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Trinidad declines to pay Jamaica’s ‘bill’ for returning Muslim leader Abu Bakr

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad--The Trinidad and Tobago government says it will not pay the US $36,000 used to hire a private jet to bring the leader of the radical Jamaat al Mulsimeen group, Yasin Abu Bakr, back to the island from Jamaica where he had been denied entry.

National Security Minister Gary Griffith, speaking at the end of the weekly Cabinet meeting on Thursday, said that Port of Spain had denied a request from Jamaica for payment of the fees.

"I was very clear that Trinidad and Tobago will not bear the costs of that private flight," Griffith, said, adding that the cost of the flight was US $36,000.

The Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) in Jamaica in a statement said Bakr "was refused leave to land under Section 4(1)h of the Immigration Restriction [Commonwealth Citizens – Ed.] Act."

The section states, "The following Commonwealth citizens (not being persons deemed to belong to the Island as defined by sub section (2) of section 2) are prohibited immigrants .. Read more

Dutch Parliament supports English in Statia education

THE HAGUE--Members of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament expressed support for the introduction of English as the language of instruction at schools in St. Eustatius during a meeting with Dutch State Secretary of Education, Culture and Science Sander Dekker on Wednesday.

Members of Parliament (MPs) André Bosman of the liberal democratic VVD party, Roelof van Laar of the Labour Party PvdA and Paul van Meenen of the Democratic Party D66 lauded the decision of the state secretary to make the switch from Dutch to English as the language of instruction at Statia schools.

The MPs shared the opinion of the expert committee that investigated the pros and cons of introducing English as the language of instruction in St Read more

Plasterk: Genuine guarantees of government integrity needed

THE HAGUE--The Kingdom Council of Ministers approved a proposal of Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk on Friday to give the governor of St. Maarten an instruction to refrain from signing the decrees to appoint the members of St. Maarten's next government until it has been proven, through an additional, more stringent screening, that the members of the Cabinet are persons of complete integrity. This is what Plasterk told the media in an interview after Friday's meeting.

St Read more

Most schools ready to reopen on Monday

PHILIPSBURG--All government-subsidised schools and "most" public schools are ready to reopen their doors on Monday after a weeklong closure due to the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo, which pummelled the island on Monday evening, October 13.

High schools ready to reopen on Monday are Milton Peters College (MPC); Sundial School; both sections of St. Maarten Academy; Charlotte Brookson Academy for the Performing Arts; Methodist Agogic Center (MAC) Comprehensive Secondary Education; and St. Dominic High School.

Primary schools set to reopen are Seventh-Day Adventist School; MAC Browlia F Read more

Sarah: Gov’t will resist instruction to Holiday

~ Says move 'absurd' ~

PHILIPSBURG--Caretaker Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams has condemned the move by the Dutch Government to issue instructions to Governor Eugene Holiday to thoroughly screen incoming ministers from the United People's (UP) party-led coalition.

In an invited comment on Friday Wescot-Williams said government "will resist" this latest move by the Dutch government Read more

Kingdom govt orders tougher screening St. Maarten ministers

By Suzanne Koelega

THE HAGUE--The Kingdom government has ordered a more stringent screening of St. Maarten's incoming Council of Ministers. The Kingdom Council of Ministers decided on Friday to give St. Maarten Governor Eugene Holiday an instruction to hold off on the appointment of the ministers and prime minister until it is absolutely certain that they are in the clear.

The Dutch government will appoint a team of experts to assist the governor with the screening, announced Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk after the meeting Read more

UP says candidates will not agree to ‘vague’ investigation

~ Calls instruction unconstitutional ~

PHILIPSBURG--No candidate Minister will agree to "a vague limitless investigation" on themselves, their families, third parties, friends and acquaintances without the parameters of vetting being known, United People's (UP) party said on Friday.

