Dear Esteemed and Honourable Council of Ministers and Members of Parliament, 1. We beg and beseech of you the Parliament of Sint Maarten to begin, not just seriously considering, but to call your Ministers to Parliament regarding outdated Policies of Government in all Areas and all Aspects that governs the daily smooth running of a Government that can guarantee and demonstrate continuity. 2. Where it pertains to Ministers needing to be summoned to Parliament in order to be told, probably and seriously by way of Motions presented, to get their act together, as well as to be seriously questioned regarding…
Author: The Publisher
WILLEMSTAD — Ennia Caribe Holding (ECH) is not authorized to sell Banco di Caribe (BdC), its shareholder Parman International said in a press release, but this claim was quickly neutralized by the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten (CBCS). Parman, whose main shareholder is the 94-year old Iranian-American business tycoon Hushang Ansary, stated in a press release that ECH needs its permission for the sale, but the Central Bank denied this in a press release of its own. On May 25, the CBCS hosted a shareholders’ meeting about the intention to sell Banco di Caribe. “Parman was provided with…
GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI) has begun their own investigation into alleged signed draft decrees by former Ministers of VROMI between the years 2014-2018 for the area known as ‘Over the Bank’. All persons in possession of signed draft decrees and letters of intent signed in the years 2014-2018 for the area known as ‘Over the Bank’ are hereby requested to submit to the email address: minvromi@sintmaartengov.org the following documentation: 1) the submitted request for land with the DIV# on said application, 2) the signed draft…
PHILIPSBURG — “Women are taking the lead and not sitting back and waiting for things being done for them,” said Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs during the opening of the sessions for young entrepreneurs at Qredits on Tuesday evening. Jacobs made the remark because out of the 15 candidates who were registered, there only two men which was quite surprising to her. She wished them much success and encouraged them to continue to dream since they are there for a purpose and as a result they should take all the opportunities afforded to them. The Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion in…
PHILIPSBURG — The brewing controversy surrounding the granting of long-lease rights in the area known as Vineyard Heights has shed light on the government’s systemic lack of procedures, transparency and accountability. This is the view of Party for Progress (PFP) Member of Parliament (MP) Raeyhon Peterson, who is renewing his call for fair policies and procedures to be put in place to prevent abuse by political authorities in the issuance of government-owned land parcels. “From the very beginning, in 2016, the granting of parcels in the area was done in a way that was not in line with good governing…
By Hilbert Haar The idea to introduce a 7.5 percent tax on online purchases has triggered many questions. According to Minister Ardwell Irion (Finance) such a tax would “level the playing field” and encourage consumers to buy locally, rather than through the internet. Currently this tax is merely a suggestion, it is not a proposal written in stone. The minister’s argument is that local retailers pay a 5 percent turnover tax on sales, while this tax is obviously not imposed on online retailers. So if a local retailer sells a product for $100, the company will have to fork over…
By Terrance Rey There are several parallels from Sint Maarten’s past with what is now happening around the establishment of COHO, the Caribbean Agency for Reforms and Development. The Netherlands has lent millions in liquidity support to Sint Maarten during the pandemic. But that is a development that cannot be sustained for long. Within Europe, the Netherlands must also provide the necessary liquidity support to partner countries within the European Union. However, that is billions of euros. Of course, the Netherlands could not leave the islands within the Kingdom to their fate during the pandemic. But in the past, it…
PHILIPSBURG – With an eye to redirect Sint Maarten’s limited resources into initiatives that would deepen cooperative ties between the Dutch Caribbean and other islands in the region, Party for Progress (PFP) leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Melissa Gumbs on Friday submitted a proposal to Parliament that would end the body’s membership to the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino). “Parliament, and by extension the country and people of Sint Maarten, spend US $30,000 in annual membership fees plus a travel budget of NAf. 497,700 per year. However, after nearly 11 years as a member, there has not been a measurable…
SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – As of October 1st, 2021, the banned travel countries list will be eliminated, and these countries will be placed in a new ‘very high risk,’ category that will have the following requirements. Travelers originating from these countries must be fully vaccinated; and must provide valid proof of a negative PCR test not older than 48-hours before departure on last leg to destination Sint Maarten. With respect to non-vaccinated travelers, these persons are required to provide valid proof of a negative PCR test not older than 24-hours before departure on last leg to the destination. Once the…
PHILIPSBURG — Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel has started a Systemic Investigation into the collection of solid waste tender 2021-2026. On 25 and 31 March 2021 respectively, complaints were filed with the Ombudsman against the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI) by two bidders that participated in the collection of the solid waste tendering process, who both expressed concerns regarding the credibility, reliability, and transparency of same. At least two other bidders did not file official complaints with the Ombudsman, however, via their legal representatives, expressed similar sentiments about the tender process to the Minster of VROMI. Complainant’s…
