PHILIPSBURG – During the Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday September 11th, Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin took the opportunity to clarify the position of the Council of Ministers on the financing of the Airport Reconstruction project. Prime Minister Romeo Marlin in her opening remarks said, “Over the past few days, there has been quite some speculation through the media about new financing options for the reconstruction of our airport. As Prime Minister and chair of the Council of Ministers, I regret that this speculation has been fed by press releases from within the Government itself. Whatever the underlying…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG – The government of St. Maarten remains in limbo day two after United Democrats faction leader Franklin Meyers withdrew his support for the governing coalition of UD and SMCP. Meyers made his announcement in a brief speech during the closing of the parliamentary year on Monday morning. Meyers’ decision means that the coalition has no longer a majority in parliament. The opposition is currently however unable to claim a majority either because United St. Maarten party (US) leader Frans Richardson is detained on suspicion of bribery and abuse of power. Meyers’ decision is, according to his address to parliament,…
THE GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS 2019 DELIVERED ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY YEAR 2019-2020 BY THE GOVERNOR OF SINT MAARTEN HIS EXCELLENCY DRS. EUGENE B. HOLIDAY Madame Chairlady, Members of Parliament, Today September 10, 2019, we are gathered in this chamber for the opening of Sint Maarten’s tenth parliamentary year 2019-2020. To mark the opening of our tenth parliamentary year I have the privilege of addressing you as prescribed by our Constitution. Today I do so amid trying and challenging times. As we gather here today, we think of the victims and devastation caused by hurricane Dorian in…
PHILIPSBURG/KRALENDIJK — Nature Foundation Manager Tadzio Bervoets will be leaving the foundation to head the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance as of October 1st. The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), based in Bonaire, is a regional partnership of conservation organizations including the national parks on the six islands of the Dutch Caribbean (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten) and is intended to support and strengthen nature on the islands. “After almost ten years working at the Nature Foundation, where I have been honored to be a part of the conservation movement on Sint Maarten, my expertise is now…
WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG — Liberty Latin America Ltd. (“LLA”) today has announced that it has completed the acquisition of the remaining 12.5% of United Telecommunication Services (“UTS”). In March this year, LLA acquired 87.5% of UTS and the acquisition of the remaining 12.5% now results in LLA owning 100% of UTS. The governments of Curaçao and St. Maarten held stakes of 87.5% and 12.5%, respectively, in UTS. C&W Communications (“C&W”) is part of LLA, and the UTS operation reports to Mr. Nicolas Collette, Vice President of C&W, Southern Cluster, which also includes Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago. “This is an exciting moment…
PHILIPSBURG – The navy support vessel Hr. Ms. (His Majesty’s) Pelikaan delivered eleven of the 22 container-cells from Bonaire to St. Maarten last week. The containers will be placed in the yard of the Pointe Blanche prison and facilitate the return of inmates that are currently behind bars in the Netherlands and elsewhere. After Hurricane Irma half of the cells at the prison became unfit for housing detainees. The prison’s capacity dropped from 120 prisoners before the hurricane to 80 after the monster storm. Bringing back the 23 inmates that are currently in prisons in the Netherlands is urgent from…
PHILIPSBURG — The board of the United St. Maarten St. Maarten Party (USP) on Monday re-iterated what it has always said when it comes to forming a government: objectives and initiatives have to be about the people of St. Maarten first. “it’s very simple for us,” the USP said. “Our people come first,” the party added. The board issued a statement on Monday afternoon after UD Faction Leader and Member of Parliament Franklin Meyers withdrew his support from the UD/SMCP coalition on Monday morning. The USP pointed out that MP Meyers basically echoed statement made by the USP MP’s for…
PHILIPSBURG — Social and Health Insurances SZV and Accessible Ventures recently signed a service agreement that would benefit those most in need of door-to-door transportation to access medical care. This new service is based on a medical referral application procedure and is for SZV insured who are: dialysis patients, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, paraplegic, bedridden or blind, patients with physical and/or mental disabilities and unable to drive themselves or acquire proper transportation or patients with limited access to family support. Requests for the service can only be submitted by the family house doctor or specialist and is subject to review…
PHILIPSBURG — Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication (TEATT), the Honorable Stuart Johnson departs St. Maarten today with a “jam-packed” schedule ahead as he travels to Europe with French St. Martin Government officials and representatives of the Tourist offices on both sides of the island this month. The entire trip has a cost of Euro.8,300.00, with an exponential value. Port St. Maarten will also be in attendance as they try to drum up a new business and speak to the improvements they have made since 2017. The overall effort is in keeping with the Ministry of TEATT’s bid…
PHILIPSBURG — Member of Parliament Claude Chacho Peterson today had the distinction of having to give his prepared closing speech immediately after the unexpected announcement made by MP Franklin Meyers during his speech that he had withdrawn his support from the present government. MP Meyers even commended MP Peterson as one of the few coalition members who was a true team player in the coalition. Below is the complete text of the speech of MP Claude Peterson. SPEECH – CLOSING OF PARLIAMENTARY YEAR 2018-2019 Madame Chairlady, as the Faction Leader of the St. Maarten Christian Party representing one of eight seats…
