PHILIPSBURG –MP Claude ‘Chacho’ Peterson confirms that a meeting of Parliament has been convened for Wednesday, September 25th, 2019, with Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations, Raymond Knops. “Goal accomplished!” stated Peterson. On Tuesday, September 17, MP Peterson, faction leader for the St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) in Parliament, submitted a letter to Parliament requesting that a meeting be convened with Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations, Raymond Knops. The purpose of the meeting is to address a number of issues. This meeting request was supported by Independent Member of Parliament Franklin Meyers and…
Author: The Publisher
Philipsburg, St. Maarten – “Guiding and shaping the youth of today into the leaders of tomorrow” is the motto of the No Kidding with our Kids Foundation which recently received a new projector from CIBC FirstCaribbean as a way to further their work as The charity continues to live up to that motto through a number of programmes including their afterschool program. This donation will enable the foundation, which has been providing afterschool care to children 4 to 14 for twenty-three years, to use the projector for various activities within their program, such as staff trainings and information sessions for…
POND ISLAND – On Wednesday September 11, the Minister of Finance Perry Geerlings signed a settlement agreement with TelEm Group regarding outstanding debts owed by government. The agreement pertains to a substantial outstanding amount and covers the period 2005 up to 2018. The original outstanding amount as per December 31, 2018 was NAf. 5 million higher than the agreed upon amount reflected in the settlement agreement between government and TelEm Group. The Government and the TelEm Group were able to agree on this discount of NAf. 5 million under the condition that government will comply to the payment conditions as…
PHILIPSBURG — In my deliberations on the changes to the three Codes (Civil, Criminal and Criminal Procedure) with the Minister of Justice, I have repeatedly voiced my concerns with the ambivalent responses by Government to the Council of Advice’s report (advice). Answers such as: – Time did not permit a more profound analysis. – Lack of resources caused a mere superficial review. – CFATF timeline does not permit more in-depth scrutiny. Of particularly concern was Government’s reaction that time did not permit a full due process to include a constitutional vetting of some elements, or worse yet that AML/CTF legislation…
PHILIPSBURG – St. Maarten has appealed the court ruling that orders the government to complete the Fire Suppression Plan for the dump by May 1, 2020. On July 26, the court ruled that the country has to pay a penalty of 10,000 guilders for each day it surpasses this deadline with a maximum of 10 million guilders (more than $5.5 million). The country’s attorneys Aernout Kraaijeveld and Chris van Hees write in their statement of appeal that the dispute about the dump is not fit for handling in summary proceedings saying that the court should have denied the demands of…
PHILIPSBURG – “The biggest impediment to progress at the airport is the prime minister who has displayed poor leadership and incompetence in handling the issues surrounding the airport. She is exhibiting tunnel vision with her reluctance to look beyond the World Bank and the Dutch government for airport financing, and trying to micromanage an airport that is way beyond the scope of her understanding and acumen.” Member of Parliament Rolando Brison states in an exclusive release to StMaartenNews.com this morning. Brison, rather sarcastically, notes that “the last minster to exhibit this level of blind insistence, Citizen Lee, is no longer her…
Message #1 Wednesday, September 18, 2019 My Fellow Sint Maarteners and Visitors, The Emergency Operations Center met on Wednesday afternoon to discuss Tropical Storm Jerry. As of 5.00pm on Wednesday, the country is now under a Tropical Storm Watch. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours. Tropical Storm Jerry is forecast to pass near St. Maarten on Friday. Jerry is forecast to become a Hurricane on Thursday. The Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten says that Tropical Storm Jerry should pass approximately 115 miles to the north of the…
PHILIPSBURG — In a press statement issued on Wednesday, September 18, 2019, Member of Parliament Franklin Meyers wrote the following regarding his recent political decision to become an Independent Member of Parliament after withdrawing his support from the UD/SMCP coalition government: “As an independent faction, I would like to share with the People of St. Maarten the reasons for the recent shake up that I, Franklin Meyers, caused. It was not an easy decision and one that I pondered seriously for many months.” Below follows the full statement of MP Franklin Meyers: It is for some time now that I…
CUPECOY — For the eighth consecutive year CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank will host the Walk for the Cure. The proceeds of the event – to be held on Saturday October 5 – will go to the Positive Foundation. Last year the fundraiser netted $14,400 for the Still Beautiful Foundation. CIBC FirstCaribbean hosted a press conference at the venue of its regional platinum sponsor, the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in Cupecoy. The Walk for the Cure takes place in all fifteen territories across the region where CIBC FirstCaribbean is established Country Manager Garth Sherwoood said at the…
~ Stories by Cancer Survivors, Patients and Caregivers Shared ~ Philipsburg, St. Maarten – Michael Ferrier, prostate cancer survivor, was the first to share his story as part of the Hour of Hope series launched recently at CIBC FirstCaribbean. During an intimate and interactive session, Mr. Ferrier shared his story, from his diagnosis in 2004 to treatment and cure, with bank staff. The male staffers were encouraged to get tested, and to start the conversations about prostate and men health issues in general. In collaboration with the Positive and the Elektralytes Foundations, the Hour of Hope series will continue through…
