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style="text-align: center;">to meet with Council of State on higher supervision.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson told members of the media on Thursday during a press conference that he will be travelling to the Netherlands this weekend to meet with the Minister of Interior and Foreign Affairs Ronald Plasterk to further discuss the establishment of an integrity chamber on St. Maarten. Minister Richardson will also be meeting with the Raad van Staten (Council of State) to further discuss the current situation where the Kingdom wants to apply article 51 of the Kingdom Charter and impose higher supervision on St Read more

Former Pm, Mp Sarah Wescot-Williams Speaks On Cbs Debattle

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - I guess, according to some, it would be "politically incorrect" of me to question the saga unfolding at the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten (CBCS) here in St. Maarten.

In fact, media reports suggest that this saga is ongoing since last year. Gradually it became clear that the work at the CBCS building in Philipsburg had come to a halt and the rumor mill went in overdrive.

When recently one of the 2 parties finally went public with their side of the story, the questions and insinuations became even more probing and disturbing.

The Central Bank is the monetary authority for Curacao and St Read more

Parliament Adjourns Meeting About Integrity Chamber

Minister Richardson: “Passing this law strengthens our position”

St. Maarten– The parliament is dragging its feet, or at least taking its time, with the handling of the draft ordinance for the establishment of the Integrity Chamber. Yesterday’s continuation of Wednesday’s meeting was adjourned until Monday morning at 10 a.m. at the request of coalition members Tamara Leonard, Cornelius de Weever and Johan Leonard.

Justice Minister Dennis Richardson warned the parliament to move forward with the legislation, Next week Sunday Richardson and Prime Minister Gumbs travel to the Netherlands for discussions with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Kingdom Relations Minister Ronald Plasterk about the looming instruction.

“It could come to the point that Rutte pushed the instruction, even if we get an advice from the Council of State that is positive for St Read more

Mp Lake Commends Gebe; Urges Seniors To Apply For Relief

St. Maarten –NV Gebe has extended its senior relief program until December of this year and this has led to a verbal commendation from United People’s Party MP Maurice Lake to the company for taking this action.

The relief for seniors began in 2014 while MP Lake—then Minister Lake—was the minister with responsibilities for Gebe Read more

Silvio Matser appeals tax-fraud conviction

PHILIPSBURG--United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) and local businessman Silvio Matser has filed an appeal against his tax-fraud conviction in the Court of First Instance. The hearing of the appeal by the Joint Court of Justice kicked off Wednesday with a so-called preliminary hearing.

During the pro-forma hearing Matser's lawyer, attorney-at-law Cor Merx, requested the hearing of seven witnesses.

The Court of First Instance sentenced the first-term MP on January 7 to 24 months, 18 of which were suspended, with three years' probation and 240 hours of community service Read more

Colombia to resume bombing rebels after deadly ambush

BOGOTA/HAVANA--Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos ordered the resumption of bombing raids against FARC guerrillas on Wednesday after a rebel attack killed 10 soldiers, heating up a war that had seen a tentative cessation of hostilities.

As part of peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Santos last month stopped air raids on rebel hideouts in recognition of a unilateral ceasefire declared in December by the insurgent group Read more

NASA probe close to encounter with Pluto

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida--The first spacecraft to visit distant Pluto, a dwarf planet in the solar system's frozen backyard, is still three months away from a close encounter, but already in viewing range, newly released photos show.

The New Horizons probe blasted off from Florida in January 2006 for a 3-billion-mile (5-billion-km) journey to the Kuiper Belt region of the solar system located beyond Neptune Read more

Line honours for Phaedo 3 on day two of Les Voiles

ST. BARTHS--Another serving of clear skies and classic trade winds made it a very good day for promoting racing in the Caribbean, and Les Voiles de St. Barth organizers capitalised on the stellar conditions with a decision to "go big" on the regatta's second day of racing.

Making good on an earlier promise to give the largest, fastest boats here a new marquee race designed for flat-out speed, the race committee sent the Maxi 1, Maxi 2 and Multihull classes on a 42 nm course that started off Gustavia and looped around St Read more

Editorial - Reckless move?

It's always a bit difficult to judge having heard only one side of the story, but Wednesday's news that the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (CBCS) terminated its agreement with a local contractor for renovation of the complex in Philipsburg due to "signals" of integrity issues no doubt raises questions. It supposedly regards the construction company's role in a project of St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF), where the managing director was dismissed recently based on perceived irregularities.

However, one has to seriously doubt whether such concerns can be a valid reason not only to break a contract for work that seemingly has nothing to do with the SMHDF-case, but also to withhold payment Read more

Gas and diesel fuel prices down today

PHILIPSBURG--Motorists will pay less for gasoline and diesel fuel at the pumps as of 6:00am today, Thursday.

The price of gasoline will drop from NAf. 1.999 to NAf. 1.936 per litre, while the price of diesel fuel will go down from NAf Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday April 14th, the final meeting before the official opening of the Festival Village between the Sint Maarten Carnival Development Foundation, Department of VROMI, Department of Economic Affairs and the Police Department was held at the Philipsburg Police Station. The main topics of this meeting were the "Vending and No Vending" zones in the Philipsburg area, the road closure during all of the parades and the "Opening Jump-up."
Attached to this announcement is a digital color layout of Philipsburg and surrounding areas Read more

St. Martin Football Association seeking integration with FIFA

MARIGOT—President of St. Martin Football Association (SMFA) Fabrice Baly disclosed Monday St. Martin has applied for membership of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and is awaiting news since submission of the application on March 17.

At the last General Assembly it was agreed St. Martin Football Association would benefit greatly from integration with FIFA but because St. Martin was not an independent country it needed to receive endorsement from the French Federation of Football (FFF) which was done.

