SXMElections.com

style="text-align: center;"> Says Benelux representatiosn being worked on ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Based on discussions that have taken place, Honorable Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Claret Connor, hereby announces that Arkefly will start flying to St. Maarten as of November 2015 using the Dreamliner aircraft.

Minister Connor, his Cabinet and the management of the St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, February 28 at the University of St. Maarten, a certificate ceremony was held for those civil servants who successfully completed the USM course in English and Spanish.

Present at the ceremony were Minister of TEATT, The Honorable Claret Connor, Secretary General, a.i., Ministry Education, Sports and Culture, Jorien Wuite and General Affairs Director of Resources and Support Erno Labega.

The courses were organized by P&O (Personeel & Organisatie) and executed by USM Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism Claret Connor on Monday hosted a meeting with all the key players in the organizing and security of the Heineken Regatta. The meeting which was held at the Police Department focused on ensuring a safe and memorable experience for residents and visitors alike by making sure all contingent plans are in place.

The Minister stressed that the Regatta is important to the marine industry which, in turn, is important to St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The police department has again intensified their general controls as of Monday March 2nd with the start of the Heineken Regatta. This event which has been growing steadily over the years will be given a lot of attention because of the large amount of visitors to the island and the many events that will be held during this event. The police department will be working in close collaboration with the V.K.S., the Coast Guard, Customs, Sint Maarten Sea Rescue Foundation, Immigration, Border Control and Protection, Harbor Group of Companies and the Public Prosecutors Office Read more

style="text-align: center;">Says Government knows who the owners of companies are that are doing business with Government Owned Companies.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the Democratic Party and Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams and the party advisor Emil Lee expressed concerns on the attitude displayed by some Government Owned Companies Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---Member of Parliament Silveria Jacobs while expressing appreciation for the presentation of the multiannual strategic plan by the Harbour Group of Companies via its CEO Mark Mingo during the Committee meeting on Thursday had several questions and observations.
Several issues were raised by the MP pertaining to Government's Program and its subsequent strategic plan, which has not yet been presented to Parliament Read more

Mp Silveria Jacobs Still Has Questions After Harbour Presentation To Parliament

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Member of Parliament Silveria Jacobs while expressing appreciation for the presentation of the multiannual strategic plan by the Harbour Group of Companies via its CEO Mark Mingo during the Committee meeting on Thursday had several questions and observations.

Several issues were raised by the MP pertaining to Government's Program and its subsequent strategic plan, which has not yet been presented to Parliament.

Is this strategic plan of the Harbour in line with Government's strategic plan and/or the country's National Development plan? In moving forward, there must be synchronization in setting strategic goals by Government and Government owned companies Read more

Minister Connor Meets With Police, Regatta To Ensure Safety, Security, Overall Experience

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Minister of Tourism Claret Connor on Monday hosted a meeting with all the key players in the organizing and security of the Heineken Regatta.

The meeting which was held at the Police Department focused on ensuring a safe and memorable experience for residents and visitors alike by making sure all contingent plans are in place.

The Minister stressed that the Regatta is important to the marine industry which, in turn, is important to St Read more

Civil Servants Receive Certificates, Successfully Completing English And Spanish Course

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Saturday, February 28 at the University of St. Maarten, a certificate ceremony was held for those civil servants who successfully completed the USM course in English and Spanish.

Present at the ceremony were Minister of TEATT, The Honorable Claret Connor, Secretary General, a.i., Ministry Education, Spo Read more

Police Intensify General Controls

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The police department has again intensified their general controls as of Monday March 2nd with the start of the Heineken Regatta.

This event which has been growing steadily over the years will be given a lot of attention because of the large amount of visitors to the island and the many events that will be held during this event.

The police department will be working in close collaboration with the V.K.S., the Coast Guard, Customs, Sint Maarten Sea Rescu Read more

Editorial - My way or no way

Parliament's Permanent Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Affairs and Kingdom Relations hastily approved three questions for the Council of State about the Kingdom Government giving instructions to Governors in the Dutch Caribbean (see related article). The deadline for such was actually Monday, after it already had been extended at the request of Aruba and St. Maarten.

