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Ministry Of Finance Organized Round Table Conference Sustainable Financial Government

GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – On Tuesday February 6, 2018, the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Sint Maarten organized a Round Table Conference “Sustainable Financial Government,” with the Netherlands, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Committee for Financial Supervision of Curacao and Sint Maarten Cft.

The goal of this conference was to get all parties together and have an open dialogue on the way forward to a financial sustainable Sint Maarten and how progress can be achieved in bringing relief to the people of Sint Maarten in the short term.

The main topics discussed was the issue of liquidity support to the government of Sint Maarten, the application of 550 million euro made available by the Netherlands, the benefits of using the professional services offered by the World Bank and the IMF, in collaboration with the Cft.

Progress has been made in getting clarity with regards to the completion of the 2017 and 2018 budget process. 

The Conference was attended by the Dutch Project Director General of Reconstruction for the Windward Islands, Hans Leijtens, Head of the Representation of the Netherlands in Philipsburg, Chris Johnson, representatives of the World Bank, IMF, Cft and the Government of Sint Maarten.

Representing Sint Maarten were the Minister of Finance, Michael Ferrier, with members of his Cabinet, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, Arno Peels and support staff, the Secretary General of the Ministry of General Affairs, Hensley Plantijn and civil servants from the Department of Foreign Relations.

The conference was moderated by former Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Workgroup National Recovery Plan, Dennis Richardson.

Now that there is a shared understanding of the way forward, one of the next steps is for Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin and the Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier to visit the Netherlands to continue these discussions and to strengthen the relationships between the two Kingdom partners.

Both the Dutch and Sint Maarten delegations are very pleased with the level of progress made in charting the way forward.

Minister Ferrier and Project Director General Leijtens thanked all participants for their contribution to the open dialogue and clear communication Read more

Minister Wuite Has Demanded That A Full Report Be Presented By Noon Today

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Minister Jorien Wuite, after speaking to close family members of Nathan York, is extremely pleased to confirm that the student has been found and is presently with his parents at the St. Maarten Medical Center.

Nathan, a student of the Martin Luther King Jr. School (MLK), was reported missing after last being seen leaving the school campus on Tuesday afternoon Read more

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Two Schools To Remain Closed. Daycare Centers In Lower Philipsburg Should Remain Closed  

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin in an update on Wednesday evening says in follow-up assessments on Wednesday, the Charlotte Brookson Academy and the Oranje Primary School will remain closed on Thursday, February 8 due to the persistent smoke from the landfill fire on Pond Island which has been impacting the lower parts of Philipsburg.

The Minister of Education Jorien Wuite has advised that daycare centers located in the lower part of Philipsburg should also remain closed on Thursday.

Additional information will be forthcoming within short with respect the status of the Government Administration Building.

The post Two schools to remain closed Read more

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GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin in a follow-up update on Wednesday evening says the Government Administration Building will re-open on Thursday to the public and civil servants are requested to report to work.
The situation will be monitored and in the event of a change in the wind, it will be determined what action will be taken Read more

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Two Schools To Remain Closed. Daycare Centers In Lower Philipsburg Should Remain Closed.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin in an update on Wednesday evening says in follow-up assessments on Wednesday, the Charlotte Brookson Academy, and the Oranje Primary School will remain closed on Thursday, February 8 due to the persistent smoke from the landfill fire on Pond Island which has been impacting the l Read more

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GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Jorien Wuite, is urging the general public especially the residents of Middle Region, Belvedere, Madame Estate and Dutch Quarter to join in the search for young Nathan York, a student of the Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) School who has been missing since Tuesday afternoon.

Nathan was last seen at 12 pm on Tuesday leaving the MLK School Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- In light of the current ongoing fires at the Philipsburg landfill, the United St. Maarten (US) party is once again pointing out that the constant instability of government has effectively stalled any progress at the landfill.

Party leader Frans Richardson explained that every time government falls for whatever so-call reasons, efforts that underway stopped and the reset button is hit by every new incoming government with its own ideas.

“When will there be a start, so this reoccurring problem can stop? Only when we stop playing politics with people’s lives and get serious about governing Read more

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GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin in an update on Tuesday evening says the Government Administration Building will remain closed to the public on Wednesday, February 7.
The second major fire on Pond Island is being addressed by the Fire Department, Ministry VROMI and the Landfill Management Contractor. All available resources are being used to fight the fire.
Six schools (Charlotte Brookson Academy; Oranje School; Genevieve DeWeever School - Cycles 1 & 2; Sister Borgia School; St Read more

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UPDATE - DUTCH QUARTER - The Police Department has put search teams together, along with the help from VKS and they have been actively searching, in the area of Dutch Quarter and Middle Region since early this morning. However, Nathan York has not been found yet.

