SXMElections.com

Gasoline price goes up, diesel fuel drops today

PHILIPSBURG--Consumers will have to fork out more money to buy gasoline, but will pay a tad less for diesel fuel as of today, Friday, February 27.

A statement issued by Minister of Economic Affairs Claret Connor after 7:00pm Thursday said the price of gasoline and diesel fuel would be adjusted today as of 6:00am. The price of gasoline will rise from NAf Read more

Mingo refuses to disclose details of Checkmate security contract

~ Owner's identity not provided ~

PHILIPSBURG--Questions relating to the Harbour Group of Companies' contract with Checkmate Security Services and the status of security at the port, as well as the Group's "clandestine attitude" were amongst the hot-button issues discussed in Thursday's presentation to Parliament's Permanent Committee for Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) at Parliament House.

Committee Chairman United St. Maarten (US) party leader MP Frans Richardson organised the meeting, which was broadcast live, with the expressed goal of hearing directly from Harbour Group Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo and his team about a number of pressing issues.

Mingo remained mum on most questions relating to security, citing competition and safety-related concerns, as well as contractual obligations.

He did not present any "information and documentation regarding the security contract with Checkmate Security Company" as formally requested by Democratic Party (DP) MP Sarah Wescot-Williams through MP Richardson Read more

New Harbour security contract raises questions

~ Checkmate gets $2.2 million increase ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Harbour Group of Companies is expected to finalise a new agreement with Checkmate Security Services this week that will see the security company earn three times as much in 2015 as it did over the last year for services rendered at the port.

The Daily Herald understands that the Harbour subsidiary St. Maarten Ports Authority has budgeted US $3,138,300 for 2015 to spend on outside security services (Checkmate Security), up from $963,715 spent in 2014.

According to the Harbour's 2015 budget, a copy of which this newspaper has in its possession, the hourly rate charged by the security company increased in September 2013 from $6.75 to $7.07, a hike of roughly 5 per cent Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Claret Connor (first on the right), met with the Policy Department of the Ministry – Economy, Transport and Telecommunication February 18th,2015. The Minister met with the general staff, followed by a meeting with the Secretary General, Miguel De Weever, department head, Lucy Richardson along with members of his Kabinet Read more

Minister Of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport And Telecommunication Still Defining Departmental Priorities

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Claret Connor (first on the right), met with the Policy Department of the Ministry – Economy, Transport and Telecommunication February 18th,2015.

The Minister met with the general staff, followed by a meeting with the Secretary Ge Read more

Airport ‘on the radar’ of various air carriers

~ Details opportunities, threats ~

AIRPORT--In reference to opportunities discussed at the Routes Americas 2015 Conference earlier this month, Princess Juliana International Airport SXM says it "remains firmly on the radar of various airlines, with several carriers stating that they are very pleased with the airport."

An airport press release said, "During one-on-one meetings between a St. Maarten delegation and a number of airlines and airport representatives at the Routes Americas 2015 Conference to discuss current and new air service opportunities, the United States carriers indicated that the 2014 load factors were good and that no changes were expected in the market."

The delegation was led by Tourism and Transport Minister Claret Connor and included airport Managing Director Regina LaBega and other top airport officials Read more

Editorial - No ifs, no buts

Concerns expressed by the Democratic Party (DP) parliamentarians in Tuesday's paper regarding a perceived lack of tourism marketing should not go unnoticed. As stated before, there is currently no representation in Europe and contracts for the all-important North American continent apparently expired.

The opposition members have a point when questioning why and how Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor is – as he stated – reorganising, reviewing and revisiting the already established St Read more

DP: Country’s marketing seemingly at standstill

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten's tourism marketing in the Netherlands, the United States and Canada seems to be at a standstill with no representation in Europe and the expiration of the contracts for the North American market, according to Democratic Party (DP) Parliament fraction advisor Emil Lee.

Lee joined party leader Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams at Parliament House on Monday for a party press conference at which they discussed various issues the party is pursuing and is pushing for Parliament and the Gumbs Cabinet's attention.

Wescot-Williams said Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor is still to explain how and why he will be reorganising, re-evaluating and revisiting the already established St Read more

SXM talks preclearance, Open Skies at conference

AIRPORT--The possibility of an Open Skies agreement and the establishment of United States preclearance at SXM Princess Juliana International Airport were among the issues discussed by the St. Maarten delegation at the Routes Americas 2015 Conference, held in Denver, Colorado, February 1-3.

An SXM Airport press release said the St. Maarten delegation had been led by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Claret Connor and comprised SXM Airport Managing Director Regina LaBega, Operations Manager Michel Hyman and Marketing and Customer Service Acting Manager Suzy Kartokromo.

According to US State Department former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John Byerly, a keynote speaker at the conference, Open Skies generated more than US $4 billion in revenues for the United States last year, SXM Airport said.

Byerly highlighted Chile as being at the forefront of air service liberalisation, which he stressed reaps significant economic benefits as a result.

Open Skies fosters competition and without doubt enhances the quality of service, he added Read more

Minister Connor congratulates Zaandam as new SHTA Director

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism Claret Connor on Monday congratulated Anenda Zaandam on her appointment as Executive Director of the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA).
The SHTA announced Zaandam's appointment to the post last week.

