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India finds itself in "sweet spot" of lower deficits, more growth

NEW DELHI--India can increase investment to drive economic growth without borrowing more, a key government report said on Friday, in an indication that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will stick to debt targets in his maiden full-year budget on Saturday.

The Economic Survey, the basis for Jaitley's budget for the fiscal year starting April 1, forecast growth of 8.1 percent to 8.5 percent under new calculations that make India the world's most dynamic big economy. The forecast marks an acceleration from growth of 7.4 percent in the current fiscal year.

"India has reached a sweet spot and .. Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake is preparing to send a letter through the Chairman of Parliament to the Minister of Finance about getting rid of the expat ruling which is costing Government more than half a million guilders.

"As a country, Government has to get serious with the expat agreement Read more

Mp Lake To Look Into Expat Ruling. Local Professionals Need Improved Incentives

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People's (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Maurice Lake is preparing to send a letter through the Chairman of Parliament to the Minister of Finance about getting rid of the expat ruling which is costing Government more than half a million guilders.

"As a country, Government has to get serious with the expat agreement Read more

Princess Heights Awarded Prestigious Green Key Eco-Label Certification

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) awarded Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel with the first and only Green Key Eco-label certification in St. Maarten, solidifying St. Maarten's reputation as a destination that is serious about the environment.

"Here at Princess Heights, we've been using Green Key guidelines as a model for best practices for many years," said Emil Lee, General Manager of Princess Heights.

"If 'being green' translated to higher prices, it would not be sustainable for businesses to make green choices.

We believe that the Green Key model is straightforward, good for the environment, good for the island and good for tourism," Lee continued.

International Green Key Director Finn Thomsen of the non-profit Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), which owns and runs the program, was on hand to mark the hotel's Green Key inauguration.

This was the first inauguration he has attended in the Caribbean Read more

Princess Heights Awarded Green Key Eco-Label

St. Maarten -The Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) awarded Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel with the first and only Green Key Eco-Label certification in St. Maarten, solidifying St. Maarten’s reputation as a destination that is serious about the environment.

“Here at Princess Heights, we’ve been using Green Key guidelines as a model for best practices for many years,” said Emil Lee, General Manager of Princess Heights.  “If ‘being green’ translated to higher prices, it would not be sustainable for businesses to make green choices Read more

‘Welkom op St. Maarten’ on top 5 travel guides list

SIMPSON BAY--The book Welkom op Sint Maarten: The Friendly Island is now among the country's top five travel guides thanks to a list compiled by Website

stmaartenvakantie.nl . The book is noted as worthwhile to read and to take on vacation to the Dutch Caribbean.

The Dutch language book was launched internationally last year with a limited edition presented to then-Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams by authors Ina Kruize, Esther de Vries and Marlene van Asten.

The book informs people who are moving to St Read more

New political party emerges with goal to be deal breaker

GEORGETOWN, Guyana--A new political party has emerged in Guyana with hopes of truly breaking away from an ethnic divide and providing a balance between Guyana's two main political parties – a united Alliance For Change (AFC)/A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the incumbent People's Progressive Party.

The Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HTNTP) believes that it can rally the support of Guyanese at the upcoming May 11 polls by opening "your eyes to the poverty we are experiencing .. Read more

Schotte, Heyliger met with security service man in 2010

~ Ronald van Raak publishes online article ~

THE HAGUE--Secret documents, supplied to Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP) and published on Tuesday on the website ThePostOnline.nl, revealed a meeting on or around the 2010 elections in St. Maarten between a member of the Curaçao Security Agency VDC, candidate Curaçao Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte, candidate minister George Jamaloodin and United People's Party Leader Theo Heyliger.

The meeting in St Read more

EU patience frays as Greek PM refuses "blackmail"

BRUSSELS/ATHENS--A war of words between Greece and EU paymaster Germany escalated on Tuesday with Athens' new leftist prime minister rejecting what he called "blackmail" to extend an international bailout and vowing to rush through laws to reverse labour reforms.

