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Suspended tax transfers leave Palestinian economy on brink

RAMALLAH, West Bank--Israel's decision to withhold $130 million a month in revenue collected on behalf of the Palestinians is strangling the economy and leaving the banking system dangerously exposed, the Palestinian central bank governor said on Wednesday.

Israel stopped the transfer of revenues from tax and customs duties in January in protest at the Palestinians' move to join the International Criminal Court from April 1, when war crimes charges may be filed against Israel. Since then, more than $500 million has been withheld from the economy, prompting the Palestinian Authority, which administers the West Bank, to cut most of its employees' salaries by 40 percent and resort to an emergency budget.

The government is also in danger of not being able to service its outstanding loans, according to the governor of the Palestinian Monetary Authority, the central bank.

"We have informed the Palestinian Authority that we have reached the limits permitted to them, or are about to get there, and that banks will not be able to continue to fund it," Governor Jihad al-Wazir told Reuters Read more

Multi-Jurisdictional Conference Proves The Caribbean Region Can Work Together

>Toronto:--- For over 15 years, the steering committee for the STEP Caribbean Conference has been meeting to produce of the world's best attended and most talked about trust conferences. What makes this off-shore financial services conference so unique is the ability of these steering committee members to work together for the good of the region and for the benefit of their individual jurisdictions – all at the same time.
Unlike other initiatives in the region that attempt to bring together disparate and distinct countries, the STEP Caribbean Conference not only manages to put aside individual country and branch agendas, but also manages to attract international delegates and sponsors and most importantly speakers to the table each and every year.
The STEP Caribbean region, part of the larger STEP worldwide association is fast becoming one of the most influential and largest regions in the STEP world Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin clarified on Wednesday when he was asked if he will lead his party in another parliamentary election. Marlin said that during the National Alliance congress in 2014 he along with the members of the National Alliance agreed that he will pass on the leadership of the party to its deputy leader Silveria Jacobs who was duly elected deputy leader Read more

TELEM and SMCU meet on Suriname contractors

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On March 15,2015 the group of illegal workers of Surinam whom was working for Telem left the island without being deported from the island.

In the mean time the SMCU is aware that Telem requested work permits for this group of Surinam workers. SMCU is still of the opinion that this group of Surinam workers infringed with our laws and that they had to be deported with a penalty that they are not allowed to return to the island for a period of one year.

In the mean time SMCU send a mail to the head of the labor affairs department requesting that this office assures that these group of Surinam don't get working permits for the reason of the infringement of our laws Read more

style="text-align: center;">People are fed up and wants to know what the UPP was Ready to do.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The four members of parliament from the National Alliance faction told reporters during a press briefing on Wednesday that they would like to know what the United Peoples Party was ready for when they campaigned in 2014 Parliamentary elections and won seven of the 15 parliamentary seats Read more

Tzu Chi Gives 60 Foot Massages, Served 250 At Lion's Fair

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - A total of 250 persons were served by Tzu Chi Foundation and some 60 received free Thai reflexology foot massages as well as back massages from the foundation at the Lion Rudy Hoeve Health and Wellness Fair last Saturday.

The massages were popular amongst attendees with people lining up to wait for a massage even before the fair officially began. For some, it was the first time they received a massage.

Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs was amongst those who enjoyed the massage Read more

MPs urged to work with govt on law formulation

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament does not follow instructions on the procedure to write laws, Advisory Council Vice Chairwoman Mavis Brooks-Salmon said in a meeting of Parliament's Central Committee at which only eight of the fifteen Members of Parliament (MPs) were present on Tuesday morning.

The Advisory Council, a body outlined in the Constitution as a necessary organ of governance, has in the past told Parliament to "work with government's Legal Department" when crafting initiative laws. The Legal Department has the necessary expertise to assist with the proper way to formulate and present laws, though the department may be understaffed.

Brooks-Salmon pointed out to MPs that the Advisory Council "does not correct" draft legislation, but is capable of giving legislators guidance on where to seek pertinent information in the research and drafting process.

