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Dutch Police Phone Taps Now Automatically Include Internet

HOLLAND - Dutch police now automatically intercept internet traffic when setting up a telephone tap, online magazine Computerworld reports on Thursday.

The news was buried in the justice ministry's annual report which was published in May and has only now been made public, the website states.

In the report, the ministry says officials placed more than 25,181 taps last year, down around 1,000 on 2013.

However, the ministry says in a report footnote that it no longer gives separate figures for internet taps because they are now 'technically and procedurally standard'.

In 2013, investigators placed 17,800 taps on IP addresses.

Privacy group Bits of Freedom (BoF) said the change breaks government pledges to improve transparency Read more

Bus Association Unhappy With Cabinet Shake-Up  

President of the Dutch St. Maarten United Bus Drivers Association Alexis Williams. Photo Today / Andrew Dick

GREAT BAY-The Dutch St. Maarten United Bus Drivers Association is not happy with the upcoming change at the Ministry of Transportation. The expected shake up in the Council of Ministers will move Minister Claret Connor to the Vromi-ministry Read more

Chta Addresses Sargassum But Understates Nuisance

Seaweed is ruining beaches like here in Mont Vernon at the far end of Orient Bay. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten – The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is working with its 32 member hotel and tourism associations to provide hotels, government officials and stakeholders with best practice information aimed at mitigating the negative effects of high levels of Sargassum seaweed that has been reported at some local beaches.

The organizations have released a resource guide, compiled by the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), a CHTA initiative in collaboration with strategic partner OBM International to assist with local efforts.

Sargassum is a free-floating seaweed that moves with the ocean currents Read more

Locally Born Cardiologist Emiko Bird-Lake Sworn In

From left: Acting Governor Reynold Groeneveldt, cardiologist Emiko Bird-Lake, and Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs. Photo DCOMM

St. Maarten – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs attended the oath-taking ceremony at the Governor’s Cabinet on Friday for Emiko Bird-Lake, the first-Sint Maarten born cardiologist.

In the presence of her mother, Veronica Lake, and the cardiologist’s husband, Acting Governor Reynold Groeneveldt administered the oath.

Bird-Lake is part of a specialist rotational program established by St Read more

Only 6 Of 22 Motions Since 2012 Yielded Results: Motions Carry The Day – But Only In Parliament

St. Maarten – The motions Members of Parliament submit during the annual budget debate seldom yield results. This newspaper examined 28 motions a host of parliamentarians tabled since 2012. With 22 of them successive government did absolutely nothing. Six of them yielded (some) results.

When governments fail to execute motions, parliament never retaliates. In the Netherlands, a cabinet that refuses or neglects to execute a motion that is carried by a majority in parliament, could lead to a cabinet crisis Read more

Mp Marlin-Romeo Supports Budding Artist Arndell

Zabian Arndell shows some of his work with MP Marlin-Romeo by his side. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – Independent Member of Parliament Leona Marlin-Romeo has started with her Giving Back to the Community Program. The first recipient is artist Zabian Arndell.

Marlin-Romeo established the program to recognize the contributions of citizens, organizations, public schools and positive initiatives in the community.

Marlin-Romeo uses part of her monthly salary towards initiatives “that constructively aid in the advancement of those who illustrate extraordinary talent, innovative ideas, contribute to the community, and or are seeking educational advancement,” the MP stated in a press release.

“Each month I will make a contribution, starting with Zabian Arndell Read more

Armed men rob Splash Jewellers

SIMPSON BAY--Three armed masked men robbed Splash Jewellers of an undisclosed amount of jewellery during a brazen evening robbery on Monday, July 13.

The robbers stormed the establishment located in Simpson Bay Resort and began destroying the glass countertops. They grabbed what they could and fled the scene in a small vehicle that was retrieved in the surrounding area shortly afterward by responding patrols, acting police spokesperson Steven Carty said in a press release on Tuesday Read more

Gendarmes, Firemen, honoured in Bastille Day pinning ceremonies

MARIGOT--The usually predictable format of the Bastille Day programme took on a different twist Tuesday when military medals were bestowed on six Gendarmes and, in a separate ceremony, three professional firemen promoted in rank received their stripes.

