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Connor, bus drivers meet to discuss public transportation

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor held a meeting with Dutch St. Maarten United Bus Drivers Association last week, where a number of issues and topics related to public transportation were discussed.

Association President William Alexis told The Daily Herald that he appreciates the Minister sitting down to speak to the group as soon as he got the chance to – some two weeks after a request, which included time off-island – and said that Minister Connor showed a "good vision" and that he wanted to work towards continuity Read more

Chamber lends helping hand to entrepreneurs with Business Centre

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) has set out to lend a helping hand to entrepreneurs with its new Business Centre, which was officially opened on Friday.

The Centre is located adjacent to the Chamber's office on Cannegieter Street and has opened with two staffers, Tytania Archangel and another person. Archangel told The Daily Herald after the opening that the intention is to eventually strengthen the staffing capacity with a receptionist, a marketing manager, finance and budget manager and economist.

The Business Centre is a service centre for business development for entrepreneurs living in St Read more

Chamber Of Commerce Opens Business Center Friday

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce Friday morning opened their new Business Center.

On hand for the official opening was the Honorable MP Tamara Leornard, a former President of the Chamber, Minister of economic affairs the Honorable Claret Conner as well as Mr. Stanly Lint of the Chambers Board.

During his address Mr. Lint spoke of the benefits for the islands business community that the new Business Center will provide.

Meanwhile the former Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, now Minister of Economic Affairs the Honorable Claret Connor said it is a great moment of joy for him to be in a position to be able to officially open the new Business Center.

He also gave a personal insight into the work that went into the creation of the Business Center at the St Read more

Chamber opens Business Centre

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry will officially open its Business Centre during a ceremony today, Friday.

The Business Centre will be the service centre for business development for entrepreneurs living in St. Maarten and business representatives seeking to do business with local entrepreneurs.

The Business Centre will offer use of facilities, guidance, administrative assistance support, consultation and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services to entrepreneurs seeking to start, expand or strengthen their business or business endeavours.

Scheduled to speak at the opening ceremony are Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications TEATT Claret Connor and Chamber Vice President Stanley Lint Read more

MPs to discuss Harbour security contract May 7

PHILIPSBURG--Members of Parliament (MPs) will continue to seek answers about the hefty security contract signed between St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies and Checkmate Security in a meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament in Parliament House on Thursday, May 7, starting at 2:00pm. Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Claret Connor is invited for the meeting.

The meeting originally was scheduled for today, Wednesday, but has been postponed due to the minister being ill.

The meeting was requested by opposition National Alliance (NA) MPs William Marlin, Silveria Jacobs, Christophe Emmanuel and George Pantophlet on March 5 Read more

Central Committee Meeting requested by NA Faction about Port St. Maarten and Checkmate Security Contract

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Central Committee of Parliament will meet in public session on April 22 at the request of the National Alliance (NA) faction.

The Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, has been invited to be present for the House session.

The Central Committee meeting is set for Wednesday at 2.00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda is related to the previous and current contract signed between the Harbour Group of Companies and Checkmate Security, and the sudden hike in the contract sum for outside security services.

This meeting was requested by the NA faction Member of Parliament (MP) Hon Read more

Central Committee Meeting Requested By Na Faction About Port St. Maarten And Checkmate Security Contract

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – The Central Committee of Parliament will meet in public session on April 22 at the request of the National Alliance (NA) faction.

The Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Hon. Claret Connor, has been invited to be present for the House session.

The Central Committee meeting is set for Wednesday at 2.00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda is related to the previous and current contract signed between the Harbour Group of Companies and Checkmate Security, and the sudden hike in the contract sum for outside security services.

This meeting was requested by the NA faction Member of Parliament (MP) Hon Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---– Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor, presented a token of appreciation on behalf of the people and Government of Sint Maarten to the Consul General of the Kingdom of Netherlands Consulate in Miami, Nathalie Olijslager-Jaarsma, who hosted a dinner on Thursday at her residence in Coral Gables, Florida for the Kingdom Maritime and Trade delegation.

The trade mission program started off with a visit to PortMiami where the delegation received a tour Read more

Minister Teatt Connor Presents Kingdom Consul General In Miami With Token Of Appreciation During Trade Mission

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor, presented a token of appreciation on behalf of the people and Government of Sint Maarten to the Consul General of the Kingdom of Netherlands Consulate in Miami, Nathalie Olijslager-Jaarsma, who hosted a dinner on Thursday at her residence in Coral Gables, Florida for the Kingdom Maritime and Trade delegation.

The trade mission program started off with a visit to PortMiami where the delegation received a tour Read more

Gas and diesel fuel prices down today

PHILIPSBURG--Motorists will pay less for gasoline and diesel fuel at the pumps as of 6:00am today, Thursday.

The price of gasoline will drop from NAf. 1.999 to NAf. 1.936 per litre, while the price of diesel fuel will go down from NAf Read more

Editorial - In a bad light

It was interesting to see the picture of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Panama City with St. Maarten's Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs and Telecommunication Claret Connor and Port of St. Maarten CEO Mark Mingo on Monday's front page. The three men attended a round-table meeting about opportunities offered by the expanded Panama Canal, among other things.

