by Jacob Gelt Dekker In December 2017, Nicolas Maduro, President of Venezuela, announced a new currency. This time not in thick wads of paper bills but virtual. Venezuela will have no cash any longer but only virtual currency said the President. That sounded like good news for the poor Venezuelans who now need a carriage along to bring piles of bills to the simplest transaction. It would also lock the shadow economy, cash transactions out; virtual transactions are much easier to detect, trace and tax. It would be a great idea for Curacao to get their shadow economy under control,…
Author: The Publisher
Cul de Sac – St. Maarten Academy schools (Academic and PSVE) will on Monday (January 8, 2018) move into a shift system in order to facilitate the rebuilding of the academic campus which was badly damaged during the passage of Hurricane Irma in September. As a result, both schools have reorganized the curricula and lesson periods in order to operate out of the PSVE campus in Ebenezer. Classes for PSVE will begin at 7:30am and end at 12:00noon, and academic classes will run from 12:30pm with two dismissal times – 5:20pm for Forms 1 and 2, and 6:30pm for Forms…
Philipsburg — Leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP), MP Frans Richardson, submitted a list of 19 candidates to contest the February 26 Parliamentary Elections. Richardson said his team is ready, able and more than willing to continue the good work the party has been doing for the people of St. Maarten. He said the party’s message will be relayed clearly and its candidates are committed to serving at this crucial moment in St. Maarten’s history. He described the list as a great mix of experience and young blood to take the party into the future. The list: Frans…
PHILIPSBURG – The government has to remove the six kiosks it placed on Great Bay Beach in front of the Pasanggrahan Hotel before June 6, the Court in First Instance ruled on Friday. The hotel took the country to court because the kiosks block the view of its guests on the beach. Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Melissa Arrindel-Doncher stated on December 15 in a public announcement that she had designated three locations on Great Bay Beach as market places for a period of 6 months. The locations are in front of the Pasanggrahan Hotel, in front of the…
Philipsburg — The leaders of the United People’s Party (UP) and the Democratic Party (DP) have unified under one banner and founded the United Democrats, a powerhouse political movement formed to take St. Maarten through the critical reconstruction phase the island faces in 2018, according to a press release issued on behalf of the party. The press release further goes on to describe the newly formed party, United Democrats, as the historical joining of UP Honorable Member of Parliament Theodore Heyliger and DP Honorable President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams. “If we take a look at the unaddressed realities since the…
Philipsburg — The management of Masters Tax Consulting in the week of January 15 through 22, 2018, will host a seminar emphasizing business recovery after Irma. The main topics are focused on measurement of corporate losses, taxation and specifics to secure cash flow with cost savings/reduction tools. The seminar provides the complete package to withstand envisioned financial adversities and encourages the use of new business techniques to sustain business continuity. For the seminar Masters Tax Consulting has joined forces with Benjamin & Parker Risk Auditors, to detail the grey zones within the Tax Law in regards of damages attributed by…
Dear Editor, I am not a betting man, but what are the odds that the Governor will be able to swear in the Interim Cabinet backed by the new majority of 8 in Parliament after Friday January 5, 2018??? Michael J. Ferrier
Philipsburg — In 2016, local software developer Gamma IT Solutions developed RXPro, a complete AIS system for the distribution of prescription and non-prescription medicines with all necessary functions and complete medical control. The robust pharmacy software is used in Aruba and Curacao, with Gamma customizing the software for each individual country. Most recently, the software was modified specifically for St. Maarten, and Gamma is proud to announce that St. Maarten officially adopted RXPro at the end of November 2017. The SZV Social & Health Insurance introduced Gamma’s RxPro to all the pharmacies in St. Maarten, where the software will offer…
Phillipsburg — The Rotary Club of St. Maarten Mid Isle has announced their president and secretary elect for the Rotary year 2018-2019. Rotarian Denise Antrobus has been named as President Elect and Aernout Kraaijeveld as Secretary Elect. Rotarian Denise said she was honored to be selected to lead this wonderful Rotary Family of Mid Isle during the year 2018-2019. She thanks the committee of past presidents for choosing her to represent Mid Isle during the next Rotary Year. She stated that it is an honor to be elected as their next president and is humbled that they have placed their…
Philipsburg — “It is like the day of yesterday, that I recall the establishment of the Beyond Writing Foundation in 2003, now named Beyond Kultura Events Foundation’s with the most important aim to enhance reading and storytelling amongst the youth”, Loekie Morales stated. “We have accomplished that with tangible results over the course of the years, not only for Sint Maarten, but for the other Dutch Windward Islands and Leeward Island as well.” Morales is the “founding mother” of this foundation and of the Caribbean Living Statues Festivals, as a unique festival with many aims. “Next to embracing our cultural…
