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Government Seeks To Make October 10Th A National Holiday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The government of St. Maarten is now in the process of changing at least one of the islands National Holidays.

Prime Minister the Honorable Marcel Gumbs confirmed that the Holidays that will be switched is that of December 15 Kingdom Day, paving the way for October the 10th to become a National Holiday. Read more

Lake urges stakeholders to work out waste-to-energy plant project

PHILIPSBURG--United People’s (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake has issued a public call to all stakeholders involved in the stagnated waste-to-energy plant to get to work.

His call comes after Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs said last week that getting the project moving had encountered some difficulties Read more

‘Too much emphasis on financial management’

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG--The Committee Evaluation Kingdom Law Financial Supervision placed too much importance on financial management, said Curaçao and St. Maarten in their objection against the advice to keep the legislation in place for now.

As reported earlier, the committee headed by former Antillean banker Ron Gomes Casseres concluded that while the new countries’ budgets of 2012, 2013 and 2014 met the most basic conditions set, there is as yet no question of a proper structural financial management.

For example, the annual accounts of none of those three years have so far been approved Read more

Editorial - Don’t kill the goose

All indications are that measures to raise revenues and/or cut expenditures will result from the budgetary instruction the Kingdom Council of Ministers is expected to issue for St. Maarten on the advice of the Committee for Financial Supervision. Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs had stated earlier that several amendments to add 15 million guilders to this year’s budget were at Parliament, but the general public is yet to learn what’s in store.

Rumours in the past that a hike in the turnover tax TOT was being considered have always been denied Read more

UP MP Lake would like to see stakeholders for Waste to Energy Plant Project getting together to move project forward

>PHILIPSBURG:---- United People’s (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake sent a letter to the Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, and also publicly made a statement on July 13th, 2015 requesting an update on the Solid Waste Ordinance and the progress of the long awaited Waste to Energy Plant to address the ‘growing garbage mountain.’

“As the former Minister of VROMI, my ministry and the Steering Committee was very much involved with the final stage the bidding process which was won by a company to build the plant Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, said on Sunday that joint cooperation and collaboration is the most feasible way to move forward in building and developing a longstanding relationship that is beneficial to both parties concerned within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Additional discussions will take place between Sint Maarten and the Netherlands with on how to tackle a number of areas such as border crossing crime, money laundering, the narcotics trade, robberies, and human smuggling and trafficking.
“Sint Maarten and the Netherlands both agree that the country’s judicial system needs to be strengthened Read more

>PHILIPSBURG;---- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, has forwarded a letter to the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit expressing condolences to the people and Government of Dominica with respect to the damage left behind by Tropical Storm Erika.
“On behalf of the Government and the people of Sint Maarten, I Read more

Up Mp Lake Would Like To See Stakeholders For Waste To Energy Plant Project Getting Together To Move Project Forward

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – United People’s (UP) Party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake sent a letter to the Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, and also publicly made a statement on July 13th, 2015 requesting an update on the Solid Waste Ordinance and the progress of the long awaited Waste to Energy Plant to address the â€˜growing garbage mountain.’

“As the former Minister of VROMI, my ministry and the Steering Committee was very much involved with the final stage the bidding process which was won by a company to build the plant Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Expresses Condolences To The Government And People Of Dominica

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, has forwarded a letter to the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit expressing condolences to the people and Government of Dominica with respect to the damage left behind by Tropical Storm Erika.

“On behalf of the Government and the people of Read more

Editorial - A while longer

What was becoming increasingly obvious now appears unavoidable. St. Maarten faces an instruction to bring its 2015 budget in line with requirements of the Kingdom Financial Supervision Law (see related article).

Just last Wednesday Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs had stated that draft amendments were at Parliament to increase the budget by 15 million guilders and shift some allocations, based on increased income projections and other complementing factors Read more

TelEm Group offices re-opening Friday.

>PHILIPSBURG:---  TelEm Group announced Thursday night that all company locations will be opened to the general public at the start of the business day Friday following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika.

Erika passed further south than anticipated with less rainfall than expected on the island.

Company personnel will be assessing assets and equipment for possible water damage and then begin the process of assisting any customers with damaged or faulty telecommunication services following Thursday’s storm.

The company says TelCell’s mobile service and TelEm Group’s high-speed ADSL service both continued to operate efficiently throughout the storm providing valuable updates to customers throughout St Read more

Plasterk And Richardson Smoke A Peace Pipe In The Hague

Protocol remains in place, cooperation back on track

ST. MAARTEN / THE HAGUE – Tensions between the Netherlands and St. Maarten have eased after a meeting between Justice Minister Dennis Richardson, Minister of Safety and Justice Ard van der Steur and Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk during a dinner in The Hague on Wednesday. The brusque announcement by Gerard Bouman, chief of the Dutch national police, that he will not work together with the local government and the local police force to combat corruption and organized crime in St Read more

Remembering Frank Mingo: “A Force To Be Reckoned With”

Frank Mingo holding his one of his sons on vacation. Photo contributed

St. Maarten / By Andrew Dick – The late Frank Mingo was a force to be reckoned with says Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs who served with him in the Netherlands Antilles Parliament prior to October 10, 2010.  Born in Aruba on February 1948, Frank Elliot Mingo was also known as Frankie or Pappie, the son of Clara Hunt and Frank Emmanuel Mingo Sr Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs: All Businesses to remain closed on Thursday. Potential for severe flooding

The Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs will be issuing a statement around 6.00pm giving an update with respect to a number of issues after an assessment has been carried out related to the passing of Tropical Storm Erika.

