SIMPSON BAY, St. Maarten (Thursday, November 8, 2018) – Corporate Travel to St. Maarten is about to return to a more relaxed setting as the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) prepares to upgrade its Fixed Based Operations (FBO). The FBO is the facility which exclusively caters to the high-end travel operations. It offers a range of services for private jet customers, general aviation and crew. The existing facility is conveniently located to the West of the terminal building and was used temporarily for arriving passengers post hurricane Irma in 2017. The remodeling of the existing FBO will allow the jet-set…
Author: The Publisher
The country is constantly being faced with dilemma after dilemma. It goes deeper than a few chats or accusations that transpired over the past months. What has boggled me is the mindset of so many educated persons who show nothing more than clear ignorance on matters that should be dealt with seriously. Yes, the “Cabinets’ Revelations” are embarrassing to the country. Is it more embarrassing than the state we have been in for years, decades and soon to become a century? Our biggest embarrassment started ever since the persons who took the oath to take care of Sweet Sint Maarten…
~ Public Prosecutor’s Office concern about escalating school fights ~ PHILIPSBURG — The Public Prosecutor’s Office is concerned about the rise in school fights this year. Not only has an increase in violent fights been observed, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has also taken note of the use of weapons during these fights or groups of youngsters are ganging up on one individual. This development is worrying professionals in the field. Together with the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM), the Court of Guardianship, Youth Probation Officers and Truancy Officers, the Public Prosecutor’s Office is committed to addressing this issue. Youngsters…
POND ISLAND — In the Council of Ministers press briefing of Wednesday, November 7th, Minister of Public Health, Emil Lee, addressed the recent comments made in the media pertaining to the emissions from the dump. Lee made clear that there is no doubt that the emissions from the dump are unhealthy for the population and certainly does not want to downplay the possible health risks that may be the result of the emissions from the dump. A copy of the DRAFT report was requested by the Minister this week, to which he stated: “What they are recommending is that as…
Dear editor, In reference to the editorial titled “School fights”. While I agree that this has reached a critical stage, I agree with most statements made by the writer and applaud the writer for addressing the issue, there are several questions that comes to mind. Where does the responsibility start and end of the school(s) (boards); Rather than solely having parents hold the school(s) (boards) accountable for the safety of their children, why are parents not being held accountable for the behavior of their children ? Is it not “ironic” that we tend to hold educators, school(s) (Managment/boards), Education board,…
In a poignant post on Facebook we read the statement that something has to be done about all these fights that are constantly happening at the schools. We agree! The writer post that she is not hearing any discussion about these fights on the floor of Parliament or even from the Minister of Justice. “There has to be strict legislation drafted by Parliament to protect the students while at school.” the poster wrote. “There are also community police officers of which I do not see much effort being done at creating projects aimed at curbing these serious issues such as…
PHILIPSBURG — The board of the United St. Maarten (US) party is echoing the call by its leader MP Frans Richardson by publicly asking the Minister of Justice if he will investigate the theft of jewelry from the home of Francesco Corallo by two TBO officers. “Or will the Minister simply accept the convenient story by the Public Prosecutor who was quick to sweep it under the rug. Is the Prosecutor’s declaration gospel? Judging from past incidents we know this is not the case.” The board of the USP on Tuesday said the Public Prosecutor was quick to dismiss the…
PHILIPSBURG — The Public Prosecutor’s Office does not recognize the statement of Mr. Richardson made in Parliament and to the media about the theft of jewelry by two TBO members in December 2016 and that these persons had returned to the Netherlands without repercussion. The letter circulated by Mr. Richardson has not been written by Mrs. Festen or sent to former Chief Prosecutor of Sint Maarten Mr. Maan, so he did not receive it either. The letterhead is from the Joint Court of Justice where Festen has never worked. Mrs. Hanneke Festen is currently the Chief Prosecutor on Curaçao and…
PHILIPSBURG — MP Theo Heyliger was quick to agree with MP Frans Richardson’s call for a parliamentary inquiry into the justice system here on St. Maarten. On Monday, November 5, 2018, on the floor of Parliament during a debate held at 9am about the repercussions of the verdict by the European Court of Human Rights in the Corallo case for the country St. Maarten and the Ministry of Justice of St. Maarten. MP Richardson had just railed against the injustices perceived in the justice system on St. Maarten. MP Richardson said he could not go into details as the Minister…
PHILIPSBURG — The leader of the Progressive Labor Party Clyde van Putten informed StMaartenNews.com that the injunction case he filed last week Wednesday, October 31, 2018, at the Court of First Instance in Philipsburg has been scheduled by the court for Tuesday, November 20th, at 11am at the courthouse in Philipsburg. This injunction case is intended to have the administrators who were appointed by the Dutch Government immediately removed from office and to restore the democracy on the island of St. Eustatius. Coincidentally, the date set for the regular court procedure in the regards to the petition filed by Van…
