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…
Author: The Publisher
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…
Dear Editor, It is with much concern that I read a news article regarding questions posed by Members of Parliament to the current Minister of VROMI concerning a potential development at Beacon Hill. My specific concern is related to the environmental and ethical impacts a development of that size will have on the sustainable development and public image of St. Maarten. Although I must provide a caveat to my subsequent statement by saying that these are but rumors, I have particular concerns of information reaching me that this area is again being considered for another dolphinarium or swim-with dolphin facility.…
~ Staff submitted a petition letter with grievances against CFO; wearing black tops to silently voice their protest at work ~ CAY HILL — On Thursday, June 18, 2020, the staff in the Finance Department of the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) started to wear black tops. This as a result of the ongoing intimidation, disrespect, and bullying of staff members by the CFO and his attempt to muffle the staff, forcing them to stay quiet about their treatment. The staff gave the management team until Friday, June 19, to respond by midday to their demands. These demands were submitted…
PHILIPSBURG — The reopening of the St. Maarten border on July 1 will not allow Venezuelans on the island to respond to Justice Minister Anna Richardson’s call for illegal immigrants to voluntarily return to their home countries. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has extended the nationwide lockdown to July 12. Remigration and repatriation by air or sea are not possible. According to the Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, the threat to Venezuela today is the ‘return’ of its migrants. Rodriguez made the statement after the government secretary of the border state of Zulia, Lisandro Cabello, said that those who return…
Minister of TEATT Ludmilla De Weever announced via a press statement on Friday evening that the airport will reopen on July 1st, Emancipation Day. The question is, are we ready? According to the airport workers, the airport needs a thorough cleaning before they return to work. One of the safety measures enforced at the airport from July 1st is that only employees and passengers are allowed in the building. Aruba announced a full schedule of flights arriving in July. Already we hear they have canceled some of these flights. Experiences in other destinations demonstrate that many of the destinations are…
THE HAGUE – CDA-parliamentarian Chris van Dam wants the Netherlands to take control of the Pointe Blanche prison for the next five years. In a motion, he will present on Monday in a meeting of the Parliamentary Kingdom Relations Committee Van Dam asks the Kingdom Council of Ministers to manage the prison system while the costs of this exercise will be for the account of St. Maarten. The Law Enforcement Council and the Progress Committee have repeatedly reported that the Pointe Blanche prison is completely inadequate for human detention and as a place to work, Van Dam writes in his…
