PHILIPSBURG — November 19, 2024 — Following severe weather impacts over the past week, Chair of the VROMI Committee, MP York, has formally submitted an urgent request for a committee meeting to address the state of Sint Maarten’s infrastructure. The flooding and widespread damage across the island have raised serious concerns about the country’s readiness for extreme weather, revealing vulnerabilities that need immediate attention. The purpose of the meeting is to assess the condition of Sint Maarten’s infrastructure and evaluate the government’s immediate and long-term responses to these challenges. With increasing climate-related incidents, addressing these vulnerabilities proactively is essential. A…
Author: The Publisher
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PHILIPSBURG — November 19th, 2024 — MP Egbert Doran is voicing serious concerns over the government’s recent handling of the Ennia amendment, specifically regarding the sale of the Sun Resorts Ltd. N.V.-owned portion of Mullet Bay. What was initially presented as a crucial move to secure local influence over this valuable land has now become a source of public confusion, raising questions about the true intentions of Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs and Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina. Doran is urging the community to stay vigilant and keep a close watch on the government’s actions. When the Ennia amendment was first…
PHOTO CAPTION: Representatives from Sint Maarten’s marine and yachting sector gathered at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) to strengthen partnerships and explore new opportunities within the industry. Key figures in attendance included Jadira Veen from Commodore Suites Sint Maarten, Valeska Luckert, Managing Director of La Palapa Marina, and Ichel Moeslikan, Caribbean Operations Manager for Acquera Yachting. Photo provided by Jadira Veen. ### PUBLISHER’S NOTE: St. Maarten Marine Leaders Forge New Alliances at Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Fort Lauderdale, FL – The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), renowned as the world’s largest in-water boat show, set the…
Sunday, St. Maarten found itself drowning—not just in water, but in the stark reality of decades of poor planning, negligence, and outright disregard for sustainable development. Torrential rains have once again exposed the cracks in our overdeveloped island’s infrastructure, leaving homes, businesses, and communities inundated. The question we must ask ourselves is: how many more times will history repeat itself before we see real change? Flooded streets, impassable roads, and submerged neighborhoods are no longer freak occurrences—they are the new normal. The situation today is not merely an act of nature but a direct consequence of human failure. The evidence…
Washington D.C., November 14, 2024 – Sint Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport officially reopened today, following extensive rehabilitation after the airport was destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The destruction of the airport, a key connection hub for neighboring countries, severely impacted local revenue on the tourism-dependent island. The airport terminal reconstruction was financed through $92 million from the World Bank-managed Sint Maarten Reconstruction, Resilience and Recovery Trust Fund, comprising a grant from the Government of the Netherlands and a $50 million loan from the European Investment Bank. The initiative was facilitated by on-lending agreements between the Government of St…
HARBOUR VIEW, PHILIPSBURG — On November, 2024, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten received the final report from formateur L. Mercelina on the formation of his second government. The formateur has accepted the commission to form a new government which has the support of a majority in Parliament comprised of the fractions of URSM, DP, PFP and SAM. The new government consists of Ministers who are committed to the promotion of the wellbeing of Sint Maarten. It will conceive of a government program after the swearing in of the new ministers. Candidates for the various portfolios have been vetted…
WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG – The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS), in close cooperation with the Governments of Curaçao and Sint Maarten and with the aim of safeguarding the interests of policyholders and other creditors, has recently made important progress on the ENNIA Group resolution (the “ENNIA Resolution”). Following the signing of an ENNIA Resolution Heads of Agreement by the CBCS and the governments of Curaçao and Sint Maarten on April 11, 2024 (the “Heads of Agreement”), an addendum was agreed upon by the parties on October 9, 2024, further elaborating on aspects of the ENNIA Resolution. This addendum in…
By Hilbert Haar Once upon a time, former parliamentarian Rolando Brison wanted to “give Mullet Bay back to the people.” Nothing of the sort happened, of course, and now its rightful owner Sun Resorts has decided to put the property up for sale. The government of St. Maarten has a so-called matching option: it could buy Mullet Bay for the price offered by the highest bidder, plus 5 percent. I wonder with many others what the future of Mullet Bay will look like after it has been sold. Its real worth is still a mystery, so the price could go…
PHILIPSBURG – Leader of the United People’s Party (UP) and Member of Parliament, Hon. Omar E.C. Ottley, has criticized “politicians who prioritize tax breaks and bailouts for the wealthy over relief for St. Maarten’s most vulnerable citizens.” He said the recent vote against the GEBE Motion by Leader of the Democratic Party and President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams and Prime Minister Dr Luc Mercelina is part of a pattern of favouring tax breaks and bailouts for the wealthy at the expense of the most vulnerable people of St. Maarten. Ottley highlighted a pattern of selective governance that benefits powerful institutions…
PHILIPSBURG/ORANJESTAD — Prudential Tax Services and its team of associates have achieved a significant victory on behalf of a client in a high-stakes tax dispute involving a former construction company Director and complex transactions by the former business partner. Originally facing potential liability exceeding Afl. 500,000, the client’s disputed amount was successfully reduced below Afl. 10,000, thanks to the effective defense and strategic approach led by Prudential’s tax and risk experts. The case centered around a situation in which the client faced scrutiny due to business activities conducted by the business partner in the name of a company that had…
