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,” says Progress Committee chairman Nico Schoof. “There have been long periods when nothing happened, not from the side of St. Maarten 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...

How do we tackle the issue of trash everywhere on St. Maarten?
~ How to deal with litterbugs? ~ What do you do when you see people littering? ~ Many people are seen littering the streets and beaches despite there being bins for the same. Throwing light on this, we interviewed More...

Jorien Wuite: with a bold move on her way to the Dutch Parliament
PHILIPSBURG – Earlier this year, former Minister Plenipotentiary Jorien Wuite became a member of the Dutch political party D66. Now she is the number 19 (out of 65) on the party’s so-called advice-list of candidates More...

Peggy-Ann Dros: “Employers have to pay 100 percent salaries”
~ No jurisprudence on ‘no work, no pay’ policy of employers during lockdown ~ PHILIPSBURG – The department of labor affairs and social services has a top-ten of non-compliant employers, department More...

Covidist Richardson urges governments to make evidence-based decisions
BALTIMORE / PHILIPSBURG – Countries need knowledgeable leadership and they must make evidence-based medical decisions. That is the message from Lt. Colonel Dr. Leonard (Lenny) Richardson, a COVID-19 researcher More...

Exclusive interview with TelEm CEO Kendall Dupersoy
~ "By the hook or the crook, you need to partner with a larger company." ~ PHILIPSBURG – Don't let anybody fool you when it comes to Kendall Dupersoy, the Chief Executive Officer of telecom provider TelEm. He More...

Clifford Illis: Businesses and the middle class will be the hardest hit
PHILIPSBURG — When it comes to crisis analysis in post-disaster situations, Clifford Illis is our go-to expert. After hurricane Irma in 2017, Illis’ analysis of the subsequent insurance crisis that unfolded More...

Former Minister Emil Lee: “New policies should be based on facts and consultation”
PHILIPSBURG – “New policies should be based on facts on consultation with stakeholders such as the labor tripartite and higher councils such as the Social Economic Council (SER),” former Minister of Public More...

After seven years Keith Franca returns to consulting – with a plan to visit seven islands
PHILIPSBURG – After a seven year-tenure Keith Franca (64) left his position as managing director of the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) per the end of 2019. His successor is 30-year old Makhicia Brooks. Franca More...