THE HAGUE – The governing coalition of VVD, CDA, D66 and Christian Union lost its majority in the Dutch parliament last week after the VVD kicked its MP Wybren van Haga first out of the faction and then out of the party. Van Haga continues now as an independent member of parliament. He did not jump ship: he was pushed overboard. The coalition and the opposition now both have 75 seats in the 150-seat parliament. The situation seems similar to the one in St. Maarten when United Democrats faction leader Franklin Meyers declared himself independent. That left the governing coalition…
Author: The Publisher
MAHO — The private sector on St Maarten has to step up and invest in improving the overall experience of cruise tourists visiting the island. Michele Paige, President of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), doesn’t mince words. “Government, Port St. Maarten and the FCCA can’t do it alone. Merchants have to make sure that people will want to come off the ship.” People-To-People experiences are the “IT” for travelers, Paige assures. “Don’t be afraid to share your culture and show your history. You have to make your island stand out.” Cruise passengers spend on average a little over four hours…
PHILIPSBURG – On April 24, 2014, the Council of Ministers approved a rather unique document: the National Energy Policy for Country Sint Maarten. The document has an ambitious subtitle: Towards a sustainable development. It looked like the era of renewable energy had finally arrived on the island. But more than five years later nothing much has been done with the lofty targets the government had in mind at the time. While solar energy production has taken the world by storm, St. Maarten has stayed behind in the dark ages. And it’s not like the technology is unavailable or that people…
PHILIPSBURG – The Honourable Stuart Johnson, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications (TEATT) has finalized months of discussions with the island of Saba and recently signed an MOU with the neighbouring island on co-operate and collaborate in fostering a closer working relationship in the tourism development and promotion of the islands of Sint Maarten and Saba. The MOU, signed by Minister Johnson representing the Council of Ministers and Government of St. Maarten and Saba Commissioner Bruce Zagers representing the Saba Tourism Bureau, states that both parties agree to “co-operate in participating together at Marketing and Sales promotions in…
PHILIPSBURG – Cruise Tourism in St. Maarten is in a deep existential crisis, no matter how seemingly optimistic outgoing Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Stuart Johnson spins the story. Cruise tourism has been a boon to the destination for decades; now it has turned into the local economy’s Achilles’ Heel. The numbers paint a gloomy picture of an industry that is desperately fighting to get back on its feet after Hurricane Irma. In 2014, the port welcomed a record number of 2 million cruise passengers who spent on average $191 on the island. But in the wake of Hurricane Irma,…
POND ISLAND – The Minister of Finance Perry Geerlings on Monday took note of an article attributed to the Sint Maarten Consumers Coalition with respect to the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) between Social and Health Insurances (USZV) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Glen Carty and the minister as merely a ‘publicity stunt.’ Minister Geerlings said, without any further explanation on the aim of the alleged ‘publicity stunt,’ the Consumers Coalition is incorrect, and this is a form of ‘cheap politics.’ “The payment arrears are part of debt servicing to be solved and is an integral part of the…
PHILIPSBURG – Farm today or die tomorrow. That was the in-your-face text on a billboard in front of the agricultural ministry in Anguilla several years ago. Agriculture in St. Maarten has always been a bit of a sideshow with a few locals – like Bushman, Joselyn Richardson and Denicio Wyatte – among the few who make serious work of it. Now there is Shola the Farmer, a young woman who went from growing vegetables in her backyard to a full-blown organic farm in Cupecoy, heralding the arrival of a new generation that could make farming palatable to more locals. Shola…
PHILIPSBURG — The Electoral Council hereby wishes to inform prospective political parties desirous of participating in the upcoming elections on 9 January 2020 that: In view of the fact that postulation date has been set by National Decree (LB-19/0675) on 21 November 2019, new political parties would have to submit a written application to register with the Electoral Council no later than Wednesday, 9 October 2019 at 6 p.m. Together with the application for registration of the political party, the following documents should be submitted: Notarial deed containing the Articles of Association of the party; Excerpt from the Chamber of…
Legal opinion piece titled “An Elected Prime Minister for Sint Maarten” by attorney at law and member of our legal review committee, Mr. Reynold Groeneveldt. Introduction: In our current Governmental system the Prime Minister is chosen and appointed by the majority in Parliament. It is in fact the coalition in Parliament that determines who will become the Prime Minister of the Country after an election. Traditionally this position should go to the Political leader who obtained the majority of votes during the Parliamentary election. As this is not a written rule in our constitutional system, parties have often times deviated…
GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) will be participating in the second annual Nagico Health & Fitness Fair, at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex. Youth Health Care is inviting parents and guardians to bring their child (ren) ages 12-17 years (mainly) with birth years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 to the Nagico Health & Fitness Fair on Saturday, October 5 from 8.00am to 2.00pm. CPS Section Youth Health Care will have a booth at the Health & Fitness Fair which will allow parents/guardians to check their child (ren’s) vaccination status and to verify if it…
