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Editorial - Hanging in the balance

The motion of no-confidence against Island Governor Gerald Berkel passed by the Island Council (see related story) is not going to solve Statia’s current problems. For starters, it regards an appointee of the crown as proposed by the Kingdom Government and while the wishes of the public entity surely must be taken into account, the local Island Council simply isn’t authorised to send Berkel home.

The motion requests Minister of the Interior and Home Affairs Ronald Plasterk to invoke articles 73 and 74 of the Law Public Entities Bonaire, St Read more

Motion of no-confidence passed against Island Governor Berkel

ST. EUSTATIUS--A majority in the Island Council of St. Eustatius passed a motion of no-confidence against Island Governor Gerald Berkel on Monday.

The motion was filed by Progressive Labour Party (PLP) leader Clyde van Putten, who said the coalition of PLP and United People’s Coalition (UPC) had been faced with many stumbling blocks for the past four months since coming into office.

The motion, which calls on Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk to revoke Governor Berkel’s appointment and to dismiss him with immediate effect, was adopted by a 3-1 vote Read more

Motion of no-confidence passed against Island Governor Berkel

ST. EUSTATIUS--The last agenda point of the Island Council meeting on was a motion of no-confidence against The island Governor Of Statia Gerald Berkel passed by the majority.

  Clyde Van Putten read the text as he spoke of the new government that has been faced with many stumbling blocks for the past four months since coming into office. He reflected on Berkel’s position way back when the DP wanted to fire him as Director of the Telephone company Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Well placed information reaching SMN News states that Minister of Finance Maarten Hassink has sent an email to the leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger informing him that he has taken the decision to make his position as Minister of Finance available to the UPP 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

>DOMINICA:--- NAGICO Insurances has donated EC75 000 to the Dominica Social Welfare Committee to assist in the relief efforts following the catastrophic passing of Tropical Storm Erika last week, which left over 30 people dead, several injured and scores of families homeless.
In a meeting with the Dominica Social Welfare Committee yesterday; Lisa Brown-McKay; Jr. Marketing Manager of NAGICO Insurances announced that the company will donate EC$75,000 which will go directly to the victims as they will be in the form of vouchers Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, presented “daughter of the soil” local author Latoya Lake with a token of accomplishment at the official book launch of “It’s like Déjà vu with You,” on Friday last at Holland House Beach Hotel on Front Street.
Surrounded by family, friends and well-wishers, Mrs Read more

Neonatal Screening

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten - A meeting is being requested by the Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo to discuss the implementation of a mandatory neonatal screening for all babies born on Sint Maarten.

What is Neonatal Screening?

It is referred to as the Neonatal heel prick screening tests or as the Guthrie tests Read more

Minister Of Tourism Connor Congratulates Daughter Of The Soil Publisher Latoya Lake

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, presented “daughter of the soil” local author Latoya Lake with a token of accomplishment at the official book launch of “It’s like Déjà vu with You,” on Friday last at Holland House Beach Hotel on Front Street.

Surrounded by family, friends and well-wishers, Mrs Read more

Statia Island Council Meets, Motion Of No Confidence Passed Against Lt. Governor

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Island Council of St. Eustatius met in a marathon session on Monday.

The meeting which got under way at 9 am and concluded at 7:20 was to debate the financial situation of that island.

It was in June of this year, Minister of Kingdom Relations and Interior Affairs, Roland Plasterk took a decision to place the government of St. Eustatius under administrative supervision, a move that did not sit too well with the government.

Since then, the government has sent a letter of protest to the Council of Ministers in Holland rejecting to acknowledge the decision of Minister Plasterk Read more

St. Maarten Parliament Meets On Ipko

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - St. Maarten will be playing host to the next IPKO slated to be held from January 5th through 8 of next year.

It is for this reason; the Permanent Committee of Kingdom Affairs and Inter-parliamentary Relations have already begun preparation for the meeting.

Whilst speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday morning, chair persons of the committee, Member of Parliament of the Democratic Party, the Honorable Sarah Wescot Williams told MPs that a meeting will be coordinated with the committee of education to discuss matters pertaining to studying financing in the region Read more

President Of Parliament Richardson Offers Condolences On Behalf Of Parliament To The Government And People Of Dominica

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson on Tuesday on behalf of the Parliament of Sint Maarten offered his condolences to the Government led by Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, and people of the Commonwealth of Dominica, on the tragic loss of life associated with the passing of Tropical Storm Erika.

Many persons have been injured and there has been significant damage to the infrastructure of Dominica.

Severe flooding from Erika’s torrential rains inundated the landscape of Dominica several days ago as the system passed through the Caribbean.

“We are one Caribbean people who feel each other’s pain when natural tragedy strikes Read more

Dutch boycott Statia, D66 questions move

THE HAGUE/STATIA--The Dutch Government is boycotting working visits to St. Eustatius since final instruction was given to the island’s government. Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Wassila Hachchi of the Democratic Party D66 is questioning the boycott.

