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Opstelten, Teeven resign over dubious deal with drug lord

THE HAGUE--Minister of Security and Justice Ivo Opstelten and State Secretary Fred Teeven both tendered their resignations Monday over the return of 4.7 million guilders to a convicted drug lord in 2001.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday evening, Opstelten said further investigation by his officials had led to the discovery of "digital confirmation" that showed Cees Helman had been paid 4.7 million guilders, not 1.25 million guilders as he consistently had told Parliament.

"There has been a lack of certainty about the facts surrounding that settlement and I have concluded that I must now resign," Opstelten said in a brief statement.

Teeven said his credibility had been damaged by the situation and he no longer could carry on in the job without Opstelten Read more

Country still short two ministers, 2014-2018 governing programme

PHILIPSBURG--It's been almost three months since the current Marcel Gumbs Cabinet has taken office and it is still two ministers short of the usual complement of seven. March 19 will mark three months since the cabinet was sworn-in by Governor Eugene Holiday.

To date, there has neither been word from the UP/De Weever/Marlin-Romeo coalition regarding the nomination of the two additional ministers nor about the completion of the Governing Programme for the coalition for 2014-2018.

The current Council of Ministers only numbering five is not in any way illegal as the Constitution states the country can have "up to a maximum of seven ministers."

De-facto government leader United People's (UP) leader Member of Parliament Theo Heyliger had said in his New Year's address that he "would like to see a complete seven-member cabinet in place within 60 days or less as of the beginning of the New Year."

He also stated in that same address, "I am very confident in the team of ministers who have been appointed so far to carry out the people's business."

Ministers are needed for the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labour VSA and the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI.

Prime Minister/General Affairs Minister Marcel Gumbs serves as ad-interim VROMI minister while Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs is

ad- interim VSA minister.

It is speculated that potential candidates are shying away from the ministerial nominations, because of the somewhat invasive checks into the lives of minister candidates, their family and friends.

One person close to the issue said, some people do not want even their name to be mentioned as a potential candidate Read more

L'Esperance wins Most Worthy Performance Overall trophy for the 2015 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta

Prime Minister of St. Maarten Marcel Gumbs presents the Most Worthy Performance Overall trophies for the 2015 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta to Bobby Velasquez’s L’Esperance at the awards ceremony to close the regatta Sunday evening on Kim Sha Beach. L’Esperance achieved a perfect score of four first places during the regatta. Bobby Ve Read more

Employee investigated for selling SZV cards

PHILIPSBURG--An investigation is being conducted at Social and Health Insurances SZV into allegations of an employee selling SZV cards to persons who are not properly registered or who are not actually paying premiums.

United People's (UP) party deputy leader Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers said Monday that he was awaiting the results of the investigation Read more

Beach Policy under review, vending moratorium stays

PHILIPSBURG--The country's Beach Policy is under review "to find the right balance on how beaches are utilized," Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Minister Claret Connor told Members of Parliament (MPs) in a meeting of Parliament's TEATT Permanent Committee on Tuesday afternoon in Parliament House.

The draft policy is now with the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Read more

SZV takes card selling scheme ‘very seriously’

HARBOUR VIEW--Social and Health Care Insurance SZV says it is taking the reports of an employee selling its insurance cards "very seriously."

"This case is being taken very seriously, as it does not only have repercussions for the organisation, but also for the people of St. Maarten," SZV said in a brief statement issued on Tuesday. "The SZV team is working diligently so as to not compromise the investigation in any way. When the findings of the investigation become conclusive, the appropriate measures will be taken."

SZV said it was not at liberty to divulge any details related to the ongoing investigation due to the complexity of the situation.

United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament Franklin Meyers disclosed on Monday that an investigation was being conducted into allegations of an employee selling SZV cards to persons who were not properly registered or who were not actually paying premiums.

He said if proven true, this matter would have severe consequences for SZV's viability, for the country and for every hard-working person in St Read more

Women’s desk celebrates new identity, reveals logo

HOPE ESTATE--On Monday, March 9, the first working day after International Women's Day on March 8, the Women's Desk revealed its new logo and some significant developments for the future in a ceremony at the Gaston Boasman Help Desk in Hope Estate.

Master of Ceremonies for the celebration was Elencia Baptiste-Boasman who invited all those present, including Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs, Acting Secretary General Joy Arnell, Dr. Virginia Asin, Dr. Ellis and MP and former Minister of Health Cornelius de Weever.

The ceremony started with two talented students of Charlotte Brookson Academy who gave a touching rendition of the St Read more

Centuries-old DNA helps identify Zoutsteeg slave skeleton origins

PHILIPSBURG/UNITED STATES--A newly developed genetic technique enabled researchers to sequence DNA from the teeth of 300-year-old skeletons, helping to pinpoint where in Africa three slaves had likely lived before being captured.

