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Connor, bus drivers meet to discuss public transportation

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor held a meeting with Dutch St. Maarten United Bus Drivers Association last week, where a number of issues and topics related to public transportation were discussed.

Association President William Alexis told The Daily Herald that he appreciates the Minister sitting down to speak to the group as soon as he got the chance to – some two weeks after a request, which included time off-island – and said that Minister Connor showed a "good vision" and that he wanted to work towards continuity Read more

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Chamber lends helping hand to entrepreneurs with Business Centre

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) has set out to lend a helping hand to entrepreneurs with its new Business Centre, which was officially opened on Friday.

The Centre is located adjacent to the Chamber's office on Cannegieter Street and has opened with two staffers, Tytania Archangel and another person. Archangel told The Daily Herald after the opening that the intention is to eventually strengthen the staffing capacity with a receptionist, a marketing manager, finance and budget manager and economist.

The Business Centre is a service centre for business development for entrepreneurs living in St Read more

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Chamber opens Business Centre

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry will officially open its Business Centre during a ceremony today, Friday.

The Business Centre will be the service centre for business development for entrepreneurs living in St. Maarten and business representatives seeking to do business with local entrepreneurs.

The Business Centre will offer use of facilities, guidance, administrative assistance support, consultation and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services to entrepreneurs seeking to start, expand or strengthen their business or business endeavours.

Scheduled to speak at the opening ceremony are Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications TEATT Claret Connor and Chamber Vice President Stanley Lint Read more

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MPs to discuss Harbour security contract May 7

PHILIPSBURG--Members of Parliament (MPs) will continue to seek answers about the hefty security contract signed between St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies and Checkmate Security in a meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament in Parliament House on Thursday, May 7, starting at 2:00pm. Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor is invited for the meeting.

The meeting originally was scheduled for today, Wednesday, but has been postponed due to the minister being ill.

The meeting was requested by opposition National Alliance (NA) MPs William Marlin, Silveria Jacobs, Christophe Emmanuel and George Pantophlet on March 5 Read more

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Minister has not deviated from Good Friday business closures

PHILIPSBURG--Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor says he has "not deviated" from the policies on business closures on Good Friday.

The minister was responding at the time to a query from The Daily Herald as to whether the holding of a wet T-shirt contest by a local nightclub was allowed on Good Friday evening. Connor said he had requested that the police "investigate the legality" of the event.

The law on shop closure states that business establishments must be closed on Good Friday, which is tomorrow, Friday, April 3 Read more

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