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St. Maarten to host CONCACAF U-15

PHILIPSBURG—St. Maarten will host the CONCACAF Boys Under 15 Championship Tournament August 7 to 18.
  Members of the St. Maarten Soccer Association executive board met with the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunication and Transportation (TEATT) Claret Connor to update him on the planning progress of the tournament.
  The tournament, which has been held on Trinidad and Tobago and the Cayman Islands in the past, will consist of 15 teams from across the region, and St Read more

Minister Of Tourism Connor Sponsors Miss Sint Maarten Winklaar And Wishes Her Success At Monday Night Pageant

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, is one of the proud sponsors of Miss Sint Maarten 2015/2016 Phausha Winklaar.

Winklaar will be participating in the Ms. Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant that is taking place on the island of Nevis on Monday, August 3.

"I would like to wish Miss Sint Maarten Winklaar much success on Monday evening as she represents her country at the pageant Read more

Tourism Authority foundation in limbo

~ Awaiting government action ~

PHILIPSBURG--The long-awaited and widely publicised St. Maarten Tourism Authority (STA) Foundation is currently "without a board, any employees, director and zero funds," and only three of the five Supervisory Council positions are filled, "with vacancies awaiting Government action to fill the other two positions."

This is the crux of the issue, according to the three Supervisory Council members remaining at the STA Foundation, who said they wished to inform the public that "the STA has yet to be activated."

In developments that had not been made public, Supervisory Council member Mark Mingo, the chairman, who represented St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, received a visit from five time pageant winner Dshnay Mathew York, who is preparing to clinch her sixth title at the Ms Dutch Caribbean Islands pageant in Saba.
York is no stranger to pageantry having won five pageants so far since she first started to take part in them Read more

Opinion: Paying Lip Service

What is most amazing about the never-ending procession of court cases the new owner of the former Caravanserai Resort, Alegria, gets involved in, is the lack of response to this very detrimental situation from the government, and in particular from Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor, with the parliament closely on his heels.

Whatever the outcome of the court case may be, the effect on our tourism industry will be devastating Read more

Claude Wathey Commemoration: Everybody On The Same Page Again

Family members and representatives of DP and UP gather for a group picture together with Minister Claret Connor. Photo Today / Leo Brown

St. Maarten – After the awkward split in the election year 2014, when the Democratic Party and the United People’s party organized separate wreath laying ceremonies to commemorate the birth date of the late Dr Read more

No response yet from Harbour to Prosecutors Office inquiries

PHILIPSBURG--The Harbour has not yet responded to the inquiries from the Prosecutors Office regarding its policies and that of its closely linked companies.

Prosecutor Karola van Nie told The Daily Herald on Thursday that the office had not yet received a response from the harbour.

In a letter dated July 13, the Prosecutor’s Office requested information regarding the policies and “course of affairs” from the St. Maarten Harbour Holding NV and from its closely linked companies Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- 89 years later the late Albert Claudius Wathey also known as Claude Wathey was honored with a wreath laying ceremony in front of the Government Administration Building on Friday moring.
Family members of the late politician and supporters flocked by his statue to pay tribute to the “ole man” Erno Labega started out the wreath laying session with some words about the late politician.
Al Wathey laid the first wreath along with Michaela Hodge on the part of University of St Read more

Minister Connor Lays Wreath On Behalf Of Com At 89Th Birthday Commemoration Of Dr. A.C. Wathey

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, on behalf of the Council of Ministers, Friday, July 24th 2015, laid a wreath at the statue of Dr. A.C. Wathey in front of the Government Administration Building in commemoration of his 89th birthday.

Wreaths were also placed at the statue by representatives of the Wathey family, the United People's (UP) party, Democratic Party (DP), A.C Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Invites Culinary Student To Showcase Talents

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs invited Tracy Blijden who recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University.

Blijden spent one month in Singapore and is now off to Germany to further gain experience and expand her craft in culinary arts.

