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>PHILIPSBURG:---– Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor, presented a token of appreciation on behalf of the people and Government of Sint Maarten to the Consul General of the Kingdom of Netherlands Consulate in Miami, Nathalie Olijslager-Jaarsma, who hosted a dinner on Thursday at her residence in Coral Gables, Florida for the Kingdom Maritime and Trade delegation.

The trade mission program started off with a visit to PortMiami where the delegation received a tour Read more

Minister Teatt Connor Presents Kingdom Consul General In Miami With Token Of Appreciation During Trade Mission

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor, presented a token of appreciation on behalf of the people and Government of Sint Maarten to the Consul General of the Kingdom of Netherlands Consulate in Miami, Nathalie Olijslager-Jaarsma, who hosted a dinner on Thursday at her residence in Coral Gables, Florida for the Kingdom Maritime and Trade delegation.

The trade mission program started off with a visit to PortMiami where the delegation received a tour Read more

Gas and diesel fuel prices down today

PHILIPSBURG--Motorists will pay less for gasoline and diesel fuel at the pumps as of 6:00am today, Thursday.

The price of gasoline will drop from NAf. 1.999 to NAf. 1.936 per litre, while the price of diesel fuel will go down from NAf Read more

Editorial - In a bad light

It was interesting to see the picture of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Panama City with St. Maarten's Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs and Telecommunication Claret Connor and Port of St. Maarten CEO Mark Mingo on Monday's front page. The three men attended a round-table meeting about opportunities offered by the expanded Panama Canal, among other things.

This is noteworthy especially because Members of Parliament (MPs) in The Hague, particularly from Rutte's own VVD party, have been very critical about the Harbour Group of Companies on several occasions Read more

Minister TEATT Connor Signs-off on Chamber of Commerce & Industry Rules of Procedure. Also receives Chamber’s 2015 1Q Report

>PHILIPSBURG:-- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor and the President of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry Peggy-Ann Brandon, accompanied by members of the Chamber Board and the Minister's Chief of Staff Jean James, signed the Chamber Board's Rules of Procedures document indicating that the Board updated the Rules of Order, and has received the Minister's approval Read more

Minister TEATT Connor receives a visit from the Gagnone’s family long-time tourist visitors

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor, received a courtesy visit from a childhood friend St. Maarten Air Traffic Controller Joslyn Rombley at his office last week. Rombley wanted to introduce two long-time visitors to the island Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gagnone, from New Hampshire, United States of America, to the Minister who is responsible for Tourism.
Paul and Yvonne have been coming to St Read more

Minister Teatt Connor Signs-Off On Chamber Of Commerce & Industry Rules Of Procedure. Also Receives Chamber's 2015 1Q Report

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor and the President of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry Peggy-Ann Brandon, accompanied by members of the Chamber Board and the Minister's Chief of Staff Jean James, signed the Chamber Board's Rules of Procedures document indicating that the Board updated the Rules of Order, and has received the Minister's approval Read more

Minister Teatt Connor Receives A Visit From The Gagnone's Family Long-Time Tourist Visitors

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor, received a courtesy visit from a childhood friend St. Maarten Air Traffic Controller Joslyn Rombley at his office last week.

Rombley wanted to introduce two long-time visitors to the island Mr. and Mrs Read more

Rutte, Eman meet with Raúl Castro

THE HAGUE--Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte held talks with Cuba President Raúl Castro and several Latin American leaders of government in Panama City over the weekend.

The meeting between Castro and Rutte, who was accompanied by Aruba's Prime Minister Mike Eman and Curaçao's Minister of Finance José Jardim, on Saturday evening lasted an hour and mostly focused on the historical reconciliation between Cuba and the United States of America and its consequences for the Caribbean.

"Hopefully the reconciliation will result in a more open Cuba, as well as economic growth and democratic development Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Foresee Foundation, the leader in bringing 21st century ICT education to St. Maarten, is pleased to announce that both Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, Mrs. Bourne-Gumbs, and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications, Mr. Connor, have officially endorsed the DigiKidz Project founded and operated by Foresee.
In her letter to Foresee, Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs explains that "[w]ith the ever-changing innovations in technology and learning, we value the initiatives of the Foresee Foundation and its DigiKidz project Read more

Ministers Of Education And Telecommunication Pledge Support For Digikidz Project

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Foresee Foundation, the leader in bringing 21st century ICT education to St. Maarten, is pleased to announce that both Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, Mrs. Bourne-Gumbs, and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications, Mr. Connor, have officially endorsed the DigiKidz Project founded and operated by Foresee.

In her letter to Foresee, Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs explains that "[w]ith the ever-changing innovations in technology and learning, we value the initiatives of the Foresee Foundation and its DigiKidz project Read more

Connor, Rutte, Mingo at Panama round table

POINTE BLANCHE/PANAMA--Port St. Maarten Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo took part in a top-level CEO Round Table Meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Panama Minister of Canal Affairs Roberto Roy and Panama Canal Authority ACP Administrator Jorge Quijano in Panama City on Sunday.

A St. Maarten delegation present was headed by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor Read more

Local Audi branch inaugurated Friday

COLE BAY--World-renowned German car brand Audi inaugurated its St. Maarten establishment amongst business partners, dignitaries and invited guests Friday night with a formal gathering culminating in the unveiling of five luxury cars, one of which was custom-made for company Chairman Imran Mcsood Amjad.

Audi set up the new location in collaboration with Caribbean Auto in Cole Bay. Latin American Sales Manager Martin Port welcomed it to the Audi family. Imran and Managing Director Tariq Amjad shared the unique selling points of Audi and some of the history making the launch possible.

