Cay Bay – SOL ANTILLES N.V. (Sol), confirms that after the passage of Hurricanes Irma and María, the residents of St Maarten once again have full access to fuels from the island’s five Sol Service Stations. Sol, the leading regional supplier of petroleum products, has re-established service at the Tackling, Sucker Garden, St. Peters, Risdons and Madame Estate service stations. The re-establishment of supply means that residents once again have reliable access to fuel for vehicles, electricity generation and cooking. “I genuinely thank our teams who have been working tirelessly under challenging circumstances to re-establish service and we are happy…
Author: The Publisher
Kingdom Relations Minister Plasterk has put his cards on the table. Financial aid for the reconstruction of St. Maarten is now linked to two demands: the establishment of an integrity chamber and putting the Royal Marechaussee and Dutch Customs in charge of border control. The second condition should not be a headache because, according to Plasterk’s letter to the government of St. Maarten, these forces would operate under the formal responsibility of our Minister of Justice. That’s no skin of our nose. The first demand is however impossible and Minister Plasterk should be well aware of this. Even if the…
THE HAGUE – A Dutch fund – with hundreds of millions of euros – for the reconstruction of St. Maarten will only become available after the government of Prime Minister William Marlin agrees to two conditions from the Netherlands. Outgoing Minister Ronald Plasterk made this announcement on Friday after a meeting of the Kingdom Council of Ministers, John Samson reports on Caribisch Netwerk. If it were up to the Netherlands, the Royal Marechaussee takes over border control as soon as possible; according to The Hague, the island is unable to stop criminality and illegal immigration at the border. The Netherlands…
Philipsburg — On Friday afternoon, October 13, 2017 the Ombudsman, Dr. Nilda Arduin, met with approximately 40 vendors, many of whom filed a complaint against the decision of the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunication (TEATT), Mrs. Melissa Arrindell- Doncher, to demolish the kiosks in Philipsburg. Considering the urgency of the matter, the Ombudsman promptly requested the Minster to answer a number of questions relevant to the issue by Monday, October 16, 2017. The most irresponsible action, is inaction at Philipsburg Market In a press statement issued by the Minister’s cabinet, the Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs…
HAARLEM – A group of fifteen homeless citizens from St. Maarten has hired attorney Leandro Thomas. He has to make sure that they are able to register in a Dutch municipality, Natasja Gibbs reports on Caribisch Netwerk. The group of fifteen became homeless due to Hurricane Irma and they came on an evacuation flight to the Netherlands. There are five children in this group. Dutch municipalities, like for instance Haarlem, refuse to register them. “If there is an emergency situation they can be assisted with emergency shelter; but really only with emergency shelter,” the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom…
THE HAGUE – Members of the Dutch parliament are astonished about threats made by Island Council member Clyde van Putten towards Dutch military personnel on Statia, John Samson reports on Caribisch Netwerk. Van Putten said that they would “murder the soldiers and burn them in the streets of Statia.” “I said this to Minister Ronald Plasterk with my finger directly at his nose,” Van Putten said during a conference about autonomy and independence hosted by attorney Eldon Sulvaran’s pressure group KFO. Several islanders expressed their displeasure about the way the Netherlands deals with the islands. But according to members of…
By Hilbert Haar Minister Plasterk said it during his last visit to St. Maarten: the Netherlands is not just going to open a bank account and let the island help itself. That makes sense. Funds that are available from the European Development Fund (EDF) are not forked over to the government either; a project needs to be tendered and executed and then the EDF pays the bills. Not a penny flows through the government’s financial system. It comes therefore as no surprise that the Netherlands wants to appoint a High Commissioner to oversee the rebuilding efforts. For this position, the…
PHILIPSBURG — The Executive Agency Social and Health Insurance (SZV) of Sint Maarten hereby makes the following known to all SZV insured persons currently staying on Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. The SZV card does not entitle you to free medical treatment outside Sint Maarten unless you have been referred abroad for specific medical treatment by SZV. Due to the state of emergency after Hurricane Irma, a temporary provision was established for those insured persons that needed doctor consult or medication while staying on Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Now that the state of emergency has been lifted and airlift with Sint…
Philipsburg — As of Wednesday, October 11th, the Police Force of St. Maarten (KPSM) with the assistance of the Police force of the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao, the Royal Marechaussee, the VKC and VKS intensified the general controls at different locations on the island. Police controls took place at the roundabout at the former Eddy’s Auto Supplies store and the Churchill roundabout, where a total of 40 private vehicles were checked with illegal tinted windows which were removed. A total of seven scooters were brought in because the riders did not have valid documents for them including one stolen car which…
Philipsburg — After the passing of hurricane Irma all day care centers suffered damage, some more extensive than the other ones and were left without power and potable water. In accordance with the law, day care centers must be able to operate in a safe and healthy manner. Power, being form the grid or through a generator, drinking water, proper ventilation and suitable and safe playground are some of the requirements. An inspection team consisting of inspectors from the Ministry VSA, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of VROMI have conducted inspections on health, safety, infrastructural and educational aspects.…
