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New Council Of Ministers Grants Half Days To Civil Servants

PHILIPSBURG – The newly sworn in Council of Ministers held their first meeting at the Government Building on Thursday morning, December 22.

Attending the meeting were: Prime Minister William Marlin; Minister of Finance Richard Gibson; Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Affairs Emil Lee; Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Silveria Jacobs, and Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Christophe Emmanuel.

In its first meeting, the Council of Ministers took the decision, amongst others, to grant all civil servants “half day off” on December 23, and 30 where the service permits Read more

Prime Minister William Marlin Attends South Reward Association Meeting

SOUTH REWARD – On Thursday evening, December 8, Prime Minister William Marlin attended the St. Maarten Community Collective, South Reward Public Meeting, which took place at the Milton Peters College (MPC).

The community meeting was held with the intention of gathering members of the South Reward Community as a means to inform on current works that’s in progress by the association as well as to have an open floor allowing attendees to voice their concerns on various community issues, contribute their ideas and/or opinions of possible solutions, and togetherness in building a much stronger and better South Reward.

Concerns made by residents were noted by the Prime Minister’s team with the intention to further investigate to gain deeper understanding of the matters in order to better resolve them Read more

Resort Calls For Govt. To Pay $1.5 Million Overdue Payment

SIMPSON BAY – Simpson Bay Resort Management Company (SBRMC) employees are calling for a years-long overdue payment in excess of $1.5 million to be paid out to their employer by the government. This is in connection with undue salary payments made to Pelican Resort Management Company workers after the hotel had been sold and its ownership transferred to SBRMC.

More than 100 Pelican employees, under the belief that they were employed by new owner SBRMC, were paid monthly salaries for almost a year pending a court case, while not working at the hotel Read more

Pm Suspends Com Press Briefings For 2 Weeks

PHILIPSBURG – As of this week, Prime Minister (PM) William Marlin via the Department of Communication (DCOMM) has suspended the live weekly Council of Ministers (COM) press briefings for the period of November 23-30.

The cancellation is for DCOMM to facilitate the move of the existing television production equipment to the new Government Administration building on Pond Island Read more

Gobernador Eugene Holiday Ordena A William Marlin La Formación Del Nuevo Gobierno

Traducido por Máximo Castro

Harbour View.-  Luego de las consultas del jueves, 17 Su Excelencia el Gobernador Eugene B. Holiday se reunió con el líder de la Alianza Nacional, William Marlin, el viernes con el que discutió el proceso para llegar a la formación de un Nuevo gobierno. Teniendo en cuenta las consultas, los resultados de las elecciones del 26 de septiembre, los acontecimientos de las últimas siete semanas y el acuerdo de coalición firmado por los dirigentes de la NA, la USP y el DP que representan una mayoría de dos tercios en el Parlamento, El Gobernador solicitó a Marlin que aceptara ser asignado como formareur.

Sobre la base de las consultas, el Gobernador solicitó al Sr Read more

Governor Holiday Issues New Government Formation Assignment To Pm Marlin

HARBOUR VIEW – After the consultations of Thursday, November 17, Governor Eugene B. Holiday met with leader of the National Alliance (NA) William Marlin on Friday, November 18, to discuss the process to come to the formation of a new government.

Considering the consultations, the results of the September 26, 2016 elections, the developments of the past 7 weeks and the coalition agreement signed by the leaders of the NA, USP and DP representing a two thirds majority in Parliament, the Governor requested Marlin to accept an assignment as formateur.

Based on the consultations, the Governor requested Marlin to form a new government, which has the support of a broad majority in Parliament to foster political stability, that consists of ministers who are committed to the promotion of the wellbeing of St Read more

Update On The Formation Process

HARBOUR VIEW – The Governor of St. Maarten drs. Eugene B. Holiday has met with various persons regarding the process to form an UPP/NA coalition during the past week.

The Governor, based on the information received, met with and received an update about the formation p Read more

Address Of Pm William Marlin On St. Martin Day

Fellow St. Maarteners, Brothers and sisters, Family all.

Many rains ago, when I was a teacher, I asked my class to write about what St. Martin Day meant to them. One shy, little boy, whose name I can’t remember now, wrote in his assignment the following: “St. Martin Day is the day for the people of this island to come together as family and enjoy each other and remember those who have gone before us.”

