CAY HILL — Protest action at SMMC escalates. Watch video here. https://news.sx/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/WhatsApp-Video-2020-06-22-at-4.10.33-PM.mp4 https://news.sx/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/WhatsApp-Video-2020-06-22-at-4.10.35-PM.mp4 View the photo reportage of the SMMC workers during the peaceful march with their union on Monday, June 22, 2020: Read the backstory online here: https://stmaartennews.com/labor/silent-protest-going-smmc-staff-wants-cfo-go/
Author: The Publisher
THE HAGUE –- State Secretary Raymond Knops (Kingdom Relations) advises against the motion tabled by CDA-MP Chris van Dam that asks the government to let the Kingdom Council of Ministers control the Pointe Blanche prison for the next five years. The Dutch Parliament votes next week Tuesday on the motion. Knops noted that the motion connects with the ambition to provide solutions for the situation at the prison, but that it is “untimely.” Letting the Kingdom Council of Ministers take decisions about the prison while St. Maarten will have to bear the costs, as the motion proposes, infringes on the…
PHILIPSBURG — Today, Monday, June 22, 2020, the unified unions, members of the Windward Island Chamber of Labor Unions (WICLU), are holding a formal manifestation. The unions and their members convened at the WIFOL building on the Long Wall Road at 9 am this morning. From there, they marched peacefully in Philipsburg up to the courthouse. See video below. The march will continue through Front Street and Back Street to Pond Island via the Clem Labega Square, where at the Little League Ball Park the unions will conclude the manifestation with speeches. The purpose of the march is to show…
PHILIPSBURG – Major cruise lines voluntarily extend a suspension of operations out of U.S. ports until Sept. 15, the Cruise Lines International Association announced Friday. The decision followed the news earlier this week that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will suspend its voyages through at least Sept. 30. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said in a statement that the extended suspension is due to the ongoing situation within the U.S. related to COVID-19. ”…it is increasingly clear that more time will be needed to resolve barriers to resumption in the United States.” Shares of Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise…
Dear Editor, On Monday, June 22, 2020, at 7:00 am, Sint Maarten time, Chris van Dam, Member of the Dutch Second Chamber, will be presenting a motion to the Second Chamber in which he is requesting the Dutch Government to establish that the prison system of Sint Maarten be taken over completely by the Kingdom Council of Ministers for a period of five (5) years at the expense of Country Sint Maarten. Mr. Van Dam sent a copy of this motion to our Members of Parliament with a letter explaining his reasons for submitting it. He ends his letter by…
PHILIPSBURG — At a time when local and global economies are facing economic hardship and the US stock market is showing instability, Faction Leader for the United People’s Party in Parliament, the honourable Grisha Heyliger-Marten says, “it is unbelievable to learn that NV GEBE is unable to secure financing from local lending agencies for its projects.” GEBE is a local utility company that has shown remarkable resilience through hard times. GEBE has never defaulted on any of her loans. MP Heyliger-Marten issued a press release Sunday, asking why these lending agencies are not willing to offer GEBE new loans. She…
PHILIPSBURG — On Friday, June 19, 2020, the Court of First Instance returned with a decision after reviewing a petition filed by 37 inmates and their attorneys against the Government of St. Maarten and the Minister of Justice. The court ruled that the claims are not admissible thereby ruling in the favor of the Government of Sint Maarten. Although the outcome of the ruling being in the favor of Government and the monetary claims of the plaintiffs being dismissed, there is very little cause for celebration. The well-being of the inmates, staff and management are top priority for Minister Richardson…
Willemstad – Dr. Glenn A.E. Thodé has been appointed in the Council of Ministers of June 19th, 2020 as a member upon the proposal of the public entities Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba as of July 1st, 2020. He succeeds Mr. Herbert Domacassé, whose term expires on July 1st. Mr. Thodé has held various positions on Bonaire and Aruba. As of 2012 he is Rector of the University of Aruba. Previously, he was Lieutenant Governor of Bonaire from 2008 to 2011: the first years he held the position for the Island Territory of Bonaire, and from October 2010 on for…
By Cdr. Bud Slabbaert When there are reports on ‘Latin America & Caribbean’, one has to review them carefully and with some skepticism, to avoid coming to false conclusions or statements; no matter whether the reports are positive or negative. The economies of the large South American countries are simply not the same as those of the small Caribbean islands. It is said that the Caribbean is the world’s region that is most depending on tourism and that is a claim that doesn’t apply to South America. However…., The World Bank has reported that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic…
[Publisher’s note: The article below was first published in April under the title ‘THE economy opportunity of the moment’. Erroneously, this article was republished under the above heading ‘Combating Recession in the Caribbean through Cooperation’ while the columnist submitted it for publication under the heading ‘Recession in the Caribbean’. However, we find the content and the present heading appropriate for the times we are in. Therefore, we will leave the article as is and published the newly submitted article under the new heading of ‘Planning for a Recession in the Caribbean’. Simply, because we find this title to better fit…