CONCACAF and FIFA member Grenada have also supported St Read more

Editorial - In a bad light

It was interesting to see the picture of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Panama City with St. Maarten's Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs and Telecommunication Claret Connor and Port of St. Maarten CEO Mark Mingo on Monday's front page. The three men attended a round-table meeting about opportunities offered by the expanded Panama Canal, among other things.

This is noteworthy especially because Members of Parliament (MPs) in The Hague, particularly from Rutte's own VVD party, have been very critical about the Harbour Group of Companies on several occasions Read more

Mechanic’s lien is placed on Central Bank building

~ Bank claims ‘signals’ of integrity issues ~

PHILIPSBURG--Taliesin Construction N.V. has placed a “mechanic’s lien” on the building and adjoining properties owned by the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten as a means of obtaining its pay-out from the bank for the termination of its contract for the renovation of its building on W.J.A. Nisbeth Road.

The company is claiming NAf Read more

Broad support for corruption probe Curaçao, St. Maarten

THE HAGUE--The Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament voted on Tuesday for the motion by Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP) and André Bosman of the liberal democratic VVD party calling for an investigation of the flow of money between criminal organisations and the governments of Curaçao and St. Maarten.

A broad majority of the Second Chamber voted in favour of the motion, which Van Raak presented during a short follow-up meeting last week Wednesday, following the general debate with Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk on March 31 about the level of governance in the Dutch Caribbean countries.

The motion called on the Dutch Government to facilitate an investigation into the (illegal) flow of money between the under- and upper-world in Curaçao and St Read more

Obama concedes Congress role on Iran deal

WASHINGTON--U.S. President Barack Obama conceded on Tuesday that Congress will have the power to review a nuclear deal with Iran, reluctantly giving in to pressure from Republicans and some in his own party after they crafted a rare compromise demanding a say.

The role for the Republican-controlled Congress injects a new element of uncertainty into the delicate final stages of negotiations between major powers and Iran aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Since a preliminary agreement was reached in Switzerland on April 2, the White House had stepped up its lobbying to persuade Democratic senators not to support the bipartisan bill that would give Congress oversight of a final deal, saying it could threaten what Obama hopes will be a legacy-defining foreign-policy achievement Read more

India builds first "smart" city as urban population swells

GANDHINAGAR, India--India's push to accommodate a booming urban population and attract investment rests in large part with dozens of "smart" cities like the one being built on the dusty banks of the Sabarmati river in western India. So far, it boasts modern underground infrastructure, two office blocks and not much else.
  The plan, however, is for a meticulously planned metropolis complete with gleaming towers, drinking water on tap, automated waste collection and a dedicated power supply - luxuries to many Indians Read more

Minister TEATT Connor Signs-off on Chamber of Commerce & Industry Rules of Procedure. Also receives Chamber’s 2015 1Q Report

>PHILIPSBURG:-- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor and the President of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry Peggy-Ann Brandon, accompanied by members of the Chamber Board and the Minister's Chief of Staff Jean James, signed the Chamber Board's Rules of Procedures document indicating that the Board updated the Rules of Order, and has received the Minister's approval Read more

Minister TEATT Connor receives a visit from the Gagnone’s family long-time tourist visitors

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor, received a courtesy visit from a childhood friend St. Maarten Air Traffic Controller Joslyn Rombley at his office last week. Rombley wanted to introduce two long-time visitors to the island Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gagnone, from New Hampshire, United States of America, to the Minister who is responsible for Tourism.
Paul and Yvonne have been coming to St Read more

MP Lake commends PJL on getting seniors involved in computer technology

>PHILIPSBURG:--– United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake would like commend the Philipsburg Jubilee Library (PJL) for hosting a workshop for senior citizens at St. Martin's Home about computer technology.

The Media Lab workshop was organized to assist persons who have little or no experience with computers on how to use this intelligent device.

"I heard that the seniors who took part in the workshop were very pleased and expressed great interests in the subject Read more

Taliesin Construction placed “Mechanics Lien” on Central Bank.

style="text-align: center;">Central Bank Terminated Agreement for Integrity Allegations.

PHILIPSBURG: --- Attorney at law Roland Duncan legal representative of Taliesin Construction that is owned by Carl Critchlow has placed a "Mechanic's Lien" on the Central Bank in order for the bank to pay off the construction company whom they awarded a contract to remodel and renovate the Central Bank building on St Read more

Minister Teatt Connor Signs-Off On Chamber Of Commerce & Industry Rules Of Procedure. Also Receives Chamber's 2015 1Q Report

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor and the President of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry Peggy-Ann Brandon, accompanied by members of the Chamber Board and the Minister's Chief of Staff Jean James, signed the Chamber Board's Rules of Procedures document indicating that the Board updated the Rules of Order, and has received the Minister's approval Read more

Ser To Be Featured On Tv Program

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten— The Department of Communication (DCOMM) recently conducted an interview with the advisory body, the Social Economic Council, in Dutch Sociaal Economishche Raad, also widely known as SER for its TV Program Inside Government.

DCOMM spoke to the chairlady of the SER board, Oldine Bryson-Pantophlet, who elaborated on the role of the board and the responsibilities of its board members.

Chairlady Bryson-Pantophlet talked about who can bring issues to the table for the organization of SER to discuss and provide advice on Read more

Mp Wescot-Williams Seeks Information On Governing Programme

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The governing programme was once again addressed by leader of the Democratic and Member of Parliament, the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams during the Parliamentary meeting handling the draft National Ordinance for the establishment of an Integrity Chamber.

Whilst addressing that subject, Read more