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Emmanuel: Vromi Minister Must Address Leaked Document Of Over The Bank Land

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel on Thursday said it is disappointing, but still very typical, that Minister of VROMI Egbert Doran has not publicly addressed leaked documents that appear to contradict everything he has been telling Parliament and the public about long lease land at the area known as Over The Bank.

Earlier this week a media outlet published what appears to be an authentic list of the 50 or so persons who were initially granted a parcel of land in long lease at Over the Bank Read more

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Emmanuel: Vromi Minister Must Address Leaked Document Of Over The Bank Land

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel on Thursday said it is disappointing, but still very typical, that Minister of VROMI Egbert Doran has not publicly addressed leaked documents that appearto contradicteverything hehas been telling Parliament and the public about long lease land at the area known as OverTheBank.

Earlier this week a media outlet published what appears to be an authentic list of the 50 or so persons who were initially granted a parcel of land in long lease at Over the Bank Read more

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Usp To Restructure Party Operations.

PHILIPSBURG:--- With an eye on the future and living up to its founding principles, the United St. Maarten (US) party is in the process of restructuring its board, party platform, and representation in preparations for the upcoming electoral cycle.

The board of the US said that it is vital for any political organization to re-examine and plan for the future, especially in changing times Read more

Mp Wescot-Williams: Short-TermLaborContractLawHitsAnotherSnag

Philipsburg, St. Maarten, —MP Wescot-Williamshas expressed her disappointment that the publication of the new Civil CodeBook as far as this regards employment contracts (shortterm contracts), the bookdoes not include any of the amendments made byParliament in 2019.

Now I can understand why the Minister of VSA was so evasive whenhe wasrecently asked about short term labor contracts, locally referred to as 6-months contracts, the MPstated Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- MP Wescot-Williams has expressed her disappointment that the publication of the new Civil Code Book as far as this regards employment contracts (short term contracts), the book does not include any of the amendments made by Parliament in 2019.
Now I can understand why the Minister of VSA was so evasive when he was recently asked about short-term labor contracts, locally referred to as 6-months contracts, the MP stated Read more

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Open Letter To Our Prime Minister

Honorable Prime Minister Jacobs,

It is with much irritation I followed the press briefing of Wednesday, September 29, 2021 and noticed the change of your personality right in front of my eyes. In my opinion you should have one face: you either respect the democracy of our country or choose somewhere else where democracy does not reign.

I was completely flabbergasted watching and listening to this person that I believed was someone of principles and I am now very disappointed in your stands Read more

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Minister Doran Publicly Apologises For Insulting Ombudsman Mossell

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Egbert Doran has publicly apologised for his letter to Ombudsman Gwendolyn Mossel.

  Doran had been urged to do so by Members of Parliament (MPs), who unanimously called his letter abominable.

  On Tuesday, Doran wrote to the ombudsman, who had asked the minister questions about Vineyard Heights/Over The Bank and announced a systemic investigation into the allocation of pieces of land, saying that he suspected that the ombudsman was not impartial in this matter.

  These properties and the allocations of same that you are seeking clarification on are directly tied into person that you were/are legally and/or physically involved with Read more

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Pond Island:---Telecommunication provider, TelEm Group, proudly announces the launch of TelTV+ - a brand-new IPTV High-Definition television service for the St. Maarten community.

Featuring 150 channels and a host of power-packed features for all tele-viewing tastes, TelTV+ is designed to be affordable and will be catering to all age groups and a diverse St. Maarten community.

 TelEm Group has been working diligently for the past year to first select, purchase, develop and test its new IPTV system in order to revolutionize television viewing in St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---  The chair of parliament Roland Brison did not mince words on Monday when he called out the laziest Member of Parliament during the closing of the parliamentary year.

The UPP MP and chair of parliament said when listening to the positions stated by members of parliament, he looked around the hall and understand the concerns, because for most of the faction leaders, the level of representation, and more importantly, the level of work they put in, is very clear and commendable from his viewpoint as chairman.

Brison said however he does feel the need to give his observations of how the factions of parliament and its members are functioning, and how he believes they should be going forward.

