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Mp Gumbs Submits Draft Financial Legislation To Minister Finance

Manifesto Dealbreaker Point Met

PHILISPBURG Party for Progress member of Parliament Melissa Gumbs submitted draft legislation to the Honorable Minister of Finance, Marinka Gumbs, on Thursday, 15 August 2024 Read more

Grisha Grants Ezair Route Authorisation

PHILIPSBURG--The apparent stand-off between St. Maarten and Curaao over route authorisation for EZAir B.V. seems to have come to an amicable solution.

Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten has granted the Curaao airline, EZAir BV route authorisation to fly to St Read more

Mp Emmanuel Had An Electricity Solution Since 2016

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Tuesday said that had political maturity prevailed in 2017, St. Maarten would have had a groundbreaking project to establish a state-of-the-art waste processing plant with an integrated energy-generating component. This initiative would have been a pivotal move towards enhancing environmental sustainability and energy efficiency on the island.

There was an approved Council of Ministers decision for a proposal Read more

GovT Asks Pjiae To Pay Overdue Passenger Security Fees Enacted By Law Since 2019

GREAT BAY The Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, has requested the Princess Juliana International Airport operating company (PJIAE), to make overdue payments to government derived from the security fee of one dollar per passenger, established by law since 2019 as a critical financial support to enhance the Ministrys civil aviation activities.

Heyliger-Marten explained the importance of this fee when she said: The contributions from the security fee are vital for our civil aviation activities, which ensure the safety and security of our airport operations.

Besides, achieving Category 1 status is a top priority, and continued support from PJIAE, which will also benefit from it, is essential to realizing this goal.

According to the Minister, previous administrations were apparently preoccupied with introducing other levies that threatened to cripple the economy Read more

Mp Emmanuel: Clarity Needed On Former JacobS Government Deal With Gridmarket

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — MP Christophe Emmanuel, leader of the Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) party, has voiced strong concerns over revelations that the former Silveria Jacobs government signed an exclusive agreement with GridMarket in violation of GEBE’s concession.

GridMarket is a private company that approached the former National Alliance led government in 2021 with the hopes of securing the facilitation of clean energy on St Read more

The Point Blanche Prison Invests In New Medical Equipment To Enhance Healthcare Services

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten In a significant move to address longstanding concerns about the quality of medical services, the Point Blanche Prison of Sint Maarten has purchased a comprehensive range of new medical equipment via the Sint Maarten Diagnostic Center. This investment is a pivotal step toward improving the healthcare facilities and ensuring that both inmates and staff receive the highest standard of medical care.

The new equipment, which includes essential diagnostic and treatment instruments, such as an otoscope, mobile BP apparatus, AED equipment, portable blood pressure, temperature and glucose meters, emergency crash kits, medication cabinets and more, aims to upgrade the prison’s healthcare capabilities significantly Read more

Mp Emmanuel: 650 Thousand For SchoolRepairs Vanished, Calls For Investigation

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel has called on the Acting Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Lyndon Lewis to investigate the disappearance of over Naf 650,000 that was meant for the reconstruction and repairs of schools. MP Emmanuel said it has come to his attention that this is the primary reason why repairs at seven schools, since the passing of Hurricane Irma, are still not completed Read more

Sint Maarten Prepares For Reconstruction Of Sint Maarten Library

Sint Maarten The NRPB is pleased to announce that several pre-demolition activities have commenced in preparation for the reconstruction of the Sint Maarten Library, formerly known as the Philipsburg Jubilee Library. These preliminary steps include issuing several tenders, erecting fencing to section off the location, and ensuring safety once demolition begins.

On behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten, the NRPB implements the Fostering Resilient Learning Project (FRLP) to address the island’s educational needs after the destruction caused during the 2017 hurricane season Read more

Men In Blue Do Cry

Dear editor,

While the NA/UPP coalition members in government are busy presenting their report card to the electorate, while pretending to be excellent, our country is in a state where our national security is at risk.

The Law Enforcement Council of Sint Maarten outlined in its last report dated November 2023 that the situation within the St Read more

~ Says theres no legal impediment for citizens ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- MP Rolando Brison on Monday raised a pressing concern regarding the withdrawal of services from St. Maarten by digital bank Revolut, apparently as a consequence of actions taken by local banks. MP Brison directed his question to the Minister of Finance, seeking intervention and clarity on the matter and expressing his apprehensions about the actions of local banks and the potential hindrance to local economic diversification.

