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Former Minister Roland Tuitt: “Ser Used As Political Football”

St. Maarten – Former Finance Minister Roland Tuitt has lashed out at the Social Economic Council (SER) for its advice that calculates the total write-off of uncollected taxes between 1976 and 2006 at more than 4.4 billion guilders ($2.5 billion). In a statement that sums up ten reasons why there is nothing wrong with his decision to write off the old tax debts, the former minister, a certified public accountant, notes that the receiver ought to be investigated  for breaking the law by instructing employees to collect tax debts older than 2006. Read more

Central Committee Rehashes Election Issues Tomorrow

St. Maarten – Parliament meets tomorrow at 2 p.m. to discuss with the main voting bureau and the civil registry department “discrepancies that occurred during and in preparation of the elections” in August.

According to the press release about the meeting there were (unspecified) discrepancies at the Pointe Blanche prison polling station. Voters used foreign ID’s and there was “a lack of privacy during the supporting of the candidate lists. At several polling stations there Read more

British Airways And Virgin Atlantic Still Interested To Service St. Maarten

St. Maarten – British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are among airlines still considering service to the Princess Juliana International Airport for a double stop as they prepare their schedules for 2015. This was disclosed following the recent World Routes Conference in Chicago.

A St. Maarten delegation attended the conference. The delegation included Ludwig Ouenniche, head of the cabinet at Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, the airport’s managing director Regina Labega and Louis Halley, head of the St Read more

Editorial - For the future

It will be interesting to see whether a Central Committee meeting called for Tuesday (see related article) leads to anything tangible. Three Members of Parliament (MPs) of the incoming UP/De Weever/Marlin-Romeo coalition want to discuss “discrepancies” surrounding the August 29 election.

Of course, objections were handled already during the customary post-election session of the Main Voting Bureau, when votes listed as invalid were re-examined and, where applicable, added to the tallies of the respective politicians Read more

Report: Turnover tax at 4% earned less revenue than 2%

MARIGOT--The Collectivité recouped less revenue from the increase of Taxe Général sur le Chiffres d'Affaires (TGCA) to four per cent than it did when it was at two per cent, Independent Territorial Councillor Jules Charville has disclosed, citing a 2013 report.

He warned that now the TGCA has been imposed across the board to all services at four per cent the result will be more business closures, more unemployment, and significantly more people applying for the Revenu Solidarité Active (RSA) benefit, potentially bumping its cost to the Collectivité up to 20 million euros per year from 16 million.

"People could either not pay the four per cent for whatever reason or businesses closed because they were in trouble," he explained Read more

Lee calls on ‘opposition’ to form ‘united coalition’

DAWN BEACH--Democratic Party (DP) candidate hotelier Emil Lee has called on the "opposition" in Parliament, which now includes his party leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams, to form "a united coalition" to provide "quality opposition in Parliament."

Lee was the 12th highest vote getter out of 90 candidates who contested the August 29 Parliamentary Elections and was the third highest vote getter of his party Read more

Tourism stakeholders: encouraging airline talks at Chicago World Routes Conference

AIRPORT--A delegation of tourism stakeholders including Princess Juliana International Airport SXM Managing Director Regina LaBega held talks with a variety of airline representatives during the World Routes Conference held in Chicago, late September. An SXM Airport press release last night quoted LaBega in describing the talks as "quite encouraging in terms of airlift."

British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic are notably amongst airlines still considering service to SXM Airport for a double stop with another destination as they prepare schedules for 2015.

The St Read more

Parliament to discuss election discrepancies

PHILIPSBURG--Reported discrepancies and issues at polling stations on Election Day, August 29, will be discussed when Members of Parliament (MPs) who were elected on that day meet in a public Central Committee session with the Central Voting Bureau and Civil Registry in Parliament House on Tuesday starting at 2:00pm.

MPs Leona Marlin-Romeo (independent), Tamara Leonard (United People's party) and Cornelius de Weever (Democratic Party) requested the meeting.

In their request letter, the MPs said there had been discrepancies at the Pointe Blanche House of Detention polling station, use of foreign identification for voting, discrepancies in ballot counting at specific polling stations, discrepancies in privacy during the supporting of the candidate lists and discrepancies in the information given to political parties about placement of campaign material.

Points to be brought forward in the meeting are changes in the Electoral Law, increased number of polling stations in 2014 compared to 2010 and implementation of electronic voting, among others.