As there was much objection to recent instructions on both these islands, one might have expected a bit more urgency from their respective legislatures in dealing with this matter Read more

My experience with AVA Airways (from Curaçao Chronicle)

Dear Editor,

When the new aviation company AVA Airways announced their intention and desire to enter into the commercial aviation environment on the Caribbean Dutch Kingdom Island Countries of St. Maarten and Curaçao, I was honestly hoping they could fill a void in the air transportation industry. I started out both excited and enthusiastic about the prospects of them reaching their goals in the long term and getting to see if the wheels of government were turning in the right direction in the short term towards handling the delicate process of bringing AVA goal to fruition.

Having personally made inquiry and seen that the AVA group including its co-founder Olivier Arrindell had done most of their homework, in lieu of aircraft purchases, such as meeting with Airbus regional representatives and aircraft certified mechanics, members of Parliaments and political parties, FAA advisors, the CCAA Director Mr Read more

Cuba signals its readiness to fast-track US diplomatic ties

MIAMI/HAVANA--Cuba is willing to restore diplomatic relations with the United States as soon as the Obama administration declares its intent to take the country off a list of state sponsors of terrorism, according to a senior Cuban official.

That could take place before both sides are ready to open embassies, Josefina Vidal, the head of the United States division at the Cuban Foreign Ministry told state media Read more

Hassink: No extensions to pay motor vehicle tax

PHILIPSBURG--Motorists who have missed the February 28 deadline to pay their 2015 motor vehicle tax can be subjected to vehicle controls set to start after the Heineken Regatta.

Minister of Finance Martin Hassink said on Monday that government would not be granting any extension of the deadline to pay motor vehicle tax.

The deadline to pay motor vehicle tax was February 28 as stipulated in the law. Hassink said in a press release that the provision of licence plates and all related aspects were on schedule this year and therefore no extension was warranted.

Now that the deadline has passed, the Tax Administration will inform the Police Force and a date will be set for motor vehicle controls, Hassink said Read more

MPs add questions for Council of State

PHILIPSBURG--Three succinct questions have been formulated by Parliament's Permanent Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Affairs and Kingdom Relations for the Council of State in the ongoing discussion about the grounds on which the Kingdom Council of Ministers can issue instructions to the governors in the Dutch Caribbean.

The committee, headed by Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams, composed three questions in its meeting Monday to be forwarded to the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Read more

Senate has Plasterk carry on with islands Electoral College

THE HAGUE--The special Electoral College (Kiescollege) for the Caribbean Netherlands to secure the voting rights of Dutch citizens in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba for the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament without any influence of foreign residents of the islands is still on the radar.

The First Chamber, or the Senate, has prompted Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations to go back to the Second Chamber to discuss the possibility of establishing an Electoral College so Dutch nationals on the islands can indirectly elect the members of the First Chamber through this special body.

The minister sent a letter to the Second Chamber on Friday in which he offered to enter discussions, but added that he only considered this "useful" if there was a majority support to adapt the law proposal which arranges the voting rights on the three islands and which was already approved by the Second Chamber last year.

Plasterk's move is the result of a February 10, 2015, decision of the Senate's Permanent Committees for Home Affairs, the High Councils of State/General Affairs and the Royal House, and for Kingdom Relations.

The two committees decided to defer the handling of the law proposal to adapt the voting rights of non-Dutch residents of the Caribbean Netherlands Read more

Arnell: ‘Collectivité can only act as a mediator in Minville case’

MARIGOT--First Vice-President Guillaume Arnell said Monday the Collectivité cannot intervene in the Minville family land dispute as the land falls under private ownership and not under domain land that has been handed over to the Collectivité by the State.

"If it was Collectivité land this case would have already been sorted out by now," he said.

Given the recent court ruling and heavy fines, Arnell added the only option left for the family is to try and come to a "friendly agreement" with Société des Hôtels Caraïbes for a compromise on division of the land, acceptable to both parties, that would give the Minville family some peace of mind at least and in this regard he is willing to act as a mediator.

