SXMElections.com

India finds itself in "sweet spot" of lower deficits, more growth

NEW DELHI--India can increase investment to drive economic growth without borrowing more, a key government report said on Friday, in an indication that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will stick to debt targets in his maiden full-year budget on Saturday.

The Economic Survey, the basis for Jaitley's budget for the fiscal year starting April 1, forecast growth of 8.1 percent to 8.5 percent under new calculations that make India the world's most dynamic big economy. The forecast marks an acceleration from growth of 7.4 percent in the current fiscal year.

"India has reached a sweet spot and .. Read more

Jamaica decriminalises marijuana in small amounts with newly passed ‘ganja’ Bill

KINGSTON, Jamaica--The Jamaica parliament gave the green light Tuesday night to the amendments of the Dangerous Drugs Act make possession of two ounces or less of marijuana a non-arrestable, ticketable offence that attracts no criminal record.

National Security Minister Peter Bunting piloted the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill that was passed with five amendments in the Senate on February 6.

Opposition Spokesman on Justice and Security Delroy Chuck called for the Portia Simpson-Miller government to renegotiate international treaties relating to marijuana.

He told legislators that that Jamaica should push for marijuana, popularly known here as "ganja," to be struck from the United Nations list of prohibited substances.

The government has said it intends to cash-in on the decriminalisation of ganja, particularly in the area of medicinal use, which is a US $2.5 billion market in the United States.

The reaction to the news on social media was swift with an outpouring of support via Twitter.

Under the amendment to the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, if a person found in possession of a small quantity of ganja is a minor or an adult who appears to be dependent on the substance, they are to be referred to the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) by the police officer issuing the ticket.

Additionally, the Bill prohibits the smoking of marijuana in public places, and makes provisions for the granting of licences, permits and other authorisations to enable the establishment of a regulated industry for ganja for medical, scientific and therapeutic uses.

It also provides for the creation of a Cannabis Licensing Authority, which will be responsible for developing the regulations governing the medical marijuana industry Read more

Gasoline price goes up, diesel fuel drops today

PHILIPSBURG--Consumers will have to fork out more money to buy gasoline, but will pay a tad less for diesel fuel as of today, Friday, February 27.

A statement issued by Minister of Economic Affairs Claret Connor after 7:00pm Thursday said the price of gasoline and diesel fuel would be adjusted today as of 6:00am. The price of gasoline will rise from NAf Read more

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Buncamper case will be heard on June 10

PHILIPSBURG--The criminal case against former Minister Maria Buncamper-Molanus (47), her husband Claudius Buncamper (51), notary F.E.G. (70) and suspects I.A.H. (46) and T.O.W. (68) will be heard by the court on June 10, it was decided Thursday.

The one-day hearing will concern charges of involvement with fraud, forgery of documents and participation in a criminal organisation to include a transaction with a piece of land that had been given on long lease.

Buncamper-Molanus ran on the United People’s (UP) party slate for the August 29, 2014, parliamentary election, but is a former Democratic Party (DP) Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour.

The case against the Buncampers came to light in December 2010, when documents surfaced in which it was revealed that they had sold the economic rights to a plot of land on long lease to a company named Eco Green N.V., against payment of US $3 million.

Buncamper-Molanus had obtained the rights of long lease to the government property against annual payment of approximately US $10,000 in April 2008, while she was a member of the then-Executive Council.

Three days after Eco Green was established, with figurehead T.O.W Read more

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Mingo refuses to disclose details of Checkmate security contract

~ Owner's identity not provided ~

PHILIPSBURG--Questions relating to the Harbour Group of Companies' contract with Checkmate Security Services and the status of security at the port, as well as the Group's "clandestine attitude" were amongst the hot-button issues discussed in Thursday's presentation to Parliament's Permanent Committee for Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) at Parliament House.

Committee Chairman United St. Maarten (US) party leader MP Frans Richardson organised the meeting, which was broadcast live, with the expressed goal of hearing directly from Harbour Group Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo and his team about a number of pressing issues.

Mingo remained mum on most questions relating to security, citing competition and safety-related concerns, as well as contractual obligations.

He did not present any "information and documentation regarding the security contract with Checkmate Security Company" as formally requested by Democratic Party (DP) MP Sarah Wescot-Williams through MP Richardson Read more

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Roads closed and traffic diverted for bicycle race

PHILIPSBURG--In connection with the upcoming cycling competition organised by "Dutch Riders Cycling Club Mo Trouble" which will be held on Sunday, March 1, the police are making the following announcement.

The race will start at 9:00am and will continue until around 1:00pm. During this period, races will take place in different categories. Noting the growing trend of these races, which will be held once a month, permission has been granted by the Ministry of Justice.