It vexed the MP that the same banks, that offer no innovation of fintech services, are now obstructing opportunities for locals and stifling economic growth Read more

Wicsu-Psu Engages In Productive Meeting With Coast Guard Management On Function Book.

Willemstad, Curacao:---  Windward Islands Public Service Union (WICSU-PSU) recently convened meetings on November 27 and 28, 2023, in Curacao with the Coast Guard transition team and Human Resource Manager, Mr. Berenos, along with his team. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the function book of the Coast Guard, addressing long-standing concerns raised by union members.

In attendance were representatives from various unions, including SEPPA Aruba, STRAF, ACOM, ABVO, and SAP Read more

A Worrisome Justice Apparatus

Dear Editor,

In the Daily Herald of Thursday, August 12th, 2021 an elaborated article was dedicated to the Carbon Grove Estates in Cole Bay. The article with title Developer of Carbon Grove ordered to deliver apartments, mentioned two separate summary proceedings, whereby the Court of First Instance ordered Melbon Enterprises to deliver the rights to three apartments in Carbon Grove Estates in Cole Bay. The Judge describes the case as all time low, it reads. The Court stated that Carbons course of action resembles a so-called Ponzi scheme.

According to different media houses, on Wednesday, November 8th, 2023 searches were conducted at four locations connected to a suspect in a fraud and money laundering case named Koruna Read more

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  Today, Friday, September 29, 2023, the Honorable Minister of Justice, Anna E. Richardson, along with her dedicated team, aimed to provide a crucial status update to all justice personnel and the public regarding significant developments within the Ministry of Justice.

Unfortunately, due to the absence of a quorum at the scheduled Justice Committee of Parliament meeting, the presentation could not be delivered as intended. However, Minister Richardson remains committed to ensuring that vital information reaches the justice personnel promptly.

The History

After more than a decade without a completed Function Book for the Ministry of Justice, the current administration, under the leadership of Minister Richardson, successfully undertook and completed this crucial task Read more

Given Their Small Size And High Degree Of Openness: Policy Actions Needed To Reduce Vulnerability To External Shocks In Curaao And Sint Maarten.

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:---  As small and open economies, Curaao and Sint Maarten are vulnerable to external shocks. The effects of external shocks on the monetary union are reflected in, among other things, fluctuations in our balance of payments, stated president of the Centrale Bank van Curaao en Sint Maarten (CBCS), Richard Doornbosch, in the CBCSs September 2023 Economic Bulletin. This edition of the Economic Bulletin highlights the monetary unions vulnerability to shocks with a textbox on the effect of NAf.- Euro exchange rate fluctuations on trade flows Read more

Dutch Govt. To Propose Listing Iguana Species To A Higher Protected Status

The Lesser Antillean Iguana. Photo by Philippa King.

 

ST. EUSTATIUS--The Dutch government is set to officially propose moving the Lesser Antillean Iguana (Iguana delicatissima) from Annex III to Annex II of the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) during the next conference of the parties for the Cartagena Convention on Aruba in Octobe Read more

Court Grants Gebe Its Request To Terminate Hr Manager Clifford Sasso.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The court of first instance granted NV GEBE its request to terminate its Human Resource manager Clifford Sasso who was placed on suspension.
The verdict was read in open court on Wednesday, August 30th 2023.
Based on the verdict GEBE is allowed to end its working relationship with Clifford Sasso since the company had issued several warning letters to Sasso prior to the last suspension.
NV GEBE must compensate Sasso for his years of service. He is to be paid NAF 264.801.00
Below is the decision of the court both in English and Dutch.

order
COURT IN THE FIRST INSTANCE OF SINT MAARTEN
Case number: SXM202300375
Decision dated 30 August 2023
regarding
the limited liability company N.V Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- NV GEBE was hit with another blow on Wednesday morning when the Court of First Instance delivered its verdict in favor of former Temporary manager Sharine Daniel who was also the companys head internal auditor for more than ten years.
In the decision rendered on Wednesday, the court said that NV GEBE did not prove its case neither did they submit and or substantiate the accusations they brought against Daniel, one being she stole property from the company and is responsible for the March 16th, 2022 cyber attack.
Based on the decision the court ordered that NV GEBE reinstate Sharine Daniel as the Head Internal Auditor seven days after it is notified of the courts decision Read more

Foresee Secures Funding For Its 3Rd Season Of Soualichi Stories

Part of the Soualichi Stories season three team, from left: Claudette Forsythe-Labega, Ralph Cantave, Jose Sommers, Kevin Suppa Petrona and Julia Grigg during one of their planning sessions.

