Wie zwijgt stemt toe
By Hilbert Haar I honestly cannot remember a moment when there was no trouble at all at utilities company GEBE and I have followed the developments in energy-land closely for more than ten years. Being the managing director at GEBE seems to be asking for trouble. This does not only appear from the recent dismissal of Mauricio Dembrook, but also from 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...
What others do not dare to share
By Hilbert Haar Bad things happen when good people do nothing. I have been unable to source this quote but it feels appropriate for the topic I want to discuss here (again): corruption. More in particular: corruption More...
Appearances are deceiving
By Terrance Rey A Dutch friend of mine was once amazed at the size of my house. He concluded that I must be rich. In the Netherlands he lives two floors high in a flat. I drive a jeep, he rides a bicycle. One might More...
Gordon-Carty warns: Lack of dignity casts St. Maarten as mediocre on world stage
PHILIPSBURG — Former Minister of VSA Pamela Gordon-Carty on Tuesday cautioned the country’s elected representatives about the dangers of casting St. Maarten, its government and its people, as mediocre on More...
We as a country can manage our own Central Bank
Dear Editor, I am not a person of the media, but as a born St. Maartener and professional, I have decided to speak out on this matter as I am feeling very belittled and insulted by the comments made by MP More...
Consumer protection remains elusive, in spite of existing laws
PHILIPSBURG — Curacao established its consumer foundation almost half a century ago, in 1975. The Fundashon pa Konsumidó provides information about price comparison and the quality of products and services More...
A closer look at the rules for suspending parliamentarians
PHILIPSBURG — On February 19, 2019, Theo Heyliger, then a member of parliament for the United Democrats party (UD) was arrested on suspicion of taking bribes from construction companies. The Public Prosecutor More...
Pro Soualiga: Leiden University awarding a Law Doctorate regarding the decolonization of the Netherland Antilles
Dear Editor, Please find a press release regarding Leiden University awarding a Law Doctorate regarding the decolonization of the Netherland Antilles. LEIDEN UNIVERSITY AWARDS LAW DOCTORATE REGARDING NETHERLANDS More...
A very bad situation
By Hilbert Haar Now they’ve really done it. I never thought that the government would be so daft to put the livelihood of its citizens at risk by stubbornly refusing to accept the Dutch conditions for liquidity More...
