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Four minister candidates reportedly fail screening

PHILIPSBURG--It appears that efforts to put together a new cabinet have come up a few ministers short. Four of the minister candidates reportedly have failed the extensive screening to take up a post in what has been billed as the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet.

Those said to have failed the security and integrity screenings are finance minister candidate Richard Gibson Sr., health minister candidate Leroy de Weever, infrastructure minister candidate Peggy-Ann Brandon and deputy minister plenipotentiary candidate Lucas Berman.

According to people close to the issue, attorney and former minister in the Netherlands Antilles Gibson Sr Read more

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Editorial - Not unthinkable

That outgoing Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake wants the Council of Ministers to get on with approving the much-discussed purchase of the Vorst land in Cay Hill (see Friday paper) is to a certain extent understandable. After all, the family has been waiting since the days of former Minister Roland Duncan and his plans for a Justice Park on that location.

Not only that, but they have agreed to lower the price at least twice Read more

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Topper’s owner gets sentenced for guns

PHILIPSBURG--The owner of Topper's Restaurant in Simpson Bay was sentenced Wednesday to seven months suspended, on three years' probation, and a NAf. 7,000 fine, for the possession of two firearms with ammunition.

The Prosecutor's Office had requested nine months suspended and a NAf Read more

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Proposals tabled at symposium to enhance situation of elderly

CAY HILL--Promoting the independent and assisted living of the elderly was one of three proposals made to enhance the situation of the ageing population in St. Maarten during the Symposium on Ageing held at the Belair Community Centre on Wednesday.

Social Development official Bernadette Barry, who presented the recommendations towards the end of the forum, said the elderly population would like to live as long as possible at home in the environment with which they are familiar. They do not want to be placed in a home Read more

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Dennis outlines challenges of National Detective Agency

~ No response from Dutch for assistance ~

PHILIPSBURG--Justice Minister Dennis Richardson outlined on Thursday some of the challenges facing the National Detective Agency (Landsrecherche) of St. Maarten.

Richardson said he had asked Dutch Minister of Security and Justice Ivo Opstelten in early 2014 for temporary operational assistance of four detectives from the National Detective Agency (Rijksrecherche) in the Netherlands. The request was made in view of the Landsrecherche's workload Read more

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Judge to decide Tuesday on Bada Bing witnesses

PHILIPSBURG--Judge Koos van de Ven decided on Thursday to adjourn the preliminary hearing in the so-called "Orca" trial until next week Tuesday, to consider requests of the defence for additional investigations and the hearing of witnesses.

It is not yet known when the actual court case will be heard, but in any case not before mid-January 2015; most likely in March or April 2015.

In the trial, Member of Parliament (MP) Patrick Illidge (48) will be charged with accepting bribes from Bada Bing and Lunteren N.V Read more

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