UP's statement was in reaction to the Dutch Government's instruction to Governor Eugene Holiday for a thorough investigation into candidate-ministers from the UP-led coalition.

UP said the subjectivity created by a vague investigation would leave room for arbitrary vetting procedures without any guarantee of an equal treatment.

"It is quite obvious that this measure is designed against MP Heyliger and confirms .. Read more

MPs to meet Monday on Dutch gov’t instruction

PHILIPSBURG--Members of Parliament (MPs) will discuss in an urgent plenary session of Parliament on Monday the Kingdom Council of Ministers' instruction to Governor Eugene Holiday to execute a thorough screening of candidate-ministers from the United People's (UP) party-led coalition.

The plenary session is set to start at 2:00pm. On the agenda is the instruction from Minister of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk to Holiday "to postpone ratification of the country decree in the appointment of the Ministers and Prime Minister."

The meeting was requested by UP MPs Franklin Meyers, Silvio Matser and Tamara Leonard on Friday.

Meyers said the instruction was "yet another example of interference into St Read more

Man succumbs when truck drives off road in St. Peters

~ Two injured, teacher seriously ~

ST. PETERS--A man whose name was given as Claude Nourant succumbed to injuries received when a truck in which he was a passenger toppled off the road over Sentry Hill in St. Peters and landed front first on Coco Plum Road below around 4:00pm on Saturday.

The driver of the vehicle, teacher Frank Dellamore, and another passenger were injured in the accident. Reports indicate that the truck's brakes suddenly stopped working and the driver was unable to stop the truck which went through a wall, into a yard and fell onto the road below front first.

Nourant was said to have been in the open tray in the back of the truck when the accident occurred Read more

Theo: Dutch want to prevent me from being prime minister

PHILIPSBURG--United People's (UP) party leader Member of Parliament (MP) Theo Heyliger said on Sunday that the instruction by the Dutch government to Governor Eugene Holiday is intended to prevent him from becoming the next prime minister of St Read more

Second Chamber backs St. Maarten instruction

~ A very necessary move, says majority ~

THE HAGUE--The liberal democratic VVD party, the Labour Party PvdA and Socialist Party (SP) representing a majority in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament fully support the decision of the Kingdom Council of Ministers last week Friday to order a more thorough screening of St. Maarten's candidate ministers.

The instruction that the Kingdom government gave to St. Maarten Governor Eugene Holiday to hold off on the signing of the appointment of the members of the new Council of Ministers until an additional integrity screening has been completed with the assistance of Dutch experts, was "highly necessary," said Members of the Second Chamber André Bosman (VVD) and Ronald van Raak (PvdA).

Member of the Second Chamber Roelof van Laar said that during the handling of the draft 2015 Kingdom Relations budget on October 1, he already called for an in-depth investigation of the indications of vote-buying in St Read more

Ferrier resigns from DP, against Sarah supporting UP coalition

~ Richelda feels deceived, doesn't support Sarah ~

PHILIPSBURG--Former President of the Democratic Party (DP) and candidate in the August 29 parliamentary election Michael Ferrier has tendered his resignation from DP over the move by party leader Sarah Wescot-Williams to join the United People's (UP) party-led coalition.

DP candidate Richelda Rodriguez-Emmanuel in an email responding to Ferrier's resignation said she still couldn't "get over the feeling of anger, deception, disappointment and disbelief" to put in any form of communication Read more

All schools to reopen today

PHILIPSBURG--The roads will be a hub of activity today as students and teachers return to school after a week-long closure due to Hurricane Gonzalo, which pummelled the island last week Monday evening.

Education Minister Patricia Lourens-Philip said Sunday that all schools will reopen their doors today, Monday. This includes the St. Maarten Vocational Training School (SMVTS), Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Read more

Van Miltenburg, Sarah meet at SXM Airport

PHILIPSBURG--President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams met with President of the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament Anouchka van Miltenburg at SXM Airport on Friday. Van Miltenburg was on her way to Saba for the start of a tour of the six islands.