To highlight the accomplishments of this young local professional, Blijden just 22 years of age, was invited by the Prime Minister to prepare lunch for the Council of Ministers.

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

>PHILIPSBURG:----The St. Maarten National Commission for UNESCO is organizing a five (5) day intangible cultural heritage (ICH) field inventory exercise targeting young people from various youth organizations in the community.
Minister Claret Connor, who delivered the welcome remarks on Monday, July 20th thanked the young people for participating in this important and valuable initiative, and for assisting the Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO with this project which will assist with preserving and passing on this knowledge about St Read more

Youth Intangible Cultural Heritage Field Inventory Exercise

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - From July 20 – 24, 2015, the Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO is organizing a five (5) day intangible cultural heritage (ICH) field inventory exercise targeting young people from various youth organizations in the community.

Minister Claret Connor, who delivered the welcome remarks on Monday, July 20th thanked the young people for participating in this important and valuable initiative, and for assisting the Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO with this project which will assist with preserving and passing on this knowledge about St Read more

Connor welcomes delegates to Archaeology Conference

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications Claret Connor welcomed delegates to the International Congress for Caribbean Archaeology (IACA) that opened in Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino on Monday. The conference, which ends on Saturday, brought together more than 200 delegates from 23 countries.

Research papers, guest lectures, field trips on island and to Anguilla, and cultural receptions are part of the congress Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- As the uproar continues within the United Peoples Party (UPP) since most Members of Parliament from the UPP faction are in disagreement with their leader Theodore Heyliger, at least two Members of Parliament from the UPP faction and two of their coalition partners have decided to take the bull by its horns to do the work of the people.
SMN News understands that some of the UPP MP’s are saying that their leader is not leading the country instead he is always off island making his business deals which is causing serious problems within the party.
Therefore MP Franklin Meyers who is the deputy leader of the UPP and faction leader took the bull by its horns and decided along with MP Tamara Leonard, coalition partners Independent Members of Parliament Leona Marlin Romeo and Cornelius de Weever and presented their governing program to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs in the presence of Minister Claret Connor on July 16th 2015 Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:-----  Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, spoke at the opening of the International Congress for Caribbean Archaeology (IACA) at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort.
The IACA is being hosted by St. Maarten from July 19-25. The IACA Congress is the largest gathering of professional archaeologists specializing in Caribbean studies in the world, with representatives from over 23 countries and over 300 delegates; it is the place to be for cutting-edge research information about heritage in the Caribbean.
Minister Connor during his address stated: “It is remarkable to observe that 26 years ago to be exact was the last time since this Congress was held on Dutch soil, and today you are here on St Read more

Editorial - What’s going on?

The visa requirement for Colombians to visit Curaçao and St. Maarten was dropped effective July 1. Although it took another week after that for the authorities in Bogota to actually make the official announcement, both islands are hoping the measure will lead to an increase in vacationers from the South American country, but not of immigrants overstaying their welcome.

Little has been heard since on the handling of the change in practice, especially by immigration officials at the respective airports, but apparently there have been no major complaints so far either Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, was present at Princess Juliana International Airport last weekend to support Island Hoops Basketball Academy and a team of young trainees who would be partaking in an international basketball camp in Pennsylvania.
Minister of Sports Hon Read more

Bus Association Unhappy With Cabinet Shake-Up  

President of the Dutch St. Maarten United Bus Drivers Association Alexis Williams. Photo Today / Andrew Dick

GREAT BAY-The Dutch St. Maarten United Bus Drivers Association is not happy with the upcoming change at the Ministry of Transportation. The expected shake up in the Council of Ministers will move Minister Claret Connor to the Vromi-ministry Read more

Gendarmes, Firemen, honoured in Bastille Day pinning ceremonies

MARIGOT--The usually predictable format of the Bastille Day programme took on a different twist Tuesday when military medals were bestowed on six Gendarmes and, in a separate ceremony, three professional firemen promoted in rank received their stripes.

