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New Council Of Ministers Grants Half Days To Civil Servants

PHILIPSBURG – The newly sworn in Council of Ministers held their first meeting at the Government Building on Thursday morning, December 22.

Attending the meeting were: Prime Minister William Marlin; Minister of Finance Richard Gibson; Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Affairs Emil Lee; Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Silveria Jacobs, and Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Christophe Emmanuel.

In its first meeting, the Council of Ministers took the decision, amongst others, to grant all civil servants “half day off” on December 23, and 30 where the service permits Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The newly sworn in Council of Ministers held their first meeting at the Government Building on Thursday morning December 22nd. Attending the meeting were Prime Minister William Marlin, Minister of Finance Richard Gibson, Minister of Public Health Social Development and Labor Affairs Emil Lee, Minister of Education Culture Youth & Sports Silveria Jacobs and Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Christophe Emmanuel.

In its first meeting, the Council of Ministers took the decision amongst others, to grant all Civil Servants “half day off” on December 23rd and 30th where the service permits Read more

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Exclusive: Sls Threatens Uszv And Government That They Will Not Be Accepting Uszv Cards For Civil Servants Due To Outstanding Debts Amounting To Naf.139, 000.00.

USZV and Government have until January 15th to settle the debt or face litigation.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Laboratory Services (SLS) has dispatched a letter through its legal representatives to the Minister of VSA Emil Lee, and Director of USZV Glen Carty which was also copied to the Prime Minister of St. Maarten William Marlin and Minister of Finance Richard Gibson (Country St Read more

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Gibson Sr. Expects Cft ‘Green Light’ For Budget

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Richard Gibson Sr. said Wednesday he expects the Committee of Financial Supervision CFT to give its final “green light” for the 2017 Budget any time after January 10, 2017.

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Finance Minister Advised Vromi Minister To Work Hard And Accept Critics.

2016 budget ended with a small surplus.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr welcomed the Minister of VROMI Christopher Emmanuel to the Council of Ministers, he also told Minister Emmanuel to be prepared to be criticized and to also work hard Read more

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PHILIPSBURG: --- During the first live press briefing on Wednesday Prime Minister William Marlin informed the people of St. Maarten that the screening process for the Ministry of TEATT is not yet completed but hopefully that process will be completed shortly. Marlin said that in the meantime, the Minister of Justice Raphael Boasman will be responsible for that Ministry until the new Minister takes office.
However, Minister Boasman has left the island shortly after the swearing in ceremony for the Netherlands for a period of two weeks, therefore, the Prime Minister will be responsible for the Ministry of General Affairs, Justice and TEATT until Minister Boasman returns.
The Prime Minister also introduced the new council of ministers, namely Minister of Finance Richard Gibson, returning Minister of VSA who was not present  at the opening of the weekly press briefing Emil Lee, Minister of Education, Minister of Justice Raphael Boasman, and Minister of VROMI Christopher Emmanuel and Minister of EYS Silveria Jacobs.
Marlin said that he hopes that the coalition partners will give this government a full four-year mandate which would give the island some stability.
Marlin outlined some of the things the government has been doing, and of the things they have high on their agenda are affordable housing and he plans to support the Minister of VROMI with whatever plans the SMHDF and the Ministry come up with to provide more affordable home.
Another priority for the government is the country’s infrastructure which is affecting the visitors of the island and residents Read more

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Country 2017 Budget Approved By Parliament

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Richard Gibson Sr. can once again brag about presenting a balanced budget and getting it approved by majority of Parliament for a second time. Ten Members of Parliament voted for the NAf. 458,101,671 budget presented by Minister Gibson on Monday Read more

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Age Bakker (Cft): “Budget 2017 Needs Close Monitoring”

PHILIPSBURG РThe Board of financial supervision Cura̤ao and St. Maarten (CFT) discussed the budgetary outcome for 2016 and the budget for 2017 with government officials.

CFT has not yet formally received the adjusted budget for advice. Based on the discussions it seems that the budget will be amended and sufficiently substantiated to be on the right track for 2017. However, progress still has to be made to keep the budget sustainable for the future.

Compared to 2016, the budget 2017 relies more on incidental income, such as contributions from government-owned entities Read more

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Motion Tabled To Aid In Avoidance Of Criminal Prosecution For Back Taxes

PHILIPSBURG--Government has been called on, via a yet-to-be voted on motion from Parliament, to initiate a public campaign to inform the population of the possibilities it has to make use of the tax facilities provided by General Ordinance on Taxes, such as the voluntary disclosure scheme (“Inkeerregeling” in Dutch) on how to avoid criminal prosecution under law.

  The motion also calls on Government to allow for a longer period to pay taxes owed and adjust its collection policy accordingly.