Accompanying the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament President is Secretary General J.E Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- President of Parliament Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams on Friday met the President of the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament Hon. Anouchka van Miltenburg at the SXM Airport VIP room.

On Sunday the President of the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament along with support staff will be arriving in transit to the island of St Read more

All Schools ready for Monday Re-opening.

>GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip, would like to inform and reiterate that ALL schools will resume on Monday October 20, 2014.

This includes the St. Maarten Vocational Training School, Martin Luther King Primary School, Genevieve De Weever and the Oranje School. It was mentioned in a communication on Friday that these schools might no Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Former President of the Democratic Party Michael Ferrier submitted his resignation to the Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams Read more

style="text-align: center;">Transparency International: Dutch corruption mechanisms insufficient

PHILIPSBURG:--- The UP Faction would hereby like to make one thing abundantly clear to the general population and Kingdom partners: The issue with the instruction given to Governor Holiday regarding expanded screening criteria to be executed by appointees of the Dutch government, is not about 'having something to hide' Read more

style="text-align: center;">Dutch govt. will be held liable for damages itsunconstitutional intrusion causes St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG:--- Through an instruction issued to the Governor of St. Maarten last week, the Dutch Government has, on the basis of its earlier initiated character assassination of my person, progressed into an action to ensure that it can prevent my person from becoming the next Prime Minister of St. Maarten.
The measure, void of any legal basis, is drafted to ensure that the screening of Ministers and Prime-Minister to be appointed for the Government of St Read more

MP Lake said he is ready to fight for the rights of the peoples parliament and demand respect for the country constitution.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Hon. Maurice Lake of the United People's (UP) Party said he is not surprised by the instruction given to the Governor of Sint Maarten by the Kingdom Council of Ministers.
"Some of the Dutch Members of the Second Chamber of Parliament in The Hague, and some of our own, are on a witch hunt against this broad based Government which is following all rules and procedures as a collective unit to better serve our people Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Several citizens and persons who bought confiscated items from the Public Prosecutors Office on St. Maarten and Weather Eyes Yacht Sales that was representing the Prosecutor's Office are now calling on the Dutch Members of Parliament and the Kingdom Council of Ministers to send down experts to investigate the Prosecutors that were appointed by them. "We are in full support of the Dutch using their powers to put a halt to corruption and self-enrichment among politicians, but the Dutch must also realize that the Dutch prosecutors they appointed to St Read more

Open Letter From Mp Leona Marlin-Romeo

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - My fellow St. Maarteners,

First I would like to extend deepest sympathies to those who suffered loss during the recent passing of Hurricane Gonzalo, though it may have caused some devastation, we are still blessed to have weathered the storm and come out stronger and united.

Over the last few weeks, there has been no shortage of opinions and criticism expressed publicly regarding my decision to support and join the coalition government which was recently sworn in as the new government of St Read more

Mp Tamara Leonard – Governor Put In Awkward Position By Dutch Government

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – The recent instruction from the Dutch Government to Governor Eugene Holiday to carry out an invasive screening of candidate ministers in addition to the mandated security screening has put the governor yet again in a very awkward position where he has to choose between truly representing the people of St. Maarten and the one-sided interest of the Dutch Government, says United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament Tamara Leonard.

"This instruction goes against a number of fundamental rights and freedom guaranteed to the people of St Read more

Mp Lake Said He Is Ready To Fight For The Rights Of The Peoples Parliament And Demand Respect For The Country Constitution

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Member of Parliament Hon. Maurice Lake of the United People's (UP) Party said he is not surprised by the instruction given to the Governor of Sint Maarten by the Kingdom Council of Ministers.

"Some of the Dutch Members of the Second Chamber of Parliament in The Hague, and some of our own, are on a witch hunt against this broad based Government which is following all rules and procedures as a collective unit to better serve our people Read more