First the good:

For at least 5 of the 6 factions in parliament he observed that every single one of them has presented amendments, motions, has chaired meetings in their respective committees across opposition/coalition lines, and other real initiatives things that are today being upheld by the government Read more

Broker: Real Estate Tax For Non-Residents Can Damage St. MaartenS Reputation

PHILIPSBURG--Introducing a real estate tax on non-residents, who purchase property in the country can severely damage St. Maartens reputation as a trustworthy destination to invest in, says real estate broker Arun Jagtiani, of Island Real Estate.

  Jagtiani was at the time responding to part of a presentation made by Finance Minister Ardwell Irion in Parliament on Monday regarding tax reform for the country Read more

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Exclusive: Attorney At Law Safira Ibrahim Resigns From Nv Gebe Board Of Directors.

~ SBOD is now a minority board with two members.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Attorney at Law Safira Ibrahim submitted her resignation from the board of directors of NV GEBE. Ibrahim was contemplating on whether or not to resign since last week, it was expected that she was going to submit her resignation prior to the court hearing on Friday, however, SMN News has been reliably informed that the resignation letter was submitted on Monday.
Currently, the SBOD of NV GEBE consists of two members namely the chairlady Nina Diaz and Conrad Richardson, the two members attended the court hearing on Friday where the plead notes of the plaintiff were not presented to the court but was leaked by WhatsApp over the weekend, including the resignation letter of former board member Kenneth Serrant.  The articles of incorporation of the Government-owned company clearing state that the SBOD must have at least 3 members or a maximum of 7 members.
The Shareholder heard the SBOD on Friday after the court procedures Read more

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Gumbs Reflects On Opportunities For Collaboration Coming Out Of Ipko

From left: MP Gwendell Mercelina Jr. (Partido Nashonal di Pueblo, Curaao), MP Melissa Gumbs (Party for Progress, St. Maarten) and MP Miguel Mansur (ACCION21, Aruba).

 ~ Disappointed some local MPs did not attend ~

PHILIPSBURG--Taking an opposing stance to several St Read more

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Mp Gumbs Reflects On Opportunities For Kingdom-Wide Collaboration Coming Out Of Ipko

PHILIPSBURG Taking an opposing stance to several Sint Maarten Members of Parliament (MPs), Party for Progress (PFP) MP Melissa Gumbs came out of the recently held the Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Consultations (IPKO) reflecting on the opportunities for cooperation and collaboration between the countries in the Dutch Kingdom. 

There was a willingness to think differently and the focus on working together was present and pervasive Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday said members of government need to stop with unbecoming behavior, be transparent with the public, follow its established protocols and stop trying to deflect with empty, evasive press releases. CPS protocols are in place to protect people. Leaders in this country should avoid undermining them with irresponsible actions, the MP said.
The MP was referring to Minister of VSA Omar Ottleys response to reports that he and the President of Parliament Rolando Brison attended a gathering at Lotus Night Club after the stipulated 11 pm closing time on Friday last Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA, the Honorable Omar Ottley denies rumors of him giving a popular nightclub the permission to stay open until 2:00 AM.
It is disheartening that certain political figures are quick to spread misleading rumors with zero facts.

The Minister signed a Ministerial Regulation containing COVID guidelines and protocols, with 11:00 PM business closures being one of them.

"I am not annoyed with the person in the voice note that has been circulating, but I am very disappointed with the public figures that know how to access the facts and choose not to.

The Minister went on to state that obtaining factual information is as simple as asking the Inspectorate of VSA/TEATT and KPSM if any approval was given to allow the nightclub in question, to operate until 2:00 AM.

Naturally, their answer will be No! Minister Ottley went on to state that it is not a secret that the hours for enjoying nightlife were scaled back to 11:00 PM; however, the nightlife is not prohibited Read more

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Minister Ottley: No Permission Given For 2:00 Am Closure

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Minister of VSA, the Honorable Omar Ottley denies rumors of him giving a popular night club the permission to stay open until 2:00 AM.
It is disheartening that certain political figures are quick to spread misleading rumors with zero facts.

The Minister signed a Ministerial Regulation containing COVID guidelines and protocols, with 11:00 PM business closures being one of them.“I am not annoyed with the person in the voice note that has been circulating, but I am very disappointed with the public figures that knows how to access the facts and choose not to.

