PHILIPSBURG — The Dutch government is an untrustworthy partner and this re-emphasizes the need to finalize the de-colonization process post-haste, United People’s party (UP) faction leader Grisha Heyliger-Marten writes in an open letter to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion and Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Ludmilla de Weever. Heyliger’s letter runs almost 1,600 words and contains a list of sixteen questions. The UP faction leader refers to the situation in Curacao, where the incoming MFK-Minister Charles Cooper has announced that the country has a Plan B in reaction to State Secretary Knops demand that Curacao…
Author: The Publisher
Dear Editor, Please allow us to reply to your article entitled “Pro Soualiga Calls For De-Colonization Summit.” Firstly, you mention that in 1960, Dutch representative Einaar stated “We in Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles are proud of our self-government and cannot accept being called colonies.” The problem with Einaar’s statement is that the United Nations have NEVER declared that the former Netherlands Antilles has attained a full measure of self-government, a right to self-determination, or that Chapter XI no longer applies to the former Netherlands Antilles. Mr. Einaar’s statement was an opinion not supported by U.N. Resolution 945 (X). You…
PHILIPSBURG — In its latest attempt to promote its de-colonization agenda, the Pro Soualiga Foundation calls in a press statement for an “urgent top summit” of the six islands of the former Netherlands Antilles with the argument that the Kingdom Charter has no legal basis and that the “fictitious Kingdom of the Netherlands” has collapsed: “In fact, it never came into existence,” the foundation states, adding a jubilant exclamation mark to that observation. So far, there has been no reaction from Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, Statia or Saba about their willingness to support the initiative for this summit. Pro Soualiga claims…
PHILIPSBURG — In an open letter dated May 14, Heyliger-Marten fires more than thirty questions to Prime Minister Jacobs. This letter addresses the airport reconstruction and the de-colonization issue. “The airport and its reconstruction are at the center of a dangerous and highly politicized process involving many stakeholders other than the airport itself,” Heyliger states, adding that two of these stakeholders “seem to be” the Royal Schiphol Group and State Secretary Knops. The airport reconstruction project, the politically motivated de-colonization drive, and pressure from State Secretary Raymond, Knops, the Royal Schiphol Group and the World Bank seem to have culminated…
WILLEMSTAD — Just like St. Maarten, Curacao is also playing a poker game with Dutch liquidity support. If incoming Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas sticks to his refusal to participate in the Caribbean Development and Reform Organization (COHO) the Netherlands will stop liquidity support and demand the repayment of outstanding loans, State Secretary Raymond Knops writes in a letter dated May 5 addressed to Pisas and to incoming Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia. With its intention to step out of the COHO, the new government in Curacao puts more than $463 at risk. “If you do not…
Philipsburg – Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs expresses grave concern for the future of relations within the Kingdom, when out of one side of their mouths, the Dutch Government claims it is looking out for the welfare of the people of St. Maarten and continuously seeks ways and means to move the goal post even after conditions have been met and agreements signed. In the case of the recent move by the State Secretary of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations Knops to further delay the 5th tranche of liquidity support of 39 million Euros, Prime Minister Jacobs sees this as uncalled…
There is a false belief that because government should remain at arm’s length from government-owned companies, the management and the supervisory board members are untouchable. Wrong! If management and/or the SBODs are not acting in the interest of the company nor following instructions properly and timely given according to corporate governance procedures, then the shareholder (in the case of government-owned companies, the government) has all rights to request the dismissal and/or removal of the management and/or the SBODs. The problem in our country is that we do not follow proper procedures in anything we do. It is like the principle…
Dear Media, Would like to address you with some factual information regarding the recent political developments. It would seem as if everyone is washing their hands of the Mingo saga and now attempting to throw the honorable Minister of Teatt under the bus. The same Minister that has been thrown under the bus for doing the right thing numerous of times by her own leader and faction leader of the UP party. As with the Casino licenses, the 721 illegal businesses and other business and operating licenses that they want her to push through, her integrity wouldn’t allow and they…
Dear State Secretary Knops, We have taken note of your letter sent to Prime Minister Jacobs in regards to the suspension of the fifth tranche of liquidity support (Naf 39 million) due to very worrying developments regarding the corporate governance of Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA). We have been proactively informing the population for weeks and months on so many of the very same concerns we see listed in your letter. We have repeatedly sounded the alarm on all forms of media. Although we anticipated the consequences faced today by the Jacobs government due to a lack of proactive action…
PHILIPSBURG — Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams is demanding an explanation of the government’s handling of the PJIA airport affair. The MP also wants clarity on the suspension of the airport holding company, PJIAH, managing director Dexter Doncher. The MP is of the opinion that it would be too simple to assume that with the reinstatement of B. Mingo and the suspension of the MD of the PJIAH, Mr. Dexter Doncher, everything is back to normal. In her view, too much intrigue has surrounded this entire saga from the get-go. Foremost on her mind is therefore the question: Why only…
