PHILIPSBURG — On Tuesday, September 17, 2019, SMCP Member of Parliament Claude ‘Chacho’ Peterson submitted a letter to Parliament requesting, through the Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin, that a meeting be convened with Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations, Raymond Knops, in order to address a number of issues. This meeting request was supported by Independent Member of Parliament Franklin Meyers and United Democrats Member of Parliament Jules James. The proposed agenda points for the requested meeting are: – Liquidity support to St. Maarten; specifically the amounts received thus far and the amounts to be received and their conditions and timelines; – Evaluation of…
Author: The Publisher
Philipsburg – Member of Parliament Ardwell Irion questioned the tackling of the new legislation regarding a ban on single-use plastics after last Thursday’s Parliament meeting on the issue. He stated that the current government’s position does not take into consideration existing laws related to waste management for Country St. Maarten. In Thursday’s meeting, as has been the case several times, it was stated that new legislation is needed before St. Maarten can enact a ban on plastic. Single-use plastics are one of the largest contributors to landfill overfill and oceanic pollution and several countries in the world, including in the…
~ Says CEO reportedly making unilateral decisions ~ PHILIPSBURG — Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party on Monday said that the current UD/SMCP government and its indecisiveness on Princess Juliana International Airport is a “riches of embarrassment” with one Minister contradicting the next while facilitating a developing rift at the airport that is stifling any kind of vital development at PJIA. Additionally, Richardson said while the Prime Minister and CEO of PJIA Brian Mingo stated that they are not looking at any other financing options for the airport, apparently the same CEO, with the PM’s knowledge has reportedly…
PHILIPSBURG — According to press release issued the night of Sunday, September 15, hours after giving a presentation on the Philipsburg Dumpsite, Minister of VROMI Christopher Wever foiled what appears to be an attempt by unknown person(s) to start a new dump fire. The press release stated that many persons in the Philipsburg area including Minister Wever who was driving along the Walter Nisbeth Road in Philipsburg around 6:30 pm on Saturday spotted the flare in the sky before it landed at the Dumpsite. Wever, who is the Minister of Public Housing, Physical Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) and responsible…
Philipsburg – Now the issue that is polarizing the community of St. Maarten is the planned US preclearance presence at the PJIA. Not the Dutch aid, or the pace of the Trust Fund Program, not the reconstruction of the airport, but US preclearance! I am of the opinion that a US preclearance presence at our airport could be beneficial for the island. In fact, in all Government programs of recent times, US preclearance is mentioned, including the one that governs the current Government. I also can attest that since I was a member of the Executive Branch of Government, negotiations…
CAY HILL – The National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) is continuing to strengthen its forward trajectory into the world of professional training and advancement. Following the recent extension deal with MIC-IT, the Advanced Vocational Education (AVE) Supervisory Board of Directors for NIPA wasted little time and dove right into strategic planning with NIPA Management and Support Teams. On Monday, September 9, planning sessions were held in the Conference Hall at Divi Resort. Chairlady of the AVE Supervisory Board of Directors, Drs. Peggy Ann Dros, accompanied by Vice-Chair Mrs. Annuska Friday-Illis, Treasurer Aisha James and other members of the board were…
PHILIPSBURG — In a press release issued by the United St. Maarten Party (USP) on Thursday, the board is asking that the now minority supported Leona Romeo-Marlin led-government cease and desist with any decisions in government. The board of the United St. Maarten Party (USP) also called on Governor Eugene Holiday to break his silence and tell the people of St. Maarten if Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin has submitted her cabinet’s resignation now that she has minority support in Parliament. The USP board said that since MP Franklin Meyers pulled his support from the UD/SMCP coalition, thereby throwing down government,…
PHILIPSBURG — On Monday September 2, 2019, a member of parliament of Sint Maarten was detained by agents of the Anti-Corruption Taskforce (TBO). He is suspected of accepting bribes, (co)committing official coercion and abusing his position. In connection with the same investigation, a member of the board of a government company was arrested earlier this week on Monday, September 9, 2019. He is – among others – suspected of the same criminal offenses but also of making decisions which are to the disadvantage of this public company. The criminal investigation which has been named ‘Aquamarine’, focuses, among other things, on…
PHILIPSBURG — MP Franklin Meyers has declared himself an independent member of Parliament. A copy of his signed letter to the president of Parliament has not reached our news desk as yet. However, sources close to him have confirmed this to StMaartenNews.com. He will continue his discussions with the coalition as to how they can work together. As it stands right now, we understand the discussions centers around the position of Minister of TEATT, Stuart Johnson, within government. Another minister whose head may also be on the chopping block is Minister of VROMI, Chris Wever. These two ministers (see photo…
Port of Spain, Trinidad – Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) is now one step closer to expanding its reach within the Caribbean region. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has approved the application for the transfer of the assets and liabilities of the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) to RFHL in Anguilla, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines, pursuant to Section 43 of the Banking Act of 2015 that governs the various territories. The ECCB made the announcement in a September 6, 2019, news release after its Monetary Council…
