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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Sarah concerned about Connor’s move from Tourism Ministry

PHILIPSBURG--A pending shuffling of portfolios in the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet, particularly the move of current Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Minister Claret Connor to the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI and the appointment of a new minister in Connor's place, has drawn concern from Democratic Party (DP) leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams.

She has termed the pending shuffle as "cabinet shake-up." She based her position on comments made by United People's (UP) party faction leader MP Franklin Meyers recently in a television interview.

Conner's post is tipped to be taken by a minister candidate proposed by coalition member independent MP Leona Marlin-Romeo Read more

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Editorial - Reserve judgement

The UP-led coalition submitted its governing programme “Ready to Work for You” on Thursday. Better late than never, considering that it comes almost seven months after the Gumbs cabinet took office.

The question is also to what extent the policy intentions can be achieved in light of the current financial situation, with a looming instruction from the Kingdom Council of Ministers to settle the arrears totalling 189 million guilders to Social and Health Insurance SZV and the general pension fund APS Read more

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Governing Programme presented to Gumbs

PHILIPSBURG--The United People’s (UP) party-led coalition submitted its 2014-2018 Governing Programme, titled “Ready To Work For You” to Government on Thursday. The presentation comes one day ahead of the coalition’s ninth month in office and almost seven months after the Marcel Gumbs cabinet took office.

UP deputy leader Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers, MP Tamara Leonard (UP) and independent MPs Leona Romeo-Marlin and Cornelius de Weever presented the Governing Programme to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Minister Claret Connor on behalf of the UP/De Weever/Marlin-Romeo/United St Read more

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Supermarket moratorium amended to allow existing businesses leeway

PHILIPSBURG--The moratorium established as of February 18, 2014, on the issuance of business and operational licences remains in force, but has been amended as of July 3, 2015, to allow replacement licences, some location changes and some business expansion.

The announcement came from Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Claret Connor via press release on Wednesday night.

Replacement licences are allowed, but are limited to establishments operating on the premises of hotels with a minimum of 200 rooms, at Princess Juliana International Airport SXM and Port St Read more

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Carnival aims to start Cuba cruises in May

MIAMI/HAVANA--Carnival Corporation has won United States approval to operate cruises to Cuba, and plans to start taking travellers there in May 2016, on weekly seven-day voyages from Miami. Carnival, the world's largest cruise operator and a major source of St. Maarten's cruise tourists, said it was still in talks with Cuba for approval to start humanitarian and culturally themed visits.

Based in Miami, Carnival is the first major US-based cruise ship company to venture into Cuban waters, but joins a growing list of maritime companies hoping to profit from a thaw in relations between Washington and Havana.

The Cuba cruise should be launched in May under its new "fathom" brand, set up last month to run cruises with humanitarian and cultural themes to the Dominican Republic.

Carnival will use the 710-passenger vessel, MV Adonia, for its Cuba cruises on the small side for the company, whose ships typically carry 2,000 to 3,000 people.

Carnival said the cruises would focus on education, the environment and economic development, and feature Spanish lessons and workshops on the country's heritage Read more

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Connor talks aviation, maritime matters with Curaçao and Aruba

PHILIPSBURG--Issues related to aviation and maritime affairs were discussed when St. Maarten’s Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Claret Connor met with his counterparts from Curaçao Minister Suzy Romer and Aruba Minister Otmar Oduber in Oranjestad, Aruba recently.

The meeting was part of a high-level political discussion as a result of the first protocol signed several years ago to further cooperation between the three countries in aviation and maritime affairs.

Based on the talks, workgroups will be established by the three countries that will then work on the points of discussion and formulate them into working documents for further decision making, a press release issued on Sunday stated Read more

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Swift action, evacuation for 2nd KLM bomb hoax

AIRPORT--Another KLM plane was the target of an apparent bomb-scare hoax on Friday afternoon. An anonymous caller phoned airport check-in counter 46 and said that there was a bomb on KLM flight 785. Although no bombs were found after thorough searches of both the plane and the airport building, this is the second such costly and disruptive bomb-scare in a matter of months.

Another scare, also pointing to a bomb on KLM, prompted a mass evacuation of Princess Juliana International Airport SXM on Saturday, December 6, 2014.

Friday’s threat was called in at 11:45am, airport Special Projects Coordinator Robert Brown relayed during an impromptu press conference held jointly with Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Claret Connor and Chief Inspector Police spokesperson Ricardo Henson.

Emergency procedures started after the agent to receive the call informed a security guard Read more

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All-clear at airport after bomb threat, operations resumes, roads reopened

AIRPORT--Police have given the all-clear sign and the bomb threat at Princess Juliana International Airport SXM is over. Airport operations are back to normal as of 2:15pm. Access roads leading to the airport from Simpson Bay Causeway roundabout and from Maho roundabout have been reopened.

Persons traveling today, Friday, should check with their airlines for adjusted flight schedules.

Tourism and Transportation Minister Claret Connor, Police Spokesman Inspector Henson and Airport Representative Clifton “Cliffy” Brown gave an impromptu press conference standing at the causeway roundabout about the situation.

The terminal building and the KLM aircraft to which the threat was directed were searched by various government agencies Read more

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