The Minister went on to state that obtaining factual information is as simple as asking the Inspectorate of VSA/TEATT and KPSM if any approval was given to allow the night club in
question, to operate until 2:00 AM.

Naturally, their answer will be No! Minister Ottley went on to state that it is not a secret that the hours for enjoying night life was scaled back to 11:00 PM; however nightlife is not
prohibited Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley met with St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) Director, Ms. Makhicia Brooks to gain insight into the application process, as well as the approval criteria and grounds for denial of applications, especially those related to the seniors.

The Minister took note of the complaints coming in from seniors claiming they were being denied assistance and he shared these concerns with Ms Read more

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Bigger Than Me Indeed!

Mr. Editor,

There are many political opponents who are frustrated with the fact that I continue to hold this government accountable through means available to all of us. It has come to the point where they, their soldiers and future candidates publicly display their frustration by stating I always have an article ready to go. I dont know if to take that as a compliment, but I can inform Mr. Cloyd Marlin that I am always ready because his government is always predictable and predictably bad, including his Letter to the Editor Read more

Mp Heyliger-Marten Says: The CftS Suggestion To Impose Land Tax Is Anti Local People

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The community of St. Maarten paused this weekend to celebrate the 95th birthday of its longest leader Dr. Albert Claudius Wathey a.k.a. the Ole Man, who is still today considered the father of modern-day St. Maarten.

In a press release issued on Sunday, Member of Parliament and Faction Leader for the United Peoples Party the honorable Grisha Heyliger-Marten remembered Dr Read more

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CftS Suggestion To Impose Land Tax Is Anti-Local People

PHILIPSBURG--Member of Parliament and United Peoples Party faction leader Grisha Heyliger-Marten commemorated the late Dr. Albert Claudius Wathey on July 24 for his contribution to the growth and development of the people and nation. She also reflected on a recent suggestion by the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT, to impose a tax that Wathey fought against at the Central Government level for years to prevent it from imposing it on St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley would like to reiterate to the public that the Collective Food Assistance Program coordinated by the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) is still open and actively accepting new registrations.

Persons who were previously beneficiaries of the Red Cross version of the program received a WhatsApp or SMS text message to re-register their households under the new program being coordinated by SMDF and implemented by K1 Britannia, Freegan Food Foundation, and COME Center Read more

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Collective Food Program St. Maarten Update

PHILIPSBURG, Sint MaartenThe Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley would like to reiterate to the public that theCollective Food Assistance Program coordinated by the St. Maarten Development Fund(SMDF)isstillopen and actively accepting new registrations.

Persons who were previously beneficiaries of the Red Cross version of the program received a WhatsApp or SMS text message to re-register their households under the new program being coordinated by SMDF and implemented by K1 Britannia, Freegan Food Foundation, and COME Center. Persons who were receiving assistance from any of the three organizations are also able and encouraged to re-register.

If you are having difficulty re-registering your household; appointments can be made to visit the Help Desks in Dutch Quarter or Cole Bay by sending a WhatsApp message to 721-554-3219.

Persons interested in registering for the first time can visit foodprogram.sx or send a WhatsApp message to 721-554-3219 for further assistance.

The Whatsapp number services the languages of English, Spanish and Creole.

The post Collective Food Program – St Read more

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~ Political talks begin with USP, and incoming UP MP.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Council of Ministers officially suspended the Managing Director of the Princess Juliana International Holding Company Dexter Doncher. Doncher was informed of the suspension by letter late Wednesday night after the Council of Ministers held an emergency meeting and voted. Dexter Doncher was given a warning letter two days prior to the three months suspension.

The Council of Ministers wanted to fire Doncher who followed the instructions of the government to officially dismiss the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Princess Juliana International Airport, Brian Mingo on April 7th Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel said that it is his opinion that the board of SMMC outright lied to the Minister of VSA Omar Ottley when it stated that the Australian national it brought in to run SMMC was here on an evaluation only. The board knew full well what its intentions were until the plan got exposed, the MP said.
MP Emmanuel highlighted last week that the board was going to appoint Grant Muddle, an Australian, as Director of the St Read more

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