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SMTA calls for summit, decisive action on Timeshare Ordinance

SIMPSON BAY--"The time for decisive action is now," says St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA) chairman Marcel Javois in relation to the Advisory Council's remarks on the Timeshare Ordinance brought to SMTA's attention recently. The SMTA is calling for a summit on the matter to discuss the best way forward.

"The SMTA has taken keen note of the recent comments and statements surrounding the Timeshare Ordinance. We believe that it is now time for urgent action, with this matter having been on the table for over 18 years," Javois was quoted as saying in an SMTA press statement released January 28.

SMTA said it had "just learned that the Advisory Council is unhappy with the Timeshare Ordinance Civil Code amendments and the Timeshare Authority Ordinance that will assist government and consumers in regulating the timeshare industry being drafted in the English language.

"At the time the laws were drafted for Member of Parliament [MP – Ed.] Leroy de Weever, the initiator of the laws, then-Minister of Justice Roland Duncan, and the supervising expert of the legislation, Judge Professor Jan de Boer, believed that there was ample justification for the laws to be drafted in English as it is one of our two official languages.

"In April of last year, the SMTA met with Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson, who said that many timeshare concepts were so English-specific and given that Holland has only one small timeshare property, that English should be used, but the law should be as a separate national law rather than part of the Civil Code, which needs to be as uniform as possible throughout the Kingdom.

"We understand that the Advisory Council is also not satisfied with using that as a solution.

"Given the late hour and the urgency of the issue as a national priority now that two large timeshare properties are having serious trouble and government has no tools to help, the SMTA hereby calls for an immediate summit to be convened."

SMTA called for the summit to include players that might have input, including current parliamentary initiator of the law Democratic Party (DP) through its leader MP Sarah Wescot-Williams, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor, Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson, the Advisory Council, the Ombudsman, Department of Legal Affairs and the SMTA, "in order to make a plan to get this legislation corrected and, if necessary, translated accurately to Dutch, and passed in the shortest time possible."

As reported in Tuesday's edition of The Daily Herald, the hold-up in the processing of the draft initiative laws to regulate the timeshare sector has come down to a matter of language Read more

Westin reportedly blocking public access to Dawn Beach

A quiet Dawn Beach in front of The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa.

DAWN BEACH--Two very specific complaints against The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa concerning the alleged blocking of public access to Dawn Beach in front of and near the resort have been received by The Daily Herald within just three days recently.

The accounts have been backed up by multiple stakeholders who have heard of or experienced similar situations. Resort management could not be reached for comment on Monday or Tuesday.

Both accounts describe harassment by overly confrontational security guards who are confining beachgoers to a smaller area than before Read more

Advisory Council wants timeshare law in Dutch

PHILIPSBURG--The hold up in the processing of the draft initiative laws to regulate the timeshare sector has come down to a matter of language. The two draft laws are written in English, one of the official languages of the country, but the Advisory Council has requested the law to be re-submitted by the Democratic Party (DP), the initiator, in Dutch.

All of the country's laws are in Dutch and the judicial system, which executes the laws, is almost entirely in Dutch.

DP Leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams said at a press conference held in Parliament House on Monday, she intends to take up the law with Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor, when they meet on February 5 Read more

Harbour debts stand at US $202.2 million

POINTE BLANCHE--St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies had some US $202,252,000 in debts as of December 2014. This is the total of the figures given to Parliament by Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor on Friday in response to questions from Members of Parliament posed in the first round of debate on the draft 2015 budget.

The harbour has a bond loan from the Central Bank of Curaçao and St Read more

Demand For Report About Bureau Telecommunication And Post: Btp-Statement Exasperates Mp Sarah Wescot-Williams

St. Maarten – Democratic Party MP Sarah Wescot-Williams has reacted rather exasperated at the press release the Bureau Telecommunication and Post (BTP) sent to the media just before the weekend. In the release, the BTP-board denies fraud-allegations and claims that the responsible minister (the now departed Ted Richardson) has failed to provide integrity-researchers with the appropriate information, even though this information is available.

“Events in rapid succession are demanding Parliament’s attention,” Wescot-Williams writes in a press release, “and government is called to respond with equal urgency.”