Statia Commissioner of Constitutional Affairs Reginald Zaandam is fiercely objecting the stance by The Hague Read more

Ukraine guardsman killed in protest outside parliament

KIEV--A Ukrainian national guardsman was killed and nearly 90 others wounded by grenades hurled from a crowd of nationalist protesters on Monday as they were guarding parliament where lawmakers backed giving more autonomy to rebel-held areas.
  The violence, which the government blamed on the main nationalist party, and division in the pro-Western camp in parliament suggested President Petro Poroshenko will struggle to push through key parts of a faltering peace agreement reached in February for eastern Ukraine.
  Poroshenko sprang to the defence of the constitutional reforms following the clashes outside parliament, where deputies loyal to him managed to push through a first reading of a "decentralisation" draft law - but only in the face of strong criticism from some of his political allies Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- United People’s (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake says with the new parliamentary year is about to start next month and he would like to see the country moving forward with the execution of priority projects, adding that this is an opportunity.

“First, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends of one of my childhood friend, the late Robert Boasman of Tangerine Road, St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Dutch National Postcode Finances Lottery One of Largest Global Shark Conservation Projects

Kralendijk/ Cole Bay- All six islands of the Dutch Caribbean are poised to benefit from a new funding initiative provided by the Dutch Postcode Lottery aimed at an essential conservation effort—saving and protecting shark species. The fund will provide €1.6 million to the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) to assist with the effort of shark conservation on all six islands of the Dutch Caribbean; Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire Read more

>NAGICO Insurances has made a commitment to settle all claims related to Tropical Storm Erika as quickly as possible in an effort to restore financial stability to their clients in Dominica as soon as possible following the devastation left in the wake of Tropical Storm Erika last week.
The insurance company has issued a mandate to all its regional offices, in their 19 territories, to allow all their Dominican clients residing in those islands to submit their claims in Dominica at any of the local Branch offices.
“First of all we would like to offer our condolences and sympathies to the people of Dominica, following this catastrophic storm which has dealt a tremendous blow to the people and the country Read more

Up Board Extends Deepest Condolences To Johnson Family And Stuart Johnson Secretary General

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – The United People's Party (UP) family and board extends its deepest condolences to the family of the late Mrs. Linda Marie Johnson, especially her son Stuart Johnson, Secretary General of the UP Board, UP Party Board President Sylvia Meyers said on behalf of the party on Monday.

“Linda Johnson has been like a mom to many of our board members and an unwavering supporter. 

We will surely miss her advices and quick wit," the UP Party Board stated Read more

Government Seeks To Make October 10Th A National Holiday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The government of St. Maarten is now in the process of changing at least one of the islands National Holidays.

Prime Minister the Honorable Marcel Gumbs confirmed that the Holidays that will be switched is that of December 15 Kingdom Day, paving the way for October the 10th to become a National Holiday. Read more

Up Mp Lake Says Start Of New Parliamentary Year Is Opportunity To Move Country Forward By Executing Priority Projects

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People’s (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake says with the new parliamentary year is about to start next month and he would like to see the country moving forward with the execution of priority projects, adding that this is an opportunity.

“First, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends of one of my childhood friend, the late Robert Boasman of Tangerine Road, St Read more

Na Sends Condolences To Victims Of Ts And Stresses Preparedness

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The National Alliance family would like to extend condolences and words of encouragement and hope to the people and government of the Commonwealth of Dominica.

Natural disasters have an uncanny way of bringing communities, islands and countries together.

Though the destruction and devastation wreaked by TS Erika, still needs to be properly assessed, it is clear that much emergency aid will be needed in the coming weeks.

The photos and videos, testimonies of survival and tragedy are heart wrenching Read more

Your own conclusions

Dear Editor,

It has been a trying week – two major storms have passed us by without any damage or significant losses. Our Prime Minister, in taking charge made all the right moves in closing the country down avoiding possible loss of life in flooding and blowing projectiles. Even though some think the actions were unwarranted it still is better to err on the side of caution than to do nothing and wish you did.

The other decision taken by the PM was to declare or put a stop to our ministers meeting with Dutch civil servants Read more

Editorial - Don’t kill the goose

All indications are that measures to raise revenues and/or cut expenditures will result from the budgetary instruction the Kingdom Council of Ministers is expected to issue for St. Maarten on the advice of the Committee for Financial Supervision. Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs had stated earlier that several amendments to add 15 million guilders to this year’s budget were at Parliament, but the general public is yet to learn what’s in store.

Rumours in the past that a hike in the turnover tax TOT was being considered have always been denied Read more

Lake urges stakeholders to work out waste-to-energy plant project

PHILIPSBURG--United People’s (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake has issued a public call to all stakeholders involved in the stagnated waste-to-energy plant to get to work.

His call comes after Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs said last week that getting the project moving had encountered some difficulties Read more