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St. Maarten Mourns With France In Aftermath Of Terrorist Attack

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Country of France is still coping with the aftermath of a terrorism attach this week on the French media.

The French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo was attacked on January 7th by Islamic extremist leaving at least 12 people dead.

Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Marcel Gumbs as a result of this incident has sent letters to the President of the Collectivite of French St Read more

SHTA warns govt against use of counterpart policy

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) has again warned the incumbent United People's (UP) party-led government against the implementation of the Counterpart Policy.

In a press release on Wednesday, SHTA said a significant number of prestigious international organisations have advised against this. It also asked why government wanted to continue trying to implement something all local business representatives have voiced against.

SHTA said answers to a number of questions are needed prior to the Counterpart Policy being "brought to the forefront again." The association asked what other worldwide jurisdiction has proven that a counterpart programme is successful Read more

Five go on trial in Buncamper case

PHILIPSBURG--Former Minister Maria Buncamper-Molanus (47), her husband Claudius Buncamper (51), notary F.E.G. (70) and two other suspects I.A.H. (46) and T.O.W. (68) all were charged with involvement with fraud, forgery of documents and participation in a criminal organisation on Wednesday. This marked the start of the long-awaited trial concerning a criminal investigation into a transaction with a piece of land that had been given on long lease.

All five suspects appeared in Court for a pro forma/pre-trial hearing in this case, during which the hearing of witnesses was discussed.

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 it was revealed that they had sold the economic rights to a plot of land on long lease to a company named Eco Green NV, against payment of US $3 million.

Buncamper-Molanus had obtained the rights of long lease on 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

Cruise terminal bomb hoax causes traffic disruption

PHILIPSBURG--A bomb scare on board a cruise ship docked at Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facility on Wednesday afternoon turned out to be a hoax.

The threat sparked a large scale security alert after a security officer reported that a crew member of one of the four cruise ships had told him around 4:00pm that she was carrying a bomb.

Security immediately informed the police, who rushed over to the cruise terminal, which was shut off from all traffic. Police, Port Security and the captain of the vessel discussed the situation Read more

SMMC in dire financial straits, books in the red

~ Low tariffs, unpaid bills smothering hospital ~

CAY HILL--St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) is experiencing dire financial straits, which potentially threatens the future health of the institution if not remedied soon.

SMMC General Director Kees Klarenbeek told The Daily Herald in an exclusive interview on Thursday that the institution is currently operating in the red, with its accounts some NAf Read more

MP Matser gets two years for tax evasion

PHILIPSBURG--United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Silvio Matser was sentenced by the Court on Wednesday to 24 months, 18 of which were suspended, on three years' probation and 240 hours of community service, for tax evasion Read more

Ludmilla De Weever to be Appointed Minister of VSA --- Reliable Sources. (UPDATED)

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The UP/De Weever/LRM coalition will soon appoint the Minister of VSA (Health, Labor and Social Affairs.)
SMN News was reliably informed that Member of Parliament Cornelius de Weever has shuffled the pack again since his uncle Petrus Leroy De Weever failed the screening Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament George Pantophlet believes that our faith in God has a lot to do with what our future holds for us as a people. There are many religions in the world and he will not go into that discussion. If we look at the year 2014 he feels that one can agree that it was one of the most difficult years in all aspects of life Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Economic Affairs, Tourism, Traffic & Communication Claret Connor on Wednesday met with members of his staff bureau including Ministry Secretary General Miguel DeWeever (second from left). The Minister received an update on ongoing issues under his Ministry as well as discussed initial ways forward on several initiatives Read more

style="text-align: center;">Bloem wants to hear several justice officials

PHILIPSBURG:--- The criminal case against Maria Buncamper Molanus has been postponed due to the fact that the lawyer representing Ivan Haverthong was absent on Wednesday afternoon. However, the attorney representing the Buncamper family and Theodore Walters from ECO Green wants to hear some 12 witnesses on behalf of his clients Read more

UPP Coalition in shambles MP Silvio Matser convicted to 24 months.

style="text-align: center;">Maria Buncamper now MP based on the next in line.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Court of First Instance was not at all lenient with Member of Parliament Silvio Matser who was convicted to 24 months imprisonment, 18 of which are suspended. MP Matser has to also do 240 hours of community service. His company Energizer NV was condemned to pay some Naf Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The third day of IPKO meetings concluded on Wednesday afternoon, Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams said in a press release.  The first day was dedicated to the 3 parliaments (Tripartite meet) of the Caribbean countries, Curacao, Aruba and St. Maarten.

In addition to reverting back to the previous Tripartite of April 2014, the 3 delegations approved and signed a resolution to promote sports in general amongst the 3 countries, but also sports for the disabled Read more

UP Board President Meyers Thanks Former UP MPs and Ministers for their Service to Country. New Year’s Message Highlights Collective Approach to Opportunities and Success for All in 2015 and Beyond.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- United People's (UP) Party Board President Sylvia Meyers would like to thank former UP Members of Parliament (MPs) and members of the Council of Ministers for their years of service to country Sint Maarten, since October 2010 to December 2014.
The MPs and Ministers who have not returned to the House of Parliament or Council of Ministers are: former MPs Jules James, Dr Read more

Third Day Of Ipko Meetings Conclude Tuesday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - St. Maarten, Aruba and Curacao wrapped up the third day of meetings Tuesday in an IPKO setting.

Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams who is also the DP faction CKAIR chairperson confirmed that in addition to reverting back to the previous Tripartite of April 2014, the 3 delegations approved and signed a resolution to promote sports in general amongst the 3 countries, but also sports for the disabled Read more

Economic Affairs Minister Meets With Staff

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Minister of Economic Affairs, Tourism, Traffic & Communication Claret Connor on Wednesday met with members of his staff bureau including Ministry Secretary General Miguel DeWeever (second from left).

The Minister received an update on ongoing issues under his Ministry as well as discussed initial ways Read more

Mlk Attends Opera Concert

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Some of the students of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School attended a special school opera concert this morning which was hosted by the Foundation Classical Delight.

The Foundation Classical Delight is a non-profit organization established with the purpose of bringing classical music to our island. They invite annually professional, gifted and sometimes famous musicians to perform.

Getting the students acquainted with classical music is part of children's education and often highly appreciated by them.

"We deeply appreciate this opportunity for our students to meet with the opera artists this morning at this special school concert and witness firsthand another musical genre," remarked School Manger Stuart Johnson of the Dr Read more

Up Board President Meyers Thanks Former Up Mps And Ministers For Their Service To Country. New Year's Message Highlights Collective Approach To Opportunities And Success For All In 2015 And Beyond

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Board President Sylvia Meyers would like to thank former UP Members of Parliament (MPs) and members of the Council of Ministers for their years of service to country Sint Maarten, since October 2010 to December 2014.

The MPs and Ministers who have not returned to the House of Parliament or Council of Ministers are: former MPs Jules James, Dr Read more

Prime Minister And Minister Of Tourism And Economic Affairs Visits Port

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Minister of Tourism, Economic and Maritime Affairs Claret Connor visited the harbour facilities to receive a first hand briefing of the incident.

They were provided with a detail report by Harbour CEO Mark Mingo, Head of Security at the Harbour Roberto Leventsone and Police Commissioner Carl John.

Both Ministers stressed that such actions that threaten(s) the corporate and economic image of St Read more

Pm Gumbs Tasked With Completing His Cabinet

St. Maarten – The mandate for United People’s party leader Theo Heyliger as formateur ended shortly after he submitted his final report to Governor Drs. Eugène Holiday on December 17. Heyliger presented a cabinet of five ministers and stated in his one-page report that he had elected “to pursue the appointment of the remaining ministers as soon as possible.”

However, Heyliger’s role as formateur ended when the five ministers were sworn in, the press secretariat of Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs confirms.

In his New Year’s message, Heyliger emphasized that he would like to see a complete 7-member cabinet in place within the first sixty days of 2015 – setting a deadline at March 1.

“The task of nominating remaining ministers falls with Prime Minister Gumbs,” the press secretariat confirmed Read more

Ministers Sign Declarations National Ordinance Registration & Finance

St. Maarten – The five Ministers of the Gumbs Cabinet on Tuesday signed the declaration pursuant to article 53 of the National Ordinance Registration and Finances of political parties prior to the stipulated deadline in the law. All five signed their declarations at the office of the Electoral Council.

Article 53 point 2 stipulates that within 30 days of accepting an appointment as Minister, a Minister must submit a declaration signed by him to the Electoral Council that he did not act in contravention of the provisions of the national ordinance during the election campaign Read more

Three Arrested For Burglary

St. Maarten —Police have arrested three young men who were part of a group that broke into the Ho Supermarket on St. Peters road during the early hours of Monday morning.

Acting police spokesman Inspector Steven Carty explained yesterday that at around 03:00am on Monday the police central dispatch received a call that several unknown persons were busy breaking into the Ho Supermarket on the St Read more

Tracking One Of Saba’S Rare Birds: Wedrego

St. Maarten / Saba – Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), in partnership with the Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF), recently completed an island-wide survey for the Audubon’s Shearwater on Saba.

The Audubon’s Shearwater, also known locally as the Wedrego, is Saba’s national bird and it’s displayed prominently on the island’s crest. It is notoriously difficult to survey the Wedrego due to its secretive behavior and the steep and dangerous terrain it favours Read more

New Year’S Message Sarah Wescot-Williams: Focus On Climate Change And Flexible Labor Market

St. Maarten – A flexible labor market is one of the priorities the opposition Democratic Party has in the crosshairs for 2015, party-leader Sarah Wescot-Williams wrote in a belated New Year’s message. Climate change, ageing and electoral, financial and fiscal reform are other issues the party intends to champion.

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us” (Hal Borland, American author and journalist) Read more

Editorial - Adequate protection

Two worrisome letters to the editor have appeared already in the New Year about the continued crisis at Caravanserai, where timeshare buyers lost their acquired rights due to the public auctioning of the complex. They were informed by the new owner Alegria Real Estate BV late 2014 that it did not recognise agreements with companies related to the former operator, but instead offered the disadvantaged guests a week's stay in the resort for the same amount normally owed in annual fees if they signed up for such within a short period of time.

However, this also meant these weeks no longer could be sold or exchanged for other destinations and/or properties, while some already had paid their dues to the ex-proprietor and now needed to come up with the money once again Read more