PHILIPSBURG — The delegation headed by Finance Minister Perry Geerlings to a meeting with the bondholders and the Princess Juliana International Airport in the United States is said to have went well. The meeting was to persuade the bondholders who had apparently loaned some $125 million in 2012 to the airport to hand over the funds that they received from the insurance company to help in the reconstruction of the airport which was severely damaged by the storms of 2017. Minister of Finance when questioned about the results of the meeting said that the delegation had an opportunity to meet with…
Author: The Publisher
~ no objections against the verbal declaration of approval of credentials of Jules James ~ PHILIPSBURG — Opposition members of Parliament made a song and dance about procedural matters in a meeting on Monday afternoon designed to examine – again – the credentials of substitute MP Jules James. Accusations against chairlady MP Sarah Wescot-Williams of misleading Governor Drs. Eugène Holiday and manipulating the agenda of Parliament from the opposition benches fizzled when the chair wanted to address these accusations during the closing of the meeting; all opposition MPs left, leaving the meeting without a quorum. National Alliance and United St.…
C&W expands capabilities in Dutch Caribbean through combination with UTS Improving customer experience and delivering world-class connected entertainment Bringing long-term investment and innovation to Dutch Caribbean Creating “Moments that Move Us” for customers ### WILLEMSTAD, CURAÇAO – Cable & Wireless Communications’ (“C&W”) parent company, Liberty Latin America Ltd. (LLA), announced on March 26th, 2019, that it has entered into a definitive agreement with the Government of Curaçao to acquire 87.5% of United Telecommunication Services (UTS) which provides video, broadband, fixed-line telephony and mobile LTE services to both residential and business customers across the island nations of Curaçao, St. Maarten, St.…
PHILIPSBURG — Families who are suffering to “make ends meet” are encouraged to visit the Ministry of Labor to acquire financial aid, said Minister of Health, Labor and Social Affairs Emil Lee. The Labor Minister was responding to questions about the increase of the minimum wage which is now seen as way below the living wages for employees. Increase of minimum wages have always been a topic of discussions in all the elections for the last 25 years. Lee pointed out that that it is presently the focus of ongoing discussions with the tripartite committee. This committee consists of the…
PHILIPSBURG — The introduction of a general health insurance policy seems to be the solution to all the health care woes facing the government. Minister responsible for health affairs Emil Lee said at Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press conference that everyone will have to fall under the general health insurance policy. However persons will have options to maintain their private insurance and pay a solidarity fee in the general health insurance as a solidarity contribution, which means that they will be helping in the community health care cost. “In order for persons to opt out of the general insurance the…
~ Suspected perpetrators in pre-trial detention ~ PHILIPSBURG/MARIGOT — The victim that was involved in a stabbing incident that occurred on the French side on the morning of Monday March 25th, 2019, does not want to press charges. This is according to a report published online by Soualigapost.com. The French prosecutor’s office however is still pressing on with a criminal case against the alleged perpetrators who have been placed in pre-trial detention and sent to Guadeloupe. On the Monday morning in question, a car pulled up on the curbside in front of the L’Express cafe restaurant (in the Bakery &…
PHILIPSBURG — The government has appointed Drs. Alwin Queeli as the new Interim Prison Director for the Pointe Blanche Prison. This was announced by the Justice Minister Cornelius De Weever during the weekly Council press conference on Wednesday. The new Interim Director who comes highly recommended, is said to have a wealth of experience working in the prison system and was also the director of the Bon Futuro prison in Curacao. “His expertise includes among others, organizational enhancement, policy development and risk management,” said De Weever. The recruitment process which started in May 2018 after the former prison was suspended…
POND ISLAND — During the council of Ministers’ press briefing of Wednesday March 27th, Minister Lee outlined several examples of groups of persons who fall in between the cracks of the current health insurance system, facing challenges in accessing health insurance. These groups include sole proprietors, persons working less than 5 days, persons earning above the ZV wage limit, persons who are under insured via private insurance, persons who do not qualify for private insurance based on age or pre-existing conditions etc. At present, persons who cannot access health insurance become reliant on the Government. “This might not show up…
WILLEMSTAD — A press release from the Ministry of Traffic, Transportation and Spatial Planning (VVRP) in Curacao on March 26, 2019, contained a letter from the Minister of VVRP, Zita Jeus-Leito, to Liberty Latin America (LLA) on the sale of United Telecommunication Services (UTS). Entire letter reads as follows: Dear Chairman, As a shareholder, the Country Curacao has an interest in the continuity of its companies. The financial challenges facing UTS and its subsidiaries are not unknown. Measures have been taken by the board to reduce costs. Also, the current financial situation of the company is such that capital from…
PHILIPSBURG — Insel Air may be bankrupt but its successor is almost ready to take to the skies. JetAir Caribbean a company owned by Antonio Ribeiro (Tony), who with his CEO Robert Maas, has already brought the first Fokker-70 plane to Hato airport in Curacao. A second plane, that will mainly function as a backup to safeguard on-time performance will follow in April. For now, JetAir Caribbean keeps the lid on the exact destinations it will service, but according to the Antilliaans Dagblad the focus will be on mid-range distant flights to places like Trinidad, Jamaica, Haiti and Medellin in…