Minister Connor congratulated the SHTA on its selection of a young professional to the post Read more

Minister Connor Congratulates Zaandam As New Shta Director

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Minister of Tourism Claret Connor on Monday congratulated Anenda Zaandam on her appointment as Executive Director of the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA).

The SHTA announced Zaandam's appointment to the post last week.

Minister Connor congratulated the SHTA on its selection of a young professional to the post Read more

Connor tight-lipped on TelEm talks with prospective partners

PHILIPSBURG--The Government of St. Maarten is mum on discussions the TelEm Group is having with prospective partners, declining to even provide information on who the company is currently engaged in discussions with.

Based on recent reports received by this newspaper regarding the possible conclusion of the talks with Digicel, the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication TEATT Claret Connor was asked about the status of the talks via the Press Secretariat.

The Secretariat responded indicating that the discussions between TelEm and prospective partners "are strictly governed by confidentiality agreements Read more

Connor reiterates position on timeshare protection

Dear Editor,

After having just returned home to Canada after a wonderful holiday at our Timeshare in Guana Bay, I am greatly distressed by the Caravanserai debacle! While one can sympathize with the bank for wanting to recover some funds after a bad investment, the fact remains that the bank should never have accepted investor-owned timeshare assets to support a management loan without investor-owner agreement!

While it is encouraging that Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Read more

MPs to hear from Connor about harbour issues Tues

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies and its operations will take centre stage at a Central Committee meeting of Parliament with Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor and Finance Minister Martin Hassink on Tuesday, February 10. The meeting, requested by the National Alliance (NA) and Democratic Party (DP) on February 10, starts at Parliament at 2:00pm in Parliament House.

The agenda for the meeting covers issues related to the harbour group, the past and future impacts of the company on the country, cruise passenger head tax, Dock Marteen (Deher) marina project; causeway Turn over Tax payment, cranes, dividend and payment for the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Conference (FCCA).

Members of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams (DP), Silveria Jacobs and George Pantophlet (NA) requested answers to be provided orally in the meeting by the ministers on the "outcome between the harbour and Bobby's Marina" and if government had given the harbour the exclusive right of development for the area that the company claims in its case against the Deher's development.

Also, the MPs want to know when Parliament will receive the harbour's 2013 financial report, whether government promised to contribute to the FCCA conference and what did government actually contribute Read more

Central Committee Meeting requested by DP and NA Factions about Port St. Maarten.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will meet in public session on February 10 at the request of the Democratic Party (DP) and National Alliance (NA) factions.
The Minister of Finance Hon. Martin Hassink and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Hon Read more

Central Committee Meeting Requested By Dp And Na Factions About Port St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Central Committee of Parliament will meet in public session on February 10 at the request of the Democratic Party (DP) and National Alliance (NA) factions.

The Minister of Finance Hon. Martin Hassink and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Hon Read more

Minister Connor: Government Still Committed To Timeshare Consumer Protection

St. Maarten – Government’s goal as it regards timeshare remains to establish timeshare consumer protection and meet the goal of bringing credibility to St. Maarten’s Timeshare product, Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Claret Connor reiterated on Tuesday.

He said government understands, full well, the messages it is receiving from timeshare members Read more

Local Alternative For Rain Forest

St. Maarten – He wrote a comprehensive plan for the sustainable development of the Emilio Wilson estate and brought it to the attention of former Vromi-Minister Maurice Lake, the former Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams and the former Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Ted Richardson Read more

Dr. Nilda Arduin presents thesis to Minister of TEATT.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Dr. Nilda Arduin, an expert on Timeshare, presented her thesis, which was published in the Netherlands in 1993, to the Minister of TEATT, Mr. Claret Connor.

Dr. Arduin, a legal specialist on timeshare, is internationally known for her work and expertise on the legal aspects of timesharing. As a lawyer she has been consulted and advised governments, developers and timeshare owners on legal issues pertaining to the timeshare industry.
In 1995 she advised the government of Sint Maarten during the very difficult period of the Pelican Resort debacle just before Hurricane Luis hit Sint Maarten Read more

Connor reiterates position on timeshare protection

PHILIPSBURG--Government's position to establish timeshare consumer protection and meet the goal of bringing credibility to St. Maarten's Timeshare product was reiterated by Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Claret Connor via press release on Tuesday.

The Minister said that Government understands full well the messages it is receiving from timeshare members.

"We know that they are immensely frustrated because they feel vulnerable as a result of many questionable actions by multiple timeshare resorts and management companies which are at times against timeshare owner's interest.

"Some members are so disgruntled to the point of feeling abandoned and in a number of cases betrayed," the Minister said.

"As stated in various media reports, the Caravanserai timeshare members have seen millions of dollars of their hard-earned investments in St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Claret Connor on Tuesday reiterated government's position to establish timeshare consumer protection and meet the goal of bringing credibility to St. Maarten's Timeshare product.

He said government understands, full well, the messages it is receiving from timeshare members. "We know that they are immensely frustrated because they feel vulnerable as a result of many questionable actions by multiple timeshare resorts and management companies which are at times against timeshare owner's interest Read more