More than 300 years ago, three African-born slaves died on St. Maarten. No written records memorialized their fate, and their names and precise ethnic background remained a mystery.

For centuries, their skeletons were subjected to the hot, wet weather of the tropical island until they were unearthed in 2010 during a construction project on Zoutsteeg, an alley between Cannegieter Street and Back Street.

Now researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the University of Copenhagen have extracted and sequenced tiny bits of DNA remaining in the skeletons' teeth Read more

Parliament’s integrity needs to be assessed by ad hoc committee

PHILIPSBURG--"I think some type of assessment document should be proposed in the committee on areas that need to be assessed to form an assessment, because if Parliament has to assess itself we have to decide upon what we will be assessing ourselves." That statement from National Alliance (NA) deputy leader Member of Parliament (MP) Silveria Jacobs summed up Tuesday's meeting of Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee on Integrity.

The ad hoc committee, chaired by independent MP Cornelius de Weever, is set to meet again in two weeks, at which time committee members are expected to table a proposal on the way forward and give comments on the establishment of a Code of Conduct for Parliament.

De Weever submitted a proposal for a code of conduct he had formulated with elements of similar codes in place in the United Kingdom and Trinidad and Tobago Read more

Boasman sets record straight on TelEm board, Mediator positions

PHILIPSBURG--TelEm Group Supervisory Board Chairman and Mediator Rafael Boasman has responded to conflict-of-interest criticisms levelled against him by the St. Maarten Communications Union (SMCU).

SMCU had called on Boasman to step down from his position on the supervisory board as it was a conflict of interest with his position as Mediator.

Boasman told The Daily Herald in an invited comment that although the board did not handle the day-to-day operations of the company and only held a supervisory function he had made it clear that he would not mediate in any labour issues with TelEm because of his position as Mediator.

Boasman has been on the TelEm board since 2008 and was appointed Mediator in 2011 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, March 6th, 2015 Oldine Bryson-Pantophlet , Chairwoman and Gerard Richardson, Secretary-general (SG) of the Social Economic Council (SER) provided a delegation of members of the Youth Parliament of Sint Maarten with a presentation on the advisory body.

Chairwoman Oldine Bryson-Pantophlet gave an outline of the workings of the advisory body mainly on the role of its members and staff Read more

>Airport Road:---  on February 26, WINAIR held their quarterly marketing meeting with the British Virgin Islands in Tortola at the BVI Tourist Board in Roadtown. WINAIR reported the results of the first year it has been flying to Tortola since December 15 2013. Over 7100 passengers have been transported to date between St Read more

style="text-align: center;">POWER HOUR was a success, now it is time to GO DOMINATE TAXES!

Great Bay:--- NFOBIZZ made an announcement that it will host its first intensive training for the year on March 31, 2015 at the POWER HOUR recently. The POWER HOUR, which was held on March 4, 2015 at the Belair Community Centre, attracted more than 60 participants from both the Northern and Southern sides of the island Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- In another closed door meeting of the Permanent Committee presentations were made to members of Parliament by the SMMC director, SZV interim CEO as well as by government as to where they are now.
Strangely enough, members of the NA faction in Parliament had requested a Central Committee meeting with these same entities back in December which had been convened after the budget meetings and for which a postponement was requested by the entities mentioned above so they could meet in a workshop and come with an action plan moving forward to address these issues.
Evidently, while it was commendable that all involved see the importance of the issues at hand and have mentioned their willingness to work together, it is clear that the meeting was premature as the Conference/workshop is planned for March 19th and how the entities will actually work together has not been ironed out.
It is the belief of the NA faction that the outcome of said conference would have formed a better basis for the requested meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament which should in fact be open and give the general public a clear picture as to the state of affairs of our medical institutions as well as to hear the commitment expressed by all towards finding a viable solution to the challenges in health care that St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- An investigation is currently on the way at the Social and Health Insurance Funds SZV into allegations of an employee selling SZV cards to people who are not properly registered or who are not actually paying premiums.
United People's (UP) party deputy leader Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers said Monday he is eagerly awaiting the results of the investigation.
"This situation, if proven as true, has severe consequences for the viability of SZV, for the country and for every hard working person on St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Says Surinamese Contractors should be deported.

PHILIPSBURG:--- President of the St. Maarten Communication Union (SMCU) Ludson Evers has issued a strong call on government to follow the rule of law on St. Maarten. Evers said that after the press conference he held with members of the media last week, management immediately instructed the six Surinamese contractors to stay away from work. He said the inspectorate of labor also visited TELEM and they informed management that these workers cannot work for TELEM unless their working and residency documents are in order Read more

Minister Teatt Connor Presented With 2014 Yearbook

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Department of Statistics (STAT) published a Yearbook at the end of 2014.

