PHILIPSBURG — Curacao established its consumer foundation almost half a century ago, in 1975. The Fundashon pa Konsumidó provides information about price comparison and the quality of products and services and it also helps consumers access their rights. In St. Maarten the Windward Island Consumer Foundation of President Virgilio Brooks is dormant and an attempt by former Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Ingrid Arrindell to do something about this is gathering dust. Fast changing market should have given consumer protection the attention it deserves, but politicians seem to spend all their energy on bickering about the airport reconstruction project,…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG — Parliamentarian Christophe Emmanuel is at it again. This time he sent a letter of 600 words to the Integrity Chamber with the request to provide an opinion on the outcome of the tender for the airport reconstruction project. Emmanuel’s letter drew immediate criticism from Ohndhae Marlin, the son of MP William Marlin. Marlin wonders what Emmanuel thinks to achieve with his actions. “Delaying the start date for work at the airport to further frustrate the same local boys he so claims to be defending that need work on the island?” It remains to be seen whether the Integrity…
Dear Editor, It’s becoming a political norm now that whatever the government does, MP Christophe Emmanuel automatically has a criticizing article ready to publish. In his last article that he sent to the entire government, both COM and Parliament, the Governor, the Prosecutor and the Dutch government condemning the decision to choose a construction company to complete the renovation of our airport. What does MP Emmanuel hope to achieve here? Delay in the start date of the work at the airport to further frustrate the same local boys he so claims to be defending that needs work on the island?…
PHILIPSBURG — Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Thursday asked the Integrity Chamber to provide its opinion on whether the awarding of the reconstruction of the airport project to Ballast Nedam by the Supervisory Board of the Princess Juliana Airport operating company (PJIAE) constitutes an act or a failure by an administrative body or government entity to adhere to values and norms, legal requirements, or other obligations through which the interest of society, or the proper functioning of an administrative body or government entity could be harmed. His letter to the Integrity Chamber is the first of its kind…
PHILIPSBURG — Ballast Nedam is generally recognized as a Dutch construction company. There is however nothing Dutch about the chairman of the board or about Ballast Nedam’s parent company. The chairman of the board is Cenk Düzyol. The immediate parent company of Ballast Nedam is Renaissance Construction B.V. and the ultimate parent company is Rönesans Holding A.Ş., based in Turkey. Renaissance, a 100 percent daughter of Rönesans, obtained all shares in Ballast Nedam in 2015. Rönesans was established in 1993 in St. Petersburg in Russia. It ranks 23rd among the world’s top 250 contractors, The company is active in 28…
PHILIPSBURG — Dutch construction company Ballast Nedam has won the bid for the airport terminal reconstruction project. The Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company (PJIAE) hails de winner of the tender in a press statement as an “international contracting company with vast experience in building large scale and complex projects worldwide, including, ports, hospitals and waterworks.” But while the airport is happy with the outcome of the tender, its result drew immediate criticism from parliamentarian Christophe Emmanuel, so far the only politician to make a public statement. Emanuel questions how “Dutch firms with a criminal history” continue to secure contracts…
~ Says measuring stick is different for Dutch firms ~ PHILIPSBURG — In response to the news that Ballast Nedam has been awarded the contract for the airport reconstruction project, Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel has again questioned how Dutch firms with a criminal history continue to secure contracts on St. Maarten. It is not the first time the MP has raised these concerns. Earlier this year he pointed out that Windward Roads, despite its guilty verdict in the Larimar investigation and defrauding the country, is still somehow managing to secure contracts from the government of St. Maarten, with…
PHILIPSBURG — The Council of Ministers has fired Glenn Daniel and Rochelle Hodge from their positions on the supervisory board of directors of the Princess Juliana International Airport Holding Company (PJIAH). With their removal the cleanup of the holding board is complete. Earlier managing director Dexter Doncher was relieved of his duties. Cleveland Beresford Jr. and Lisandra Havertong-Ellis now form the new board together with Schiphol Group representative Jim Fazio. The complete Council of Ministers, acting as the shareholder representative for the holding company signed on to the dismissals in a meeting on Tuesday, July 20. The dismissals have the…
Philipsburg – INDISU Dance Theater of St. Maarten students will be heading to Los Angeles in just ten days to attend the International Festival, Dance Excellence. The festival brings together young dancers from around the world for a once in a lifetime experience. The inspiring week-long event aims to help participants fulfill their artistic aspirations through training and performances. The 24 members of the school’s divisions, Junior Elite Company, Company, and Senior Company will have the opportunity to also share their love for the art of dance and exchange ideas with students from 35 other countries. CIBC FirstCaribbean was happy to support the dance school, which has been invited to attend the event for…
CAY BAY — Sol Antilles N.V. (Sol), the Caribbean’s leading provider of petroleum-based energy solutions has taken a major step towards further energizing the island of St. Maarten. This comes with the recent acquisition of Gulfstream Petroleum Dominicana SRL’s (GPD’s) integrated fuel marketing business in St. Maarten, the Texaco-Branded Network, which involves retail, commercial, marine, LPG distribution operations and aviation assets, and customer contracts. Commenting on what this acquisition means for consumers, Robert James, General Manager of Sol St. Maarten said that it unlocks opportunities for synergies, and efficiencies across the business, allowing Sol’s teams to focus on delivering safe,…