A source close to the government said Greece intends to ask on Wednesday for an extension for up to six months of a loan agreement with the euro zone, on conditions to be negotiated. The source drew a distinction between a loan agreement and the full bailout programme which the government insists is dead.

However hardline German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble dismissed the Greek gambit, telling broadcaster ZDF: "It's not about extending a credit programme but about whether this bailout programme will be fulfilled, yes or no."

Financial markets held their nerve after the latest talks among euro zone finance ministers broke down late on Monday and EU partners gave Greece until the end of the week to request an extension or lose financial assistance Read more

Princess Heights Awarded Prestigious Green Key Eco-Label Certification.

>PHILIPSBURG:---- The Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) awarded Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel with the first and only Green Key Eco-label certification in St. Maarten, solidifying St. Maarten's reputation as a destination that is serious about the environment.
"Here at Princess Heights, we've been using Green Key guidelines as a model for best practices for many years," said Emil Lee, General Manager of Princess Heights Read more

Cuban agriculture needs better roads

CAUTO CRISTO, Cuba--When it rains, trucks get stuck in the mud on the poor roads in this rural municipality in eastern Cuba. The local population needs more and better roads to improve their lives and help give a much-needed boost to the country's farming industry.

"When the roads are fixed, living conditions and opportunities will be bolstered in the lowlands, where most of our agricultural production is concentrated," deputy mayor of Cauto Cristo Alberto López told IPS.

Most of the 21,000 inhabitants of this rural municipality, located on a broad plain prone to flooding during the May-October rainy season, are scattered around the countryside on individual or state-run farms or in farming cooperatives Read more

Glimmer of hope for Ukraine after new ceasefire deal

MINSK--Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a deal offering a "glimmer of hope" for an end to conflict in eastern Ukraine, but the United States and NATO said further intense fighting on Thursday ran counter to the spirit of the accord.

The agreement, announced after more than 16 hours of discussions in the Belarussian capital Minsk, was followed swiftly by allegations from Kiev of a new, mass influx of Russian armour into rebel-held eastern Ukraine Read more

European leaders hold Ukraine peace talks as fighting surges

MINSK--The leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine held peace talks in Belarus on Wednesday, while in Ukraine pro-Moscow separatists tightened the pressure on Kiev by launching some of the war's worst fighting.

Ukraine's army said 19 of its soldiers were killed in pro-Russian separatist assaults near the railway town of Debaltseve, some of the worst losses it has reported in nine months of war. Rebels who tore up a five-month-old truce in January are trying to encircle government forces in Debaltseve, a strategic location that would let them link up their main strongholds.

Fighting has already killed more than 5,000 people, and Washington is now openly talking of arming Ukraine to defend itself from "Russian aggression", raising the prospect of a proxy war in the heart of Europe between Cold War foes.

A surge in fighting in the 24 hours before the summit, including a rocket attack that killed 17 people in government-held territory on Tuesday, could be intended to force Ukraine to accept a deal recognising the rebel advance.

The summit was being held in neighbouring Belarus under a Franco-German proposal to try to halt the fighting Read more

Mayotte Delegation on visit to Collectivité

MARIGOT--A delegation of high-ranking technicians from the island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean has been on a three-day visit to St. Martin to discuss issues common to both territories as well as issues related to Europe, Ultra Peripheral Regions RUP and to exchange information.

The delegation comprised Jacques Toto, Secretary-General in charge of General and Human Resources, Assistant Cabinet Director for European Affairs Dayane Saïd Mohamed, and Chargé de Mission RUP and European Affairs, Adrachi Velou.

President of the Conseil Général was not able to make the trip due to other commitments.

The delegation arrived Saturday from Guadeloupe where they attended the 20th conference of RUP territories Read more

Mp Sarah Wescot-Williams: “This Is A Slap In The Face Of St.Maarten”

St. Maarten – “Nothing Sint Maarten has done with respect to tackling integrity issues has made any difference for Minister Plasterk and his colleagues in the Dutch cabinet,” Democratic Party MP Sarah Wescot-Williams states in a press release, adding that an article-51 measure amounts to imposing higher supervision.