  Finance Minister Richard Gibson Sr Read more

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Gibson Aims To Make The Country Debt Free

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Richard Gibson has set his aim on making the country completely free of its past debt by 2018. He told Parliament on Monday afternoon after he tabled the 2017 draft budget for approval that on the current trajectory the pending NAf Read more

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Draft Budget Up For Approval On Monday

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Richard Gibson Sr. will be back in Parliament on Monday at 2:00pm to present the draft 2017 budget for approval. The budget will pass into law once approved by Parliament. However, it will still need the stamp of approval from the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT.

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Eyebrows being raised as to where police and prosecution found manpower and tools to investigate cyber crimes?

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday extended the pretrial detention for well-known teacher and unionist Claire Elshot who was arrested on Sunday evening for allegedly threatening an employee of the Court of First Instance. The employee it is understood is a court recorder and is also a neighbor of Elshot who recently opened the ACE foundation in Cole Bay with the assistance of NAGICO.
SMN News learned that the courthouse employee and her relatives refused to use their entrance and instead have been using the narrow entrance leading to the ACE Foundation Read more

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Naf. 10 Departure Tax Pending For Country

PHILIPSBURG--A departure tax of NAf. 10 is pending for the country. This tax, when implemented by Government, will affect all passengers leaving the country, except cruise ship passengers. Finance Minister Richard Gibson anticipates this tax will raise some NAf Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr made clear during the budget hearing on Tuesday that Parliament should hire a legal translator to translate the budget and other documents for Members of Parliament. He said government paid for the translation of the 2016 budget and this year the request to translate the 2017 budget was submitted late and the translation is in the process Read more

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Port Registers Loss Of Us $9 Million

PHILIPSBURG--Port St. Maarten has registered a US $9 million loss, a shortfall Government will have to cover, disclosed Finance Minister Richard Gibson.

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Finance Minister Should Forget About Curbing Online Shopping --- St. Martin Is A Siamese Twin.

Give the people a grace period to regulate their taxes.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel urged the Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr to stop is plan in curbing online shopping since there is not much that can be done to curb or stop residents from shopping online Read more

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Draft 2017 Budget Up Naf. 20M From This Year

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Richard Gibson has managed to increase the budget for the coming year by NAf. 20 million more than the amount budgeted for 2016. The total budget stands at NAf Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Rumors are circulating on social media (Facebook) and throughout the community claiming that the current coalition agreement between the National Alliance (NA), the United St. Maarten People’s Party (USP) and the Democratic Party (DP) fell through and that talks are currently taking place between the United Peoples Party (UPP), United St Read more

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Aps Makes Presentations To Finance Minister

CUL-DE-SAC – The offices of the general pension fund APS were on Monday, November 14, the venue for several presentations made to St. Maarten’s Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr., by officials of the pension fund.

The presentations marked the Minister’s first official visit to the APS offices, during which the latter was welcomed by APS Chairman of the board Franklyn Richards and Director Nadya van Putten Read more

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Aps Makes Presentations To Finance Minister.

Cul-de-Sac:--- The offices of the general pension fund, APS, were on Monday the venue for several presentations made to St. Maarten’s Minister of Finance, Richard Gibson Sr., by officials of the pension fund.
The presentations marked the minister’s first official visit to the APS offices, during which the latter was welcomed by APS Chairman of the board Franklyn Richards and Director Nadya van Putten Read more

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De-Risking Solution Hit Snag As Dutch Islands Await Holland

PHILIPSBURG – The Dutch Caribbean islands are now facing a delay in resolving the de-risking issue facing banks in the Caribbean.

According to Minister of Finance Richard Gibson, the Dutch Caribbean islands have been asked by the US to get assistance first from the Dutch government before a solution can be pursued on this matter.

The Minister noted that the US commended the Dutch Caribbean islands and Jamaica for their approach to finding a solution to this problem Read more

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St. Maarten Receives Dividends From Central Bank But Cannot Borrow

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — It’s a bitter sweet moment for the finances of the Government of St. Maarten.  The same week Minister of Finance Richard Gibson announced that the government has received dividends from the Central Bank, he also notified the public that the Dutch Government, under advice from the financial supervisory council (CFT) has prohibited St Read more

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Gibson Sr. Disagrees With Cft On Income Not Keeping Track

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Richard Gibson Sr. said Wednesday he disagreed with the mid-year report of the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT that the country’s budget income for this year is not keeping track with actual collections.

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Incoming Ministers S Documents Submitted For Screening.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The seven Ministers that that is expected to take office by the end of October has submitted all the necessary documents for screening.
According to information provided to SMN News. The seven candidates are as follows:-

William Marlin --- Prime Minister
Read more

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