ST. PETERS — Reports coming out of St. Peters indicate that criminal elements in the community are systematically targeting illegal Venezuelans living and working in the district of St. Peters. The St. Maarten Police Force, KPSM, reports that detectives from the Special Unit Robbery and the Homicide Department are presently investigating at least three armed robberies involving several Venezuelans which took place over the weekend of July 6th and 7th. These armed robberies all took place in St. Peters on St. Peters Road, Soursap Road and Marigot Hill Road where the victims are living or were simply walking on the…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG — Invited to comment on the clean up campaign the ministry of VROMI is currently undertaking in Pointe Blanche, head of Public Works Claudius Buncamper stated that immediate action had to be taken as the amount of Sargassum that had washed ashore was no longer at a controllable level. The ministry responsible for environment and infrastructure, VROMI, was forced to take action as the health aspect became urgent with residents complaining about the side effects from the stench of the decaying seaweed. According to reports, complaints centered around breathing issues and allergies. Asked as to the costs involved and…
PHILIPSBURG – Dr. Michel Petit, the former chairman of the supervisory board of Social and Health Insurance SZV, launched what can be considered an unprecedented attack against caretaker Public Health Minister Emil Lee and SZV manager Glen Carty during a radio interview with Fernando Clark on Friday, July 5, 2019. Petit said in the interview that every account SZV manages – among them the funds for old age pension (AOV), cessantia, sickness and accidents – has to be managed separately. SZV has however established a Swingfund that enables it to use surpluses from one fund to support funds with a…
By Hilbert Haar MP Luc Mercelina finds himself in an awkward position after the 2019 budget debate. To outsiders, it seems like he is standing with one foot in the opposition due to his motion that sent Public Health Minister Emil Lee home but on the other hand he is with the coalition, by voting against a motion that demanded the departure of Finance Minister Perry Geerlings. So the logical question is: what is the real reason for Mercelina’s motion of no confidence against Minister Lee?
Dear Mr. Editor, I wonder sometimes if politicians really wake up every day thinking that they lord over a community of fools. In some ways I understand why they could feel this way because the same “fools” keep electing them over and over again. But there are times when these politicians say and do things that literally make you feel ashamed for them. Sarah Wescot-Williams put on a shameful and miserable display in defense of her Minister Emil Lee as he was being fired on Tuesday night during the budget debate. She got up and chastised members of Parliament for…
Do you have tax problems? If you are a sole proprietor. If you are a small business owner. If you are a taxi or bus driver. If you are a market vendor. If you are an entrepreneur. If you are like most people on St. Maarten. Then you will most likely have tax problems. If you have any tax issues with the tax department… You’re invited Then you are cordially invited to join the Individuals & Businesses Tax Association called I.B.T.A.. The I.B.T.A. is organizing its first presentation on Thursday, July 18th, 2019, at the Belair Community Center in Cay…
In an open letter to MP Luc Mercelina, Michael J. Ferrier writes: Doc, you claim you tabled a motion against Minister Lee because of “YOUR LOVE FOR COUNTRY”. I question this, and here is why: What this country needs now more than anything is for personal ego’s to be parked, power plays to be put on hold and the economic challenges to be tackled by all. Stability in Government now more than ever HAS to be everyone’s focus, especially for all those that have signed on to the present Governing Accord. Being part of a coalition with a very slim…
GREAT BAY — On Monday July 1st at approximately 4 p.m. the home belonging to the family identified with initial V. located on Defiance Road was searched by police. This search was done based on a threat sent out publicly via Social Media in which the suspect a member of the V. family identified with initials D. V. is recruiting members of the community to join him to form a team to take out the Sint Maarten Police Force. The reward for taking part in this team would be to the amount of U.S. $ 70.000,-. Immediately after the Police…
~Current wording used in Motion of No Confidence could cost St. Maarten over USD 30 million~ CAY HILL – The Board of Directors and the Supervisory Council of St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) has taken note of the recent (political) developments stemming from the 2019 budget debate. Albeit SMMC has always and will always remain neutral, it behooves SMMC to point out its concerns what the consequences could be for SMMC and healthcare in general on St. Maarten going forward if the motion is aimed at halting the construction of the new hospital project. Important to note is the fact…
POND ISLAND – Minister Geerlings is presenting his Tax Transformation plan to all key stakeholders on Sint Maarten. On May 23 and June 10th, the Minister of Finance Hon. Perry Geerlings presented the Government’s Tax Transformation Plan to the Social Economic Council (SER). During the Minister’s presentation, Geerlings highlighted the urgent need for tax transformation and the way in which the transformation is planned to be carried out. The SER actively advises the government on policies to sustainably develop Sint Maarten, with the aim of achieving an improved quality of life for the people of the country. The SER represents…
