Dear Editor, The SMCU wants to point out that TelEm is still without a CEO after the parliament election of September 26. The prime minister mentioned right before the election that three new members would be added to the board in six weeks after the election and right after the CEO would be appointed. We are now in the month of December, nine weeks after election and the three board members that passed the screening are still not appointed to allow the one board member to resign from his position and become CEO as the prime minister planned. In the…
Author: The Publisher
The situation at the Cadastre is screaming for a solution, as is the one at TelEm that has been rudderless without a CEO for more than seven years now. Both the company and the land registry office are important to the island. Apparently there is a lack of willpower or decision making acumen that brings these situations to a complete standstill. Any private sector company would have gone belly up a long time ago under such aggravating circumstances. At the Cadastre, we remember the solo action of Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel to have someone appointed to the director’s post…
Member of Parliament Frans Richardson on Wednesday said it is sad and unfortunate to see the media, local and foreign, still attempting to connect him to companies and affairs he has nothing to do with. The MP was referring to reports in Dutch and local media which in his opinion is trying to connect him with Checkmate Security Services and the challenges facing management of the company. “Management who the media wants me to go out and vilify before someone has their say under the law,” the MP said. He said it is not the first time the media has…
On one thing we agree with MP Frans Richardson: it is unfortunate that his name has been linked to the Emerald-investigation in the sense that he has been portrayed as a friend of the director of Checkmate Security. But it is even more unfortunate (also for MP Richardson) that it is not possible to obtain an independent verification of his statement that he is in no way involved with the company and that he is not a shareholder. This means that for now we’ll take the MP’s statement at face value. For lack of other information, this matter will move…
GREAT BAY –Port St. Maarten CEO Mark Mingo, is pleased with the progress to advance Sint Maarten as a homeport destination in the Northeastern Caribbean. During a meeting that included Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Ingrid Arrindell, discussions focused on investments to further develop home porting at Port St. Maarten with Pullmantur Cruises and budget airline XL Airways; and investments to increase airlift via XL Airways. XL Airways was represented by Laurent Magnin, President Director General/CEO/Chairman, Luc Bereni, Director Commercial, Program & Marketing/Chief Commercial Officer, and Stephanie Cordier, Marketing & Communication. Mingo and the Sint Maarten delegation traveled to…
GREAT BAY – Dr. Natasha J. Gittens, President & CEO of Training Professionals International Firm (TPI) earned her Certified Hospitality Trainer (CHT) certification last Tuesday from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, (AHLEI). “The Certified Hospitality Trainer is the most prestigious certification available to a hospitality training executive. It identifies Gittens as one who is part of an elite group of hospitality professionals who by combining education and experience with dedication to the industry have achieved a high level of expertise,” TPI said in a press statement. It is globally recognized as “a highly respected professional credential that validates Gitten’s advanced…
Education Minister Jet Bussemaker: “All students have to pay back their study debts” GREAT BAY – Dutch Education Minister Jet Bussemaker said yesterday that she does not know how much local students owe in study debts to DUO, the ministry’s executive branch for study financing. But in April, DUO told this newspaper that the combined outstanding debt is €25 million – at the current rate $26.5 million or 47.7 million guilders. In April these debts were still worth $28.5 million and 51.1 million guilders, so the euro’s decline favors local students. Bussemaker made one thing clear though: “All students have…
Here we go again: a lying witness in court. And again: lying did not help him at all. The case at hand is about a 16-year-old boy, accused initially of attempted manslaughter with a machete and finally sentenced for an attempt to cause his victim grievous bodily harm. When you get caught up in the justice system, we figure you should go to bat with a plan – one that returns the best possible outcome. The plan that works the best and is for some mysterious reason hardly ever used is this one: confess, explain why you did it and…
Education Minister Jet Bussemaker was clear about the issue of study debts: they all have to be paid back. In April, the accumulated debt of St. Maarteners who enjoyed study financing from the Netherlands, stood at €25 million, or around $26.5 million. That’s a lot of money and the impression has been created that many students are unable to pay back and that opening local bank accounts where they can make these payments in local currencies will make repayment more feasible. We don’t want to spoil the fun, but we think that this is highly unlikely, because banking fees can…
GREAT BAY – The Judge of Instruction ruled yesterday that the arrest of Checkmate-owner O’Neal A. on Monday was lawful. His custody was extended by eight days. Later yesterday A. was flown to Curacao where he will be questioned further in the Emerald-investigation. It was deemed unwise to put the suspect in the Pointe Blanche prison because his own company provides security services there. The Checkmate-owner is suspected of tax fraud, forgery, money laundering and illegal firearm possession. Photo caption: Members of the TBO-team approach a house in Cole Bay for yet another search yesterday afternoon. Photo Today / Leo…