In response to "burning" questions from National Alliance (NA) MP Christophe Emmanuel about whether or not the five-member Council of Ministers was legal as the Constitution states the country should have seven ministers, Brooks-Salmon said while the Advisory Council will further look into the matter, it should be noted that the Constitution does not state the ministers should be seven different persons.

In the current situation, two ministers of the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet hold dual portfolios Read more

PLP/UPC government to be sworn in Thursday

ST. EUSTATIUS--The new coalition government of Progressive Labour Party (PLP) and United People's Coalition (UPC) will be sworn in on Thursday, formateur and PLP leader Clyde van Putten announced Monday evening during a public address on local radio and television.

The formation of a new government for St. Eustatius followed within five days after the Island Council election of last week Wednesday, in which the PLP and Democratic Party (DP) both obtained two seats and UPC one seat.

As winner of the election, Van Putten was commissioned by Island Governor Gerald Berkel on Friday to form a new Executive Council Read more

Dominican nurse fired For having Haitian parents

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic--Anne Dimanche Saintil was born in the Dominican Republic, earned her nursing degree there and worked at a hospital in the capital, Santo Domingo. Then she was fired, because her parents were from Haiti.

Dimanche is among as many as 110,000 people living in the Dominican Republic without any legal status after the government, following a Supreme Court decision, began denying citizenship to Dominicano-born children of undocumented immigrants, almost all of whom came from neighbouring Haiti Read more

Pantophlet wins Grand Champion, Tae kwon do team earn 14 gold

MIDDLE REGION—Seventeen year old Tyrell Pantophlet won the Grand Champion Trophy at the 22nd Puerto Rico International Tae kwon do Open Championship. A total of 15 athletes from St. Maarten from the King Yen Tae kwon do School returned home with medals.

Under the guidance of Grand master Theo Liu the team ranging in age from six to 17 won 14 gold medals and nine silver.

"This was a great result for us," beamed Master Liu. "I always want to give all the children the chance to experience international competition Read more

Editorial - Stability is the key

If all goes according to plan, a new PLP/UPC government for St. Eustatius will be sworn in on Thursday (see related story). Leaders of the incoming coalition have stated already that it can't be "business as usual."

They want to make a fist against what is considered commanding the island from The Hague. The feeling is that Statia does not receive the same treatment as the European Netherlands and the goal is to put an end to this situation, because colonialism is a thing of the past.

The two parties have emphasised on numerous occasions that St Read more

St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation

The continuation of the plenary session of Parliament on developments at St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation will now take place on April 7. After the meeting opened on Tuesday afternoon, National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament William Marlin called for an adjournment to give ad interim housing minister Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs (second left) more time to gather necessary documents from the foundation requested by MPs since December 2014 Read more

Jamaica gay rights activist meets with Dutch Parliament

THE HAGUE--Jamaica-born Maurice Tomlinson, one of the world's most prominent Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights and HIV activists, met with Members of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Tuesday.

Tomlinson, along with Kenyan LGBT activists George Gachara, Jim Chuchu and Njoki Ngumi, was invited by Member of Parliament (MP) Sjoerd Sjoerdsma of the Democratic Party D66, on whose request the meeting of the Second Chamber's Permanent Committee for Foreign Affairs took place.

"All over the world we see growing anti-LGBT sentiments, from Russia to Uganda, and from Saudi-Arabia to Jamaica Read more

Prime Minister given Two Weeks to gather Information on SMHDF.