The medal ceremony for the Gendarmes of St. Martin and St. Barths conducted by Colonel Thiriot, second in command of the Guadeloupe Gendarmerie, preceded the wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial in the garden of Hotel de la Collectivité.

Dignitaries from both sides of the island and Anguilla had attended a service in the Catholic Church just earlier.

The Military Medal, France’s third highest military distinction, was pinned on the lapels of Adjudant-Chef Nicolas Heslon (48) of the St Read more

Seniors Association highlights disparity in health rights to UN

PHILIPSBURG/NEW YORK--St. Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association (SMSPA) Vice-President Raymond Jessurun highlighted the human rights perspective of those afflicted with dementia in low- and high-income countries as a panellist at the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on Ageing Conference in New York on Tuesday.

After highlighting recent global and regional policy developments, standards and principles, Jessurun exemplified the vast difference in diagnosis and treatment of two patients based on location Read more

Prosecutor’s Office investigating Harbour, building of causeway

PHILIPSBURG--The Prosecutor’s Office has started civil proceedings looking into the affairs of the St. Maarten Harbour Holding NV.

The investigation covers a range of areas, including the construction of the Simpson Bay causeway, which was financed by the harbour. In a press statement issued late last night, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Claret Connor said he hoped the harbour would “fully cooperate” with the inquiry.

In a letter dated July 13, the Prosecutor’s Office requested information regarding the policies and “course of affairs” from St Maarten Harbour Holding NV and from its closely linked companies.

Prosecutor Karola van Nie said in a press release on Tuesday that the investigation concerned the “corporate governance” of the port authority and addressed issues such as its compliance with the law, compliance with the statutes, transparency and some specific issues, including the course of affairs relating to the construction of the Simpson Bay causeway bridge.

Van Nie said the proceedings had been prompted by claims from the community, including the Integrity Inquiry report into the functioning of government conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2014 and the final report “Doing the right things right,” produced by Commissie Integer Openbaar Bestuur, also in 2014.

The investigation is a civil proceeding and not a criminal investigation.

Van Nie said due to public interest and based on the Civil Code of St Maarten, the Prosecutor’s Office is authorised to submit a request to the Common Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, St Read more

Lakes seeks update on solid waste ordinance

PHILIPSBURG--United People’s (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake has asked government to give an update on the progress of the draft solid waste ordinance. The ordinance, which will serve as a cornerstone in the solution of the country’s solid waste woes, is said to still be in the Legal Affairs Department and dates to the time when Lake was a minister almost a year ago Read more

Coral gardens of Jamaica give dying reefs new hope

KINGSTON, Jamaica--With time running out for Jamaica's coral reefs, local marine scientists are taking things into their own hands, rebuilding the island's reefs and coastal defences one tiny fragment at a time – a step authorities say is critical to the country's climate-change and disaster-mitigation plans.

Five years ago, local hoteliers turned to experimental coral gardening in a desperate bid to improve their diving attractions, protect their properties from frequent storm surges and arrest beach erosion.

In 2014, their efforts were boosted when the Centre for Marine Science (CMS) at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona scored a US $350,000-grant from the International Development Bank (IDB) for the Coral Reef Restoration Project.

Project director and coastal ecologist Dale Webber told IPS that his team will carry out genetic research, attempt to crack the secrets of coral spawning and re-grow coral at several locations across the island and at the centre's Discovery Bay site Read more

Upholstery World holds third annual workshop

PHILIPSBURG--Eight students took part in the third Annual Reginald Peters Junior Upholstery Workshop, which took place last week Monday through Friday, and was deemed “a great success” by organisers.

The students, ages 13 through 18, were required to bring their own dining chairs and upholstered them with fabric, foam and other materials provided by Upholstery World.

“It was beautiful to see the before and after of these chairs,” organisers said. “Some chairs also needed sanding and painting, and they did a tremendous job all around.”

The parents were invited to come in on Friday afternoon to see the end result of the one-week workshop on their furniture Read more

Editorial - Inquiry welcome

What already had been rumoured is now a fact. The Prosecutor’s Office is making use of its authority under the Civil Code – with approval of the Dutch Caribbean’s Joint Court of Justice – to investigate the policies of St. Maarten Harbour Holding and its related entities (see related story).

