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>PHILIPSBURG:----  Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs meeting with the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte last week during his working visit to the Netherlands, was an opportunity to discuss pertinent issues related to the relations between both countries within the Kingdom, Minister Plenipotentiary Josianne Fleming-Artsen said on Tuesday.

“Prime Minister Gumbs touched on all the current issues related to the country, and specifically regarding the Integrity Chamber and the instruction related to financial matters.

“Prime Minister Rutte responded with great respect Read more

>AIRPORT:--- Stagnating the expansion and projects at the Princess Juliana International Airport has taken yet another level. This time the Council of Ministers decided on August 19th 2015 that they will instruct Domain Affairs not to issue any more long lease land and or renew long lease for any land that the Operating Company of Princess Juliana International Airport (PJAIE) has and that all land must be given to the Holding of the Government owned company.
Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs dispatched a letter to the head of Domain Affairs on August 25th 2015 instructing the department head of the decision taken by the Council of Ministers on August 19th 2015 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs visited the President of the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament Anouchka van Miltenburg on Friday. The Second Chamber is also referred to as the House of Representatives.

Minister Plenipotentiary Fleming-Artsen stated over the weekend the visit to the President of the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament was the last official visit that Prime Minister Gumbs had scheduled as part of his official working visit to the Netherlands.

“The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the Second Chamber about his efforts to promote the Kingdom of the Netherlands candidacy for the United Nations (UN) Security Council with respect to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) of nations who have seats in the UN General Assembly.

“Prime Minister Gumbs also explained to President Miltenburg that his efforts have been made even more difficult due to the constant stress in the relationship between Philipsburg and The Hague on a number of issues.

“The Prime Minister extended an invitation to President Miltenburg for her and the Dutch Inter-parliamentary delegation to meet with the Government during their visit to the country in January 2016,” Sint Maarten’s Minister Plenipotentiary Josianne Fleming-Artsen said over the weekend.

Anouchka van Miltenburg was elected President of Parliament (Speaker) on 25 September, 2012 Read more

>Airport:--- According to well-placed sources the supervisory board of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) will meet soon to further discuss the issues and letter sent to the chairman of the board regarding the Airport’s managing director Regina Labega. Earlier this week the Prime Minister of St. Maarten dispatched a letter to the board informing them that they have to dismiss Labega because she failed the screening process. However, Deputy Prime Minister Dennis Richardson clarified to SMN News that Labega has the rights to appeal the results of the screening.
SMN News further understands that while Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs sent a letter to the Supervisory Board to take action, that board cannot sanction or dismiss Labega, instead such decisions have to be taken by the Holding of PJIAE who would have a hard time firing or dismissing Regina Labega based on the five-year contract she signed.
According information provided to SMN News the contract Regina Labega signed with PJIAE did not state she is obliged to take any screening for the job she now holds Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister Plenipotentiary Josianne Fleming-Artsen accompanied Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs to the Dutch First Chamber of Parliament, also referred to as the Senate, on Thursday, where he met with President Ankie Broekers-Knol.
Minister Plenipotentiary Fleming-Artsen stated on Thursday that President Broekers-Knol was very interested in the relationship between the Netherlands and Sint Maarten, and this was one of the points that was discussed in the meeting.
“Several issues were discussed during the meeting between the Prime Minister and President Broekers-Knol Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- During his working visit to the Netherlands, Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs met with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Bert Koenders on Wednesday.
During the meeting a number of issues were discussed including an invitation to travel to New York City for a meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.
All Prime Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- On the second day of his first working visit to Holland Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs met with the Vice-President of the Council of State for the Kingdom Piet-Hein Donner, where they exchanged views on current affairs.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Marcel Gumbs was an active member of the Council of Advice for Sint Maarten.
In a pleasant atmosphere, information was shared with respect to the position of Sint Maarten towards the current instructions that came from the Kingdom Council of Ministers.
Donner and Prime Minister Gumbs a discussed the National Ordinance to establish an Integrity Chamber, which has recently been brought to the Constitutional Court by the Ombudsman.
The Vice-President of the Council of State for the Kingdom Donnor, stressed the importance and need for a Kingdom dispute regulation and the need to improve communications between the four countries within the Kingdom and on all levels.
The Prime Minister’s delegation included St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Board calls for Emergency Meeting ---- FBO permit in Limbo

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten Marcel Gumbs has dispatched a letter to the chairman of the Supervisory Board of Princess Juliana International Airport ordering them to get rid of the Airport Director Regina Labega. According to information SMN News received is that Labega did not pass the screening and the Prime Minister is using it against her because he got what some board members describe as having a “hard on for Labega.” Board members of the Supervisory board told SMN News that Labega has been doing an extremely good job but the Prime Minister does not seem to like her and thus he will do any or everything possible to get rid of her.
SMN News further learnt that Labega received the letter on Tuesday and she already consulted with her lawyer, while the chairman of the Supervisory Board Gary Matser has called for an emergency meeting to discuss the letter he received from the Prime Minister Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Postal Services St. Maarten (PSS) attended the Caribbean Postal Union (CPU) and Universal Postal Union (UPU) 18th annual Postal Conference in the British Virgin island of Tortola.

The St. Maarten delegation arrived on Sunday in Tortola comprised of Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Directors (SBD) Stuart Johnson and interim-Managing Director Antonia Wilson Read more

Disaster waiting to happen at Landfill --- MP’s express outrage at the current situation regarding Waste to Energy Plant and statements made by Prime Minister.

style="text-align: center;">MP Meyers and MP Marlin engaged in verbal war during live meeting of Parliament

PHILIPSBURG:--- Several Members of Parliament expressed outrage on Friday morning in Parliament while posing several questions regarding the dumpsite in the middle of Philipsburg. Recently Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel posted a video on Facebook on the current situation at the Landfill Read more

style="text-align: center;"> Rene Gartner trying to get his subordinates to cover up for him with the SAP Deal.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of GEBE Rene Gartner has suspended the Financial Auditor of GEBE Sharine Daniel on Wednesday claiming that she went out of line when she conducted a forensic audit at the company and it is there she found out he was misusing his rights on the operational cost for management employees. According to information reaching SMN News Gartner claimed that the financial auditor of GEBE has no authority to conduct such audits without his consent Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Lions District Governor for District 60B Lion Marvin Grant MJF from Tortola along with his delegation paid a courtesy call to the office of the Honorable Prime Minister of Sint Maarten Marcel Gumbs where they had discussions about the work that the various Lions Clubs have been doing around the Caribbean region and also specifically on
Sint Read more

style="text-align: center;">DP Faction plans to take back draft timeshare legislation and move forward with them in Parliament.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The leader of the Democratic Party and Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams told reporters on Tuesday that she has several concerns with the current government, one being the status of the Waste to Management Plant Read more