Wescot-Williams notes that Kingdom Relations Minister Plasterk “has been fencing with the measure for a long time” thereby “making it appear as if St Read more

>COLE BAY:--- The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation, with the assistance of the St. Eustatius National Parks Office STENAPA Statia National Marine Park, has started to provide fishermen with so-called pop-up devices, specialized pieces of equipment that prevent fish traps from being lost or poached.

The pop-up devices work by attaching them to ropes affixed to fish pots which are submerged for a set period of time Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Mr. Emil Lee, who ran number 4 on the DP list in the August 2014 election, has been appointed by the Democratic Party as Parliamentary faction advisor for socio-economic matters in general and tourism in particular.

During the campaign, Emil was a strong advocate for open government and integrity Read more

Sarah: Integrity efforts made no difference to Dutch plan

PHILIPSBURG--Describing the Dutch government's actions to impose Article 51 to tackle integrity issues in St. Maarten as a slap in the face of St. Maarten's government and a slap in the face of St. Maarten, Democratic Party Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot Williams said sidelining elected representatives of the people of St Read more

Princess Heights celebrates pioneering eco-certification

Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel General Manager Emil Lee (centre) holds a Green Key programme plaque amongst key representatives of the hotel, Foundation for Environmental Education, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, and the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association as they all hold up a Green Key programme flag.

DAWN BEACH--Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel celebrated its milestone in becoming the first and only property on the island to be awarded the prestigious Green Key Eco-label certification on hotel premises on the evening of February 2, amongst a crowd of supporters and key stakeholders.

International Green Key Director Finn Thomsen of the non-profit Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), which owns and runs the programme, was on hand to mark the occasion Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- After holding the Government of St. Maarten on a line for a while, Dutch Minister Plasterk has "come clean", to use a local expression.
I am of the opinion that nothing that St. Maarten has done with respect to tackling integrity issues has made any difference for Minister Plasterk and his colleagues in the Dutch cabinet as far as imposing a measure of higher supervision on St. Maarten. That's what an article 51 measure is.
It is a measure that Minister Plasterk has been fencing with for a long time and actually used the Government of St Read more

Former Pm, Mp Wescot-Williams Disagrees With Minister Plasterk On Integrity Approach

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - After holding the government of St. Maarten on a line for a while, Dutch Minister Plasterk has "come clean", to use a local expression.

I am of the opinion that nothing that St. Maarten has done with respect to tackling integrity issues has made any difference for Minister Plasterk and his colleagues in the Dutch cabinet as far as imposing a measure of higher supervision on St. Maarten. That's what an article 51 measure is.

It is a measure that Minister Plasterk has been fencing with for a long time and actually used the government of St Read more

Editorial - Risk of delay

That the Kingdom Council of Ministers took the first step for a general measure of governance to impose an Integrity Chamber on St. Maarten should not come as a complete surprise, taking into account recent statements in this newspaper by Justice Minister Dennis Richardson on the issue. An attempt had been made by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs to smooth things over a bit during the subsequent visit of Kingdom Relations Minister Ronald Plasterk to the island, but apparently this "bad cop, good cop" routine did not lead to a compromise.

According to Plasterk, the intended general measure does not require the consent of the country in question Read more

Is change really coming?

Dear Editor,

Anyone who looked in The Daily Herald of Friday, January 30th, and saw the commercial from Music Man thanking the people for voting them the best place to buy Electronics, would be under the impression that that was in India or some dependent of India. This has nothing to do with human discrimination whatsoever, but it is a classic example of what the hot topic is based on these days.

One of the MP's in his debate during the budget meeting made it clear, when he was making a point concerning the counterpart policy, that it did not take rocket scientists to sell TV's and watches, with which I concur Read more

Proposal to analyze DNA from 1 million people

WASHINGTON--The United States has proposed analyzing genetic information from more than 1 million American volunteers as part of a new initiative to understand human disease and develop medicines targeted to an individual's genetic make-up.

At the heart of the "precision medicine" initiative, announced on Friday by President Barack Obama, is the creation of a pool of people - healthy and ill, men and women, old and young - who would be studied to learn how genetic variants affect health and disease Read more