It is a user-friendly; a compact publication based on the latest statistics on a range of topics from St. Maarten's population, to health & education to tourism and transport and much more.

The Yearbook is available digitally at www.stat.gov.sx and priced at ANG 25.00 for print copies which can be bought at the Receivers Office.

In Photo: L to R: Minister Hon. Read more

Ser Presentation For The Members Of Youth Parliament Of Sint Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - On Friday, March 6th, 2015 Oldine Bryson-Pantophlet , Chairwoman and Gerard Richardson, Secretary-general (SG) of the Social Economic Council (SER) provided a delegation of members of the Youth Parliament of Sint Maarten with a presentation on the advisory body.

Chairwoman Oldine Bryson-Pantophlet gave an outline of the workings of the advisory body mainly on the role of its members and staff Read more

Readers Are Leaders Black History Month Event

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten — In February of this year, the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise, in collaboration with the Philipsburg Jubilee Library (PJL), hosted the annual Readers are Leaders Black History Month Celebration.

Readers are Leaders is a reading program where the goal is to encourage reading by teenagers and to show that reading is fun.

Reading is important to develop yourself, to develop imagination and curiosity and it lets you think outside the box.

Aside from the reading challenge, the Readers are Leaders program also challenges students from various high schools on the island through contests, in which they can sing, read poetry and speeches and dance.

The competition started off with music and the reading of the famous Dr Read more

Plenary Session Of Parliament Scheduled For Wednesday About The St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The House of Parliament will meet in a public plenary session on March 11. This session is the continuation of the initial session that was held on December 22, 2014 which is now being reconvened.

The Acting Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Marcel Gumbs, will be present for the public plenary session of the House of Parliament.

The plenary session is set for Wednesday at 10.00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point is the request to the Governments Accountants Bureau SOAB to carry out a forensic investigation into the operations of the St Read more

Parliamentary Meeting Between Smmc, Szv And Govt. Premature Says Mp Silveria Jacobs

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - In another closed door meeting of the Permanent Committee presentations were made to members of Parliament by the SMMC director, SZV interim CEO as well as by government as to where they are now.

Strangely enough, members of the NA faction in Parliament had requested a Central Committee meeting with these same entities back in December which had been convened after the budget meetings and for which a postponement was requested by the entities mentioned above so they could meet in a workshop and come with an action plan moving forward to address these issues.

Evidently, while it was commendable that all involved see the importance of the issues at hand and have mentioned their willingness to work together, it is clear that the meeting was premature as the Conference/workshop is planned for March 19th and how the entities will actually work together has not been ironed out.

It is the belief of the NA faction that the outcome of said conference would have formed a better basis for the requested meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament which should in fact be open and give the general public a clear picture as to the state of affairs of our medical institutions as well as to hear the commitment expressed by all towards finding a viable solution to the challenges in health care that St Read more

Up Mp Meyers Awaits Finding In Szv Card Selling Scheme

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - An investigation is currently on the way at the Social and Health Insurance Funds SZV into allegations of an employee selling SZV cards to people who are not properly registered or who are not actually paying premiums.

United People's (UP) party deputy leader Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers said Monday he is eagerly awaiting the results of the investigation.

"This situation, if proven as true, has severe consequences for the viability of SZV, for the country and for every hard working person on St Read more

Scholar Julio Romney; “St. Maarten Is Not A Country”

GREAT BAY – “Sint Maarten is not a country.” That statement from political scientist Julio Romney during the presentation of his book St. Maarten: Our Constituent State Constituent Framework resulted in a heated debate with Acting Governor Reynold Groeneveldt, who strongly disagreed. Romney however, stuck to his position: “For Pete’s sake, you cannot even determine your own budget,” he said, slightly exasperated.

Romney’s 128-page book about St. Maarten’s governing system dives deeper into what Romney calls incorrect political terms, like ‘Country Sint Maarten,’ ‘dualism’ and ‘separation of powers.’

According to Romney – a scholar of comparative government and politics – these terms are “conceptually taken out of context.” His explanation in the book: “St Read more

Jose Lake: St. Maarten Is Ready For Independence At Next Referendum

GREATBAY—St. Maarten is anticipated to take the leap to being an independent country within the next five years, president of the Independence for St. Martin Foundation Jose Lake said in a press conference yesterday.

“We have seen a great increase in the interest in independence and it’s a much larger group that is supporting independence. We are at a stage where it will become necessary within short for us to lobby the parliament to get them to move to a new referendum within another year or two,” Lake said Read more