The Sint Maarten Police Force also requested help of the police officers with a drone to search for the young boy in the area of Middle Region, where he was reported last seen after he left school Read more

CAY HILL:--- The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, & Labor (VSA) received boxes from the United Family Reproductive Association (UNFPA). The UNFPA donated the items as a sign of relief to St. Maarten in the form of Emergency Reproductive Health Kits (ERH Kits). This UNFPA relief is an initiative to cushion the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The received ERH-kits are Kit 2: Clean Delivery for use By Birth Attendants can treat 10.000 women for 3 months; ERHKit5: Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections to diagnose and treat STIs for 3 months for 10.000 people; ERH-Kit6A Clinical Delivery Assistance- Reusable Equipment for 3 months to treat 30.000 women; ERH-K6B: Clinical Delivery Assistance – Drug & Disposable Equipment for 3 months for 30.000 women and Kit 9: Structure of Tears (Cervical & Vaginal) and Vaginal Examination to provide care to 30.000 women for 3 months.
The pre-identified target groups or vulnerable groups for the UNFPA relief project are: Category 1= No insurance; Category 2= Unemployed/low income with no insurance; Category 3= Profession CSW not employed, no insurance; Category 4= Below 18 years of age.

On Thursday, January 24 the Ministry Public Health Social Development & Labor with the assistance of the Honorable Minister Lee, handed over the following: ERH-Kits: Kit 2; Kit 6A; Kit 6B and Kit 9 slated as UNFPA relief to the St Read more

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Com In Emergency Meeting Regarding Second Fire On Pond Island.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin is currently chairing an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers this evening (Tuesday) at the Government Administration Building regarding a second major fire on Pond Island.

Late Tuesday afternoon early evening, a second major fire erupted at the sanitary landfill Read more

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Marinka Gumbs: The Way I See It….

Is this what the former Prime Minister Mr. William Marlin resorted to?

I have mentioned this before on the Facebook post of a candidate on the NA, where I asked what was the added value in this so-called ‘scandal video’?
It is certainly old news that back in October 2014, I a member of the Democratic Party tendered my resignation, and seeing that this is/ was my prerogative, I gave full disclosure to my Leader and board of my reasons and stood firm of my decision.

This is not even news worthy, further more to belittle one self by forwarding this ‘scandal video’ to your contacts on whatsapp gives me pause.

So much happened since then, I not only reapplied to become a member of the Democratic Party, but postulated myself, and became the party’s President, in addition to running  as the Anchor, the #18 candidate in the September 26, 2016 Parliamentary Election.

My suggestion to you Mr Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, February 3rd, 2018, the Board of the Sint Maarten Christian Party signed a declaration stating that the Party’s MPs will begin the process towards eradicating of poverty on Sint Maarten when elected to Parliament. Witnessing the signing ceremony were members of the Sint Maarten Anti-Poverty Platform (SMAPP) Raymond Jessurun and Claire Eshot and Alberto Bute.

I am sure that there will be people who will immediately label the signing of this document as another political gimmick leading up to the February 26 elections Read more

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Minister Of Justice De Weever’S Message For Safer Internet Day

POND ISLAND – Tuesday, February 6 is Safer Internet Day and this year’s theme is, ‘Create, Connect and Share Respect: A better internet starts with you.’

Over the years, Safer Internet Day (SID) has become a landmark event in the online safety calendar. Starting as an initiative of the EU SafeBorders project in 2004 and taken up by the Insafe network as one of its earliest actions in 2005, Safer Internet Day has grown beyond its traditional geographic zone and is now celebrated in approximately 130 countries worldwide.

SID is a global initiative started by the Insafe network in Europe to champion safe and responsible use of internet technologies, including on mobile devices.

“The growth of the internet has been remarkable.  The development of information technology is considered the fourth industrial revolution Read more

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POND ISLAND:--- Tuesday, February 6 is Safer Internet Day and this year’s theme is, ‘Create, Connect and Share Respect: A better internet starts with you.’
Over the years, Safer Internet Day (SID) has become a landmark event in the online safety calendar. Starting as an initiative of the EU SafeBorders project in 2004 and taken up by the Insafe network as one of its earliest actions in 2005, Safer Internet Day has grown beyond its traditional geographic zone and is now celebrated in approximately 130 countries worldwide.
SID is a global initiative started by the Insafe network in Europe to champion safe and responsible use of internet technologies, including on mobile devices.
“The growth of the internet has been remarkable Read more

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Cbcs Introduces Cbcs Economic Research Award.