PHILIPSBURG--Foresee Foundation announced on Sunday that it has secured funding for its third season of Soualichi Stories, which has the subtitle, Keeping Oral History Alive.

The money for Foresees project comes from the two million euros in funding that the Dutch government granted to the Dutch Cultural Participation Fund for the Memorial Year of Slavery, which runs from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024 Read more

Chris: Vanity Projects Still Being Prioritized Over Public Interest

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Leader of the NOW party (Nation, Opportunity, Wealth) MP Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday said that the National Alliance led government of St. Maarten has clearly prioritized political vanity projects over issues that matter most to the population. So much so, he said, that the government sees no need to provide relevant and factual information on ongoing projects such as the hospital and the airport, but choose instead to roll-out projects meant to distract people over the summer break.

There are so many issues that affect our people direct and indirectly that this government is willfully and strategically ignoring due to the fact that elections are on the horizon Read more

Reality And Justice

It was brought to my attention a couple of days ago that an article was published entitled Negative for the image of St. Maarten. The author being Mr. Robby Ferron. I believe he was commenting on article I wrote on debt cancellation. Had I seen it earlier I would have remarked sooner. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion and that is a given. I do maintain that the best thing for the Netherlands to do is to cancel the entire debt, not only that of the liquidity support but also prior loans Read more

Young Talents Caribbean Region 2023 LOral-Unesco For Women In Science.

~ Breaking barriers for women in Caribbean Science, Technology, and Innovations.~

Kingston, Jamaica:--- The world needs science and science needs women. The Young Talents Caribbean Region L'Oral-UNESCO For Women in Science programme is a joint programme between LOral Caribe, the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean, and the Caribbean Academy of Sciences all seeking to connect the dots between Caribbean development challenges, scientific research, and women empowerment.

SUPPORTING CARIBBEAN WOMEN IN SCIENCE

The Caribbeans development is intrinsically linked to science, technology, and innovation, and it is vital that women play a significant role in this arena Read more

Public Weather Forecast For St. Maarten

DATE ISSUED: Monday, May 29, 2023 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)

VALID UNTIL: Tuesday Midday (12:00 LST) May 30, 2023

WEATHER:    

This Afternoon through Tuesday midday: Partly cloudy to cloudy at times with a few showers.

Forecast High: 31C / 88F             Forecast Low: 25C / 77F

Sunset Today: 6:43 P.M.                Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:36 A.M. 

SURFACE WINDS: 
This Afternoon through Tuesday midday: East to east southeasterly with a light to gentle breeze of 04 to 12 mph.

SYNOPSIS:

The Atlantic high-pressure ridge will maintain a gentle east southeasterly winds across the region Read more

Action Speaks Louder Than Words

On December 19, 2022 the Dutch government apologized for slavery or their part in the slave trade. This took place in Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, St. Eustatius, Saba St. Maarten, Suriname and the Netherlands. But what tangible actions have been taken so far? St. Maarten owes some 300 million guilders for liquidity support. This amount is to be paid in October of this year including the annual payment of 12.7 million owed from a prior debt of some 1.2 billion guilders. It has been concluded that St Read more

PHILIPSBURG: --- The Court of First Instance has ordered N.V GEBE to pay former Chief Operations Officer (COO) and ICT Manager Merril Temmer over half a million guilders within 30 days or he should be reinstated in his position as the ICT manager. Failure to comply with the ruling handed down on Wednesday will cost NV GEBE a daily fine of NAF. 500.00.
Based on the verdict NV GEBE has failed to show the urgency and reason for the immediate termination since Temmer was not responsible for the March 16th, 2022 cyber attack on NV GEBEs systems.
Temmer brought the case against NV GEBE when the company failed to respect his labor agreement which they signed in 2021 when he was appointed Temporary Manager and COO of the company Read more