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Doing A Good Thing Wrong Is No Good

On Tuesday May 3, the world celebrated International Press Freedom Day, which inspired this article along with the recent press developments on our island. It is an honor to serve in this noble profession and I look forward to contributing towards the professions value, impact and legacy.

As a member of the St. Martin press and representative of my media house, I have noted with deep concern the need to ensure that freedom of the press, as enshrined in article 10 of the constitution, is never trampled upon Read more

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Adelka Spanner Accuses Island Council Of Sending Fake Letter To St. Maarten

From left: Registrars Office clerk Melissa Robins-Spanner and Island Council members Reuben Merkman, Koos Sneek, Rechelline Leerdam and Clyde van Putten prior to departing for St. Maarten to meet with the delegations to the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation IPKO.

ST. EUSTATIUS--Island Council Member and leader of the Democratic Party (DP) of St. Eustatius Adelka Spanner has accused her colleagues in the Council of having sent a letter to the Parliament of St Read more

Advice Against Motion To Park 30M Euros For Islands At Ministry

State Secretary Van Huffelen

THE HAGUE--Dutch State Secretary of Kingdom Relations and Digitisation Alexandra van Huffelen is not in favour of parking the thirty million euros for the Caribbean Netherlands at her Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK as Members of Parliament (MPs) Joba van den Berg of the Christian Democratic Party CDA and Attje Kuiken of the Labo Read more

Members Of Second Chamber Updated On Saba Issues

SABA Commissioner Bruce Zagers and Island Secretary Tim Muller recently met with several Members of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament during their visit to The Hague.

Among the Members that Zagers and Muller met with was Chairperson of the Second Chambers Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations Marille Paul. The meeting was of an introductory nature since Paul, who is a member of the liberal democratic VVD party, took up her new position as Committee Chairperson some three weeks ago.

The other two Members of Parliament (MPs) with whom the Saba delegation met were Joba van den Berg of the Christian Democratic Party CDA and Jorien Wuite of the Democratic Party D66 Read more

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SABA:--- Commissioner Bruce Zagers and Island Secretary Tim Muller recently met with several members of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament during their visit to The Hague.
Among the Members that Zagers and Muller met with was Chairperson of the Second Chambers Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations Marille Paul. The meeting was of an introductory nature since Paul, who is a member of the liberal democratic VVD party, took up her new position as Committee Chairperson some three weeks ago Read more

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Giselle Mc William Keynote Speaker At First Cda Statia General Meeting

Sjahairah Fleming and Koos Sneek.

ST. EUSTATIUS--The Christian Democratic Party CDA Statia will be hosting its first general assembly meeting at the Suares Building in Princess Garden 7:00-10:00pm Saturday, March 26.

  CDA members, persons interested in becoming a member and anyone else who is interested in CDA Statia are urged to join for what CDA said in a press release Read more

Jorien Wuite Calls Coho Accord An Important Step

Jorien Wuite (File photo)

THE HAGUE--Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Jorien Wuite of the < Read more

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Knops Disappointed Not To Be In New Government

THE HAGUE--Caretaker State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops said on Friday that he was disappointed to a certain extent to not be reappointed in the new Dutch Rutte IV government which will be sworn in today, Monday.

  Knops (50) would have liked to stay on, and in the corridors during the formation period he was mentioned as a possible candidate to become the next minister of defence. However, that portfolio is going to current caretaker Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Kajsa Ollongren.

  I would have loved to continue with a whole lot of energy, he told the media just before the last Council of Ministers meeting of the caretaker Rutte III government on Friday Read more

Alexandra Van Huffelen State Secretary Kingdom Relations

Rotterdam Acting Mayor Alexandra van Huffelen (centre) poses for a photo during the 2012 Rotterdam Summer Carnival with on the left then Director of the Cabinet of the St. Maarten Minister Plenipotentiary and later Minister Perry Geerlings. (Nico van der Ven photo)

THE HAGUE--Alexandra van Huffelen (53) of the Democratic Party D66 will be the new State Secretary of Kingdom Relations and Digitalising in the Rutte IV cabinet Read more

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Martijn Is New Ocan Director

New Ocan Director Lionel Martijn. (Nick van der Ven photo)

THE HAGUE--Lionel Martijn (62) has been appointed director of Foundation Ocan, the organisation for Dutch Caribbean persons in the Netherlands, per January 1, 2022.

  Martijns appointment was approved during a meeting of the Supervisory Board on December 19. Martijn, who originates from Curaao, will succeed Cynthia Ortega-Martijn, whose appointment in 2020 was of a temporary nature.

  Martijn brings a lot of experience, as he has worked in several advisory and directors functions at multiple organisations Read more

Wuite Gives Maiden Speech In Parliament

Jorien Wuite (far left) is congratulated by Member of the Second Chamber Sylvana Simons of the BIJ1 party on her maiden speech while other Members of Parliament await their turn. (Suzanne Koelega photo)

THE HAGUE--It was a very special moment for Read more

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SABA/THE HAGUE:--- Saba Island Governor Jonathan Johnson paid a working visit to The Hague from Tuesday, October 5 to Friday, October 8. The main reason for Johnsons visit to the Netherlands was his attendance of the Mayors Conference of the Netherlands Association of Mayors which took place this year in Veenendaal on October 6 and October 7.
During this congress, Johnson was able to catch up with many Dutch mayors on recent developments and important subjects in areas like crisis management, safety, government administration, and the pandemic Read more

Retreat Weekend For Dp Statia Members

DP faction leader Adelka Spanner explaining the workings of the Island Council during the weekend retreat.

