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Departing Politicians Become A Burden For The Treasury

Political pensions could cost country St. Maarten $4 million

St. Maarten – The change of government could cost the country over the next two years more than $4 million if all departing ministers and not re-elected members of parliament claim the political pension they are entitled to by law. To put this number in perspective: on a national budget of 440 million guilders (about $245 million), it represents 1.6 percent of total expenditures.

Four ministers (Patricia Lourens, Martin Hassink, Dennis and Ted Richardson) are not expected to return in the new cabinet Read more

Ronald Plasterk Caught On Camera With Bada Bing Boss Van Den Heuvel

St. Maarten – Five days before the pro forma hearing in the Bada Bing bribery case, aka the Orca-investigation, Bada Bing owner Jaap van den Heuvel boarded a plane in the Netherlands for the Caribbean. Ronald Plasterk, Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations was on the same flight on his way to the governors-consultation in Curacao. Van den Heuvel got the minister to pose for a picture with him. The image, snapped on August 16, surfaced yesterday on the website Geenstijl.nl.

The text that accompanies the photo assumes that Plasterk had no idea with whom he went on that picture Read more

Everyone has the right to be respected

Dear Editor,

If we truly want to make St. Maarten a better place for our children and grandchildren, letters to The Herald's Editor like the one in Sept 11th's edition under the caption "They have a right to" should become a thing of the past and so should graffiti like the one on the Government Building wall yesterday (thankfully removed by those in charge of Government Facilities). The non-indigenous born-to-be-here St. Maarteners (including me) are here to stay.

Let's all get along Read more

NASA prepares Orion capsule for debut deep-space test flight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida--A NASA spacecraft designed to one day fly astronauts to Mars rolled out of its processing hangar at the U.S. space agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday to be prepared for a debut test flight in December.

"This is a pretty historic moment for us," Scott Wilson, NASA's Orion production operations manager, told reporters as workers prepared to move the capsule to a fueling depot Read more

Catalans form human V for Vote to seek choice on split from Spain

BARCELONA, Spain--Hundreds of thousands of Catalans packed the streets of Barcelona on Thursday to demand the right to vote on a potential split from Spain, their ambitions boosted by an independence referendum scheduled for next week in Scotland.

More than half a million Catalans signed up to take part, organizers said. They dressed in red and yellow, the colours of the Catalan flag, forming a "V" for "vote" in a show of support for holding a referendum.

In a festive atmosphere on Catalonia's national day, La Diada, people stood side by side along two of Barcelona's main arteries to form a huge "V", with the red-and-yellow stripes of the Catalan regional flag, La Senyera, clearly visible from aerial footage Read more

Minister Lake Pleased With Accomplishments On Energy Policy And Nv Gebe As 100% Wholly Owned By Sint Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake said on Thursday that three out of several accomplishments as Minister is the completion of a national Energy Policy for the country, the completion of the process of making NV GEBE 100 per cent wholly owned by country Sint Maarten, and the signing between NV GEBE and Government of a Street Light Management Agreement.

"One of my first task as Minister of Energy Affairs was working to make sure that country Sint Maarten would become 100 per cent shareholder of NV GEBE Read more

With Special Games & Prizes On World Animal Day, St. Maarten Zoo Unleashes Fun Miles

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Fun Miles cardholders can now redeem their Miles for entrance tickets to the St. Maarten Zoo & Botanical Garden.

Located on Arch Road, the zoo is home to a large number of birds, mammals and reptiles, and boasts the island's largest playground. Adult entrance is 900 Fun Miles (normally $10), while children aged 3-11 may enter for just 450 Fun Miles (normally $5).

This new partner makes the Fun Miles customer reward program even more attractive, as does the currently running Fun Miles Millionaire campaign, which allows cardholders to win the stupefying amount of one million Fun Miles.

ABOUT ST Read more

4Th Annual Pregnancy Market 2014

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Pregnancy Market 2014 hosted by the Collective Prevention Services (CPS) and Community Development, Family, & Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA) of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) had a successful turnout on Saturday September 6th.

