PHILIPSBURG – The Public Prosecutor’s Office has dropped its demand that the supervisory board of the harbor group of companies be sent home but it maintains that Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo remains suspended. On Thursday, the Common Court of Justice handled the request from prosecutors to initiate a civil enquiry into possible mismanagement at the port, a move the harbor opposes, saying that there is nothing more to investigate. The court will render its decision on June 26. The solicitor-general told the court that the proposed inquiry aims to create clarity about internal decision making processes at the harbor,…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG – A press release from the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) suggests that Ennia Caribe Holding so far has not reported the appointment of Richard Gibson Sr. as its President and General Managing Director to the bank. “The bank has learned from media reports about changes in the board of an insurer that is under its supervision,” the press release states. On May 18, Ennia Caribe Holding announced Gibson’s appointment; it includes the function of managing director of Ennia Caribe Leven and all other Ennia operating entities. Gibson was also appointed managing director of E.C. Investments…
PHILIPSBURG – The Common Court of Justice suffered a loss of just over 1.5 million guilders (close to $838,000) in 2017. Additional costs due to Hurricane Irma are only part of the reason for the negative result. The court’s 2017 annual report furthermore cites investments in digitization and automation (the GEAR case registration system) and the establishment of a staff provision in connection with long-term illness and unused holidays. Compared to 2016, the courts in first instance handled 22 percent more cases in 2017. The total number of cases for the year was 44,067. Most cases were handled in Curacao…
PHILIPSBURG – Two men who aborted an attempt to rob Prime Distributors in Cole Bay on December 8, 2016, received heavier prison sentences in the Court in First Instance on Wednesday than the public prosecutor demanded at the trial on May 2. The court sentenced Sheldon Lionel Herbert to 24 months of imprisonment and Ricardo Frederick Alexander York to 18 months. The prosecution’s demand was 18 and 12 months respectively. Herbert, 38, received a heavier punishment because the court found also proven that he had a Ruger 380 Auto pistol in his possession; at his home officers found 113 gram…
PHILIPSBURG – The court will hear arguments on Thursday morning from the public prosecutor’s office and defense attorneys for the harbor about a request by the attorney-general to initiate an investigation into possible mismanagement at the port of St. Maarten. The prosecutor’s office formerly requested to initiate this investigation in September 2017. A preliminary investigation triggered several questions; it appeared that the supervisory board had only three, instead of the legally required five, members, that annual accounts were not approved on time and that the port did not comply with internal legal requirements. The manner in which projects were tendered…
PHILIPSBURG – Recently the Parliament appointed chairpersons to thirteen parliamentary committees. The history of these committees triggers the question why they are there in the first place because since 10-10-10 most of these committees have been fast asleep. MP Sarah Wescot-Williams, the current President of Parliament, has been wondering about the functioning of these committees: “I think it is a bit of an overkill,” she told stmaartennews.com on Tuesday afternoon. Since 10-10-10, most parliamentary committees held just one meeting: to appoint the chair and the vice-chair and to establish the committee-membership. The options for the president of parliament to force…
PHILIPSBURG – Three faction leaders – Silveria Jacobs (National Alliance), Rolando Brison (United St. Maarten party) and Wycliffe Smith (St. Maarten Christian Party) will travel on Wednesday to the Netherlands to attend the meetings of the Inter-Parliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO) in The Hague. The president of Parliament and leader of the delegation MP Sarah Wescot-Williams will join her colleagues on Monday to enable her to attend the funeral of Democratic Party stalwart Roy Marlin. United Democrats faction leader Theo Heyliger is unable to attend the IPKO–meetings. The IPKO begins next week Tuesday and continues until next Friday, but on Monday…
PHILIPSBURG – On Monday June 11, MP Frans Richardson (United St. Maarten party – USp) will appear in court as a suspect in the Emerald and Squid investigations. Together with Richardson, former port director Mark Mingo and Checkmate Security director O’Neal Arrindell will make a court appearance. The court hearing begins at 9 a.m. The trial is the result of work by the anti-corruption task force (TBO – Team Bestrijding Ondermijning). While the exact charges will only be revealed at the trial, the prosecutor’s office has previously announced that Richardson is suspected of tax fraud, taking $370,000 in bribes and…
PHILIPSBURG, ST.MAARTEN – 22 May, 2018 – COSME, a European Union funded programme, has launched the online business incubator CaribConnect in four of the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba and Cayman. CaribConnect.net, is simple to use and is currently free to anyone conducting or wishing to conduct business in the Caribbean. There are three profiles for registration in CaribConnect.net, Entrepreneurs, Mentors and Investors. CaribConnect has over 500 registered businesses and over 70 mentors in its Caribbean database. On 24 May, the launch for CaribConnect will take place at Produce Wealth Revolution Agency also known as “The…
CAYHILL — The St. Maarten Medical Center has expanded its services. The Urologist, Dr. Diego Ramos, has recently added several new surgical procedures to the department. The specialist, who began his tenure at the SMMC last year, has worked continuously to develop the Urology department to a standard that can facilitate much needed treatment to all patients. With the introduction of this new service, new equipment was required. In October of 2017 the hospital received new laser equipment. The system has the capability of addressing a diverse spectrum of Urological conditions. It is specially designed for the treatment of kidney/bladder…