ST. EUSTATIUS--A weekend retreat at Gwendoline van Putten School for leading members of the Democratic Party (DP) of St. Eustatius also provided an opportunity for the party to present the existing Code of Ethics for elected and appointed officials.

Statia Churches Unite For Hurricane Preparedness

Deputy Government Commissioner Alida Francis (centre), PLP Island Councilwoman Rechelline Leerdam, DP Island Councilwoman Adelka Spanner and Government Information Services Protocol Officer Mercedes Lopes-Spanner with some of the attendees at the meeting

ST. EUSTATIUS--Churches in St. Eustatius came together on the evening of Tuesday, June 1, for a special prayer service to as Read more

With Wuite We Have An Ally, Says Besaril

Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Jorien Wuite (left) with Arubas Minister Plenipotentiary Guillfred Besaril at the time that they were colleagues. (File photo courtesy of the Aruba House)

THE HAGUE--On Wednesday, Aruba Minister Plenipotentiary Guillfred Besaril congratulated and praised his former colleague, newly-elected Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament of St Read more

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Ud Praises Young Talent

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The United Democratic Party (UD) extends its congratulations to Kenyo Baly and Cay Hill, two very talented local artist.

“Kudos to you on signing on to  the record label, Pretty Boy Worldwide,” remarked the UD. 

The record label Pretty Boy Worldwide has been moldling both local artists for sometime. 

“Exposure on the world stage, building a solid professional entertainment career and recording your EP debut is a proud moment for our country,” UD stated. 

The UD continues to believe in the youth of St Read more

Ud Praises Young Talent.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The United Democratic Party (UD) extends its congratulations to Kenyo Baly and Cay Hill, two very talented local artist.
"Kudos to you on signing on to the record label, Pretty Boy Worldwide," remarked the UD.
The record label Pretty Boy Worldwide has been modeling both local artists for some time.
"Exposure on the world stage, building a solid professional entertainment career, and recording your EP debut is a proud moment for our country," UD stated Read more

Committee Wants Debates On Social Minimum, Statia Process

Member of the Second Chamber Jorien Wuite of the Democratic Party D66 during the digital procedural meeting of the Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations on Wednesday.

THE HAGUE--The Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament decided on Wednesday that it wants two separate debates about the social minimum in the Caribbean Netherlands, and the progress to terminate governmental intervention in St Read more

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Senator Dittrich: DonT Make St. Maarten People The Victim

Scene from the First Chamber debate on April 6.

THE HAGUE--Inhabitants of St. Maarten should not be victims of the stand-off between the St. Maarten Parliament and the Dutch government with regard to the petition that was submitted to the United Nations, said Democratic Party D66 Senator Boris Dittrich during a debate in the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Tuesday.

Results Dutch Election March 2021- Sends A Clear Message Of Discontent From The People Of Bonaire.

The Dutch election on 17th March 2021 on Bonaire results spoke volumes on the discontent from the people of Bonaire. This indisputable rejection of Dutch rule on Bonaire. The results on Wednesday shows a clear-cut message as from the 13490 eligible voters only 3076 voters turned out at the polling stations a 22%. 10, 414 did not turn out to vote, The last Dutch election in 2018 was almost the same average of 70% and so was the year before that. We Want Bonaire Back Campaign Dont go to vote as always sparked a landslide victory as the people once again united even if they were from different political parties they all united and refuse to take part in this farce dormancy.

This imposed election is a mockery or farce democratic event for our people as this Dutch parliament that embedded us in their constitution under unequal rights, consists of 150 members in The Hague, where they all agreed to this criminal act against our peoples and for one seat there is needed about 60,000 votes and on Bonaire we have 13.000 eligible voters as we make no mathematically chance Read more

New Caribbean Voice In Dutch Parliament Wuite Takes Oath

Jorien Wuite (D66) from St. Maarten takes the oath during the installation of the new Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Wednesday. (Second Chamber photo)

THE HAGUE--The Dutch Caribbean islands in general and St. Maarten in particular will have an ally in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament with Jorien Wuite of the Democratic Party D66 who took the oath on Wednesday.

  She is the first Member of the Second Chamber of St Read more

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Law Change Coming To Ease Offering Of Banking Services

Wopke Hoekstra

THE HAGUE--On Tuesday, Dutch Minister of Finance Wopke Hoekstra announced that he is preparing a law change to enable Dutch commercial banks to offer current accounts to residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba without an additional permit.

  Under the existing financial markets law, Dutch banks cannot offer euro current accounts in the Caribbean Netherlands without an additional permit. This hampers residents on the three islands, which are part of the Netherlands, from having a Dutch bank account.

  In response to written questions submitted by (then) Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Antje Diertens of Democratic Party D66, Minister Hoekstra explained that last year, he engaged in talks with the Dutch banking sector to remove obstacles that are now experienced in offering banking services in the Caribbean Netherlands.

  As a result of these talks, the minister is now preparing a legislation change so Dutch banks can offer current accounts in euros to residents of the islands Read more

Wuite Elected To Second Chamber

Jorien Wuite at the D66 debriefing session in the Second Chamber on Thursday.

THE HAGUE--Jorien Wuite, number twenty on the slate of the Read more

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SABA:--- A total of 446 valid votes were cast during the Second Chamber elections on Saba on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Raymond Knops (CDA) was the biggest vote-getter with 180 votes. The only candidate from Saba in these elections, Lysanne Charles (BIJ1) amassed 105 votes.
The elections went well. I am content with the high turn-out, said Chairman of the Main Voting Bureau Island Governor Jonathan Johnson. In these elections the voter turn-out was 49.6%. Saba has 907 eligible voters Read more

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