Fourteen stakeholders came out in their glory and supported the event with lots of information and give- a- ways.

They included: Alpha Healthcare Services, Nagico Insurances, Guardian Group Fatum Insurances, Section Youth Health Care Dental Unit, Baby Clinic, Sint Maarten White and Yellow Cross Foundation, Diabetes Foundation, Manrique Caprilles & Sons, Social & Health Insurance (SZV), Court of Guardianship, Civil Registry, Community Help Desk/Women's Desk, Prime Distributors (Nestle), Divico, and St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake said on Thursday that three out of several accomplishments as Minister is the completion of a national Energy Policy for the country, the completion of the process of making NV GEBE 100 per cent wholly owned by country Sint Maarten, and the signing between NV GEBE and Government of a Street Light Management Agreement.

"One of my first task as Minister of Energy Affairs was working to make sure that country Sint Maarten would become 100 per cent shareholder of NV GEBE Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Pregnancy Market 2014 hosted by the Collective Prevention Services (CPS) and Community Development, Family, & Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA) of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) had a successful turnout on Saturday September 6th. Fourteen stakeholders came out in their glory and supported the event with lots of information and give- a- ways. They included: Alpha Healthcare Services, Nagico Insurances, Guardian Group Fatum Insurances, Section Youth Health Care Sint Maarten White Yellow Cross Foundation, Diabetes Foundation, Manrique Caprilles & Sons, Social & Health Insurance (SZV), Court of Guardianship, Civil Registry, Community Help Desk/Women's Desk, Prime Distributors(Nestle), Divico, and St Read more

Resignation of cabinet Wescot-Williams III.

>HARBOUR VIEW:--- Prime-Minister Wescot-Williams submitted a letter dated September 9, 2014 to His Excellency, the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, making the portfolios of the Ministers and the Minister Plenipotentiary available and tendering the resignation of her entire Cabinet. This resignation takes place in the light of the Parliamentary elections of Friday August 29th and the current formation of a new cabinet by formateur Mr Read more

Notices September 11

Thursday, September 11

DYSLEXIA STRATEGY

WORKSHOP

For for Secondary (High School) Educators. Love of Kids Foundation's follow-up workshop from its Dyslexia for a Day programme. Hands on classroom strategies to assist with struggling teen students. Parents and other caregivers are welcome. Space is limited. Instructor: Lorraine Leacock

Place: University of St. Martin campus

Time: 7:00-8:30pm

Cost: NAf Read more

Editorial - Continued stability

The advice of the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT in today’s paper is well-taken. While execution of the 2014 budget appears to be going well, “vigorously” dealing with long-term risks and improving the management of public finances remains necessary.

CFT has played an important role in the process to bring order in St. Maarten’s financial household and no doubt will keep doing so. It also regularly issues reminders on urgent matters such as the still-pending ratification of budget adjustments by Parliament needed to formalise approved Central Bank bond loans for capital expenditures this year Read more

Plasterk steers clear of planning Bada Bing trial

THE HAGUE--Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk is not getting involved in the scheduling of the Bada Bing bribery case by the Court and the fact that this trial will only take place in the first months of 2015.

"It is not up to me as Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations to judge on the term that the Prosecutor's Office and the Joint Court of Justice set for the handling of criminal cases, no matter how important it is to have a timely handling," Plasterk informed the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Wednesday.

He stated in his short response to written questions submitted by Member of the Second Chamber Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP) that he didn't have information either on what persons were being heard as suspects by the Prosecutor's Office in St Read more

Prime minister tenders resignation of Cabinet

HARBOUR VIEW--Prime Minister Wescot-Williams has tendered the resignation of the entire Wescot-Williams III Cabinet to Governor Eugene Holiday. The governor, according to a statement from his Cabinet, has informed the prime minister that he will consider her request.

The governor also reiterated his call to the ministers and the minister plenipotentiary in The Hague to continue their duties in the interest of St Read more

Resignation Of Cabinet Wescot-Williams Iii

HARBOUR VIEW, Sint Maarten – Prime-Minister Wescot-Williams submitted a letter dated September 9, 2014 to His Excellency, the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, making the portfolios of the Ministers and the Minister Plenipotentiary available and tendering the resignation of her entire Cabinet.