The parliamentary session is open to the public and will be carried live on St Read more

Department of Youth Affairs to Celebrate 2014 International Day of the Rights of Children.

style="text-align: center;">Awareness campaign to focus on Child Abuse

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Youth Affairs is launching its official annual awareness campaign in commemoration of the International Day of the Rights of the Child, which will be observed on November 20th.

The campaign which is a collaborative effort of the Department of Youth Affairs, the Department of Sports, UNESCO, schools and non-governmental organizations (NGO's) aims to bring awareness to children, parents, and the community about the rights of children.
Child abuse, the theme for this year's campaign, will be spearheaded under the slogan: " My Rights to My Protection, My Freedom from Abuse" Read more

Central Committee Meeting of Parliament scheduled for Tuesday surrounding August 29th parliament election discrepancies.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will meet in a Central Committee session on November 18th.
The committee meeting is set for Tuesday at 2:00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.
This meeting has been requested by Members of Parliament (MP) Hon. Leona Marlin-Romeo, MP Hon Read more

St. Martin’s culture and identity in Costa Rica at Caribbean cultures conference.

>GREAT BAY:--- The book Language, Culture, and Identity in St. Martin by Rhoda Arrindell was launched recently in Costa Rica at the Caribbean cultures conference, said University of Puerto Rico professor Dr. Danabang Kuwabong.
Dr. Arrindell's paper, titled after her new book, was also delivered at the 17th annual Eastern Caribbean Island Cultures Conference in the Central American city of Limon, at the University of Costa Rica, November 6-8, 2014.
"The launch went very well, and I also read Rhoda's paper, which was well received," said Prof Read more

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Suspects Escaped to the French Side

CUPECOY:--- Three gunmen stormed into Atlantis Casino on Sunday morning around 11:30 am and robbed the gaming establishment of an unknown amount of monies. During the broad daylight robbery the robbers shot a security guard in his leg. The suspects escaped from law enforcement in a small blue vehicle that headed over the French border.
The robbery of Atlantis Casino on Sunday morning made it the third casino that was robbed recently.
Chief Commissioner of Police Peter de Witte confirmed that an armed robbery took place at the Atlantis Casino just before midday on Sunday Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- As 12th highest vote getter out of 90 candidates and 3rd highest vote getter in the DP, I have been requested many times to comment on the current political situation, I felt that making comments before things were clear could be disruptive to the formation process. Now that Sarah Wescot-Williams, leader of the DP, has made the position of the DP clear, I believe it is reasonable to make a statement.
As the dust settles, I would propose that opposition forms a united coalition since providing quality opposition in Parliament is a critical part of any properly functioning democracy Read more

SER A POLITICAL FOOTBALL.

style="text-align: left;">General

PHILIPSBURG:--- The SER is an advisory council and not a higher council of state that gives requested and unrequested advises to government. Recently the SER has let government use it for political reasons during the last elections and it published the report recently.
The write off of the taxes prior to 2006 is well documented and thought out and is based on sound advises.

Facts

The Parliament of St. Maarten passed two motions requesting that the amounts prior to 2006 be written off.The CFT, SOAB and Audit Chamber have made comments about those old amounts in their reports.In the financial statements of the government of St Read more

Marine community supports Minister Lake’s initiative to clean-up coastal debris from Hurricane Gonzalo. Effort to get underway December 6th.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake is very pleased to learn that the marine community has accepted his initiative appeal for a coastal clean-up of hurricane related debris due to the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo from inland waterways and lagoons. The clean-up is slated for December 6th weekend.

Representatives from the St Read more

Department Of Youth Affairs To Celebrate 2014 International Day Of The Rights Of Children -Awareness Campaign To Focus On Child Abuse

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Department of Youth Affairs is launching its official annual awareness campaign in commemoration of the International Day of the Rights of the Child, which will be observed on November 20th.

The campaign which is a collaborative effort of the Department of Youth Affairs, the Department of Sports, UNESCO, schools and non-governmental organizations (NGO's) aims to bring awareness to children, parents, and the community about the rights of children.

Child abuse, the theme for this year's campaign, will be spearheaded under the slogan: " My Rights to My Protection, My Freedom from Abuse" Read more

Marine Community Supports Minister Lake's Initiative To Clean-Up Coastal Debris From Hurricane Gonzalo. Effort To Get Underway December 6Th

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake is very pleased to learn that the marine community has accepted his initiative appeal for a coastal clean-up of hurricane related debris due to the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo from inland waterways and lagoons.