The race on March 1 will consist of 13 laps around Great Salt Pond for senior riders (A, B, and C, classes) and 4 laps of Walter Nisbeth Road for the junior class (D).

The race will start at Central Bank of Curaçao and St Read more

NIPA subsidy ‘ceased’ in Aug 2014, is now being corrected

PHILIPSBURG--The subsidy for National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) had “ceased” in August last year, and is currently being corrected by authorities, Secretary-General of the Education Ministry Jorien Wuite told Members of Parliament (MPs) Friday.

Wuite said it had been discovered that there had been a “discrepancy” in what NIPA had received as subsidy, “which placed them in a sensitive” situation Read more

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Importance of transparency

Dear Editor,

With a government in office for just over 60 days, a feeling of discontentment with government is discernible. While part of this can be attributed to a feeling of ever-present political apathy, the fact cannot be denied that a government formed without even an indirect approval by the electorate; an uneasy composition of coalition "partners" with very diverse manifestos and philosophies, and the absence of a governing accord contribute in no small measure to the feeling of dissatisfaction or inquietude one can sense daily in the community.

The Democratic Party is also of the belief that the talk of transparency, but in reality the often times disregard for such, only exacerbates the situation outlined above.

Partial information is even more damaging, as then all sorts of stories are conjured up.

There are many small steps that government can take as measures to promote transparency as part of the bigger objective of promoting integrity Read more

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New US defense chief hints little change in IS strategy

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait--New U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Monday America had the right "ingredients" of a strategy to combat Islamic State, emerging from talks with top U.S. military and diplomatic leaders without hinting at any fundamental shift in the campaign.
  After a day of meetings in Kuwait, Carter acknowledged some room for improvement, broadly suggesting some allies could contribute more to the fight and saying the United States needed to be more aggressive on social media combating Islamic State Read more

New Harbour security contract raises questions

~ Checkmate gets $2.2 million increase ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Harbour Group of Companies is expected to finalise a new agreement with Checkmate Security Services this week that will see the security company earn three times as much in 2015 as it did over the last year for services rendered at the port.

The Daily Herald understands that the Harbour subsidiary St. Maarten Ports Authority has budgeted US $3,138,300 for 2015 to spend on outside security services (Checkmate Security), up from $963,715 spent in 2014.

According to the Harbour's 2015 budget, a copy of which this newspaper has in its possession, the hourly rate charged by the security company increased in September 2013 from $6.75 to $7.07, a hike of roughly 5 per cent Read more

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Court orders minister to take decision on beach-chair affair

OYSTER POND--The Court of First Instance has given the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) six weeks to make a decision in a dispute about the placement of chairs and umbrellas on the beach in Oyster Bay, which has already been dragging on for years.

The "beach-chair affair" involves three parties: Oyster Bay Beach Resort's owner Pearl Development NV, owner of Mr. Busby's beach bar Low Road to Heaven NV and Laissez Faire NV on behalf of The Great House apartment complex.

All parties claim rights to place beach chairs and umbrellas on the beach, but despite several court rulings up until now government has failed to make a decision on the matter.

During the hearing of this case, which was filed in November 2014 and heard by the court on February 2, 2015, lawyer Hedy Kocks claimed Oyster Bay Beach Resort is in possession of a permit to place 130 chairs on the beach since 2008.

By contrast, Kocks said Mr Read more

Ratification of police cooperation treaty ‘imminent’ Préfet discloses

MARIGOT--The long-awaited ratification of the police cooperation treaty between The Netherlands and France is "imminent," Préfet Philippe Chopin disclosed in a press release on Monday in answer to merchant's concerns over security, increase of violence and random assaults on tourists in St. Martin.

The cooperation treaty, signed already by the Dutch, was one item of good news presented to a delegation of merchants at a closed meeting in the Préfecture following the march earlier in Marigot to protest the crime situation.

The Préfecture's Chef de Cabinet Emmanuel Effantin further confirmed ratification will be completed "before the end of the year" and that MP Daniel Gibbs is the "rapporteur" for the ratification process Read more

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Integrity’s power grab

Dear Editor,

For many years now, the various governments in The Hague have had concerns and misgivings about the administration in Philipsburg, at least for as long as I can remember. In the nineties, we were placed under Higher Supervision with the collaboration of the then central government, and the same issues we had then are prevalent today. They even promised to implement a counterpart system, so that when they leave, our people could take over the running of the apparatus properly and smoothly Read more

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Oyster Pond works attract inspections, warning letter

OYSTER POND--Excavation and clearance works that have included the pushing of excavated soil into Oyster Pond and the clearance of an estimated 100 square metres of mangroves have warranted inspection by the authorities and a warning letter calling for those responsible to either produce the relevant building permit or request one.