The DP-MP notes that the BTP has been created by law to execute a public task and that it is considered an independent organization Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Anne Marie Pieterz-Powell, the British Vice Consul for the Dutch and French Caribbean paid courtesy visits to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Minister of Economic Affairs Claret Connor on Tuesday, January 20 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Parliament of St. Maarten on Wednesday granted Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs time to host his informal "Meet & Greet" event at Parliament house, where he stressed to MP's present that civility should be observed despite parties having their roles to play as part of St. Maarten's constitutional democracy.

The Prime Minister was welcomed by the President of Parliament Dr Read more

British Vice Consul Pays Courtsey Visit To Government

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Anne Marie Pieterz-Powell, the British Vice Consul for the Dutch and French Caribbean paid courtesy visits to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Minister of Economic Affairs Clar Read more

Pledges of cooperation to new Dutch Representative

PHILIPSBURG--New Representative of the Netherlands in Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten Henk Brons was welcomed with pledges of cooperation and communication during an informal brunch at Sheer Restaurant in Philipsburg on Tuesday morning.

Hosted by acting Dutch Representative in Philipsburg Gert Versluis, the gathering also served to bid farewell to Dutch Representative Gerard van der Wulp, who served the Dutch Government in this capacity during the past three years and six months. He is now going into retirement.

Many dignitaries and government officials sat in on the brunch Read more

Shareholders Approve Telem’S 2015 Budget

St. Maarten – A review and approval of TelEm’s financial statements for the year 2013, discussion on dividend payments to government for 2013 and a review and approval of the company’s budget and capital expenditures for this year – 2015 were the highlights of the company’s annual general shareholders meeting on Thursday.

The AGSM was held at the A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall an in attendance were shareholder representatives in the persons of Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, Minister of education, sport and  culture Rita Bourne-Gumbs; Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, and Telecommunications ,Claret Connor; Minister of Finance, Martin Hassink and Secretary General, C.I Read more

Frans joins UP-led coalition, gets Justice Ministry portfolio

PHILIPSBURG--The United People's (UP)-led coalition again has the support of ten Members of Parliament (MPs) as of Monday morning when United St. Maarten (US) party leader MP Frans Richardson signed on to the coalition.

Richardson signed on with the "100 per cent support" of his party's board Read more

style="text-align: center;">Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson to be replaced by Edward Kiridongo

PHILIPSBURG:--- Another shake up in the current coalition government will soon force Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson out of office. Last week Member of Parliament Frans Richardson confirmed to SMN News that he was approached by persons representing the coalition to join them as they move to strengthen the current government Read more

BTP wants end to fraud allegations

PHILIPSBURG--The Supervisory Board of the St. Maarten Bureau Telecommunication and Post BTP SXM has issued a press release saying that after prior consultation with Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor, it has decided to make a public statement that "it is evident that crucial available information within Government is not made available to all, or considered, which leads to the continued unfounded allegation of fraud at the BTP SXM."

"In an effort to address these unfounded allegations once and for all the Supervisory Board of BTP SXM wishes to inform all that the laws applicable to the functioning of BTP SXM are followed Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister, The Hon. Marcel Gumbs, officially introduced himself and members of the Council of Ministers to members of the Supervisory Board of Directors and Management of the Sint Maarten Telecommunication Holding Company N.V. (SMTHC) for the company's Annual General Shareholder's meeting in the A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall, Thursday.
In attendance along with the Prime Minister were, Minister of Education, Sport and Culture, the Hon Read more

Editorial - Need for speed

The news that parliamentarian Sarah Wescot-Williams (DP) intends to "pick up" former DP fraction member Leroy de Weever's two initiative laws to establish a timeshare authority and better regulate the sector no doubt will be welcomed, especially in light of the problem at Caravanserai and the bad publicity for the destination this is generating Read more

Minister of Tourism meets with SMTA

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism Claret Connor met with members of the board of St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA) on Tuesday. During the meeting they discussed, amongst other things, the possible litigation of timeshare issues moving forward.

