PHILIPSBURG –– The Caribbean parts of the Kingdom are vulnerable for undermining criminality according to a report entitled “Report (about) approach organized, undermining criminality” that outgoing Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel sent to the Dutch Parliament this week. Dossierkoninkrijksrelaties.nl reported about this issue. “An important point of attention remains cooperation within the kingdom. Because of their geographical location the Caribbean islands of the kingdom are vulnerable for undermining criminality. The international waters around the islands are being abused for the transport of cocaine that is partially going to the Dutch market,” the report states. To protect the…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG — Hensley Plantijn is back as the Secretary-General at the Ministry of General Affairs. Prime Minister Luc Mercelina reinstated him per June 1. With the reinstatement, Mercelina respects the appeal court for civil servants affairs that ruled Plantijn’s dismissal per January 1, 2023, as unlawful. “Mr. Plantijn will be concluding several assignments in my cabinet and he will therefore be back in his office on June 9,” Mercelina wrote in a brief letter to all managers within the ministry of general affairs, dated June 3. The prime minister thanked Angelique Gumbs for her efforts as the stand-in for Plantijn…
PHILIPSBURG — The fall of the Dutch government may have dire consequences for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, in particular for Curacao and St. Maarten. This is especially true for a decision about the refinancing of loans both countries are unable to repay. Outgoing Minister Judith Uitermark (NSC), answering question in writing from several parliamentarians after the debate about the budget for kingdom relations, left no doubt about who is responsible for the loans: the governments of Curacao and St. Maarten. Curacao has to repay loans to the tune of €139.7 million ($159.3 million), while St. Maarten is on…
By Tom Clifford in Beijing Like viewers the world over, the Chinese are relishing the spat between the world’s richest man and the world’s most powerful. They know a thing or two here about people suddenly falling out of favor. But they also know that the really important news does not involve adults exchanging electronic barbs and acting like over-privileged children. The shop owner was smiling, almost ebullient, as I ordered my lunchtime noodles. “He’s coming to China.” Behind me, the queuing restaurant customers murmured in consent. They knew what was important. “He” was President Donald Trump. The view from Beijing is simple: Trump…
THE HAGUE – The government of Prime Minister Dick Schoof collapsed last week after PVV-leader Geert Wilders withdrew his support. The first realistic option for elections is October 29, according to the Dutch electoral council. Wilders promised the creation of “the most severe” immigration policy ever, but even though the minister that had to deal with the issue, Marjolein Faber, is a member of the PVV, she has not delivered anything during her tenure. Wilders blamed his coalition partners for the delays and said that he could no longer support the government. He demanded that his coalition partners signed an…
PHILIPSBURG -– Sustainable aviation has a lot of potential for the Caribbean part of the Dutch Kingdom but a switch from conventional kerosene-powered planes to battery-electric and hydrogen-fueled ones requires serious investments and the Dutch government is not ready to commit to such a venture. This appears from a letter outgoing Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Barry Madlener sent to the Second Chamber, hours before his departure. “Flying electric has a lot of potential in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom and could contribute to a better connectivity between the islands,” Madlener wrote. ”At this moment there is no…
Dear Editor, Oh, how the mighty voice of “five-star representation” has fallen silent. MP Sjamira Rosenberg once captivated Sint Maarten’s parliamentary stage with what seemed to be a relentless pursuit of justice. During the budget debates under former Justice Minister Anna Richardson, she was a whirlwind of questions—probing everything from inmate welfare to judicial operations, questionable appointments, slow LB’s with dramatic fervor. When Minister Lyndon Lewis assumed office, she unleashed a barrage of questions, each one reinforcing her image as the justice champion. But now, with Minister Nathalee Tackling at the helm and Rosenberg comfortably seated within the coalition, the…
PHILIPSBURG -– When there is a claim of $97 million at stake, defendants and their attorneys get very creative and they begin to use every available option to delay court procedures. This is for instance the case with the claim of real estate developer Zebec – a company of the Gioia-brothers – against Ocean Drive Properties, Danny Ramchandani, Peter Mirpuri, the St. Maarten Quarter Development Company and – last but not least – Pointe Blanche-resident Theo Heyliger. In a ruling dated May 27, the court established that there is no group-liability, “in the sense that Ramchandani, Mirpuri and Heyliger have…
By Hilbert Haar The battle of former Secretary-General Hensley Plantijn with the government over his dismissal is a rather painful example of how not to do things. It becomes even more painful when media reports suggest that Plantijn prevailed in court because the government chose not to show up for an appeal hearing. As our review of the court rulings shows, that no-show claim has no merit. The Governor, who was the right person to address this case, was represented in court by his attorney. The Council of Appeal for Civil Servants Affairs decided to give both parties the opportunity…
~ China’s investments in Europe rise for the first time in a decade—with Hungary leading a new wave of Chinese investment ~ By Tom Clifford in Beijing China has redirected its financial strategy for Europe just as investments by Beijing into the continent have grown for the first time in nearly a decade, two key reports show. The figures, released on Tuesday, coincided with a keynote speech by President Xi Xinping emphasizing the importance of domestic manufacturing. The year 2024 saw investments into Europe from Beijing increase for the first time since 2016, the reports say. Crucially the traditional powerhouses,…
