MP Claude “Chacho” Peterson had a rude awakening this weekend when, during a presentation on Friday in Parliament about a design for a new Parliament Building as a part of a futuristic Parliament Plaza and Boulevard development project, his words were taken out of context and used against him and his fellow Parliamentarians by Second Chamber member for the SP, Ronald van Raak, who used the opportunity to pose several questions to State Secretary Raymond Knops of Kingdom Relations. The questions Van Raak posed were: “Do you share my view that the money for the reconstruction of Sint Maarten is…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG — The Kadaster Department will soon launch a new innovation in the use of technology to improve its functioning when its ICAD System goes live within short. The innovation in technology will result in increased accuracy, improved productivity and efficiency and will allow attorneys and Notary Publics to access, request and receive certificates or information on land sales and transfers from the comfort of their offices. The new system will replace the existing CADSIS System that has been in use for almost two decades on St. Maarten and was a product of Dutch counterparts in The Hague. ICAD was…
PHILIPSBURG — Faction Leader in Parliament for the St. Maarten Christian Party SMCP and Member of Parliament Claude “Chacho” Peterson has sought to explain his “sarcastic” comments during last Friday’s meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee for a New Parliament building during which he suggested that “if Mr. Marlin supported this project”, he would have his support to invite the Prime Minister and Steering Committee member to come to Parliament to discuss the World Bank financing the extremely expensive concept of a Parliament Plaza from the US$550 million Trust Fund. MP Peterson said: ”Unfortunately, my sarcasm did not resonate with…
WIVoice came on to the social media scene as a group on June 28, 2016, and has been a fixture on Facebook’s social media platform ever since. The group serves as a medium for the voice of the people of St. Maarten. Many outsiders label the group as negative. However, one has to understand constructive criticism comes in many forms and fashions and satire, irony and social commentary is not easily digestible for some when it touches on issues that most people do not want to have a serious and honest look at. Most of us just rather stick our…
PHILIPSBURG—A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on collaboration was signed between the American University Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), the University of St. Maarten (USM) and the National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) at the University of St. Maarten on Friday. This MOU seeks to better serve St. Maarten in the institution of higher learning. The aim of the MOU is seen as a partnership between secondary and tertiary education and higher education. The institutions have agreed to enter into many partnerships. The development of public policy and the voluntary sharing of resources for the benefit and the well-being of St.…
By Hilbert Haar There is a tendency in the Caribbean kingdom countries to dismiss anything VVD-parliamentarian André Bosman comes up with. This is also true when it comes to his initiative kingdom law that aims to change the rules for countries that want to leave the kingdom. I have read somewhere for instance that it opens the door for “underbelly sentiments.” Everybody knows that the VVD is one of those Dutch political parties that would love to see the islands of the former Netherlands Antilles leave the kingdom. And that’s okay: there is a reason why we have freedom of…
PHILIPSBURG — The Dutch parliamentary committee Kingdom Relations postponed handling a draft initiative kingdom law submitted by VVD parliamentarian André Bosman this week until there is an advice from the Council of State. The draft law aims to give Curacao and St. Maarten more leeway in case they opt for independence; it also makes it possible for Statia, Saba and Bonaire to leave the kingdom if they wish to do so. This Bosman-law stipulates that “Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten are able to declare by national ordinance that they wish to leave the legal order as described in the Kingdom…
PHILIPSBURG—The comments “gay cruise” made in Monday’s sitting of Parliament by Member of Parliament for the National Alliance Christopher Emanuel are according to the Tourism Minister, the Honourable Stuart Johnson irresponsible and have offended one of St. Maarten’s biggest International partners in the hospitality industry, the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association FCCA and members of the LGBTQ community. Johnson said Emanuel’s comments puts St. Maarten at risk as this kind of negative and discriminatory comments are heard around the world and harm an already fragile tourism economy. There are lessons to be learnt from the challenges of other Caribbean tourism destinations…
PHILIPSBURG — It took the four men 40 days, almost 1,000 hours rowing, nearly 1 million calories, 700 litres of water, 52,000 watts of solar power, unimaginable inner strength and a large dose of humor to row the 3,000 miles, unsupported, from the Canaries to the Caribbean island of Antigua. The distinctive green NAGICO branded ocean rowing boat, Ellida, rowed into English Harbour at (insert date and time), to complete the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in sixth place, taking 40 days, 23 hours and 33 minutes. The sinewy, tanned and bearded men were given an emotional, rousing welcome from their…
Willemstad/Philipsburg – The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) recently presented the ‘CBCS Best Economic Research Award’ to the winner on Bachelor Level, Ms. Talisha de Vries. Talisha earned the award for her thesis “Assessing Money Laundering Risk (MLR) of Local Financial Institutions with the AHP-Model”. The prize consisted of a unique award and a NAf 5,000 cheque. Talisha graduated from the University of Curaçao Dr. Moises Da Costa Gomez (UoC), where she studied Accounting & Control. Talisha is currently studying for her Master’s degree in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing. CBCS wishes her much success with…