This resignation takes place in the light of the Parliamentary elections of Friday August 29th and the current formation of a new cabinet by formateur Mr Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake recently received a token of appreciation from senior citizens for his contribution.

Senior citizens representative Patsy Flanders thanked the Minister for assisting the seniors especially with the GEBE relief on utility bills, and also facilitating a donation for the placement of a railing and repairs to the kitchen at the John Larmonie Recreational Center on the Pondfill.

Flanders told the gathering that this was not about politics, but about recognizing this individual who had made a difference within the little amount of time he had in Government thereby accomplishing a lot for the country's seniors.

Minister Lake thanked the seniors for the token and told them that he will take his back to basics approach to Parliament and come with legislative initiatives that will benefit the country's seniors.

"During my tenure I worked in the interests of the people Read more

>GUANA BAY:--- On Tuesday September 9th, 2014, the police were called to the residence of leader of the United Peoples Party Theo Heyliger where unknown persons took several items from the MP's home Read more

Governor Holiday At Opening Parliamentary Year: “There Are Real Opportunities For Economic Growth”

St. Maarten – Ravel’s Bolero was once more floating through the parliament building yesterday morning ahead of the official opening of the parliamentary year 2014-2015. What stood out apart from the music was the absence of United People’s party leader Theo Heyliger – who had sent notice – and of Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams who was for undisclosed reasons off island.

Other Members of Parliament who passed on the festive occasions were Jules James, who missed his re-election by a mere three votes, Dr Read more

Apple unveils watch, larger iPhones in bid to retake innovation crown

CUPERTINO, California--Apple Inc unveiled a watch, two larger iPhones and a mobile payments service on Tuesday as Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook seeks to revive the technology company's reputation as a wellspring of innovation.

The first new product to be developed and introduced under Cook's reign is a timepiece tethered to the iPhone that will combine health and fitness tracking with communications Read more

U.S. and Lithuania storm into World Cup semi-finals

BARCELONA, Spain-- Holders the United States ran riot in a 119-76 win over Slovenia while Lithuania beat Turkey 73-61 on Tuesday to set up a mouth-watering basketball World Cup semi-final.

Hosts Spain take on European champions France and Brazil clash with dark horses Serbia in the other two quarter-finals in Madrid on Wednesday.

The Slovenians held their own valiantly in the opening half against the Americans and were only 49-42 down at the interval as forward Domen Lorbek produced a superb performance.

The champions at times looked pedestrian in the first half as their captain James Harden missed his first seven shots, with fellow guard Klay Thompson and athletic centre Anthony Davis pulling the strings to keep them in the driving seat.

But the second period produced one-way traffic as the U.S Read more

Editorial - It can’t hurt

The motion passed during yesterday's Parliament meeting to close the legislative year (see related story) may have surprised some. After all, the new cabinet being formed won't start until October 10, so the incoming NA/DP/US coalition just has to wait its turn.

Having said that, it's not the first time such action has been taken to prevent outgoing public administrators from making decisions that could commit the country financially or legally and hamper the next government Read more

St. Martin’s GDP per inhabitant lowest of all French territories

MARIGOT--Estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per inhabitant in French St. Martin is 14,700 euros, the lowest of all French territories with the exception of Mayotte (6,575 euros), and less than Dutch St. Maarten where the equivalent GDP is estimated at 16,018 euros per inhabitant.

The above was just one of the findings in the 98-page 2013 report on the French-side economy presented Monday by officials from Institut d'Émission des Départments d'Outre Mer (IEDOM) Read more

Notices September 10

Thursday, September 11

DYSLEXIA STRATEGY

WORKSHOP

For for Secondary (High School) Educators. Love of Kids Foundation's follow-up workshop from its Dyslexia for a Day programme. Hands on classroom strategies to assist with struggling teen students. Parents and other caregivers are welcome. Space is limited. Instructor: Lorraine Leacock

Place: University of St. Martin campus

Time: 7:00-8:30pm

Cost: NAf Read more