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Dp Delivers Blistering Criticism On Governing Program: “If You Cannot Convince Them, Confuse Them”

St. Maarten – Democratic Party MP Sarah Wescot-Williams delivered blistering criticism of the governing program the Council of Ministers sent to the parliament a week and a half ago. The program shows “an inadequate end unprepared government, “contradictions are blaring” and the document is “poorly edited’ are some of the points Wescot-Williams makes in het analysis.

The Democratic Party “recognizes some initiatives as its own” while others “fit the priorities the DP has established for itself.”

As an example of “blaring contradictions,” the opposition-MP refers to remarks about good governance and integrity Read more

Laville Still Under Investigation

St. Maarten – Former Member of Parliament Romain Laville is not off the hook yet as the Public Prosecutor’s Office still considers charging him for gun possession and two cases of gun threats. Officers of the National Detective Agency arrested the former politician on Thursday March 26 at his home but they released him the same day.

“The case is still under investigation Read more

Opinion: Paying Lip Service

What is most amazing about the never-ending procession of court cases the new owner of the former Caravanserai Resort, Alegria, gets involved in, is the lack of response to this very detrimental situation from the government, and in particular from Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor, with the parliament closely on his heels.

Whatever the outcome of the court case may be, the effect on our tourism industry will be devastating Read more

Claude Wathey Commemoration: Everybody On The Same Page Again

Family members and representatives of DP and UP gather for a group picture together with Minister Claret Connor. Photo Today / Leo Brown

St. Maarten – After the awkward split in the election year 2014, when the Democratic Party and the United People’s party organized separate wreath laying ceremonies to commemorate the birth date of the late Dr Read more

Transparency International Launches Integrity Report Next Week

St. Maarten – Transparency International will launch St. Maarten’s National Integrity System assessment next week Tuesday at the University of St. Martin.

Alejandro Salas, the regional director for the Americas at Transparency International will speak at this event, as will invited government officials, Transparency International said in a press statement.

The integrity assessment has been long in the making, ever since Kingdom Relations Minister Ronald Plasterk sent the first signals to then Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams in April 2013 that St Read more

Ebenezer Residents Want Clean Trenches

A scene from a trench in Ebenezer on Wednesday. Photo Today / Andrew Dick

St. Maarten – Residents from the Ebenezer District are disappointed that their trenches are filled with bush and debris. Grass and small threes can be seen budding from the bridge close to the Milton Peters College and behind in the trenches at the St. Maarten Academy PSVE. Daniela Richardson expressed her disappointment yesterday about the situation. She calls on public works to do something about it.

It is customary for the public works department to carry out major trench clean ups efforts before the beginning of the hurricane season Read more

Schoelcher Commemoration In Grand Case: Chance-Duzant Wants “Support For The Little Things We Ask”

Attorney Patricia Chance-Duzant is on a roll during her address. Photo Today / Leo Brown

GRAND CASE, St. Martin – Victor Schoelcher, the 19th-century abolitionist writer who had a large influence on the abolition of slavery in the West Indies, leaves his mark every year in Grand Case when a celebration is held to honor his legacy. Also this year there was the traditional church service, the cultural parade and the speeches on the field next to the village’s cultural center. However, by inviting the chair of Grand Case’s community council Patricia Chance-Duzant to speak, the Collectivité called a lot of criticism upon itself, because the speaker did not mince her words.

“We have a lot of work to do in Grand Case,” Chance-Duzant said Read more

Court Rules Reappointment Rennie Maduro Null And Void (Former Gebe C.O.O.)

St. Maarten – Utilities Company Gebe won its lawsuit against its former Chief Operating Officer Rennie Maduro and by extension against the Council of Ministers (CoM) on Thursday. The Court in First Instance ruled that the CoM’s decision Ministers to extend Maduro’s contract by two years is null and void. It banned Maduro from taking management decisions for the company, barred his access to the Gebe-officers and authorized Gebe to de-register Maduro as a director of the company. Gebe does not have to pay Maduro any more salary.

The court ruling brings the rules for the appointment of directors at government-owned companies sharply into focus and sets a clear limit to the CoM’s authority.

On May 29, the CoM signed a decree to extend Maduro’s contract that formally ended on May 31, by two years Read more

Police Honor Justice Minister Richardson

Justice Minister Richardson receives a badge of honor from Commissioner Carl John. Photo Today / Leo Brown

 

International Justice Day commemorated 

St. Maarten – The uniformed services celebrated International Justice Day yesterday afternoon at the Festival Village. Eighteen men and women who dedicated more than 40 years to the justice system were honored.

The VKS stood out during the marching showcase with creative chants and in synch footwork, earning applause from the attendees Read more

Statia Goes Solar

Back row from left: Stuco’s  supervisory board Chairman Ivan Berkel, Managing Director Fred Cuvalay, and Sunshine Real Estate Director Terence Lacle; front row: Stuco representative Jerome Sardine and legal advisor Roland Duncan. Photo contributed

ORANJESTAD –Statia’s power company Stuco signed a contract on Wednesday for the construction of a 2 Megawatt solar energy park that will provide 20 percent of the island’s power needs and at times have a more than 100 percent renewable energy penetration of the grid.

Stuco signed the contract with Sunshine Real Estate for the engineering, procurement and commissioning of the facility, Sunshine partners for the project with Eco Energy, SMA and Schletter Read more

Dutch Police Now Include Internet In Phone Taps

Whatsapp-messages are protected by privacy rules

St. Maarten – Dutch police now automatically intercept internet traffic when setting up a telephone tap, online magazine Computerworld reported yesterday. The news was buried in the justice ministry’s annual report which was published in May and has only now been made public, the website states.

