“We want to drink champagne on a mauby budget”
“We cannot drink champagne if we only have money for Coca Cola.” – Marcel Gumbs PHILIPSBURG — First MP Claudius Buncamper declared himself independent. Then Akeem Arrindell followed his example. Result: the United St. Maarten party (USp) lost its representation in Parliament. After Buncamper’s suspension that situation will soon be More...
Marcel Gumbs: “Friendships have broken up over vaccination-discussion”
PHILIPSBURG — Former Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and former Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards both expressed their support for vaccination against COVID during a Facebook-broadcast of Linda Richardson’s Aging More...
Professionals needed to carry out a strong government administration
PHILIPSBURG — Former Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards observed during a Facebook-broadcast of the Aging with Grace-program hosted by Linda Richardson that the government “really needs to strengthen itself More...
They come visiting us carrying a hidden treasure
by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert For fifteen years now, he and his wife are coming to St Maarten; and that twice a year. Why didn’t we meet them before? I found out that they have so much give: Wilmer Woodland and his wife More...
Ombudsmen: Poverty in the Caribbean worrisome
GREAT BAY — The situation regarding poverty in the Caribbean part of the Netherlands seems to be “very worry some.” That was the consensus by these High Counsels of State during their deliberations that More...
Collecting more taxes does not require reform; it requires enforcement
PHILIPSBURG — Tax reform. Tax compliance. Tax evasion. Tax fraud. These are all well-known terms in St. Maarten where fooling the tax inspectorate is seen by quite some citizens and companies as a national More...
Chief Commissioner Carl John: “Aggression of youngsters needs more attention”
PHILIPSBURG — Road rage and wayward behavior of young scooter riders have become a thorny issue, but Chief commissioner Carl John said in an interview on The Breakfast Lounge with Lady Grace that this is More...
MP Ludmila de Weever: “It is about doing what is right for the country”
PHILIPSBURG — Building relationships, maintaining them and keeping St. Maarten safe and clean, is part of the message former minister and now a member of parliament for the United People’s party (UP) Ludmila More...
Progress Committee chairman Nico Schoof: “It is going very slowly, but there is some progress”
PHILIPSBURG — “The preparedness of St. Maarten to do something with the recommendations of the Progress Committee depends since 2010 heavily on the minister of justice and the government that is in office,” More...
Majority airport fire department morning crew called in sick
~ SXM Airport CEO Brian Mingo clarifies situation at the airport; says it was not a ‘strike’ ~ SIMPSON BAY — Andrew Bishop interview with SXM Airport CEO Brian Mingo and Minister of Aviation More...