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:--- On the occasion of the 190th anniversary of the Centrale Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) on February 6, 2018, the CBCS introduces the CBCS Economic Research Award. The award is an annual prize to promote research on the economies of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. HAVO and VWO students in Curaçao and Sint Maarten, as well as local and international university students, are invited to participate in this competition.
The award will be presented in four categories:

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Monday questioned what the role of the Post Office will be in distributing voting cards for the February 26 Parliamentary election.
Richardson was reacting to information from the Prime Minister and Civil Registry that voting cards would be distributed via the community centers in the various districts, with several voting districts grouped together Read more

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Smcp Signs Declaration Eradication Of Poverty

On Saturday, February 3rd 2018, the Board of the Sint Maarten Christian Party signed a declaration stating that the Party’s MPs will begin the process towards eradicating of poverty on Sint Maarten when elected to Parliament. Witnessing the signing ceremony were members of the Sint Maarten Anti-Poverty Platform (SMAPP) Raymond Jessurun and Claire Eshot and Alberto Bute.

I am sure that there will be people who will immediately label the signing of this document as another political gimmick leading up to the February 26 elections Read more

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POND ISLAND:--- The New York Times (NYT) Travel section featured “52 Places to Go in 2018,” as part of a starter kit for escaping into the world, and the Caribbean came in as number four under the banner, “Tourism speeds recovery in a storm-battered part of the world.”
Destination Sint Maarten’s newest tourist attraction was mentioned under the Caribbean, “The new St. Maarten Rockland Estate Eco-Park Rainforest Adventures’ new Rockland Estate Park introduced a zipline to Saint Maarten.” The section was written by Elaine Glusac.
Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Cornelius de Weever said this publicity was very good for the destination as the country continues to recover from the damage caused by the September 2017 hurricanes.
“We are very pleased that one of our newest attractions which recently opened was mentioned in this prestigious and credible U.S Read more

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POND ISLAND – The New York Times (NYT) Travel section featured “52 Places to Go in 2018,” as part of a starter kit for escaping into the world, and the Caribbean came in as number four under the banner, “Tourism speeds recovery in a storm-battered part of the world.”

Destination Sint Maarten’s newest tourist attraction was mentioned under the Caribbean, “The new St. Maarten Rockland Estate Eco-Park Rainforest Adventures’ new Rockland Estate Park introduced a zipline to Saint Maarten.”  The section was written by Elaine Glusac.

Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Cornelius de Weever said this publicity was very good for the destination as the country continues to recover from the damage caused by the September 2017 hurricanes.

“We are very pleased that one of our newest attractions which recently opened was mentioned in this prestigious and credible U.S Read more

“Emerald”" In Court Sint Maarten On February 6 And 7 About Evading Income And Turnover Tax

PHILIPSBURG – Seven owners of one-man businesses on Sint Maarten will appear in the Court of First Instance of Sint Maarten on 6 and 7 February 2018, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) and Anti-Corruption Unit (TBO) said in a joint press release on Sunday.

“It is the ““Emerald-case” regarding evading income and turnover tax. These suspicions are the result of the “Emerald-investigation”, an investigation by the anti-corruption unit (TBO, Team Bestrijding Ondermijning) into fraud and corruption in the port of Sint Maarten.

“It has been found that the companies that are on trial in (in particular) the years 2012-2016 have been paid for approximately 8 million dollars for activities that would have been carried out for the benefit of the Port Read more

“Emerald” Case In Court On February 6 And 7

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — 7 Owners of one-man businesses on Sint Maarten will appear in the Court of First Instance of Sint Maarten on 6 and 7 February 2018. It is the ““Emerald-case” regarding evading income and turnover tax.

These suspicions are the result of the “Emerald-investigation”, an investigation by the anti-corruption unit (TBO, Team Bestrijding Ondermijning) into fraud and corruption in the port of Sint Maarten. It has been found that the companies that are on trial in (in particular) the years 2012-2016 have been paid for approximately 8 million dollars for activities that would have been carried out for the benefit of the Port Read more

Caft Chairman Raymond Gradus: ”The Financial Situation Of Aruba Is Of Concern; Compliance With The Laft Norm 2018 Getting Out Of Sight”

ORANJESTAD, Aruba:--- The year 2017 is expected to be closed with a financial deficit of 3.1% GDP. According to the National Ordinance on temporary financial supervision (LAft) a financial deficit of 0.5% is allowed. In order to be able to comply with its responsibilities, Aruba has taken out additional loans to the amount of AWG 130 million. It is expected that this will increase the debt quote up to 87% GDP as per the end of 2017 Read more

St. Maarten Development Fund Grants 3 Million Guilders In 2017

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Culminating the closure of its financial year 2017, St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) presented its unaudited financial statements and management report for the year 2017 to Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Leona Romeo-Marlin. In the meeting with Prime Minister Romeo-Marlin, SMDF’s Managing Director Keith Franca and Program and Development Makhicia Brooks presented the Prime Minister with the Fund’s financial statement and also briefed her on activities of 2017 as well as the Fund’s plans for 2018.

The Fund’s financial statements, which showed SMDF’s grant making activities totaling some ANG 3 million between 24 NGO clients was welcomed by the Prime Minister who indicated that she kept abreast of SMDF’s activities Read more

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