The land in question is that of Morne Rond, an area starting at the St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Mr. Claret Connor, together with supporting staff of his cabinet, met with Management of the Telecom Regulator of country St. Maarten (BTP-SXM) to get a better understanding of telecommunications regulations, recent developments in the industry and for the establishment of a constructive working relationship.
Part of the program was a presentation giving by Ryan Wijngaarde, PR-/ Marketing Manager of BTP-SXM, whereby the regulatory task, main responsibilities and future projects of BTP-SXM were further explained Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- If you are one of the many shoppers who joined Kooyman for their first ever Home Improvement Fair, last Saturday, you'll know what a huge success the event was. Kooyman welcomed shoppers for a day of product demonstrations, exclusive special and fun and games. The event featured Kooyman supplier companies such as MAKITA Industrial Power Tools, MAPEI tile adhesives, AIR MASTER Windows and Doors and GLOBAL Paint Professionals Read more

Parliament’S Revamped Website Debut’S Today

St. Maarten – The House of Parliament’s website has been revamped.  The new site is back online in a new format as of today, March 2 at the same website address: www.sxmparliament.org.

The Presidium of Parliament was recently given a preview of the site prior to it going live online.  It was viewed by President of Parliament Dr. Lloyd Richardson, 1st Vice President Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo, 2nd Vice President of Parliament MP Cornelius de Weever, Secretary General Nancy Joubert, and Webmaster Alvin Prescod.

The Home Page features the meeting calendar allowing the general public to know which weeks are sittings of the House.  Additional information will be provided with time and agenda points once convocations of house sessions have been communicated to MPs.  The page also features a list of documents available for download; audio files; and Parliament TV allowing online viewers to follow House sessions in real-time.

There are also web links to other government entities of the country such as Government of St Read more

Independent Mp Leona Marlin-Romeo Wants Clarity On Moratorium Policy On Bus, Taxi, And Tour Permits

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo said a request was sent on Monday February 23rd 2015 to the Chairman of the Committee Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommuncation Member of Parliament Frans Richardson for a meeting to be held on the current Moratorium Policy on Bus, Taxi, and Tour Permits.

"Clarity is being sought on this matter because despite having a moratorium policy, exceptions were made in the past and permits were still awarded based on the discretion of the minister.

"It is in this aspect that this faction is seeking changes in the process and encouraging the current minister to review the current Moratorium Policy on Bus, Taxi, and Tour Permits.

Suggestion will be made in the requested committee meeting," Independent MP Hon Read more

Samsung unveils sleek new Galaxy S6 phones

SEOUL/BARCELONA--Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled its latest Galaxy S smartphones featuring a slim body made from aircraft-grade metal, in a bid to reclaim the throne of undisputed global smartphone leader from Apple Inc.

Designed from scratch in an operation dubbed "Project Zero", the Galaxy S6 and its curved-edges variant are critical for Samsung's plans to reverse plunging smartphone revenues that led to its first annual earnings fall in three years in 2014.

By some estimates, Apple surpassed Samsung as the world's biggest smartphone maker late last year, selling a record 74.5 million iPhones in the December quarter on the back of the success of its big-screen iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Read more

Rand Paul wins Republican straw poll

NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland--Senator Rand Paul won a straw poll of conservative activists on Saturday, giving his potential bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 a boost, and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker came in second in a surprising show of strength.

Whether the victory for Paul will have long-lasting benefit is unclear since his libertarian views may not have broad appeal in the Republican Party.

Paul, a 52-year-old Kentucky Republican, outdistanced most other potential candidates by taking 25.7 percent of the vote at the Conservative Political Action Conference, a gathering of activists on Washington's outskirts of Washington Read more

Emmanuel: Connor must provide Checkmate contracts within week

~ Wants Mingo, board to step down ~

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) Christopher Emmanuel has issued a firm call for the resignation of Shareholder Representative of the Harbour Claret Connor, if he fails to provide all documents related to the contracts the harbour has with Checkmate Security Services within one week.

He has also issued a call for the resignation of the board and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Harbour Mark Mingo over the controversial increase in Checkmate's contract.

Checkmate Security Services has been making headlines in recent days when news broke that the company is in line for a massive US $2.2 million increase in its contract at the Harbour Group of Companies this year Read more