Customisation, down to the colour of the threading of the leather seats, was just one of the possibilities Tariq described Read more

Rita and Claret join support for DigiKidz

PHILIPSBURG--Foresee Foundation, founder and operator of the DigiKidz Project which aims to bring 21st century information and communications technology (ICT) education to all classrooms, announced recently that it has received the official endorsement of Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs Rita Bourne-Gumbs and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Claret Connor.

Foresee Foundation and the DigiKidz Project Team said they were excited and encouraged with the ministers' support.

According to Foresee President Jose Sommers, these endorsements support the core concept of Foresee (also abbreviated as "4C"): setting up innovative projects through communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking, what she calls "the way forward for 21st-century learning."

The endorsements, in joining the foundation's plans to raise funds for upcoming projects, are "fully in line with the modern vision that in strong communities, government, the business sector and other organisations and non-governmental (NGOs) jointly work together on achieving the ambitious goal of bringing ICT into all classrooms in St Read more

Minister Connor Proud Of Civil Servants Taking The Oath As Servants Of The People

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (Ministry TEATT) Honorable Claret Connor was present for the oath-taking ceremony of civil servants from the Ministry TEATT that took place recently.

"I am very proud to be able to work with these professional women and men who have taken an oath to serve the people of this country.

"I have a great team to work with Read more

Audi St. Maarten Opens Doors Friday, Quality Brand And Service Comes To St. Maarten/St. Martin

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Audi brand is now available on St. Maarten. Audi officially opened their doors on Friday evening with a large group of family, Friends and government officials from both French and Dutch as well as officials of the Audi brand in attendance.

Chairman of the board Imrand MacSood gave some history about the process that led up to the brand now being established on the island.

He also spoke about the hard work that went into the process, for which he gave special thanks to his son Tariq Amjad.

Apart from hard work he also spoke about the quality that Audi brings to a quality island such as St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (Ministry TEATT) Honorable Claret Connor was present for the oath-taking ceremony of civil servants from the Ministry TEATT that took place recently.
"I am very proud to be able to work with these professional women and men who have taken an oath to serve the people of this country.
"I have a great team to work with Read more

>Cole Bay: --- Caribbean Auto Sales owned and operated by the Amjad family has added another top of the line brand of vehicles to their fleet as they are one of St. Maarten's biggest auto dealer on the island. When one hears the name Masood, the first thing they think about is insurance as he is the architect that built NAGICO Insurances from scratch.
However, the Amjad's "Mac and Rena" are dedicated business people that are not afraid to take chances, while working endless hours to build the businesses they own Read more

Silver Medallist Returns To Rousing Welcome

St. Maarten – Shakeba Pink wrote her name boldly in the sporting books of Country St. Maarten when she won a Silver medal at the 44th Annual Carifta Games which took place in St. Kitts over the Easter weekend.

Pink, the leading middle distance runner on the island, follows the footsteps of Claude Paul, a former member of the Lab Sports Academy who was also the first male runner to medal at the same event several years ago under the Netherlands Antilles. Ironically, this is Pink’s second time at the Carifta Games, she was unable to secure a place on the podium in her first outing, but this time, she did it and that is a plus for St Maarten Read more

New law on transport expected in mid-2016

PHILIPSBURG--“To professionalize, promote and enhance public transportation equally for consumers and operators alike” is the goal of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, Minister responsible Claret Connor told Parliament’s Permanent Committee for Transport on Thursday afternoon.

Conner was at Parliament House to talk with the committee about the state of the country’s transportation sector Read more

St. Maarten Quarter master plan approved by Ministers

POINTE BLANCHE--The Master Plan for St. Maarten Quarter, a US $120 million mixed-use waterfront development project by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), officially received approval by the Council of Ministers (COM) on March 26, which RCCL Vice President of Commercial Development John Tercek described as the last step needed before the project can "go full steam" ahead.

Tercek was notified officially by a letter signed by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs on behalf of COM, although government previously had expressed satisfaction after a well-received presentation in early March.

During the presentation, the group urged swift approval so that the project could be announced at the global Seatrade Cruise Shipping Conference in Miami in the week of March 17, amongst international industry players and travel and trade media.

The project still was announced at Seatrade in the presence of Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor.

Prime Minister Gumbs called the proposed project something that, in COM's opinion, would enhance the tourism product "tremendously."

According to the presentation, the next steps entail commencing detailed design and attaining relevant permits Read more

Minister TEATT Connor briefed about process to catalog country’s Intangible Cultural Heritage

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor along with members of his Cabinet and representatives from the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, were informed recently about the Sint Maarten National Consultation on Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Minister received a presentation from UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Secretary General for Sint Maarten Marcellia Henry.

The Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO vision is to contribute to the building of peace, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.
The Commission has undertaken to catalog St Read more

Minister Teatt Connor Briefed About Process To Catalog Country's Intangible Cultural Heritage

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor along with members of his Cabinet and representatives from the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, were informed recently about the Sint Maarten National Consultation on Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Minister received a presentation from UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Secretary General for Sint Maarten Marcellia Henry.

The Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO vision is to contribute to the building of peace, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

The Commission has undertaken to catalog St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  World Health Day is marked annually on April 7. This year the focus is on food safety. New data on the harm caused by foodborne illnesses underscore the global threats posed by unsafe foods. World Health Day highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with food safety under the slogan "From farm to plate, make food safe."
Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor would like to congratulate all those working in the food sector on the eve of World Health Day, for the very important role that they play on a daily basis in restaurants, supermarkets, food trucks, small grocers, road side food tables, food kiosks, soup kitchens, home-made for sale food, etc.
"We are in the tourism business Read more