PHILIPSBURG – “Before Friday we were asked to agree to something of which we did not know the details,” Justice Minister Rafael Boasman said at Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press briefing. Boasman said that he had received the draft mutual agreement about border control only last Friday after 5 p.m. “On Sunday I discussed it with Chief Commissioner Carl John and Anthony Doran of the Customs Department. I did not foresee any problems.” Boasman reiterated that border control has been a joint effort with the Royal Marechaussee from long before 10-10-10 and that the cooperation “is not in bad shape.”…
Author: The Publisher
Philipsburg; In separate letters directed to the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Mr. William Marlin and the President of Parliament, Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams, the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) expressed sympathy to the government and the people of Sint Maarten in the aftermath of the recent hurricanes. Both letters go on to say that the IOI is conscious of the enormous task ahead of rebuilding the country and the resilience required from the community. Consequently it pledges full support and backing from the international Ombudsman community to the Ombudsman institutions in the region, and wishes the Governments, Parliaments and the people…
Oyster Bay — This Tuesday, the Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) held its first post-Irma mixer on October 31st. The event was hosted by Infinity Restaurant, reopening as of today. By means of the mixer, SHTA invited its membership to convene for the first time after hurricane Irma. The meeting functioned as a platform in exchanging business insights on dealing with its aftermath. 150 Representatives of Sint Maarten’s business life turned up at Infinity, Oyster Bay Beach Resort’s largest restaurant. The association deems it important that Sint Maarten’s business society comes together and shares practices in dealing with…
PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister William Marlin made a very serious accusation that Minister Lee is deliberately withholding the delivery of relief goods from the people in an attempt to make the government and Prime Minister look bad in order to justify a change in government. Minister Lee stated, “It is really sad that the Prime Minister would sink so low to try and blame the entire Ministry of VSA with an out and out lie. This is clearly a desperate attempt by a seasoned and cynical politician to shift the public’s anger away from himself in order to hold on…
PHILIPSBURG – The new parliamentary majority of eight is heading for a motion of no confidence against the government led by Prime Minister William Marlin. It’s not a done deal yet, because Wednesday’s meeting of Parliament – scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. – was first adjourned until 5 p.m. and then further adjourned until Thursday morning at 10 a.m. after only three speakers had taken the floor. MPs Claret Connor (UP) and Perry Geerlings (DP) made their positions clear, while MP Frans Richardson loudly tore into the critics of the Prime Minister. When the Parliament passes its motion of…
Philipsburg — Member of Parliament (MP) Ardwell Irion has stated that given the current state of affairs, he is not in favor of new elections. He goes on to say “It is unfortunate that the former coalition could not dialogue and make things work, as the decision to form a new government also costs the people of Sint Maarten money and time.” The people of Sint Maarten are still dealing with the effects of Hurricane Irma and believes that calling for new elections is not the best approach at this time. The MP closed by stating that “He hopes that…
GREAT BAY — The board of the United St. Maarten (US) party said it is very disappointed in MP Chanel Brownbill for the decision he took despite having stood by him through everything and involved him in even more. Brownbill ran on the slate of the US party in the last Parliamentary Elections. The board explained that all effort was made to surround MP Brownbill, a new MP, with the assistance and guidance he needs to be successful in Parliament. “The party surrounded him with a legal expert and a legislative expert and former law maker. We made sure that…
GREAT BAY — Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Wednesday said the Minister of VSA Emil Lee should be held fully accountable for his failure to properly organize the relief effort following hurricane Irma. Richardson said he cannot understand how the media have not attached accountability where it should go instead of letting Lee throw civil servants from his Ministry under the bus as the failures. The public, the MP continued, will soon know the extent of Lee’s failures and his efforts to wash his hands from providing an acceptable and effective relief distribution…
GREAT BAY — The leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party is imploring the people of St. Maarten not to fall for the “pretentious saintly act” being put on display by the leader of the Democratic Party MP Sarah Wescot-Williams. “The leader of the Democratic Party has deployed irresponsible actions in a time when St. Maarten is in crisis, in a desperate power grab on the backs of the people of St. Maarten,” the US board said. Leader of the US party, MP Frans Richardson, supported by his board, said that the public should pay keen attention to the…
Philipsburg – The Dominica Foundation St. Maarten (DFS) is inviting all Dominicans residing on St. Maarten/St. Martin to join them as they celebrate Dominica 39Th Independence Anniversary. The celebration will be held on Sunday November 5, 2017, activities kicks off with a church service at the Roman Catholic Church in Philipsburg at 8:00am, all Dominicans are encouraged to attend wearing their traditional/folklore outfit. Following the church service, persons can proceed to the Telem parking lot (across the University of St. Martin) where there will be various Dominica Breakfast dishes on sale from 8:00 – 11:00am. The celebration continues with a…