The decision was prompted by “claims from society,” including the integrity reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and the Samsom Committee. The release emphasised that “as yet” it’s a civil inquiry into corporate governance issues rather than a criminal matter, which obviously means this could change based on the facts to be gathered.

For now only information has been requested, as is the procedure Read more

RSMA recruit sentenced for armed robbery in Guadeloupe

MARIGOT--Grégory Hanson de la Rosa, one of many young people recruited in St. Martin to join Régiment Service Militaire Adapté (RSMA) in Guadeloupe, was sentenced to three years in prison with one year suspended at a fast-track trial Monday in Basse-Terre. De la Rosa (18) took part in an armed robbery in the town of Pointe-Noire, Guadeloupe on Friday, July 10, France-Antilles newspaper reported.

De la Rosa and another individual, armed and wearing masks assaulted the driver of Oyé stationary truck at 3:30pm Friday then stole cash before escaping Read more

Notices July 16

First Responder

WIEMS is now registering for the annual First Responder (EMR) course starting Tuesday, September 1, 7:00pm at the Dutch Quarter Community Center. For more information: www.wiems.org . To register: email us at

This outsourcing seeks to persuade businesses to contribute to the community "in a productive, structured, visible manner," according to the UP-led coalition's "Ready to Work for You" 2014-2018 Governing Programme submitted to the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet on June 9.

It is now up to the cabinet to formulate an execution policy for the "Adopt-A-School" programme in which the private sector will have to participate Read more

Notices July 15

Volunteers Needed

St. Maarten AIDS Foundation is now registering volunteers interested in becoming facilitators for their Girl Power and Real Talk youth programmes. These programmes require that volunteers interact directly with students in a school environment. For more information call 588-1401 or \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots Read more

Emmanuel calls on Govt. to address Haiti matter with DR

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel has issued a call to Governor Eugene Holiday and the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet to talk with the Government of the Dominican Republic (DR) about putting a halt to the stripping of that country’s nationality from people of Haitian descent and from the move to deport tens of thousands of Haitians living in that country Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:----  United People’s (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake just returned back to the island and is glad that the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers were presented with the Governing Program.

“I am looking forward to the next six months to set priorities, pass and amend some laws that will better serve the people of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Haitian Lives Matters --- St. Maarten may soon be flooded with these people that are being deported from the Dominican Republic to Haiti.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel has issued an open call to the Governor of St. Maarten whom he said met recently with the President of the Dominican Republic Read more

>Pointe Blanche:---- The OSPP welcomes the news that an investigation is to take place at the St. Maarten Harbour Holding N.V. It is better late than never, says Lenny F. Priest. What kept them so long in initiating this investigation, in particular since there has been so much rumor circulating in St. Maarten for the last decade over wrong doings and corruption within the harbour group of companies? It has been said that the harbour has been used as the cash cow for in particular one of the leading politicians in St Read more

Invest Caribbean Now 2015 For The French Caribbean Island Of Saint-Martin

NEW YORK, NY - The exotic French Caribbean island of Saint-Martin will this year put the spotlight on its global investment opportunities through an exclusive collaboration with Invest Caribbean Now, the global private sector Caribbean investment agency.

The Office of Tourism of Saint-Martin, in conjunction with executives at ICN, will present the 2015 conference this September 28-30, 2015 in the capital of Marigot to spotlight on the Collectivité of French Saint-Martin.

This elite invitation only event will feature several officials from China along with key harbor developers and top regional and local stake holders from the north-eastern Caribbean.

"We are happy to host the 2015 Invest Caribbean Now conference this year in Saint Martin and to lead the way with this exciting partnership in the north-eastern Caribbean," said Hon Read more

Mp Lake Seeks Update On Solid Waste Ordinance. Concerned About Nv Gebe Distractions

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake just returned back to the island and is glad that the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers were presented with the Governing Program.

"I am looking forward to the next six months to set priorities, pass and amend some laws that will better serve the people of St Read more