By Hilbert Haar The parliament is in for an interesting debate about the introduction of a national ordinance that aims to regulate the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism. So far, two members of parliament have declared that they will not support the draft-law. Interestingly, one MP (Christophe Emmanuel) is with the opposition National Alliance while the other one (Franklin Meyers) is with coalition-party United Democrats. What exactly the objections of MP Emmanuel against the draft-law are is unclear, but MP Meyers focused on the potential impact on businesses like casinos and whorehouses (deftly described as houses…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG — At the time of questioning on Thursday morning, communication’s officer for the Anti-Corruption Task Force TBO, Roderick Gouverneur, did not ascertain whether Theo Heyliger was still being held at the house of detention in Philipsburg at the main police station. It was rumored that Heyliger had been moved to the Point Blanche prison facility. Another reason for the questioning, was the fact that a message was being broadcasted via Whatsapp that said that tomorrow morning between 8:30 and 10 there would be a silent demonstration in front of the courthouse as Theo’s case is being heard. Tomorrow morning…
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – On October 9th 2018 the third section of the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) condemned the circumstances under which a well-known citizen of Sint Maarten was detained in the police cells in Philipsburg as a violation of article 3 of The European Treaty for Human Rights, law firm Sulvaran & Partners Eldon ‘Peppie’ Sulvaran said in a press statement on Thursday. “This article protects all citizens against torture and inhuman and degrading punishment. Theo Heyliger from the 19th of February 2019 up till today is being held under inhuman and unacceptable circumstances. “The ECHR…
PHILIPSBURG — The request to reduce salaries has not been handled yet by the members of Parliament. According to Member of Parliament, Claude “Chacho” Peterson, of the SMCP, the information published by StMaartenNews.com that the ministers and parliamentarians have voluntarily agreed to give up 10% of their salaries is incorrect. During Wednesday’s Council of Minister’s press briefing on February 27, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of EYCS, the honorable Wycliffe Smith, said in answer to the question posed about the ministers lowering their salaries that as per the motion that was submitted in Parliament last year – which was referred…
PHILIPSBURG – National Alliance MP Christophe Emmanuel and United Democrats MP Franklin Meyers are not in favor of a national ordinance that aims to regulate the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism. “I cannot support this,” Meyers said in a central committee meeting on Thursday. MP Sarah Wescot-Williams, who chaired the meeting, expressed concerns about the government’s intention to skip the review of the legislation by the office of the Ombudsman. The deadline for approving the legislation is March 27. Ligia Stella, director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (MOT – Meldpunt Ongebruikelijke Transacties) outlined the draft law…
PHILIPSBURG – The draft national ordinance that aims to regulate the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing embraces all forty recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force. One of these recommendations establishes how jurisdictions should deal with so-called PEPs. Members of the Central Committee did not address this issue on Thursday. What is a PEP?
PHILIPSBURG — In regards to the recent report that indicated that the Dutch Government is prepared to stop the liquidity support to St. Maarten if members of Parliament do not reduce their salaries, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Wycliffe Smith in response to these comments said that it was decided for some time that the Council of Ministers have agreed to give up 10% of their salaries. He indicated that it is a tedious task to change the salary structure of the Ministers and a lengthy legal process. The Ministers and Parliamentarians have…
PHILIPSBURG — Emilio Wilson Park is to be the first terrestrial land based protected area on St. Maarten. The creation of a nature park can only have a positive impact on the flora and fauna, and also have a positive impact on the tourism product, said Minister responsible for Public Works (VROMI) Miklos Giterson at the Council of Ministers press conference on Wednesday morning. He explained that while some areas have been deemed important on the island for conservation it is not feasible establish all the areas that is identified at present, he said. “It should be no surprise that…
CAY HILL — BZSE, the largest law firm in St. Maarten, expanded its team of Attorneys with a new member. Jeroen Vlasblom was admitted to the bar of St. Maarten on February 22nd, 2019. BZSE already had 9 attorneys in St. Maarten and 2 in Curaçao. Vlasblom grew up in Dordrecht (the Netherlands). He holds a master’s degree in both law and sociology and started his legal career at a German Dutch law firm in Berlin. Afterwards, he worked as a paralegal for De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, a major Dutch lawfirm in Amsterdam. Vlasblom said that he was very happy…
PHILIPSBURG – Medical expenditures in St. Maarten went through the roof between 2014 and 2017 and increased by 48.2 percent from 82.3 to 122 million guilders. In 2017 alone SZV collected 74 million in premiums for the ZV/OV (health care and accident insurances) while it paid out 108 million in benefits.