In St. Maarten tapping IP-addresses, for instance to intercept email traffic, is technically possible, press prosecutor Karola van Nie told this newspaper yesterday Read more

Bus Association Unhappy With Cabinet Shake-Up  

President of the Dutch St. Maarten United Bus Drivers Association Alexis Williams. Photo Today / Andrew Dick

GREAT BAY-The Dutch St. Maarten United Bus Drivers Association is not happy with the upcoming change at the Ministry of Transportation. The expected shake up in the Council of Ministers will move Minister Claret Connor to the Vromi-ministry Read more

Chta Addresses Sargassum But Understates Nuisance

Seaweed is ruining beaches like here in Mont Vernon at the far end of Orient Bay. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

St. Maarten – The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is working with its 32 member hotel and tourism associations to provide hotels, government officials and stakeholders with best practice information aimed at mitigating the negative effects of high levels of Sargassum seaweed that has been reported at some local beaches.

The organizations have released a resource guide, compiled by the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), a CHTA initiative in collaboration with strategic partner OBM International to assist with local efforts.

Sargassum is a free-floating seaweed that moves with the ocean currents Read more

Locally Born Cardiologist Emiko Bird-Lake Sworn In

From left: Acting Governor Reynold Groeneveldt, cardiologist Emiko Bird-Lake, and Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs. Photo DCOMM

St. Maarten – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs attended the oath-taking ceremony at the Governor’s Cabinet on Friday for Emiko Bird-Lake, the first-Sint Maarten born cardiologist.

In the presence of her mother, Veronica Lake, and the cardiologist’s husband, Acting Governor Reynold Groeneveldt administered the oath.

Bird-Lake is part of a specialist rotational program established by St Read more

Only 6 Of 22 Motions Since 2012 Yielded Results: Motions Carry The Day – But Only In Parliament

St. Maarten – The motions Members of Parliament submit during the annual budget debate seldom yield results. This newspaper examined 28 motions a host of parliamentarians tabled since 2012. With 22 of them successive government did absolutely nothing. Six of them yielded (some) results.

When governments fail to execute motions, parliament never retaliates. In the Netherlands, a cabinet that refuses or neglects to execute a motion that is carried by a majority in parliament, could lead to a cabinet crisis Read more

Mp Marlin-Romeo Supports Budding Artist Arndell

Zabian Arndell shows some of his work with MP Marlin-Romeo by his side. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – Independent Member of Parliament Leona Marlin-Romeo has started with her Giving Back to the Community Program. The first recipient is artist Zabian Arndell.

Marlin-Romeo established the program to recognize the contributions of citizens, organizations, public schools and positive initiatives in the community.

Marlin-Romeo uses part of her monthly salary towards initiatives “that constructively aid in the advancement of those who illustrate extraordinary talent, innovative ideas, contribute to the community, and or are seeking educational advancement,” the MP stated in a press release.

“Each month I will make a contribution, starting with Zabian Arndell Read more

Connor Moves To Vromi – New Candidates Pending : Cabinet Reshuffle After The Summer

Minister Claret Connor’s days as the Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs are almost over. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – Minister Claret Connor will be removed from his position at the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication after the summer and stay in the cabinet as the Minister of Public Housing, Urban Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Read more

Kingdom Council Of Ministers Decides About Instruction

St. Maarten / THE HAGUE – The Kingdom Council of Ministers met for the last time before the summer recess. On the agenda is, among other issues, the instruction to St. Maarten.

Financial supervisor Cft sent an advice to the council on July 3 to give the country an instruction. Cft-chairman Prof. Dr. Age Bakker already announced this option during a press conference on June 25.

St. Maarten should have settled its payment area with social insurance agency SZV and pension fund APS before the end of June to avoid the instruction.

However, the deadline passed and the parliament went on recess Read more

Buncampers Sold The Right Of Long Lease To Sbs – On Paper

The site of Sint Maarten Building Supplies on Pond Island. Photo Today / Hilbert Haar

By Hilbert Haar / St. Maarten– It appears that former Minister of Public Health Maria Buncamper-Molanus and her husband Claudius sold the right of long lease to a parcel of land on Pond Island in 2013 for $345,000 to Sint Maarten Building Supplies (SBS) Read more

Bomb Threat Damages Estimated At $150,000

No comment on investigation

St. Maarten – The investigation into the bomb threat at Princess Juliana International Airport last Friday is in full swing, but the prosecutor’s office declined to provide any information. Insiders estimate the damages the threat caused to be around $150,000.

“In the interest of the investigation I cannot make a single statement about this case,” press prosecutor Karola van Nie told this newspaper yesterday.

It remains therefore unclear whether the bomb threat was made in a phone call to the police or to the airport Read more

No Control On Right Of Long Lease By Council Of Ministers 

Former Minister Lake: “I am not aware of this”

St. Maarten – There is no control over the rules that apply to buying and selling rights of long lease by the Council of Ministers. This appears from a reaction by UP-MP Maurice Lake to questions from this newspaper about the long lease rights former Minister Maria Buncamper-Molanus and her husband Claudius sold on December 10, 2013 to Sint Maarten Building Supplies (SBS).

Yesterday this newspaper revealed how the Buncampers sold the right of long lease to a piece of land on Pond Island opposite the Melford Hazel Sports Complex for $345,000 to Sint Maarten Building Supplies Read more