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Court Exonerates Tourist Bureau Marketing Director Edward Dest 

Judge: “You do not deserve punishment”

St. Maarten – The expression ‘mixed feelings’ probably describes best what Edward Dest must have experienced when the Court in First Instance declared him guilty of embezzlement yesterday and heard Judge Maria Paulides tell him that he does not deserve punishment for a trial that has been hanging over his head for almost five years.

The court sentenced Dest to a symbolic one-day conditional prison sentence with one day of probation Read more

Parliament Ad Hoc Integrity Committee meeting stalled

PHILIPSBURG--The second meeting of Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee for Integrity stalled on Thursday, when sufficient Members of Parliament (MPs) failed to show up for the session to have a quorum.

Ad Hoc Committee Chairman Member of Parliament (MP) Dr. Lloyd Richardson opened the meeting just to announce that three MPs were signed in and present in the General Assembly Hall of Parliament House Read more

Edward Dest gets symbolic sentence

PHILIPSBURG--More than four years after criminal complaints were filed against him in his capacity as former Tourist Bureau Interim Director and Head of Marketing, Edward Dest was found guilty by the court on Wednesday of embezzlement in his capacity as civil servant. However, the court imposed only a largely symbolic sentence of one day suspended, with one day's probation.

The judge found it proven that Dest had misappropriated funds belonging to the St. Maarten Tourist Office in New York NTO for promoting tourism to St Read more

MPs urged to work with govt on law formulation

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament does not follow instructions on the procedure to write laws, Advisory Council Vice Chairwoman Mavis Brooks-Salmon said in a meeting of Parliament's Central Committee at which only eight of the fifteen Members of Parliament (MPs) were present on Tuesday morning.

The Advisory Council, a body outlined in the Constitution as a necessary organ of governance, has in the past told Parliament to "work with government's Legal Department" when crafting initiative laws. The Legal Department has the necessary expertise to assist with the proper way to formulate and present laws, though the department may be understaffed.

Brooks-Salmon pointed out to MPs that the Advisory Council "does not correct" draft legislation, but is capable of giving legislators guidance on where to seek pertinent information in the research and drafting process.

In response to "burning" questions from National Alliance (NA) MP Christophe Emmanuel about whether or not the five-member Council of Ministers was legal as the Constitution states the country should have seven ministers, Brooks-Salmon said while the Advisory Council will further look into the matter, it should be noted that the Constitution does not state the ministers should be seven different persons.

In the current situation, two ministers of the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet hold dual portfolios Read more

MP Maurice Lake Grievances goes deeper than anyone would imagine – VORST Estate is only a tip of the Iceberg.

style="text-align: center;">Building Permits not Signed by Acting Minister of VROMI --- Reliable Sources

PHILIPSBURG:--- The situation at the Ministry of VROMI is not only disturbing to the former Minister Maurice Lake now Member of Parliament whom it is said tendered his resignation from the United Peoples Party prior to leaving the island Read more

MP Maurice Lake pulls Support from Current Coalition --- All MP’s have major issues with UP Leader Theo Heyliger.

style="text-align: center;">Prime Minister plans to dissolve Parliament early next week to stop formation of another Government. Reliable Sources.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Several fractures in the United Peoples Party/ De Weever/ Marlin- Romeo and US coalition seems to be beyond repair that Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs have decided that he will send a Landsbesluit to the Governor of St Read more

Rita: Consequences of selling SZV cards will match offence

PHILIPSBURG--Interim Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Rita Bourne-Gumbs says the “consequences” to be meted out in the case of the alleged selling of Social and Health Insurance SZV cards “will match the misconduct.”

In a press statement on Sunday, Bourne-Gumbs said SZV management had updated her on the current situation as it relates to the ongoing investigation into the alleged selling of the medical cards. She was assured that the matter was being addressed with urgency and the consequences would match the misconduct.

“The Minister was guaranteed that SZV’s ability to handle the matter is forthcoming, based on the plan of action that was presented to her during an extensive relevant meeting with the management of SZV,” the press statement read Read more

Large Scale Investigation at SZV might end up crippling Economy

style="text-align: center;">General Controls began Friday.

PHILIPSBURG: --- A large scale investigation is underway at SZV after the new management discovered that an employee is suspected of selling SZV cards to people that are not legally insured and they are registered under several bogus companies. Last week Member of Parliament Franklin Meyers announced through a press release that he is monitoring the investigation Read more

No quorum stalls housing meeting

PHILIPSBURG--The discussion in Parliament about developments at St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) was stalled on Wednesday after insufficient Members of Parliament signed in for the meeting with ad interim Housing Minister Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs. The meeting will be reconvened at a later date.

Six of the seven United People's (UP) party MPs were not present for the meeting.

Only seven of the 15 MPs serving in the legislature signed in for the meeting Read more

Editorial - No reason to doubt

Sometimes revelations raise more questions than they answer. A case in point was the announcement by Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers in Tuesday's edition that an investigation is underway at Social and Health Insurances SZV into the alleged selling of medical coverage cards.