The medal ceremony for the Gendarmes of St. Martin and St. Barths conducted by Colonel Thiriot, second in command of the Guadeloupe Gendarmerie, preceded the wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial in the garden of Hotel de la Collectivité.

Dignitaries from both sides of the island and Anguilla had attended a service in the Catholic Church just earlier.

The Military Medal, France’s third highest military distinction, was pinned on the lapels of Adjudant-Chef Nicolas Heslon (48) of the St Read more

Prosecutor’s Office investigating Harbour, building of causeway

PHILIPSBURG--The Prosecutor’s Office has started civil proceedings looking into the affairs of the St. Maarten Harbour Holding NV.

The investigation covers a range of areas, including the construction of the Simpson Bay causeway, which was financed by the harbour. In a press statement issued late last night, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Claret Connor said he hoped the harbour would “fully cooperate” with the inquiry.

In a letter dated July 13, the Prosecutor’s Office requested information regarding the policies and “course of affairs” from St Maarten Harbour Holding NV and from its closely linked companies.

Prosecutor Karola van Nie said in a press release on Tuesday that the investigation concerned the “corporate governance” of the port authority and addressed issues such as its compliance with the law, compliance with the statutes, transparency and some specific issues, including the course of affairs relating to the construction of the Simpson Bay causeway bridge.

Van Nie said the proceedings had been prompted by claims from the community, including the Integrity Inquiry report into the functioning of government conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2014 and the final report “Doing the right things right,” produced by Commissie Integer Openbaar Bestuur, also in 2014.

The investigation is a civil proceeding and not a criminal investigation.

Van Nie said due to public interest and based on the Civil Code of St Maarten, the Prosecutor’s Office is authorised to submit a request to the Common Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, St Read more

Editorial - Inquiry welcome

What already had been rumoured is now a fact. The Prosecutor’s Office is making use of its authority under the Civil Code – with approval of the Dutch Caribbean’s Joint Court of Justice – to investigate the policies of St. Maarten Harbour Holding and its related entities (see related story).

The decision was prompted by “claims from society,” including the integrity reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and the Samsom Committee. The release emphasised that “as yet” it’s a civil inquiry into corporate governance issues rather than a criminal matter, which obviously means this could change based on the facts to be gathered.

For now only information has been requested, as is the procedure Read more

Minister Of Transport Connor Comments On Public Prosecutors Civil Investigation Into Harbour Group Of Companies

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, has taken note of Sint Maarten's Public Prosecutor's Office (PPO) to commence with a civil investigation procedure that concerns the corporate governance of the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies.

"The procedure embarked upon by the Public Prosecutor's Office is part of their competence, and as such, I do hope that the St Read more

Prime Minister Gumbs Attends Bastille Day Celebrations

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Prime Minister Hon. Marcel Gumbs and Minister Hon. Claret Connor represented the Council of Ministers at the 14 of July Bastille Day Celebrations that took place in Marigot on Tuesday.

His Excellency Acting Governor Reynold Groeneveldt and several Members of Parliament were also present.

President of the Collectivite of Saint-Martin and Members of the Territorial Council extended an official invitation to the Council of Ministers to observe the July 14 celebrations.

The delegation from the Sint Maarten attended a Religious ceremony at the Catholic Church in Marigot; this was followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Memorial Monument of the Collectivite; then an official parade at Boulevard de France, Marigot Waterfront; Saint-Martin's Fire Department Pinning Ceremony, Marigot Waterfront.

The official ceremony concluded with speeches and cocktails Read more

Connor Moves To Vromi – New Candidates Pending : Cabinet Reshuffle After The Summer

Minister Claret Connor’s days as the Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs are almost over. Photo contributed

St. Maarten – Minister Claret Connor will be removed from his position at the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication after the summer and stay in the cabinet as the Minister of Public Housing, Urban Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Read more