MP Peterson criticizes process for public tenders

PHILIPSBURG — Public tenders falling under the authority of the Ministry of Public Housing, Urban Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) have once again become a bone of contention. In 2022 the Ombudsman concluded in a report about the tendering of solid waste collecting contracts that these tenders were “neither fair nor sufficiently More...

VVD concerned about weaknesses in mutual agreement
THE HAGUE — The VVD-faction in the Dutch parliament has serious concerns about the mutual agreement St. Maarten, Aruba and Curacao recently signed with the Netherlands as the replacement of the controversial More...

Concerns about the future of Claude Wathey’s statue
PHILIPSBURG — The old Government Administration Building will finally be demolished by a company called Limitless Infrastructure at a cost of approximately 660,000 guilders ($368,715). A ceremony to “celebrate” More...

Cft satisfied with intended budget amendments
PHILIPSBURG — The government expects a budget surplus of 4 million guilders ($2.2 million) in 2024, 9 million ($5 million) in 2025 and 15 million ($8.4 million) in 2026. This projection appears from a letter More...

Heyliger-Marten asks MinTEATT’s attention for St. Martin’s food security and economic diversification
On April 20th, 2023, MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten sent a letter with questions and recommendations to the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) regarding St. Martin’s food More...

Mutual agreement triggers ridicule and serious concerns
PHILIPSBURG — The mutual agreement the governments of St. Maarten, Aruba and Curacao singed on April 4 with State Secretary of Kingdom Relations Alexandra van Huffelen has encountered ridicule and severe More...

Minister Doran grants second right of long lease on same plot of land
~ “With a well-functioning Cadastre it is impossible to establish long lease twice on the same parcel of land.” ~ PHILIPSBURG — Minister Egbert Doran (Public Housing, Urban Planning, Environment and More...

Generous travel allowances for ministers on a cut 2023 budget
PHILIPSBURG — Finance Minister Ardwell Irion allocated himself a travel budget of NAf 60,000 for 2023, an increase of 601.39% compared to 2022. Tourism Minister Leo Lambriex has 100 percent more to spend More...

Lottery booths: how the government facilitates gambling addiction
PHILIPSBURG — The Social Economic Council (SER) sent its advice about the placement of lottery booths in low income areas to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs on February 14. It is hampered by a lack of data. More...

Prime Minister speaks on latest developments
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Ms. Silveria Jacobs was shocked and concerned when she was informed of the news of the detention of Member of Parliament Rolando Brison More...