By Hilbert Haar On August 29, 2017, I wrote an opinion about Parlatino for the Today newspaper that contains the following paragraphs. “The ties between the island – via the former Netherlands Antilles – and Parlatino are old: they go back to 1964, so feel free to do the math. And what has Parlatino ever brought to St. Maarten? Good question and we feel that it is time for our elected representatives to take a serious look at this matter and ask themselves whether a continued membership of Parlatino serves any purpose. We have never come across a report from…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG — Knockoffs of popular brands, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Chanel, are being sold on the market in Philipsburg, in stores in Backstreet and Frontstreet, and online to customers on the island. “St. Maarten is a free port and transit port for counterfeits,” says lawyer Wiek Herben, who represents Louis Vuitton. The loss in retail value amounts to tens of millions of dollars. Louis Vuitton products holds the top spot in luxury goods being counterfeited. Herben, partner at Liance Law firm in Curaçao, took steps against different business owners and market vendors on St. Maarten on behalf of Disosa…
PHILIPSBURG — In celebration of Book Week 2019 the Police force KPSM was invited to read for students of the primary schools on the 23rd, 24th and 25th of October 2019. Inspectors Leonard and S. Crispulo took up the challenge and organize other officers to read to the students of the Martin Luther King Jr. School. Different books in English and Dutch were read to the students of the school. Special thanks goes out to the management of the Martin Luther Primary School and all the other police officers who gave up their time to assist and read to the…
PHILIPSBURG — On Friday, October 25 at 11:00 AM the Ombudsman released the short film to complement the report: ‘Home Repair. A revelation of a social crisis’. The turnout at the Bureau was successful. Many of the persons who were filmed were present as well as other invited guests such as: the former Ombudsman, Dr. Nilda Arduin, Director of The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB), Mr. Claret Connor, representatives of the Sint Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF), Sint Maarten Anti-Poverty Platform/Consumer Coalition, Sint Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) and Dr. J. Enterprises. The film depicts the challenges that persons are still…
~ Wants status update of government lease land agreement with Denicio Wyatte ~ PHILIPSBURG — MP Claude ‘Chacho’ Peterson, together with four of his parliamentary colleagues, is requesting an urgent meeting of Parliament regarding the government lease land agreement with agriculture specialist Denicio Wyatte and also requests the presence of VROMI minister Christopher Wever and ‘Acting Head’ of Domain Affairs Raeyhon Peterson. According to a letter dated October 23rd, 2019, and undersigned by MPs Claude Peterson, Sarah Wescot-Williams, Tamara Leonard, Jules James and Sidharth Bijlani, an urgent meeting of Parliament is requested to be convened with the following agenda point:…
PHILIPBURG — The preliminary hearing in the CATFISH investigation took place today in court. The Public Prosecution Service is demanding a prison sentence of 12 months of which 6 months’ are conditional for suspect Theodore E. Heyliger. The prosecution is demanding co-suspect J.M.S., be held liable for complicity in the attempt to bribe then Member of Parliament Romain Laville. The Prosecution is demanding a community service of 120 hours of which 60 hours should be conditional for suspect J.M.S. The Public Prosecution Service is also demanding that both suspects be prohibited from running for office for the duration of 5…
CUL-DE-SAC — The Traffic Department and Police Patrol were dispatched to the L.B. Scott Road early Wednesday morning around 7 am for a traffic accident where two minors were struck by a car. According to the information gathered, the two students were hit by the driver of a black Elantra with the number plate M-5454 while crossing the L.B Scott road near the Star Mart gas station. One student, age 13, suffered minor injuries and was treated on the scene. The other student, a 16 year old, was transported by ambulance to the St. Maarten Medical Center for treatment due…
PHILIPSBURG — A breakthrough in the joint wastewater management program for St. Maarten and St. Martin is long overdue. While government secured some €6.1 million from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), and €7 million is waiting to be secured, steps need to be taken to move the Sewage Project another step closer to reality. Exactly six months ago Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops announced that he expected a breakthrough in the sewage treatment plant project. Knops made the announcement on April 23rd during a general debate in the second Chamber of the Dutch…
PHILIPSBURG – The ministry of justice announced in a press release that amendments to the national ordinance on the obligation to report cross-border money transports took effect on July 30. However, according to the National Gazette of October 11, the amendments were ratified on July 30 and they took effect only two days later, on August 1. Citizens and travelers now have to be aware that they will have to report to customs if they are taking more than 25,000 guilders ($13,966.48) out of the country. The previous threshold for reporting was 20,000 guilders ($11,173.18). The rules also apply to…
PHILIPSBURG — St. Maarten is lagging far behind other Caribbean nations in terms of EU-support. The government has failed to take the steps necessary to establish, with the European Community, the cooperation programs provided for under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA). As a result, the territorial funding of €7 million ($7.7 million) for the period 2014-2020 has not yet been signed off. St. Maarten is one of two Caribbean island territories still working on a program to meet sustainable development goals centered on the people. The other nation that is not yet ready for funding under the 11th EDF is…