Further decisions will be taken after the building permit status becomes clear. The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI is looking into the situation Read more

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Claire Gioun-Firmin appointed Riu Palace Assistant Director

MARIGOT--Claire Javois Guion-Firmin was recently appointed to the position of Assistant Director of the Riu Palace Hotel in Anse Marcel, St. Martin Tourism Office President Jeanne Rogers-Vanterpool disclosed Read more

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Shujah’s pick of books for “the ‘readingist’ month” of the year

by Shujah Reiph

When I first glanced at the Facebook post from Nehesi House at the end of January, about February being "the readingist month" of the year, I had to laugh, because that is a big statement to make without any backup information.

I was about to call Lasana right away, for proof, since he always drills me about evidence and having "multiple sources" when I find some new historical information. Nehesi House is the Facebook page of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP). Lasana Sekou is a poet and projects director of HNP Read more

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Chikungunya thrives in climate variability of the Caribbean

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad--Jenny had gone to bed feeling well, but an hour into her sleep she suddenly awoke with a "stiff, cramping pain" behind one knee. Within the next hour the pains had multiplied and both knees began to lock, followed by stiffened fingers and pains in her chest, along with a fever.

Jenny Gittens (61) described her experience with chikungunya over the next two weeks as marked by excruciating pain Read more

Caravanserai owners unique amongst victims of takeover

BEACON HILL--A California couple who cashed in part of their retirement fund to invest in buying a unit at the former Caravanserai Beach Resort have been thrown into the same basket as approximately 2,200 timeshare owners who had their rights at the same property annulled when it was taken over by Alegria Real Estate BV. The couple received an eviction order earlier this month, after a trial of which they reportedly had not been informed took place.

Chasing ownership

John and Shandrea Degen signed the relevant paperwork with Caravanserai in 2007 Read more

‘Welkom op St. Maarten’ on top 5 travel guides list

SIMPSON BAY--The book Welkom op Sint Maarten: The Friendly Island is now among the country's top five travel guides thanks to a list compiled by Website

stmaartenvakantie.nl . The book is noted as worthwhile to read and to take on vacation to the Dutch Caribbean.

The Dutch language book was launched internationally last year with a limited edition presented to then-Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams by authors Ina Kruize, Esther de Vries and Marlene van Asten.

The book informs people who are moving to St Read more

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First 11 guesthouses receive star ratings by Collectivité

MARIGOT--Plaques were presented by elected officials at a ceremony on Friday to proprietors of the first eleven guesthouses that were classified and rated by the Collectivité in 2014.

The awards bring guesthouses into focus with a guarantee of quality while diversifying the hospitality sector's range of accommodation options available to tourists.

The guesthouses have a maximum 10 rooms or less and received ratings from one star to five stars. Each star a guesthouse earns comes with the guarantee that a set of standards has been met and in some cases surpassed.

In the French system guesthouses are not classified, but the Collectivité decided in February 2014 to adopt a classification system for St Read more

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Theo: No meeting ever held with Schotte, VDC member

PHILIPSBURG--"I am getting tired of being associated with Gerrit Schotte. I have never met with Schotte at the UP headquarters. I have never met anyone that identified themselves as the secret service of Curaçao. Nor have I ever wanted to. I had no meetings with them. I have never asked for information from them."

That was the statement from United People's (UP) party leader Member of Parliament (MP) Theo Heyliger upon reading Thursday about supposedly "secret documents" released online by anti-St Read more

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Editorial - Quite a legacy

The winds of change have blown in St. Kitts-Nevis, where the Labour Party lost Monday's parliamentary vote after governing the country for two decades straight. While the war of words with the united opposition during the campaign had been fierce, in the end the process went peacefully and so did the transfer of power.

Unfortunately, the final outcome was not known immediately because the election supervisor halted the announcing of results early Tuesday morning, citing possible irregularities Read more

Self Defense Seminar to help Petition to Expel Pedophiles

COLE BAY--Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu St. Maarten (SXM BJJ) is hosting a fund-raising self-defense class for girls age eight to 20 on Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00am. The fundraiser will benefit Mhakeda Shillingford's organization Petition to Expel Pedophiles (PEP).

Sixteen year old Shillingford had a terrifying experience in December when a bus driver kept pestering her for her name and telephone number. He did not cease his behavior when she told him she was only 16, and then refused to let her get off the bus unless she provided her details.

This strong young woman happens to be vice-president of the Youth Parliament of St Read more

New political party emerges with goal to be deal breaker

GEORGETOWN, Guyana--A new political party has emerged in Guyana with hopes of truly breaking away from an ethnic divide and providing a balance between Guyana's two main political parties – a united Alliance For Change (AFC)/A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the incumbent People's Progressive Party.

The Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HTNTP) believes that it can rally the support of Guyanese at the upcoming May 11 polls by opening "your eyes to the poverty we are experiencing .. Read more