>PHILIPSBURG: --- The National Alliance Faction in Parliament has given Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs two weeks to gather all information regarding the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation if not actions will be taken against the Prime Minister for failure to provide information to Parliament.
In the continuation meeting held on Tuesday Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs informed Parliament that he did not receive the information they requested from the St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- On Saturday, March 21, the Social Economic Council (SER) bid farewell to union stalwart William Reed. Mr. Reed was a member of the SER from its inception in May 2011. As the SER ordinance stipulates a maximum age of 70, Reed had to step down as a member of the SER upon reaching that age.
In the presence of his family and colleagues William Reed was praised by Chairwoman Oldine Bryson-Pantophlet and former Chairman Arthur Bute for his contribution during the establishment phase of the SER Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Last week approximately 80 staff members of Seventh Day Adventist, Asha Stevens and Helmich Snijders Christian Schools spent two afternoons on training themselves in the use of ICT and Technology in the classroom. The level of excitement was very high and overall teachers were very happy with the practical approach of the workshops.
A total of 21 workshops were conducted Read more

Ser Bids Farewell To William Reed

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – On Saturday, March 21, the Social Economic Council (SER) bid farewell to union stalwart William Reed. Mr. Reed was a member of the SER from its inception in May 2011.

As the SER ordinance stipulates a maximum age of 70, Reed had to step down as a member of the SER upon reaching that age.

In the presence of his family and colleagues William Reed was praised by Chairwoman Oldine Bryson-Pantophlet and former Chairman Arthur Bute for his contribution during the establishment phase of the SER.

The SER was one of the new institutions established after October 10, 2010 as a result of Sint Maarten attaining country status within the Kingdom Read more

Digikidz Schools' Teachers Having Exciting Ict Training

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Last week approximately 80 staff members of Seventh Day Adventist, Asha Stevens and Helmich Snijders Christian Schools spent two afternoons on training themselves in the use of ICT and Technology in the classroom. T

he level of excitement was very high and overall teachers were very happy with the practical approach of the workshops.

A total of 21 workshops were conducted Read more

Police Cooperation bill adopted in National Assembly session

MARIGOT--The law pertaining to the Police Cooperation Treaty between St. Martin and St. Maarten was finally examined and adopted on Thursday, March 19, in the National Assembly and will come into effect around May this year the Préfecture indicated previously.

MP Daniel Gibbs who was the appointed rapporteur confirmed the treaty has now been ratified by both France and the Netherlands.

Gibbs noted that one of the important benefits of the reinforced police cooperation will be control on immigration Read more

St. Maarten advised to object to Sanction Law

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament's Permanent Committee for Kingdom Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Relations has been advised by legal expert Ralph Richardson to object to the draft kingdom law regulating sanctions imposed by the European Union.

Richardson gave his advice in a meeting of the committee in Parliament House on Monday morning. He said if St. Maarten agrees to the kingdom law, the country "will no longer have the possibility to say anything about sanctions imposed."

St. Maarten will just have to take over EU sanctions with "no freedom of choice." He used the example of a sanction being imposed on a country with which St Read more

>GREAT BAY: --- NAGICO Insurances; is extending a big thank you to the community of St. Maarten, especially to the emergency services, which supported the NAGICO to NAGICO (N2N) Cycling race over the weekend.
NAGICO is the title sponsor of the N2N race which kicked off Friday night on the Causeway Bridge Read more

DP Factions wants more info on SHTA and USM Agreement.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Several announcements during the past week have bolstered the confidence of the DP faction in some of our vital organizations to bring about the collaboration that is so necessary to move our country forward.

The agreement between the SHTA and USM and the partnership created, bodes well for the future of our country. This is the only way lasting progress will be achieved where the empowerment of our people is concerned Read more

Plenary Session of Parliament scheduled for Tuesday about the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will meet in a public plenary session on March 24. This session is the continuation of the initial session that was held on December 22, 2014. On March 11, the meeting was called, but due to a lack of a quorum,, it could not continue and is now being reconvened.

The plenary session is set for Tuesday at 2.00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point is the request to the Governments Accountants Bureau SOAB to carry out a forensic investigation into the operations of the St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Saunders Welcome Sign not paid for --- procedures were not followed.

PHILIPSBURG:--- There seems to be more in the mortar than in the pestle when it comes to the construction of the FBO section at the Princess Juliana International Airport. SMN News learnt that the Fixed Based Operations (FBO) project that have to be constructed at the Princess Juliana International Airport is creating more problems even though Taliesin Construction legally won the bid. According to information provided to SMN News some five companies were invited by PJIAE to submit their bids for the project Read more