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Marlin and NA are ‘outraged’ at Govt. handling of GEBE meeting

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) fraction leader Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin says on behalf of NA that he is "outraged at the manner in which the Government is handling the request for a meeting" on utilities company GEBE.

His comments come on the same day that a plenary session of Parliament about the ongoing dispute between the GEBE Supervisory Board and Chief Operations Officer (COO) and Managing Director Romelio Maduro about his position at the company was supposed to take place, but instead was "postponed until further notice" to allow Prime Minister/Acting Infrastructure Minister Marcel Gumbs to gather all relevant information/documents requested.

"We had requested an urgent meeting ever since May 10," Marlin told The Daily Herald Read more

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In turf war with Afghan Taliban, Islamic State loyalists gain ground

SURKH DEWAL, Afghanistan--Fighters loyal to Islamic State have seized substantial territory in Afghanistan for the first time, witnesses and officials said, wresting areas in the east from rival Taliban insurgents in a new threat to stability.

Witnesses who fled fighting in Nangarhar province told Reuters that hundreds of insurgents pledging allegiance to Islamic State pushed out the Taliban, scorching opium poppy fields that help to fund the Taliban's campaign to overthrow the Afghan government Read more

Editorial - In the middle

The same-day postponement of Monday’s continuation “until further notice” of a plenary session in Parliament on developments at NV GEBE did not come as a complete surprise. During the original meeting last week Friday interim Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Marcel Gumbs in his capacity of shareholder representative indicated the need for more documentation to answer the questions posed.

Apparently the latter could not be gathered over the weekend, hence the delay Read more

Notices June 30

Teachers, Volunteers Needed

I Too Can Learn (ITCL) Foundation is seeking teachers (Special Ed) and volunteers for their Center. For more information call 547 0890 or 524 6067. Your resume can be sent to: \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots Read more

Two taxi drivers receive tokens of appreciation

MARIGOT--Taxi drivers Anthony Lewis and Augustin Bernard have been recognised by St. Martin Tourism Office for the excellent work they do in welcoming tourists to the island.

The pair received tokens of appreciation from tourism office President Jeanne-Rogers Vanterpool and Director Kate Richardson at a press conference Friday, as taxi association representatives looked on.

It was noted Augustin Bernard, taxi driver since 2001, received a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor two years in a row on behalf of his team at Bernard Tours, while numerous positive comments have been posted about Anthony Lewis on TripAdvisor.

“Knowing how to receive tourists is very important, because it is that first impression the tourist gets from the taxi driver that really counts in contributing to a positive experience on the island,” noted Local and Regional Marketing Manager Grégoire Dumel Read more

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Collectivité to seek legal counsel regarding Semsamar indictments

MARIGOT--The Territorial Council on Thursday authorised President Aline Hanson to obtain legal representation over the recent indictments handed down by the court on the present and former Director Generals of Semsamar in case the Collectivité is implicated in any way by virtue of being a 51 per cent shareholder of the company.

The motion was passed by the majority, however, Wendel Cocks who is President of the Semsamar board and other board members had to leave the room before the vote was taken.

Hanson said the Collectivité does not have access to the file and needs to have a specialist lawyer to represent the Collectivité as a precaution.

“The objective is for the Collectivité to be directly informed on elements of the case, not to come into conflict with Semsamar,” she said Read more

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Dr. Gonsalves: Reparations needed to fix Caribbean underdevelopment

POND ISLAND--Caribbean Countries should get reparations from former and in some cases, present colonial masters to repair the under-development they face today, said Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on the topic of reparations.

Dr. Gonsalves was the keynote speaker at the Emancipation Day Lecture hosted by Independence for St. Martin Foundation on Saturday night at University of St. Martin (USM). St. Maarten will mark Emancipation Day on Wednesday, July 1 Read more

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$68K figure for GEBE payment ‘never received’

PHILIPSBURG--Alfred Harley says he and his company SXM Services Provider are being dragged through the mud in connection with the ongoing problems at utilities company GEBE.

Harley is particularly angry about the allegations that have been repeated in media outlets, in Parliament and in court that the company was receiving hefty payments approved by GEBE Chief Operations Officer (COO) and Managing Director Romelio Maduro, against the wishes and to an extent against the knowledge of GEBE's Supervisory Board.

