PHILIPSBURG — Witch hunt or a repeat of the Marcel Loor case? The public prosecutor’s office demanded on Wednesday 18 months of imprisonment, with 6 months suspended against former Immigration and Border Protection (IBP) director Udo Aron and a 6-month suspended prison sentence and 240 hours of community service against his policy advisor Erling Hoeve. The prosecution also demanded a 5-year ban from working in the civil service. The court will present its ruling on April 10. Aron and Hoeve are accused of human smuggling, forgery, and abuse of office. Aron’s charges also include the possession of two air guns.…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG — The Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM) has issued the following press release regarding the ROBALO case. Prison time requested for former Immigration and Border Protection Director The ROBALO investigation begun subsequent to an official complaint filed and a request made by the then Justice Minister Edson Kirindongo to investigate possible criminal offenses taking place within the Immigration and Border Protection Department. The complaint accused U.A., as the Immigration and Border Protection (IBP) Director, of human smuggling. U.A. had traveled to the Dominican Republic for a visa conference and upon return was accompanied by N.M.C., whom U.A. allowed to enter…
PHILIPSBURG — On Wednesday, March 20, 2019, attorney Brenda Brooks issued the following press release in the Robalo case, wherein her client E.H. is standing trial for two charges of human smuggling, forgery and abuse of office. The Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM) has also issued its own separate statement, which we have published as well. Attorney Brenda Brooks: Today our client stood trial for the alleged involvement in the so called Robalo case in which he was accused of human smuggling, forgery and abuse of function as a civil servant. Based on article 6 sub 2 of the European Convention…
PHILIPSBURG—The Minister of Labor Emile Lee has refuted the allegations that to acquire work permits is difficult. He stated that the documentation and the acquisition process of obtaining work permits are set out in legislation. “Once the documentation for the permits are submitted it takes about three to four weeks from that time to be approved,” said the Minister of Labor at the Council of Ministers Press Conference on Wednesday. “I don’t see that government is holding up anything from a work permit process,” he said. He explained that most of the permits that the companies have submitted have been…
PHILIPSBURG — Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin has promised to look into the high cost of rentals by home owners which is spiraling out of control following the hurricanes of 2017. Marlin in her capacity of Minister of General Affairs said at a recent press conference that it has been brought to her attention by the Rent Committee since there has been serious complaints about rents on the island. However, in a recent interview with members of the Rent Committee they have indicated that they will be able to address the matter of the high rents if the accommodations are less…
~ No interference in Theo Heyliger’s case ~ PHILIPSBURG — The Minister of Justice Cornelius De Weever has set the record straight with regard to his Ministry being involved in individual cases. He spoke of the discussions which involved the former Member of Parliament and Leader of the United Democrats Theodore Heyliger, who has been arrested and now detained in the Bonaire prison. In a statement he said that it is not customary that the Ministry should respond to any investigation. He said that as much as he is in sympathy with Heyliger’s family, there is a “fine line that…
PHILIPSBURG — The security officers at the Princess Juliana International Airport were sworn in by the Minister of Justice Cornelius De Weever as auxiliary police officers on Wednesday morning. The security officers who had attended a Police Officers training course some time ago said that they were satisfied with the training which them more competent to carry out their duties. Acting Security Manager Elsidro St. Jago said that they were looking forward to the swearing in ceremonies since they had completed the BAVPOL course in 2016. However, although it took sometime before the ceremonies and the dispensation, they are still…
PHILIPSBURG — The Windward Islands Bank (WIB) in St. Maarten and Maduro & Curiel’s Bank (MCB) in Curacao do not have to maintain their banking relationships any longer with Robbie’s Lottery and five associated entities, the Court in First Instance in Curacao ruled in summery proceedings. The banks want to end these relationships per March 31.
PHILIPSBURG — Finance Minister, the Honourable Perry Geerlings, is critical of “the false claims made by the St. Maarten Consumer Coalition & Anti-Poverty Platform who recently said his Ministry’s policy on alleviating the burden for businesses and residents with outstanding taxes, did not favour the small man,” in a recent publication. Geerlings said contrary to the Platform’s claim, the Ministry did not make provisions for the average citizen and that certain taxes were exempt “is wrong.” This is a “misrepresentation of the truth” because the offer has been given to all residents and business owners to go to the Receiver’s…
PHILIPSBURG — Maintaining the myth that there is equality between the four countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is hypocritical, St. Maarten’s representative in the Council of State Maria van der Sluis-Plantz said during the presentation of the Handboek Caribisch Staatrecht (Handbook Caribbean Constitutional Law) in Leiden.