The UP deputy fraction leader sought clarity on the reports during a parliamentary committee meeting with SZV and St Read more

Employee investigated for selling SZV cards

PHILIPSBURG--An investigation is being conducted at Social and Health Insurances SZV into allegations of an employee selling SZV cards to persons who are not properly registered or who are not actually paying premiums.

United People's (UP) party deputy leader Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers said Monday that he was awaiting the results of the investigation Read more

SZV takes card selling scheme ‘very seriously’

HARBOUR VIEW--Social and Health Care Insurance SZV says it is taking the reports of an employee selling its insurance cards "very seriously."

"This case is being taken very seriously, as it does not only have repercussions for the organisation, but also for the people of St. Maarten," SZV said in a brief statement issued on Tuesday. "The SZV team is working diligently so as to not compromise the investigation in any way. When the findings of the investigation become conclusive, the appropriate measures will be taken."

SZV said it was not at liberty to divulge any details related to the ongoing investigation due to the complexity of the situation.

United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament Franklin Meyers disclosed on Monday that an investigation was being conducted into allegations of an employee selling SZV cards to persons who were not properly registered or who were not actually paying premiums.

He said if proven true, this matter would have severe consequences for SZV's viability, for the country and for every hard-working person in St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- An investigation is currently on the way at the Social and Health Insurance Funds SZV into allegations of an employee selling SZV cards to people who are not properly registered or who are not actually paying premiums.
United People's (UP) party deputy leader Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers said Monday he is eagerly awaiting the results of the investigation.
"This situation, if proven as true, has severe consequences for the viability of SZV, for the country and for every hard working person on St Read more

Up Mp Meyers Awaits Finding In Szv Card Selling Scheme

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - An investigation is currently on the way at the Social and Health Insurance Funds SZV into allegations of an employee selling SZV cards to people who are not properly registered or who are not actually paying premiums.

United People's (UP) party deputy leader Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers said Monday he is eagerly awaiting the results of the investigation.

"This situation, if proven as true, has severe consequences for the viability of SZV, for the country and for every hard working person on St Read more

Major seafront project ready to go ‘full steam’

POINTE BLANCHE--St. Maarten Quarter, a major mixed-use waterfront development project by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) is ready to commence and "go full steam" once approval is given by the Council of Ministers. The project has been in the making for eight years and its presentation to Government seems to have been well received.

Time is of the essence, as RCCL and its partners must have approval to finalise funding commitments. RCCL and the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies (SHGC) want to announce the project at the global Seatrade Cruise Shipping Conference in Miami in the week of March 17, amongst international industry players and travel and trade media.

RCCL Vice President of Commercial Development John Tercek and his partners presented a full project overview, including its history, vision and impacts, to the Ministers and Parliament's Permanent Committee for Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) on Thursday.

Main presenter Tercek was joined by consortium members Adam Petrillo of leading construction management company Hill International; Craig Baptiste and Ralph Ledee of Platinum Harbor, both local partners; SHGC Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo; and two harbour officials.

Tercek said he was happy to be able to deliver the presentation to the officials in an "appropriate and transparent way," and some Members of Parliament noted the same.

Feedback seemed positive with the exception of MP Franklin Meyers' comments that Dutch contracting companies "make hundreds of millions" in St Read more

Former tourism marketing head facing suspended prison sentence

~ Prosecutor: LaBega not off the hook ~

PHILIPSBURG--More than four years after criminal complaints were filed against him in his capacity as Head of Marketing of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau Edward Dest finally had his day in court on Wednesday. He is facing charges of embezzlement in his capacity as civil servant.

Prosecutor Nanouk Lemmers found it proven that Dest had embezzled funds belonging to the St. Maarten Tourist Office in New York for promoting tourism to St. Maarten in North America and instead had used the money to pay for airfare, hotel rooms, daily allowances, the Tourist Bureau's Christmas dinner and Boardwalk Mas 2010 expenditures.

For these crimes, which allegedly were committed between June 1, 2009, and August 23, 2010, the Prosecutor requested a suspended sentence of two months, with two years' probation Read more

Committee Puts Three Questions To Council Of State: Do Kingdom Instructions Violate Our Autonomy?

St. Maarten – On the day of the extended deadline, the permanent parliamentary committee for Kingdom Affairs and Inter-parliamentary Relations formulated three questions about the procedures around instructions by the Kingdom Council of Ministers to the governor. The questions will be added to those already formulated by the Dutch Second Chamber and sent for advice to the Council of State.

The instructions the governors of Aruba (about its 2014 budget) and of St. Maarten (about integrity-investigations and about the establishment of the Integrity Chamber) are still a hot topic in the autonomous Caribbean countries of the kingdom.

The questions the Second Chamber members have formulated are, in the opinion of the committee-members in St Read more