By Hilbert Haar Giving back Mullet Bay to the people – the lofty objective behind MP Rolando Brison’s proposal for a parliamentary inquiry into the state of affairs with the location of the former Mullet Bay Resort – is not going to be a walk in the park. Brison’s proposal puts Mullet Bay in the spotlights and that is of course a good thing. But how are you going to “give it back to the people?” There are two options: buy it or expropriate it – and they both look easier than they really are. The property’s ownership is no…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG – The Social Economic Council (SER) represented by the Chairman ir. Damien Richardson and the Secretary-General, Mr. Gerard Richardson paid a visit to the Honorable Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin, and presented her with the SER’s joint Migration Symposium report. On October 26th 2018, a cooperation protocol in the field of labor migration and population policy, was signed by the Prime Ministers of Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten. The three Prime Ministers gave their full support and endorsed the initiative of the SER’s of the three countries to organize a joint symposium on the theme. As result of the…
PHILIPSBURG — Director of SZV Glen A. Carty and Minister of Finance Perry Geerlings signed a letter of intent on Friday August 23rd regarding the outstanding social & health insurances premiums owed by Government to SZV. The letter of intent outlines a structured approach to address the repayment of the outstanding amount of approximately 91 million guilders, accumulated over many years by the Sint Maarten Government. Both Carty and Geerlings are eager to start this new chapter and permanently resolve the financial backlog. “While we have always had a good understanding with Government regarding the repayment of the debt, we…
Philipsburg – In a recent letter to Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs (ECYS), Honorable Wycliffe S. Smith, regarding English as the first official language for St. Maarten, Member of Parliament Sarah A. Wescot-Williams reminded the Minister “how crucial this matter is in the process of nation building, and transparency and openness towards the community.” Wescot-Williams presented two “English Language” motions respectively in 2015 and 2016, which were unanimously passed by Parliament. Last year, the motions were brought to the attention of the Minister for his Ministry’s follow-up. “Responses have not been forthcoming – however I remain adamant…
Willemstad/Philipsburg – The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) acts as Agent on behalf of the government of the Country of Sint Maarten to issue the following government bond: Bond of Sint Maarten – August 2019/2044 for the principal amount of NAf. 30,000,000. Please note that the date for this government bond issue has changed due to procedural circumstances. More information about this issuance will be announced soon. If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our Treasury department at (599 9) 434-5792 or (599 9) 434-5741. Willemstad, August 28, 2019…
Sound policy response needed WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG – “The deepening current account deficit of the balance of payments of the monetary union and gradual slippage in the gross official reserves require a sound policy response,” stated Bob Traa, the acting president of the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten in the Bank’s 2018 Annual Report. The deficit on the current account of the balance of payments widened in 2018 compared to 2017 as a result of a decline in the net export of goods and services, moderated by an increase in the net current transfers received from abroad. “The net exports…
Circumstances challenging in 2018 WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG – “The economic circumstances in the monetary union remained challenging in 2018 with both Curaçao and Sint Maarten recording a contraction,” Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) acting president Bob Traa stated in the central bank’s 2018 annual report. “Curaçao’s real GDP contraction remained significantly influenced by the economic crisis in Venezuela that affected particularly the refining, harbor, and construction sectors. Meanwhile, the lingering effects of Hurricane Irma on Sint Maarten caused an economic contraction in 2018,” Traa explained. The acting central bank president pointed out that the debt-to-GDP ratio rose in both…
Consolidation is crucial at a calibrated pace WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG – Acting president of the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten Bob Traa stated in the Bank’s 2018 Annual Report that one of the challenges the two countries face is to manage fiscal consolidation, while experiencing slow or negative growth. The Kingdom Law of Financial Supervision was enacted in 2010 to ensure sound public finances in the new countries of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. This law includes a balanced budget rule for current revenues and expenditures. “Balancing the current budget is important and fiscal policy needs to be appropriately paced,” Traa…
Dear Editor, Divide and conquer used to be the tool by which the Dutch acquired colonies and controlled them. This principal is well known as is the savvy with which it has been applied through the years . Even long after the Dutch Kingdom agreed in the context of the United Nations to decolonize, colonization and control has continued . There is no country status, in fact we are still governed by the Kingdom and treated as colonies not equal partners. The divide and conquer principle has now evolved. Undermining of the people and its society is the new tool…
PHILIPSBURG — Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel recently held a meeting with Minister Stuart Johnson upon his request to discuss pending cases and some other concerns of the Ombudsman as it relates to the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT). The Ombudsman highlighted the importance of compliance with recommendations issued to the Ministries as this promotes good governance. The Ombudsman therefore applauds the initiative of the Minister to meet regarding this matter. The Ombudsman addressed the (non) follow-up of the Ministry on the recommendations issued in the Philipsburg Marketplace vendors investigation that was concluded in December 2017 as well…
