Dear Editor, After hurricane Irma the site with the flagpole was set up. A lot has been said about the flagpole. Mostly about the costs of USD 150.000. Despite all the negative, I find it was good idea. From many areas in Simpson Bay you can see the flag. The spot is perfect and it gives me a proud feeling when I pass it. Uhhhh, that means, if the flag isn’t ripped and strangled around the pole. The flagsite as it is now is a disgrace, instead of being a symbol for our country, every time when approaching the flagpole…
Author: The Publisher
Philipsburg — The Bureau of the Ombudsman continues to receive visits from citizens concerned about their housing conditions, as well as complaints about the Rent Committee allegedly not cooperating or responding adequately when addressed by the public. Considering the importance of the Rent Committee, post-hurricane Irma to settle disputes regarding rental price and evictions, and to ensure that both tenants and landlords are able to address the Court regarding such disputes, the Ombudsman Dr. Nilda Arduin initiates a Systemic Investigation pertaining to the operations of the Rent Committee. After more than four months since the passing of the devastating hurricanes,…
More and more I am hearing investors in Sint Maarten described as being greedy and exploitative. Yesterday a posting on Facebook did this without nuance. Whilst in the early years investors in Sint Maarten were welcomed uncritically in many cases, the pendulum seems to have swung to the other extreme and criticism is generalized and overreaching particularly for investors without family ties to Sint Maarten. The early uncritical reception was inappropriate. The more recent over critical reception with much prejudice is also inappropriate. At this time in history investors are particularly essential for Country Sint Maarten. The Ministry of TEATT…
PHILIPSBURG – – On Monday, January 22nd Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Jorien Wuite and members of her cabinet embarked on a series of introductory meetings with critical stakeholders expected to extend over the next several weeks. The Minister, in her capacity of school board to the public schools, found it critical that her first meeting be with the school managers of the public schools. The meeting was held in the presence of the division head Glenderlin Holiday and acting head Marcellia Henry. In what was a conducive meeting, the Minister took the opportunity to inform the management…
COLE BAY – In a breaking news report this morning, 721news reports that the Traffic Department is busy investigating a hit and run that occurred this morning at approximately 5am on Union Road in Cole Bay whereby an unknown vehicle traveling at high speed knocked down a male pedestrian who was walking on the side of the road. The accident occurred across from ACE Mega Center. Apparently, the car was heading in the direction of the French border when for unknown reasons the driver knocked down the pedestrian. The victim has been identified by a family member as 34-year old…
There is a commonly used word here on St. Maarten that, when used, aptly describes a funny but ironical situation in just one five-letter word: “jokey”. We had a ‘jokey’ situation yesterday that promptly forced both Telem and UTS to issue public statements denying any culpability in this jokey situation. We know of one well-known politician on St. Maarten who, after elections, in order to avoid being engaged in conversations with people on the street, often acts like he is on the phone talking. In this situation the phone is used as a tool to avoid contact. Now it is election time, the phone…
THE HAGUE/PHILIPSBURG — In a letter dated January 25 addressed to the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Leona Marlin-Romeo, Dutch State Secretary Raymond Knops turned down the request of the Sint Maarten Government to have the dissolution decree discussed in a Kingdom Council meeting with the intention to have it annulled. On behalf of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations (BZK), State Secretary Knops writes to PM Marlin-Romeo: “In your letter you express reservations about the legality of the National Decree concerning the dissolution of the States. You therefore request an opinion from the Council of Ministers of…
Unsolicited campaign calls irk phone users Philipsburg — UTS received a string of complaints from customers today regarding unsolicited calls and messages received on their mobile phones. The calls and messages originated from campaigns vying for the upcoming parliamentary elections. The telecom provider was contacted by customers concerned about whether the operator provided their information for the purposes of these campaign solicitations. The mobile operator informed that it had no involvement, as the calls are the result of an automated system employed by the campaigns and no cooperation from mobile providers is needed. These so-called ‘robo-calls’ are made by using…
PHILIPSBURG – The Parliament will ask the Council of Advice for a legal opinion about the constitutionality of the November 10 decree to dissolve the Parliament, to call elections for February 26, and to install the new Parliament on April 2. Parliamentarians used the meeting to rehash recent history, whereby the reason the government fell last year was one of the central questions.
Philipsburg – Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Jorien Wuite strongly encourages all organizations, especially all schools, sport and cultural organizations to register with the SXM Doet campaign and make use of the up to $1000 available to execute a project of their choosing. SXM Doet is scheduled to take place on March 9th and 10th. The yearly event sponsored by the Oranje Fonds is the largest volunteer event in the Dutch Kingdom. Due to the increased challenges facing the island after the passing of Hurricane Irma an increase has been made to the usual $650 available. Minister…