This is noteworthy especially because Members of Parliament (MPs) in The Hague, particularly from Rutte's own VVD party, have been very critical about the Harbour Group of Companies on several occasions Read more

Minister TEATT Connor Signs-off on Chamber of Commerce & Industry Rules of Procedure. Also receives Chamber’s 2015 1Q Report

>PHILIPSBURG:-- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor and the President of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry Peggy-Ann Brandon, accompanied by members of the Chamber Board and the Minister's Chief of Staff Jean James, signed the Chamber Board's Rules of Procedures document indicating that the Board updated the Rules of Order, and has received the Minister's approval Read more

Minister TEATT Connor receives a visit from the Gagnone’s family long-time tourist visitors

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor, received a courtesy visit from a childhood friend St. Maarten Air Traffic Controller Joslyn Rombley at his office last week. Rombley wanted to introduce two long-time visitors to the island Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gagnone, from New Hampshire, United States of America, to the Minister who is responsible for Tourism.
Paul and Yvonne have been coming to St Read more

Minister Teatt Connor Signs-Off On Chamber Of Commerce & Industry Rules Of Procedure. Also Receives Chamber's 2015 1Q Report

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor and the President of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry Peggy-Ann Brandon, accompanied by members of the Chamber Board and the Minister's Chief of Staff Jean James, signed the Chamber Board's Rules of Procedures document indicating that the Board updated the Rules of Order, and has received the Minister's approval Read more

Minister Teatt Connor Receives A Visit From The Gagnone's Family Long-Time Tourist Visitors

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Claret Connor, received a courtesy visit from a childhood friend St. Maarten Air Traffic Controller Joslyn Rombley at his office last week.

Rombley wanted to introduce two long-time visitors to the island Mr. and Mrs Read more

Rutte, Eman meet with Raúl Castro

THE HAGUE--Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte held talks with Cuba President Raúl Castro and several Latin American leaders of government in Panama City over the weekend.

The meeting between Castro and Rutte, who was accompanied by Aruba's Prime Minister Mike Eman and Curaçao's Minister of Finance José Jardim, on Saturday evening lasted an hour and mostly focused on the historical reconciliation between Cuba and the United States of America and its consequences for the Caribbean.

"Hopefully the reconciliation will result in a more open Cuba, as well as economic growth and democratic development Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Foresee Foundation, the leader in bringing 21st century ICT education to St. Maarten, is pleased to announce that both Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, Mrs. Bourne-Gumbs, and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications, Mr. Connor, have officially endorsed the DigiKidz Project founded and operated by Foresee.
In her letter to Foresee, Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs explains that "[w]ith the ever-changing innovations in technology and learning, we value the initiatives of the Foresee Foundation and its DigiKidz project Read more

Ministers Of Education And Telecommunication Pledge Support For Digikidz Project

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Foresee Foundation, the leader in bringing 21st century ICT education to St. Maarten, is pleased to announce that both Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, Mrs. Bourne-Gumbs, and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications, Mr. Connor, have officially endorsed the DigiKidz Project founded and operated by Foresee.

In her letter to Foresee, Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs explains that "[w]ith the ever-changing innovations in technology and learning, we value the initiatives of the Foresee Foundation and its DigiKidz project Read more

Connor, Rutte, Mingo at Panama round table

POINTE BLANCHE/PANAMA--Port St. Maarten Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo took part in a top-level CEO Round Table Meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Panama Minister of Canal Affairs Roberto Roy and Panama Canal Authority ACP Administrator Jorge Quijano in Panama City on Sunday.

A St. Maarten delegation present was headed by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor Read more

Local Audi branch inaugurated Friday

COLE BAY--World-renowned German car brand Audi inaugurated its St. Maarten establishment amongst business partners, dignitaries and invited guests Friday night with a formal gathering culminating in the unveiling of five luxury cars, one of which was custom-made for company Chairman Imran Mcsood Amjad.

Audi set up the new location in collaboration with Caribbean Auto in Cole Bay. Latin American Sales Manager Martin Port welcomed it to the Audi family. Imran and Managing Director Tariq Amjad shared the unique selling points of Audi and some of the history making the launch possible.

Customisation, down to the colour of the threading of the leather seats, was just one of the possibilities Tariq described Read more

Rita and Claret join support for DigiKidz

PHILIPSBURG--Foresee Foundation, founder and operator of the DigiKidz Project which aims to bring 21st century information and communications technology (ICT) education to all classrooms, announced recently that it has received the official endorsement of Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs Rita Bourne-Gumbs and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Claret Connor.

Foresee Foundation and the DigiKidz Project Team said they were excited and encouraged with the ministers' support.

According to Foresee President Jose Sommers, these endorsements support the core concept of Foresee (also abbreviated as "4C"): setting up innovative projects through communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking, what she calls "the way forward for 21st-century learning."

The endorsements, in joining the foundation's plans to raise funds for upcoming projects, are "fully in line with the modern vision that in strong communities, government, the business sector and other organisations and non-governmental (NGOs) jointly work together on achieving the ambitious goal of bringing ICT into all classrooms in St Read more

Minister Connor Proud Of Civil Servants Taking The Oath As Servants Of The People

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (Ministry TEATT) Honorable Claret Connor was present for the oath-taking ceremony of civil servants from the Ministry TEATT that took place recently.

"I am very proud to be able to work with these professional women and men who have taken an oath to serve the people of this country.

"I have a great team to work with Read more

Audi St. Maarten Opens Doors Friday, Quality Brand And Service Comes To St. Maarten/St. Martin

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Audi brand is now available on St. Maarten. Audi officially opened their doors on Friday evening with a large group of family, Friends and government officials from both French and Dutch as well as officials of the Audi brand in attendance.

Chairman of the board Imrand MacSood gave some history about the process that led up to the brand now being established on the island.

He also spoke about the hard work that went into the process, for which he gave special thanks to his son Tariq Amjad.

Apart from hard work he also spoke about the quality that Audi brings to a quality island such as St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (Ministry TEATT) Honorable Claret Connor was present for the oath-taking ceremony of civil servants from the Ministry TEATT that took place recently.
"I am very proud to be able to work with these professional women and men who have taken an oath to serve the people of this country.
"I have a great team to work with Read more