Insel Air’s financial troubles pose an interesting dilemma for the government in Curacao. It does not want the airline to go bust because it is considered too important for the island in terms of the economy, employment and accessibility. Too big to fail, were the words outgoing Minister of Economic Affairs Eugène Rhuggenaath has used. But were to draw the line? Insel Air will probably never see the $100 million that is said to be stuck in Venezuela. Should tax payers then carry the can for a company that is, for whatever reason, unable to remain economically viable? We perfectly…
Author: The Publisher
WILLEMSTAD – The Court in First Instance confirmed last week that the Common Court of Justice did not give permission for a search at the Central Bank in Willemstad on October 6. However, the court also ruled that the search was not unlawful because of this formality. The anti-corruption unit – part of the Detective Collaboration Team (RST) and the Attorney General’s office – led by an investigative judge searched the main office of the Central Bank in October as part of the investigation into alleged tax evasion by the bank’s president, Dr. Emsley Tromp. The search was necessary because…
WILLEMSTAD – Independent MP and general practitioner Eduard Braam will not surrender his seat to the PAR for the time being, Dick Drayer reports on Caribisch Netwerk. He will assess per topic whether he is going to vote with the coalition or with the opposition. Braam does not exclude cooperation with the MFK and Kòrsou di nos Tur parties, but he says that that is not in the line of expectations or logical. Photo caption: Eduard Braam. Photo Caribisch Netwerk / Dick Drayer The controversial politician came under fire when he decided to leave the PAR during the formation of…
GREAT BAY – KLM and Winair have begun the process of expanding their business relationship in St. Maarten. The target date for implementation of code share agreement is scheduled for 2017. ”Winair currently enjoys a interline with KLM, one of the world’s premiere airlines, thru expansion of this agreement to a code share agreement both Winair and KLM will operate flights throughout each other’s route network offering greater benefits to our mutual customers, improving connectivity, adding destinations, pricing and ease of travel for customers traveling to and from the Caribbean, Europe and beyond,” stated Winair’s President and CEO Michael Cleaver.…
WILLEMSTAD – Insel Air has received financial support from the government of Curacao for the past six months, Dick Drayer reports on Caribisch Netwerk. Outgoing Minister of Economic Affairs Eugène Rhuggenaath confirmed this. The ailing airline is not only living on credit from the development bank Korpodeko, but also on agreements that have been made through the Ministry of Finance with the tax inspectorate. This weekend Insel Air approached the government again. The airline has no more cash to execute its operations and to pay salaries including premiums and insurances. According to Insel Air, there is $100 million stuck in…
Dear Editor, As is the case in the wider world, here on St. Martin too, transparency has become a hip hip hurray word; a feel good word; a word without spot or blemish. Few question how they came to love this word and idea so much. A word that is unsoiled and uncontested – and never connected to inhuman trends is a dangerous thing. If you want to be taken seriously as being anti-establishment—regardless of the fact that you are a millionaire or you are politically well-connected—then make sure you use the word transparency in your criticism of the powers…
GREAT BAY- The second edition of the aerobatic show sponsored by the management of the Princess Juliana International Airport was short, but entertaining as expected. Melissa Pemberton and Skip Stewart both delivered the goods and the hundreds of spectators that occupied the dozens of vantage points between Belair Hotel and the Walter Plantz Square yesterday afternoon could not have asked for more. The nail biting maneuvers on an individual basis as well as a team work was on point, but those moves involve years of experience sitting in the cockpit of those superfast and super light single engine planes. Photo…
GREAT BAY – The Democratic Party feels that before damaging the cooperation between the Northern and Southern halves of the island, all efforts to find a speedy resolution locally should have been exhausted before escalating the conflict by boycotting the St. Maarten/St. Martin Day celebration, a celebration of unity and friendship by the people and for the people,” the party said in a press statement issued yesterday. Oyster Pond border dispute “Nobody in Paris or The Hague is impacted by the boycott of a local event; the only people impacted are the very people we have sworn to protect. Despite…
By Hilbert Haar GREAT BAY – On October 20, Minister Ingrid Arrindell (Tourism and Economic Affairs) held a farewell speech at the Council of Ministers press briefing. During this address she said, among other things that Avireps was appointed as St. Maarten’s Marketing Firm for the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg) for three years “and that Spring O’Brien would do similar marketing in the United States starting in November.” Minister Arrindell made incorrect claim Today learned from confidential sources that Spring Obrien does not have a contract for these marketing activities – at least, not yet, and November is already halfway…
Dear Editor, President-elect Donald Trump is the change that I would like to see happen in St. Maarten one day. The elite establishment government believes that only they are smart and have the rights to tell people how to think. Mr. Trump teaches people to believe in themselves and to think independently. This is the same mentality that establishes a real change in life. This is exactly what St. Maarten needs to change. First, we had Brexit in Great Britain and now we had a repudiation of the Obama and Hillary Clinton ideology of shut your mouth and do what…