The clean-up is slated for December 6th weekend.

Representatives from the St Read more

Upnext Bake Sale A Sold-Out Affair For Less Fortunate Kids

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - UPNext, the youth movement within the United People party (UP), held a successful fundraising bake sale on Saturday to fund the group's "CheerUp" Christmas program in support of the children homes of St. Maarten and the children housed there.

Dubbed a "BakeUP" and stationed at the Afoo Supermarket in Philipsburg, the youngsters managed to sell all goodies that were up for sale and raised close to $1,000.

The event started at 9:00am and by 1:00pm everything was sold out.

On the bale sale were popular items such as black cake, carrot cake, several tarts, brownies, cookies and much more.

The UPNext teens didn't just stay at the venue, they put goodies on trays and walked through Backstreet and Frontstreet selling baked items to local and visitors alike.

Members of the community who didn't purchase anything simply made financial contributions to the cause for which the teens from UPNext showed their appreciation with loud applause and shouts of thank you.

Minister of Youth Affairs Patricia Lourens also passed by to support the cause while leader of the UP Theo Heyliger provided breakfast for the hard working teens.

President of UPNext Kinisha Kalla thanks everyone for their overwhelming support and reminded that a second bake sale will be held next Saturday, November 22 at the same venue from 9:00am until everything is sold.

This week group will elaborate more on the Christmas CheerUp program and its plans to bring some joy into the lives of the less fortunate children at some of the Children's homes.

UPNext is guided by the members of the PR & Marketing Committee of the UP, Grisha Marten-Heyliger, Alston Lourens and Mike Granger.

The group also thanked the Afoo Group of Companies, Peter J Read more

Emil Lee Issues Statement On Political Developments

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - As 12th highest vote getter out of 90 candidates and 3rd highest vote getter in the DP, I have been requested many times to comment on the current political situation, I felt that making comments before things were clear could be disruptive to the formation process.

Now that Sarah Wescott-Williams, leader of the DP, has made the position of the DP clear, I believe it is reasonable to make a statement.

As the dust settles, I would propose that opposition forms a united coalition since providing quality opposition in Parliament is a critical part of any properly functioning democracy Read more

Editorial - General interest first

The concern expressed by "formateur" Theo Heyliger to NRC Handelsblad (see Friday edition) for an impasse over the appointment of future cabinet members may have diminished somewhat. Part of the reason would be statements by Kingdom Relations Minister Ronald Plasterk in today's paper in connection with the decision not to issue a new instruction on an integrity action plan for the local law enforcement sector.

When asked about the existing instruction for screening proposed ministers, he said the process was in the hands of Governor Eugene Holiday, who is responsible for such Read more

Locals and the airline industry

Dear Editor,

Most recently I read with interest the curriculum/subjects contained in the 2015 study financing list of subjects offered by this department. Approximately 18 months previously WINAIR was visited by this department at the behest of Michael Ferrier to ascertain what could be offered to the SXM youth to prepare themselves for meaningful careers in Aviation.

After several discussions with the study finance group, we established the need in SXM for Air Craft Maintenance Personnel and Commercial Pilots, both disciplines are now available to our youth Read more

Heyliger says impasse looms

THE HAGUE--St. Maarten’s United People’s Party (UP) Leader Theo Heyliger said in an interview with the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad on Wednesday that an impasse was imminent in the conflict with the Netherlands about the extra screening of the candidate prime minister and ministers Read more

Sarah tenders her resignation

Parliament Chairwoman Sarah Wescot-Williams caucuses with Parliament Presidium members MPs Cornelius de Weever and Leona Marlin-Romeo on whether she should continue chairing Thursday’s session of Parliament after she submitted her resignation as Parliament head (Rajesh Chintaman photo) Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake in the wake of the recent torrential rainfall event last weekend and Hurricane Gonzalo mid-October, will meet with representatives from various ministries and other government agencies related to disaster preparedness on Monday morning about disaster management planning and response.

Minister Lake has visited affected areas such as Arch Road and Foga, and has also spoken with many residents with respect to the most recent weather event.

"We need to re-evaluate exactly how things went and how better we can enhance our response, but also being pro-active Read more