The meeting was called based on a directive from the Prime Minister to ensure that government has all relevant information about the industry in order to make informed decisions.

Minister Connor said what was realised, was that there are instances on the island where people purchase a product, where a buyer has a opinion about the nature of what he/she is purchasing, which differs from that of the seller Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism Claret Connor on Tuesday met with members of the board of the St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA) to look at, among things, the possible litigation of timeshare issues moving forward. The meeting was called based on a directive from the Prime Minister to ensure that government has all relevant information about the industry in order to make informed decisions.
Minister Connor said what was realized was that there are instances on island where persons purchase a product and the buyer has an opinion about what he/she purchasing Read more

Minister Connor Meets With Smta

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Minister of Tourism Claret Connor on Tuesday met with members of the board of the St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA) to look at, among things, the possible litigation of timeshare issues moving forward.

The meeting was called based on a directive from the Prime Minister to ensure that government has all relevant information about the industry in order to make informed decisions.

Minister Connor said what was realized was that there are instances on island where persons purchase a product and the buyer has an opinion about what he/she purchasing.

These opinions are often brings unfortunate conflicts Read more

Editorial - The last one

As predicted, for the second year in a row St. Maarten isn't represented at the Vacation Fair taking place in Utrecht (see related story). It's arguably the largest annual hospitality trade show in the Netherlands, where the Dutch side no longer has any official tourism representation.

That Curaçao is a co-host on this occasion along with Spain makes the continued absence of "The Friendly Island" even more conspicuous. It is also being felt by nearby St. Eustatius and Saba.

Those who don't care about the latter should think again Read more

Connor: Timeshare industry has government’s attention

PHILIPSBURG--Grievances and complaints about a lack of protection from timeshare owners “have not fallen on deaf ears,” Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor said in a press statement issued on Sunday. The continued contribution of timeshare owners to the economy is “very important” to St. Maarten.

Some timeshare owners have the “impression” government does not care about them Read more

The grass might be greener on the other side of the fence, but the mangoes in your own backyard are the sweetest: a report on the USM in 2014.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Too often we half-forget the wisdoms of our grandparents and great-grandparents. This of course is lamentable and tragic. It is time that we remember and endorse the other part of our grandmother and grandfather's wisdom notes to achieve wholeness as individuals and as a society.
Most of us are familiar with the saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." We use this colourful expression routinely to state that from our dwelling place, from our little Caribbean island, from where we are standing, what takes place educationally in the overdeveloped countries in Western Europe and the USA and Canada or even the emerging economic powers in Asia, and what people in those countries have materially and we don't because we lack their educational system, is simply extraordinary Read more

The Grass Might Be Greener On The Other Side Of The Fence, But The Mangoes In Your Own Backyard Are The Sweetest: A Report On The Usm In 2014

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Too often we half-forget the wisdoms of our grandparents and great-grandparents. This of course is lamentable and tragic.

It is time that we remember and endorse the other part of our grandmother and grandfather's wisdom notes to achieve wholeness as individuals and as a society.

Most of us are familiar with the saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." We use this colourful expression routinely to state that from our dwelling place, from our little Caribbean island, from where we are standing, what takes place educationally in the overdeveloped countries in Western Europe and the USA and Canada or even the emerging economic powers in Asia, and what people in those countries have materially and we don't because we lack their educational system, is simply extraordinary.

We consider ourselves deprived and long to be there; we dream of having those mountains of things and those degrees that they have Read more

Minister Connor: Concerns of timeshare Industry has government’s attention.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism Claret Connor on Wednesday assured timeshare owners in general that their grievances and complaints of lack of protection have not fallen on deaf ears and their continued contribution to the economy is very important to destination St. Maarten. The Minister sympathized with disgruntled former Caravanserai owners and used the opportunity to set in motion serious discussions about protecting the vital timeshare industry.

He said though government knows and appreciates the industry and its players, legislation must reflect protection measures for the industry Read more

Minister Connor Continues Familiarization Of His Departments

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunication Claret Connor on Friday last continued his familiarization round with the departments under his Ministry.

He met with all department heads at Divi Little Bay Resort to get an update on all developments and ongoing projects.

Read more