That simple answer stuck in my mind up till now because it captures the essence of what we are supposed to be celebrating today Read more

Servers Gradually Restored In Govt. Offices 

PHILIPSBURG – In the weekly press briefing on Wednesday, November 9, Prime Minister William Marlin made mention of the situation with the servers within government.

The servers were attacked by a virus, however, according to Prime Minister Marlin, the head of IT informed him that things are getting back on track. The Receivers, Census and Inspectorate of Tax offices were online and functioning, as of Wednesday, November 9 Read more

Formateur Gives Update On Screening Process

PHILIPSBURG – Formateur/Prime Minister William Marlin explained that the screening process of the candidate ministers was once again prolonged due to the disruption in the government network.

“I know everyone was expecting the final reporting on Tuesday, [November] 8, [however] it did not materialize for several reasons, one of them being that we did not receive the final reports on all the candidates, which we hope to receive today from the Public Prosecutor’s office,” the Prime Minister added.

The hope was to receive the final reports Wednesday, November 9, however, some were missing Read more

Nipa Hosts Fete De La Cuisine In Celebration Of 10Th Anniversary

CAY HILL – On November 8, the National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) hosted one of the Fete de la Cuisine events while simultaneously celebrating their 10-year anniversary.

Four high end chefs, hailing from the Netherlands came to NIPA, and joined the NIPA culinary students, as well as two students from the Miss Lalie Youth Care and Rehabilitation Center, to create wonderful “mixed cultured” dishes for the invited distinguished guests.

The event started with a heartfelt welcome by Henri Brookson, who is responsible for this event followed by the opening by Dr Read more

Fête De La Cuisine Pays Courtesy Visit To Prime Minister

PHILIPSBURG РPrime Minister William Marlin received a courtesy visit by Henri Brookson, organizer of F̻te de la Cuisine 2016, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

This year’s culinary festival event is scheduled to take place from November 6-13, on St Read more

Prime Minister Requests Urgent Meeting Of Parliament

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister William Marlin in his capacity also as Member of Parliament (MP) said on Sunday afternoon, November 6, that he will be requesting that Chairman of Parliament MP Claret Connor convene an urgent meeting of Parliament to discuss the ongoing problems at Captain Oliver’s Marina.

Prime Minister Marlin said that up to Sunday evening no response was received from the Préfet Deleguee of St Read more

Governor Holiday Receives Update On Formation From Marlin

Formateur William Marlin

HARBOUR VIEW – On Friday, November 4, the Governor of St. Maarten E.B. Holiday, met with and received an update from Formateur William Marlin on the Read more

Prime Minister Gives Clarification On Screening Process

PHILIPSBURG – On Wednesday, November 2, Prime Minister William Marlin gave clarifications on the screenings for the candidate of ministers, and reasons for the current delay.

The Prime Minister made clear that at no point did he make mention that there was a “green light” for the swearing-in of the Council of Ministers Read more

Prime Minister Marlin Requests From Prefet Deleguee Laubies The Removal Of Barricades From Dutch Controlled Territory

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Prime Minister William Marlin sent a letter to the Prefete Deleguee of St. Barths and Saint Martin Mme. Anne Laubies, making a clear call

Last month September 2016, a concern citizen provided 721news with this picture where you can clearly see the French lawman stopping cars and inspecting them on the Dutch side (Dutch Quarter / Belvedere) of the border Read more

Governor Holiday Receives Progress Report From W. Marlin

HARBOUR VIEW – On Thursday, October 27, the Governor of St. Maarten E.B. Holiday, met with and received a progress report from formateur William Marlin.

During the meeting the formateur provided the Governor with a copy of the governing program and an update on the progress of matters related to the formation.

This included a review of the status of the screening of the candidates for the posts of Prime Minister, Ministers, Minister Plenipotentiary and acting Minister Plenipotentiary.

The screening covers a background review of

(a) the personal and professional credentials, (b) the financial position, (c) the fiscal (i.e Read more

Jamaica And St Maarten Move To Regulate Timeshare Industry

Source: Caribbean News Service

MIAMI BEACH, – In light of calls for improved standards, two Caribbean destinations have gone ahead with laws to regulate the timeshare industry.