One figure being cited is US $68,000, which seems to be the total amount the company needs to be paid, but has received in full Read more

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DR, Haiti issue potential to be 'serious humanitarian disaster'

POND ISLAND--As the future of thousands of people of Haitian descent hangs in the balance in neighbouring country the Dominican Republic (DR), veteran Caribbean politician Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said the situation "has the potential to become a serious humanitarian disaster" in the Caribbean.

Dr. Gonsalves, who is prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was speaking at an Emancipation Day Lecture, themed "Reparations," hosted by Independence for St. Martin Foundation at University of St Read more

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SpaceX rocket supplying space station explodes after launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida--An unmanned SpaceX rocket exploded about two minutes after liftoff from Florida on Sunday, destroying a cargo ship bound for the International Space Station in the latest in a string of mishaps in supplying the orbiting outpost.

The 208-foot-tall (63-meter) Falcon 9 rocket had flown 18 times previously since its 2010 debut, all successfully. Those missions included six station cargo runs for NASA under a 15-flight contract worth more than $2 billion.

However SpaceX, a company founded and owned by technology entrepreneur Elon Musk, has twice previously tried and failed in an experiment to land the rocket on a platform in the ocean Read more

Editorial - Much-needed support

Curaçao policeman Xavier de Windt was sentenced to eight years in prison and forbidden to execute the profession for 10 years. He had admitted providing confidential information against payment of NAf. 50,000 that he himself received from a Security Service employee to criminals in the deadly gang-related shooting at Hato Airport on July 15 last year.

The same officer also confessed to stealing two police radios with the intention to offer them for sale to a local radio journalist Read more

Notices June 29

Teachers, Volunteers Needed

I Too Can Learn (ITCL) Foundation is seeking teachers (Special Ed) and volunteers for their Center. For more information call 547 0890 or 524 6067. Your resume can be sent to: \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots Read more

Rogers: ‘Uncomfortable truths’ are hurting VKS

~ Seven honoured for unbroken service ~

PHILIPSBURG--Commander of the Voluntary Corps St. Maarten VKS Major Antonio Rogers on Saturday made a firm call for persons who have personal agendas and those who pretend that the organisation is "upside down," to "resign and seek affliction elsewhere."

He made the remarks during the VKS' 18 anniversary celebrations on Saturday.

"We have uncomfortable truths that are hurting the VKS," Rogers said.

"It is time to place meaningful balms on these wounds which have occurred over the last years and are still present Read more

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French side to be fully connected with high-speed Internet by 2020

MARIGOT--The Collectivité is drawing on the support of the State to have all French-side residents and businesses entirely connected to high-speed Internet by 2020 or 2022, it was announced at a press conference convened by Vice-President Wendel Cocks on Thursday.

The Collectivité is taking advantage of funds available through Plan France Très Haut Débit, a national scheme to have all of France, including overseas territories, connected with high-speed Internet by 2022 Read more

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Proposal to appoint Rent Committee members by Country Decree approved

PHILIPSBURG--A proposal to appoint members of St. Maarten Rent Committee retroactively by Country Decree (Landsbesluit) has been approved by Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Marcel Gumbs and the decree was forwarded to Governor Eugene Holiday for signing on June 22, according to VROMI Secretary-General Louis Brown, who answered questions posed by The Daily Herald about the topic.

Attorney-at-Law Joeri Essed of law firm BZSE pointed out on Thursday an interesting quirk in the law whereby Rent Committee decisions since 10-10-10 could be deemed voidable because none of the committee members had been appointed by Country Decree Read more

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Minister shares viewpoint, MPs to get GEBE answers Monday

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament’s plenary session on developments at utilities company GEBE, focusing on the ongoing dispute between the Supervisory Board and Chief Operations Officer (COO) and Managing Director Romelio Maduro about his position at the company, was adjourned to Monday afternoon, after Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Marcel Gumbs gave some perspective on Friday, but needed more documentation to answer questions posed by Members of Parliament (MPs).

