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Rolling back the ‘Arm’s-length’ Policy: Govt & its companies in the power play

Dear Editor,

Once upon a time, in the last century, what we know today as "government-owned companies" were departments of the government administration. Who remembers when Landsradio was a federal government department, run effectively from Willemstad, Curacao? Or, when GEBE was similarly a public utility company that could not function without directives from the then government of the Netherlands Antilles? Or when the Post Office and even the Princess Juliana International Airport was arms of government?

That seems like an eternity ago and thus to many, probably completely forgotten Read more

‘Voice of our people’ theme of Emancipation Day 2015

PHILIPSBURG--Under the theme "Emancipation from Within-The Voice of Our People" St. Maarten will be observing Emancipation Day 2015 on Wednesday, July 1, culminating in a celebration and cultural manifestation at Emilio Wilson Park in the afternoon.

The Emancipation Day programme, organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, in conjunction with Voices Foundation, was presented Tuesday afternoon during a press conference at Claude Wathey Legislative Hall.

Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Rita Bourne-Gumbs called upon all St Read more

style="text-align: justify;">PHILIPSBURG:--- The government of St. Maarten would do well to respond to Parliament's recommendations and amendments to the national Integrity Chamber Ordinance AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and not take its time, given the timeframe of one month that was mentioned by parliament.

If the whole matter is indeed that we want to establish our "own" integrity chamber, then we should proceed, and proceed with utmost haste.

I am concerned that this delay is going to cost our country dearly Read more

EU Funding Available to Construct Waste Management Plant at Bellevue Border --- Deadline to Obtain EU Funds has to be completed by December 2015.

style="text-align: center;">What will this do to the MOU signed with GB Energy and GEBE?

PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of the French Executive Council met with members of Members of Parliament on Tuesday to discuss the usage of European funding that are available to both sides of the island.
Both President Aline Hanson and Vice President Guillaume Arnell told the Members of Parliament that the two sides of the island have to take matters seriously and work efficiently in order for the island to obtain the funding to construct some main projects, one being a waste management plant in the vicinity of Bellevue border Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday June 19th at approximately 10.45 p.m. police patrols, police Traffic Department, paramedics and Fire Department were sent to the A.J.C. Brouwers road in the vicinity of the Harold Jack look-out Point for a serious traffic accident. On the scene the investigating officers encountered a head-on collision between two private vehicles P-5934 and P-7307 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- -Police officially announced the opening of the Central Dispatch Center linking the ambulance department and the police to one communication line. The fire department is not part of the system according the Benjamin Gout Head of the Police Traffic Department. Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson and Minister Claret Connor were among the dignitaries at the police headquarters in Philipsburg on Tuesday afternoon.

Inspector Gout explained in a brief power-point presentation that the Police started to work on centralizing the system in 2009 Read more

Emancipation Day 2015 Schedule

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - All is set for the celebration of Emancipation Day, which will be held this year under the theme, "Emancipation from within, the Voice of Our People."

While the day will be observed for the152nd year, this year, for the 4th consecutive time, the inhabitants of St. Maarten will have the opportunity to officially celebrate the occasion.

Emancipation Day will officially be observed on Wednesday July 1st, however, prior to the celebrations and as is customary in observation of the day, on Tuesday, June 30th, the Diamond Hill Estate Slave Run Reenactment will be held Read more

Parliament Ignore Dutch Govt Deadline For Agreement On Integrity Chamber Protocol

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - During the plenary session of the House of Parliament on Monday debating the National Draft Ordinance for the Integrity Chamber for St. Maarten, Member of Parliament of United People's Party, the Honorable Franklin Meyers requested that some changes be made to the document.

Whilst addressing that subject on the floor of Parliament, the MP outlined some of the areas where amendments should be made in the ordinance.

Meanwhile, whilst speaking on the floor of Parliament handling the National Draft Ordinance to establish the Integrity Chamber, Member of Parliament and leader of the USP, the Honorable Frans Richardson made clear that they had no intention of bringing a motion of no confidence against the Minister of Justice, the Honorable Denis Richardson for signing the protocol with his Dutch counterpart.

He is of the opinion that the issue was sensationalized by the media Read more

George queries restart of Central Bank project

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament George Pantophlet has called for Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten to give an update on when the renovation works on the St. Maarten branch will resume. The work on the building was stopped almost two months ago, after Central Bank ended its contract with the contractor Taliesin Construction NV.

Work on the building on W.J.A Read more

Sarah calls for high priority for performing arts centre

PHILIPSBURG--"Put politics aside" and get moving on the development and construction of a preforming arts centre for St. Maarten was the call from Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams to her fellow MPs on Monday morning.

The arts centre should be "put as a high priority" by government and the money needs to be found for the project, Wescot-Williams said in the notification section of the plenary session of Parliament dealing with the Integrity Chamber.

Her call stemmed from the packed arts and cultural schedule in the just concluded weekend Read more

Govt. back to drawing board with Integrity Chamber Law

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament has sent Government back to the drawing board with the controversial draft National Ordinance on the establishment of an Integrity Chamber for the country.

Parliament sending Government back to make changes was not unexpected, as the majority of MPs had voiced their discontent with the draft when it was tabled in the Central Committee of Parliament about two months ago.

The reworking of parts of the law means the deadline of June 30 for Parliament to handle the law as stated in a recent protocol with the Dutch Government will not be met Read more

TEATT gas measuring tanks still in Curaçao

PHILIPSBURG--Controls by the Inspection Department of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication TEATT are hindered because the measuring tanks – used to ensure gas stations are operating within the parameters set by government – have been in Curaçao since last year.

The concern was shared on Monday by Member of Parliament (MP) George Pantophlet via press statement Read more

Collectivité honours six for Father’s Day

MARIGOT--The Collectivité held its traditional Father's Day ceremony on Friday to honour six. As usual the chosen fathers were nominated by the representatives of each district council and a biography of each nominee was presented.