For Immediate Release: Thursday, August 27, 2015/N145

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), addressed the nation at noon on Thursday, August 27 with respect to the approach of Tropical Storm Erika Read more

Waste-to-energy plant still pending

PHILIPSBURG--The country will have to wait for some time more before a solution is implemented for the garbage mountain growing out of Great Salt Pond and looming over Philipsburg.

The much-talked about waste-to-energy plant appears to have stalled. The plant was a topic in last year’s hotly contested Parliamentary Elections and since then not much has been heard.

Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, asked about the project at the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday, said “I wish I can give you a date Read more

Erika passes St. Maarten without major incident

 PHILIPSBURG--Tropical Storm Erika passed St. Maarten/St. Martin on Thursday without any major incident. There were some reports of minor wind damage. All government services and schools resume as of today after Thursday’s closure due to the passing of the storm.

St. Maarten was spared any damage to property or loss of life as the storm passed. However, the island of Dominica did not fare as well; that island sustained extensive property damage and the tragic loss of at least four lives in floodwaters accumulated from rain dumped by Erika on the very mountainous country Read more

St. Maarten, Netherlands vow to fight crime together

THE HAGUE--St. Maarten and the Netherlands, in The Hague on Wednesday evening, reconfirmed their wish to work together to fight organised, undermining crime on the island.

The meeting between St. Maarten Justice Minister Dennis Richardson, Dutch Minister of Security and Justice Ard van der Steur and his colleague of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Minister Ronald Plasterk was deemed “constructive.” Richardson spoke of “open” talks during which parties were able to “speak their mind.”

“I think we can now proceed in a constructive manner,” stated Minister Plasterk Read more

Govt drafts amendments to increase 2015 budget

PHILIPSBURG--Amendments to increase the 2015 budget by some NAf. 15 million, and to shift some budgetary allocations have been sent to Parliament by the Marcel Gumbs cabinet.

It is hoped by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs that Parliament will deal with the amendments soon.

The 2015 budget, though passed by Parliament on January 29, has not yet been given the stamp of approval by the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT.

Amendments to the budget were anticipated based on projected increases to government income and other complementing factors.

Referred to as a "skeleton budget" by Finance Minister Martin Hassink, the 2015 balanced budget stands at NAf Read more

Restaurants and Casinos can Open

Prime Minister Gumbs: Restaurants and Casinos can Open Thursday Evening. Schools, Businesses and Government to Reopen on Friday

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), in an update on Thursday afternoon, August 27, says, based on an assessment of the current weather situation regarding Tropical Storm Erika:

"Country Sint Maarten remains under a Tropical Storm Warning Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs: All Businesses to remain closed on Thursday. Potential for severe flooding.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), addressed the nation at noon on Thursday, August 27 with respect to the approach of Tropical Storm Erika.
The Prime Minister stated the following in his national address:
“Country Sint Maarten remains under a Tropical Storm Warning. Tropical Storm Erika at 11.00AM Thursday morning was located 98 miles south of Sint Maarten.
“The current forecast as of Thursday morning, has Tropical Storm Erika passing just south of the country this afternoon and tonight, weather conditions are still expected to deteriorate.
“Therefore, as Prime Minister and based on the advice of key Emergency Support Functions, certain decisions need to be taken to protect the safety of our citizens and visitors.
“Strong to near gale force winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour and gusts up to storm strength is still possible.
“Erika is forecast to produce rainfall of 3 to 5 inches with maximum amounts of 8 inches across the Leeward Islands.
“Severe flooding is possible from Erika Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs: Restaurants And Casinos Can Open Thursday Evening. Schools, Businesses And Government To Reopen On Friday

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), in an update on Thursday afternoon, August 27, says, based on an assessment of the current weather situation regarding Tropical Storm Erika:

“Country Sint Maarten remains under a Tropical Storm Warning.  The country will continue to Read more

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 26, 2015/N144

Prime Minister Gumbs: All Businesses, Schools and Government Offices Closed on Thursday due to the arrival of Erika

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), addressed the nation at noon on Wednesday, August 26 with respect to the approach of Tropical Storm Erika Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), addressed the nation at noon on Wednesday, August 26 with respect to the approach of Tropical Storm Erika.
The Prime Minister stated the following in his national address:
Audio file:
“The country of Sint Maarten is under a Tropical Storm Warning Read more

Postal Services St. Maarten (PSS) closure for passage of Tropical Storm Erika.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Postal Services St.Maarten (PSS) hereby reminds the general public in keeping with the rule of business closure by the Honorable Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs that closure of operations will only be on Thursday, 27th August, 2015.

Management of PSS hopes to resume normally on Friday with operations and working hours resum Read more