André Hoeneveld, Director of the Cabinet of Governor Eugene Holiday.

Doligez spent three years and eleven months in St Read more

Integrity mentioned in Throne Speech

~ 2016 Kingdom Relations budget presented ~

THE HAGUE--Integrity within the Kingdom was mentioned by King Willem-Alexander in his traditional Throne Speech on the occasion of Budget Day and the opening of the new Parliamentary year in The Hague on Tuesday.

“Government has to be an example where it comes to promoting shared values. The integrity of the public administration cannot be under discussion. Government sets rules and maintains these to keep public order and safety,” said the King in the Throne Speech, which is written by the Dutch Government.

“Action will be taken wherever the underworld and upper world are mixed Read more