PHILIPSBURG – Utility customers on Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire are exempted from paying the fixed tariff for electricity and water until next year. The Dutch government has reduced the rate to zero to help the population of the islands meet their basic needs. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the tourism-dependent economies of the three small islands. As part of an emergency relief package for the islands, the Dutch government has removed the fixed tariff. It gives all users an extra in the form of an amount equal to the connection tariff for water and electricity. This amount…
Author: The Publisher
HARBOUR VIEW – Today, May 4, 2020, we observed 2 minutes of silence in remembrance of the men and women who gave their lives in the fight to protect our democracy and freedom during War and Peacekeeping Missions. Our yearly commemoration is a display of our appreciation for their sacrifices. And this year, it takes on even greater significance against the backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s commemoration comes at a time when our generation is called upon to help fight the global war against COVID-19. A war that has disrupted our lives and way of living in…
WILLEMSTAD – The government’s plan to impose a solidarity tax on all income above the ceiling for healthcare and accident insurance premium (5,781 guilders or $3,230) will have a negative effect on the economy of Curacao, the Central Bank for Curacao and Sint Maarten states in a press release. Minister Suzy Camelia-Römer announced the initiative on April 7. But the Central Bank has calculated that such a levy, at an assumed percentage of 10 percent, will generate at best 67 million guilders ($47.4 million). The bank’s interim-president, José Jardim, expects that Curacao’s economy will shrink by 18.9 percent (instead of…
PHILIPSBURG – After years of legal battles, the Timeshare Owners at Caravanserai Association (TOCA) has claimed victory over the Alegria Resort. The Supreme Court’s Attorney General Valk writes in his conclusion published on March 11 that the rights of the timeshare owners have to be respected. “The significant economic interests that are at stake for St. Maarten offering protection to timeshare-owners is obvious,” Valk wrote. The attorney general referred to the protection St. Maarten intends to offer to timeshare-owners in its Timeshare Ordinance. While the parliament has approved this legislation, the government has not ratified it yet. “The government can…
PHILIPSBURG — When it comes to crisis analysis in post-disaster situations, Clifford Illis is our go-to expert. After hurricane Irma in 2017, Illis’ analysis of the subsequent insurance crisis that unfolded and his detailed explanation of the ‘under-insurance’ phenomenon was a pivotal point in our understanding of the insurance business and the fact that insurance should be seen as a financial risk mitigating tool. Once again, StMaartenNews.com invited Clifford Illis to share his expertise. We asked for his analysis of the COVID-19 crisis and of the post-pandemic period that the island of St. Maarten will be facing. We were also…
Dear Editor, Thank you for allowing me space in your publication. On April 28, 2020, I read an article on the website StMaartenNews.com with the headline “MP Emmanuel: Legalize marijuana now”. While I am pleased to see this discussion taking place in Parliament, I have some concern with the manner in which this subject is being handled. There seems to be a misconception that simply legalizing this industry is a fool proof way for government to quickly make money. Yes there is tremendous economic potential, but if its not done responsibly there can be detrimental consequences. If the only focus…
PHILIPSBURG – Former Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier has expressed his displeasure with the attitude of the head of the labor department, Peggy Ann Dros towards the private sector. “To have a loud mouth constantly riling up employees against employers is unacceptable to me,” Ferrier wrote in a statement. “No civil servant, including the head of the labor department, ever worries where their next paycheck is coming from. In the private sector we do; we have to.” Ferrier also included the parliament’s president Rolando Brison in his criticism. Brison, in one of his livestreams, threatened the Maho Group of Companies…
By Hilbert Haar It’s been two years since I left St. Maarten. Yeah, I left because I never wanted to experience another hurricane again, so if you want to interpret that as a lack of stamina that’s just fine with me; I don’t care. But while I have left the island, the island has never really left me. That’s probably because I spent a significant part of my professional career there – more than ten years. Among all the places where I have lived during the past seven decades, St. Maarten will always remain very special. The other day, traveling…
By ir. Damien Richardson Actions speak louder than words. It is pivotal to use Caribbean data as a new communication tool to let leisure and opportunities lead to new regional ventures. The Caribbean should begin executing a regional vision and encourage the diaspora to collaborate and invest in a joint vision. A united vision can be expressed in three key aspects. Firstly, it is a privilege and benefit to enjoy being home in the Caribbean. Secondly, taking comfort in the fact that there are ample opportunities available to live and grow these cultural advancements and attributes in a sustainable and…
PHILIPSBURG — APAP, Association of Psychologists and Allied Professionals St.Maarten, would like to inform the general public that the private Psychological Practices of APAP members are available and currently offering their services online and/or by phone. “We have noticed that in general in the last years, an increase in request for psychological support and treatment has been seen.” their press release stated. With the COVID-19 worldwide situation, and the current preventive measurements taken on St.Maarten, APAP would like to ensure that the psychological professionals are available and discussed the options with their relevant members. “Online therapy has been proven to…
