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…
Author: The Publisher
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…
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…
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…
