By Hilbert Haar José Lake Jr. and Dr. Rhoda Arrindell are two prominent proponents of independence for St. Maarten. You have to admire and respect the efforts they tirelessly devote to this cause. The question is of course whether independence is good or bad for the people who live here – and that’s where the facts become fuzzy. There is no doubt in my mind that people are entitled to choose their own destiny. Independence or no independence, it does not really matter. If the people want to go one way or the other should not be an issue. In…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG — “What I do know is that there are no direct benefits for St. Maarten to remain within the kingdom,” Dr. Rhoda Arrindell told StMaartenNews.com. She emphasized that the debate about independence ought to take place publicly. “To me it comes down to: are you for or against independence. That’s it. All the other stuff is political.” Arrindell, who was the first minister of Education after St. Maarten became an autonomous country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands on October 10, 2010, said that the One SXM Association is looking forward to a referendum about the independence question. “People…
Dear Sir/Madam, We appeal to all sports (cricket), school, church, and organizers of private events to your sense of consideration for the residents of Isis Road to keep the volume of the music and of the microphone at your event at a level that is appropriate and within acceptable limits within our residential area. We all share this area and everyone must do their part to ensure good cooperation so everyone can feel comfortable. Unfortunately, this is currently not the case. Noise pollution, defined as any level of noise that is harmful or annoying, is a major (health) issue in…
PHILIPSBURG — What is so secretive about the Cadastre that is warrants a closed-door meeting of parliament? StMaartenNews.com discussed this issue with an organizational consultant, who offered a blistering conclusion about the Cadastre-management: “There is no specific expertise present.” “The Cadastre is a public entity with public registers and it operates in close association with other actors in the sector of technical and legal land registration and land management. How can there be any issue that cannot be disclosed to the general public, if it has not to do with apparent illegality?” The consultant broke the organizational process down in…
WILLEMSTAD — Former Ennia Holding and Ennia Investments director Ralph Palm and his company Palm Management Services have to repay the insurance company close to 4 million guilders, the Court in First Instance in Curacao ruled. It also granted a small counterclaim by Palm. Palm has to repay 3,318,551 guilders plus another 532,177 guilders for a total of 3,850,728 ($2,151,245). The court ordered ENNIA to pay Palm’s counterclaim of $39,516. On February 14, 2011, Palm was appointed statutory director of Ennia Holding. Almost a year later, on January 1, 2012, followed his appointment as director of Ennia Investments. Ennia fired…
PHILIPSBURG — There is a discord between some employees of the Justice Ministry and the unions that represent them. This appears from our exclusive interview with Minister of Justice Anna Richardson. “I am happy that we could have one-on-one discussions with our staff,” Richardson said. “They want to know where the numbers are coming from. I have heard them say: I do not agree with agreements made by the union. I was baffled when I heard that, because the impression has been created that the unions represent that staff. And now staff members are saying: no, I do not agree…
~ In an open and frank conversation the minister talks about the latest developments surrounding the justice workers function books, salary scales and placement positions ~ PHILIPSBURG – In an exclusive interview with StMaartenNews.com, Minister of Justice Anna Richardson had the opportunity to explain the dynamics surrounding the justice workers function books, their legal positions and salary scales and the placement process. “I’m always grateful for the opportunity to just be alive and be able to positively contribute to the community of St. Maarten.” were the opening statements of the minister as she was welcomed to the interview. Asked about…
PHILIPSBURG — In February, Justice Minister Anna Richardson informed Parliament that 136 convicts are still waiting to serve their sentence. She also reported that, even though the Prosecutor’s Office does not focus on the status of these people, out of 87 inmates 24 (27.6 percent) are undocumented. Three Dutch D66-parliamentarians – Joost Sneller, Hanneke van der Werf and Jorien Wuite – have now posed twelve questions to their Minister of Justice Yesilgöz about the issue. “Do you consider not executing prison sentences a problem given the objective of promoting good governance by contributing to the strengthening of the constitutional state?”…
PHILIPSBURG — The go-slow action at the Police Force has the full attention of politicians and the Ministry of Justice. MP Rolando Brison (UP) proposed a three-step solution in a press release, while these proposals have already been rejected by the unions. MP Sarah Wescot-Williams (UD) urged Minister Richardson to make retroactive payments and the minister stated in a press release that her staff had been working “throughout the night” to complete the placement letters. MP Brison proposes completing the issuing of placement letters (something the ministry is already working on), to acknowledge workers concerns about miscalculations and to confirm…
PHILIPSBURG — Will the go-slow action by employees of the police force affect safety and security during the Carnival celebrations? That is not clear at the moment. Attorney Cor Merx, who represents employees of the justice department in a conflict over payment arrears and the settlement of legal positions, announced in a brief press statement that the justice workers will “slow-on.” At the same time the police force issued a warning against committing offenses during the Carnival season. That press release does not contain a word about the possible impact of a go-slow on police presence during Carnival-events. Merx stated…
