By Tom Clifford The island’s largest private business representative body issued a stark warning that the economic situation would become “more dire” unless urgent reforms, specifically value added tax, are initiated. The Employer Council St Maarten also claimed that “the current economic trajectory is not sustainable.’’ Scheduling a media release for Halloween is fraught with danger but whenever the council’s views on the economy were publicised it would have had a sufficient alarm factor. The council is made up of the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association, the St. Maarten Timeshare Association, the St. Maarten Marine & Trade Association and…
Author: The Publisher
By Tom Clifford It could be an elaborate plan, part of the fog of war, but US President Donald Trump’s seemingly contradictory statements may also suggest uncertainty regarding Venezuela policy in Washington’s corridors of power. But he did firmly indicate that Nicolás Maduro’s days as the Venezuela’s president are drawing to a close. His comments came as the US military upgrades a long-abandoned former Cold War naval base in the Caribbean. Speculation is growing that it could be used for possible actions inside Venezuela. In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, aired on Sunday, Trump downplayed the likelihood of the…
Publisher’s Piece on Why Rare Earths Matter More Than You Think By Terrance Rey, Publisher – StMaartenNews.com When I first read Tom Clifford’s article on rare earths, I was struck not just by the subject — these obscure minerals that quietly power modern life — but by his final line: “It has not been used by Beijing in the latest trade spat between the two nations.” That understated sentence stayed with me. Clifford had just reminded readers of China’s past warning — “Don’t say we didn’t warn you” — a phrase historically used before armed conflicts. Yet this time, he…
~ From Your Smartphone to the Battlefield; From Invisible Metals to Global Power; The Hidden World of Rare Earths Story ~ By Tom Clifford One of the unintended consequences of using public transport here is that traffic jams provide a perfect opportunity to contemplate. Other passengers were on their phones, rearranging their schedules of just catching up on the gossip. I turned my gaze outside the stationary vehicle and people on the street were using their phones. And then it struck me. Many factors went into making their phones work but one crucial one was the use of rare earths.…
~ 4 Islands One Escape – Embark on the Ultimate Caribbean Adventure! ~ PHILIPSBURG — The Caribbean welcomes a bold new chapter in regional tourism with the launch of “4 Islands, One Escape,” a seamless island-hopping experience designed to showcase the rich diversity and unity of the region. This major initiative was launched on Friday, October 31, at the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau – with King Vers serving as the Master of Ceremony, through an unprecedented collaborative partnership with regional tourism authorities including Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Maarten and St. Martin. Following the successful launch, delegates embarked on…
By Tom Clifford I had the good fortune to experience a day in both Philipsburg and Marigot. Consequently, I have a tale of two cities to tell. This is not, I hasten to add, an account that would pass close scientific scrutiny and inquiry. Nor do I suggest for one moment that I have any compelling attribute that would make my findings more persuasive. These are just the initial thoughts of a traveler grateful to indulge in the island’s offerings. The timescale of my experience also played a part. I started off in the morning in Philipsburg, fresh, enthusiastic and…
By Tom Clifford A modest setting, in the cramped space behind the constantly ringing tills of a major supermarket, is the workplace of a man and his team that perform technical wizardry on a daily basis. Broken phones, cracked screens, loss of connectivity, who you gonna call? Well, no one because your phone’s broken but you will schedule a visit to arguably the island’s tech go-to man to get it fixed. Rish Vora, a graduate of Milton Peters College, studied technology near Brisbane before returning to the island and launching his own business. Twelve years ago he set up Tech…
By Tom Clifford Rising regional tensions are exacting an increasing economic cost as a key gas exploration project is jettisoned. The potentially lucrative deal with Trinidad and Tobago has been scrapped by Venezuela as Caracas highlights the island nation’s reception of a United States warship. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the “immediate suspension” of the deal to provide natural gas to Trinidad and Tobago. Its estimated 4.2 trillion cubic feet of reserves could be a lifeline for Trinidad’s energy-dependent economy. Several US warships have been deployed near Venezuelan waters by President Donald Trump’s administration. Venezuelan officials accuse the US president…
By Tom Clifford Admittedly, as expeditions go it was a modest affair. It was just me and my backpack. No teams of helpers. But the same impulse drove me as it did those brave souls who wanted to explore and chart the planet’s unknown interior in centuries past. I wanted to see it for myself, to be able to tell other humans about its fauna, landscape and inhabitants. I could maybe address geographic societies the world over and impress them with my endeavors. My photo would adorn newspapers, magazines and websites. And the source of my inquisitiveness? The French side.…
By Tom Clifford The trouble with sabre rattling is uncertainty over the outcome. Will the sword be drawn or remain in its scabbard? Since taking office, US President Donald Trump has threatened Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela. Colombia was one of the largest recipients of US aid in the region, channeled through Plan Colombia, a 15-year effort that saw billions of dollars to enhance country’s security and combat drug production. To the Trump administration, Plan Colombia was a failure. Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia, accuses the US of murder, hence the withdrawal of aid. Quoted in the US political website The…