St. Maarten remains the leaders in timeshare in the Caribbean with more than 2000 units and an occupancy rate of 82 percent year-round.

Prime Minster William Marlin said after 40 years of offering timeshare options, the island has finally drafted its legislation which is now being translated into Dutch.

“It has now passed through what we call the central committee of parliament,” Marlin told reporters here on Wednesday.

“When the new (Dutch side) government comes in, this legislation is one of the first that will be dealt with,” the prime minister announced.

He said the laws will focus on “consumer protection” but also prescribes “a code of conduct” for timeshare companies and sales personnel.

Timeshare pumps more than US$500 million dollars in the economy of the Dutch overseas territory annually.

In Jamaica where timeshare is still a growing industry, Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett has announced that the island has already passed its timeshare laws.

He told the Shared Ownership Investment Conference here that timeshare presents “a great opportunity for job creation”.

According to Bartlett the development of timeshare also presents an opportunity to freshen up the tourism product.

“We have to refresh ourselves and re-invent ourselves,” he said.

Interval International says it is a proven fact that timeshare owners do come back no matter what’s going on in the global economy Read more

Pm Marlin Discusses Associate Membership To Caricom During Barbados Working Visit

BARBADOS –  In the margins of the EU- Caribbean Sustainable Energy Conference in Bridgetown Barbados, Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, The Honorable William Marlin met with the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community, Ambassador Mr.  Irwin LaRocque.  The primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss the state of affairs of Sint Maarten’s application for associate membership to CARICOM and secondly to test the potential for regional cooperation between the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and CARICOM/CARIFORUM.

During the meeting, Ambassador LaRocque  updated Prime Minister Marlin on Sint Maarten’s application Read more

The President Of Dominica Pays A Courtesy Visit To Prime Minister William Marlin

PHILIPSBURG –  The President of the Commonwealth of Dominica His Excellency Charles A. Savarin and First Lady Clara J. Savarin paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister The Honorable William Marlin at the new Government Building. The President of Dominica is the first visiting High Ranking Official to meet the Prime Minister at his new office.

The President of the Commonwealth of Dominica His Excellency Charles A Read more

Pm Expresses Condolences At Passing Of Samuel Allen Jr.

PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister William Marlin on Wednesday, October 5, expressed condolences to the family of veteran broadcast journalist Samuel Allen Jr., who passed away last week.

Prime Minister Marlin spoke of fond memories of Allen, known affectionately as “Venus.”

“I’ve known Venus, Samuel for many years Read more

Marlin Hopes To Have Governing Program Finalized By Oct. 27

PHILIPSBURG – A governing program should be in place by October 27, before the swearing in of cabinet and the parliament by October 31, according to Prime Minister William Marlin.

The Prime Minister, speaking in Wednesday’s, October 5, Council of Ministers Press briefing also hopes that all documents would have been submitted for the screening of candidates to the Governor.

“There is also other documentation that every candidate Minister has to submit as part of the screening, which is a CV, bank accounts, they have to declare whatever assets they have in excess of 20,000 guilders so it takes a while to accumulate the information and to actually evaluate the information,” Marlin said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister disclosed that the two political parties that have committed to form the government: the United People’s Party (UP) and the National Alliance (NA), have exchanged manifestos and hope to form a governing program by October 27.

“The process is being worked on to come to a governing program and just like it was with the formation of red, white and blue, we hope like in 2014 to have a fully worked out detailed program by the 27th so that too can be submitted along with the report of the formateur with the completion of my task as the formateur Read more

Construction Work Continues On Government Building

PHILIPSBURG – Even though the Council of Ministers has moved into the new Government Administration Building, there are still some inconveniences to endure as all the documentation has still not completely moved into the new building.

“It is somewhat getting used to the location. It’s like you hit the ground running when functioning in the office, but with part of the support still being in the (old) building and other buildings, you feel somewhat at times disconnected because you can run downstairs and book a document, and run downstairs and get a document Read more

Governor Holiday Requests William Marlin To Form Government

HARBOUR VIEW – On October 3, the Governor Eugene B. Holiday, requested William Marlin, to form a new government as formateur.

The Governor, considering the results of the September 26, elections, held consultations between September 27 and 30, with the leaders of the political parties that obtained seats in Parliament, (the United Peoples Party UP, the National Alliance NA, the United St Read more