The meeting was adjourned after Gumbs, as shareholder representative for the Government-owned company, gave a summarised overview of developments on the current dispute and questions were posed by National Alliance MPs William Marlin, Silveria Jacobs and Christophe Emmanuel Read more

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Freedom Run 2015

~ Participate in history ~

This year, we celebrate the 152nd anniversary of St. Maarten's Abolishment of Slavery. Mark the occasion by participating in the re-enactment of Diamond 26 Escape from Slavery – "Run For Freedom." Come in period dress for a midnight run through the hills, dance the Ponum and give thanks for freedom and emancipation!

The Diamond 26 Escape is a historical event that took place on May 28, 1848, when 26 of the enslaved people from the Diamond Plantation in Cole Bay ran into the hills of St Read more

Editorial - What matters the most

With all the problems making headlines of late, the Macro Economic Report featured in Friday’s paper felt like a breath of fresh air. The local economy showed its resilience last year and the outlook for 2015 is positive.

The estimated 1.6 per cent growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014 may seem fairly modest, but considering the challenges, including a disruptive hit by Hurricane Gonzalo and considerable political uncertainty following parliamentary elections at the end of August, it’s certainly not bad.

Arrivals went up by 7.1 per cent for stay-over visitors and 12.1 per cent for cruise passengers Read more

Notices June 27

Teachers, Volunteers Needed

I Too Can Learn (ITCL) Foundation is seeking teachers (Special Ed) and volunteers for their Center. For more information call 547 0890 or 524 6067. Your resume can be sent to: \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots Read more

Notices June 26

Teachers, Volunteers Needed

I Too Can Learn (ITCL) Foundation is seeking teachers (Special Ed) and volunteers for their Center. For more information call 547 0890 or 524 6067. Your resume can be sent to: \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots Read more

Ambitious Marigot Bay project advances to the bidding phase

MARIGOT--The Territorial Council adopted the main elements of the current Marigot Bay waterfront project on Thursday, the first time the project has been voted on. Much has been written on the project already and now with the major study phases completed the project moves to the bidding phase for an investor in a few months’ time, it was understood.

It was disclosed that the project is now estimated at close to 300 million euros. The majority voted 16 for, the opposition abstained and independent Councillor Jules Charville voted against.

“The development of modern berthing facilities for yachts and cruise ships, and the expansion and modernisation of our existing interisland ferry terminal, will collectively help St Read more

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Patrol to Eradicate Paedophilia urges MPs to make law changes

PHILIPSBURG--Change the laws to impose harsher punishment for paedophiles and institute a sex offenders registry were among the calls the group Patrol to Eradicate Paedophilia (PEP) made to the Petitions Committee of Parliament on Thursday.

PEP's request for laws to be changed now heads to the Permanent Committee for Justice. Committee Chairman Member of Parliament (MP) Johan Leonard said he would call the Justice Minister to the committee after Parliament's July recess.

PEP representative Peggy Ann Dros-Richardson urged MPs to have Government boost its assistance to the Mental Health Foundation, to help the foundation increase awareness about paedophilia and have the required treatment for the mental disorder Read more

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CFT may call for ‘targeted instruction’ if no settlement

PHILIPSBURG--The Committee for Financial Supervision CFT “in all likelihood will ask for a targeted instruction” to be handed down by the Dutch Kingdom Council of Ministers if government does not settle its arrears with Social and Health Insurance SZV and the General Pension Fund APS.

Government has missed the May 30 deadline set by CFT to settle its arrears with SZV and APS. The targeted instruction will focus on dealing with the payment arrears amounting to some NAf Read more

GEBE and Maduro face off in court over suspension, contract renewal

PHILIPSBURG--The Supervisory Board of utility company GEBE N.V. and GEBE Chief Operations Officer (COO) and Managing Director Romelio Maduro squared off in the Court of First Instance on Thursday morning in an injunction concerning his suspension. The case is also aimed at the decision of Country St. Maarten as GEBE's shareholder to extend Maduro's contract by two years.

A delegation of GEBE's Supervisory Board, led by Chairman Rene Richardson and comparison attorney Zylena Bary, Veronica Webster-Jansen and Edwin Gumbs, was present during the hearing of the injunction in which GEBE was represented by attorney Jairo Bloem.

Maduro had lawyers Safira Ibrahim and Nerissa de la Rosa present to speak on his behalf.

GEBE wants to get Maduro's reappointment off the table and wants government to retract its decision Read more

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