The six were Joseph Liburd from French Quarter, Bruno Burnett from Grand Case, Clement Gumbs from Cripple Gate, Jocelyn Jermin from Morne Valois, Charles Richardson from Marigot, and Fernand Sylvestre from Sandy Ground.

Vice-President for Solidarity and Families Ramona Connor in her address noted celebration of fathers has existed in France since 1952.

"Today we are going to celebrate the very good fathers you are," she said Read more

UP tables changes to Integrity Chamber law

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten should chair the Integrity Chamber that will come into being for the country should Parliament pass the draft National Ordinance to establish the Chamber. That Chamber also should render "advice" to the Council of Ministers and not "binding advice" as the draft currently states.

These are among the changes the United People's (UP) party wants to see in the draft law when Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Justice Minister Dennis Richardson bring it back to Parliament possibly in August to continue deliberations on it.

UP faction leader MP Franklin Meyers, speaking on Monday in the now-suspended plenary session of Parliament on the law, outlined the changes his party wants to see made to the law Read more

Russia to help Jamaica agriculture and possibly import meat and crops

KINGSTON, Jamaica--Russia has promised to help Jamaica restore its mined-out bauxite lands to full agricultural production. It also plans to share its technology to boost the island's agriculture and help address its environmental issues.

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Phillip Paulwell made the disclosure as he attended the 19th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Moscow, where he met with representatives from the Russian government to strengthen cooperation in specialised areas.

"I held discussions with the Agriculture Minister [Alexander Tkachov – Ed.] Read more

style="text-align: center;">Was St. Maarten’s Entities Consulted --- MP Leona Romeo Marlin.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of National Alliance and Member of Parliament William Marlin asked several questions regarding the protocol Minister Dennis Richardson signed on May 23rd with the Dutch Government on the establishment of an integrity chamber Read more

>PHILIPSBURG: --- The chairman of Parliament MP Lloyd Richardson had to go back on his decision and remove an agenda point he added on Monday even though several Members of Parliament objected to the additional agenda point claiming that procedures were not followed.
MP De Weever asked the chair of Parliament to add the motion that was suspended in December 2013 which was to widen the scope of medical coverage for independent workers, namely bus drivers, taxi drivers and vendors.
When the motion was in parliament it had to be suspended when it became clear that there was no law in place to support the motion.
MP William Marlin was the first MP to object to the chairman’s decision citing that procedures were not being followed, Marlin even ask the chairman of parliament if the Parliament of St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Will MP Meyers be living on his Knees or will he die Standing?

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel did not mingle with words during the parliamentary debate on the establishment of an integrity chamber on St. Maarten that was held on Monday. MP Emmanuel said that people need to stop blaming the Dutch for everything and blame the person that places the country in the position it is now Read more

style="text-align: center;">Samuel, Sabnani & Maidasani Now Rotarians

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Rotary Club of Sint Maarten inducted three new members at its weekly lunch meeting at the Divi Little Bay Resort on June
17, 2015. Club President Danny Ramchandani had the honor, along with President-Elect Jeffrey
“Soc” Sochrin of welcoming these new Rotarians to the wonderful family of Rotary
International.

President Ramchandani reminded the new members of their responsibility of service above self and presented Mr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- St. Maarten was not surprised at all when the UP party told their coalition partner the US party of MP Frans Richardson to take a hike but Dennis stays. The US party should have drawn their conclusion from the statement made by the honorable Prime Minister that Minister Richardson isn’t going anywhere Read more

Rotary Club Of Sint Maarten Inducts Three New Members, Samuel, Sabnani & Maidasani Now Rotarians

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Rotary Club of Sint Maarten inducted three new members at its weekly lunch meeting at the Divi Little Bay Resort on June 17, 2015.

Club President Danny Ramchandani had the honor, along with President-Elect Jeffrey "Soc" Sochrin of welcoming these new Rotarians to the wonderful family of Rotary International.

President Ramchandani reminded the new members of their responsibility of service above self and presented Mr. Rodolphe Samuel, Mr Read more

Two Injured After Traffic Accident Friday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Friday June 19th at approximately 10.45 p.m. police patrols, police Traffic Department, paramedics and Fire Department were sent to the A.J.C. Brouwers road in the vicinity of the Harold Jack look-out Point for a serious traffic accident.

On the scene the investigating officers encountered a head-on collision between two private vehicles P-5934 and P-7307.

Vehicles in question were travelling in the opposite directions when they collided head on.

As a result of the impact the driver of the P-5934 remained stuck in the mangled wreckage and had to be freed using the "Jaws of Life" from the Fire Department Read more

Parliament Meets With Justice Minister And Pm On Integrity Chamber Protocol Monday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The draft National Ordinance to establish the Integrity Chamber was the focus of debate Monday in the chambers of the Parliament of St. Maarten.

Present for the meeting were all members of Parliament including the Prime Minister and the Justice Minister. As was speculated, a motion of no confidence against the Justice Minister was not tabled by the leader of the US party MP Frans Richardson.

Discontent with the signing of the Integrity Chamber protocol was however unanimous however at varying levels.

Justice Minister Dennis Richardson advised the Parliament of St Read more

Residents bend it for first International Yoga Day

SIMPSON BAY--The pumping sound of reggae music making its way up Simpson Bay Beach did not interfere with the quiet quite a large gathering of yoga amateurs and professionals sought on the first-ever International Yoga Day on Sunday afternoon.

Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice or discipline that originated in India.

Yoga practitioners got in the groove to bend, stretch and breathe as the music slowly faded into the background and they moved through the ancient exercise routine.

The waves lapped and sea gulls drifted above as St Read more