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Swept Under The Rug

I presented a motion in June of 2021 almost 3 years ago asking that the subject of debt cancellation for St. Maarten be discussed. I was moved to do so after discovering that St. Maarten was paying 12.7 million guilders annually on an almost 1 billion guilders debt. It is no secret that it would take some 100 years to pay it off, hence my motion which was unanimously supported.

The International Monetary Fund had also suggested that the Dutch government look at Debt cancellation, however what came afterwards due to the covid19 pandemic is additional loans of some 300 million guilders Read more

Small Businesses To Benefit From Access To Financing For 3 More Years.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Based on the success of the Enterprise Support Project and the evident need for further assistance to entrepreneurs in the local market, the National Recovery Project Bureau (NRPB) is pleased to announce that the project has been extended until June 2028. This extension will provide local businesses with more time to apply for grant funding, thereby fostering further growth and development in the sector.

With this extension, businesses can now apply for grants and low-interest loans until June 30, 2025 Read more

Mp Grisha Heyliger-Marten Reminds Ministers Of Growing Backlog Of Responses

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — During a joint press briefing with her colleague MP Sarah-Wescot Williams on July 18th, MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten, expressed her concerns about numerous pending meetings and the lack of timely responses from letters to Government within the legal timeframes set out in the Rules of Order of Parliament.

Just last week alone, my office sent out reminders to three individual Ministers, Heyliger-Marten stated in a press release issued on Tuesday afternoon.

According to Heyliger-Marten, the Hon Read more

Mp Grisha: CadasterS Funds Being Depleted By Creating Top-Heavy Management Board

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — While waiting for the Managing Director of the Foundation Cadastre & Land Registry to be invited to Parliament to elucidate on the foundations financial situation, MP. Grisha Heyliger-Marten will send a letter to the Minister of Finance, Hon. Ardwell Irion urgently requesting him to asks the Supervisory Board of the foundation to put the recruitment of a full-time CFO and COO on hold.

During a question hour regarding developments at the Foundation Cadastre & Land Registry held earlier this year, the Minister informed Parliament that it could make use of article 14, sub 2 of the Articles of Incorporation of the Foundation to get access to the Foundations administration and receive all requested information regarding its financial policies/management, according to Heyliger-Marten in a press statement released on Thursday afternoon.

The MP stated that she made use of said articles by means of a letter to the President of Parliament dated April 3rd, 2023 Read more

Sundial School Staff Enjoy 6Th Annual Retreat In Saba

PHILISPURG, Sint Maarten — Sundial School staff went on their 6thannual retreat with their School Coach on Friday, February 24, 2023.

The Retreat started after the passing of Hurricane Irma to facilitate teachers and staff of Sundial School strengthening interpersonal connections. The yearly activity is highly anticipated and facilitated by the School Coach who plans and organizes this annual event.

The Retreat this year went to Saba on the Edge ferry!

On hand to bid staff a good day, were ORCO Banks Branch Manager Judy King and Orco Banks Junior Officer Aldith Williams Read more

More Than 90 Stakeholders Share Their Ideas About Sint MaartenS Solid Waste Future

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten More than 90 stakeholders came out and shared their ideas about Sint Maartens solid waste future during a consultation meeting on Wednesday, February 1.

The meeting presented the draft vision for Integrated Solid Waste Management on Sint Maarten by 2030. Based on previous discussions within government, this document outlines a future in which persons act responsibly and the country is greener and more sustainable. It also sketches a future in which solid waste materials are reduced, reused, and recycled, and where waste management is funded through structural means and executed by a Waste Authority.

After the presentation of the draft vision, attendees participated in a public roundtable discussion Read more

Accomplishments Of General Affairs Minister For Civil Servants

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten —Silveria Jacobs has been Prime Minister of Sint Maarten for almost 4 years. Being Prime Minister also entails being Minister of General Affairs. The Ministry in charge of Personnel Affairs of civil servants. Prior to becoming Minister of General Affairs, Jacobs had many opinions on what civil servants were supposed to earn; which benefits should be for locals; how low the salaries for cleaners are; and how some of these cleaners and civilservants have reached their ceiling years ago.

Almost 4 years removed from those statements, Jacobs has not kept any of her political and pre-swearing promises to civil servants and their families Read more

Chris: Taxing Pensions Of Seniors Is Borderline Criminal, Immoral

~ Questions existence of tax inspector quotas ~

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The taxing of senior citizens pensions and subsequent aggressive collection methods by tax authorities, “is downright criminal and immoral”, while large entities such as casinos are given much more leeway, says Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel.

The MP was reacting to the announcement by Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion that casinos were sent a letter to pay their tax arrears, with no indication of deadlines and/or fines or liens as legal measures that would be applied.

“The government considers seniors, poor residents and small business owners as low lying fruit Read more

Szv Receives Its First Clean Audit Report

~ SZV’s financial statements comply with GAAP guidelines.~

PHILIPSBURG, St Maarten For the first time, Social & Health Insurances SZV received a clean audit report for its 2021 financial statements. The clean audit report was issued on September 27, 2022, by the government audit bureau, Stichting Overheids Accountants Bureau (SOAB). A clean audit report also termed an ‘Approved Control,’ means that the auditors found that the financial reporting by SZV was accurate and transparent Read more

Witu Sends A Number Of Concerns To Pm And Minister Of Education

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson sent an e-mail earlier today to both the Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and Minister of Education Rudolph Samuel covering a number of concerns affecting the education sector in St Read more

Witu Demands An Explanation From Doran

Philipsburg — President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson met with mainly WITU members of Government subsidized school boards on Wednesday afternoon.

“The reality of their hardship caused by the non-payment of the vacation allowance was brought forward,” Johnson said.

Present in the meeting were union colleagues of the WISCU/PSU, NAPB, SMCU, ABVO and WIFOL in soalidarity.

Johnson before delving into the outcomes of the general membership meeting referenced his concerns about the remarks made by Deputy Prime Minister Egbert Doran.

“I believe the Honorable Minister Doran owes teaching, non-teaching staff and by extension the nation an explanation or an apology,” Johnson stated.

In the spirit of transparency, Minister Doran should explain the outcome of the meeting held with the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion regarding the solution of the vacation allowance payment which he alluded to during the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on August 10, 2022.

He added, “it seems to be obvious from listening to remarks made in the recent Council of Ministers Press Briefing that he not only misspoke but gave a false hope to educators.”

The WITU President expressed that, “in these challenging and financially difficult times you simply do not make such frivolous statements.”

However, if Minister Doran has a solution we are eager to hear such Read more

Emmanuel: Trying To Come After Me Will Not Change Ombudsman Report

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Wednesday told Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion to go ahead and join the charade being perpetrated on the public, and investigate what he (Irion) called possible bid rigging in the repairs of the Prins Bernard bridge in 2017 while he (Emmanuel) was the Minister of VROMI.

However, the MP at the same time urged Irion and the entire government to stop deflecting from the issue of the systemic investigation into the bidding process for the garbage contracts conducted by the Ombudsman and vindictively trying to dig up whatever they can to distract the people of St Read more

Wilson Says Prime Minister Jacobs Must Be Held Accountable For Her Illegal Actions.

Urges Parliament & the Integrity Chamber to hold them accountable

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On Sunday June 26, 2022, Gromyko Wilson made use of his Social Media platform to denounce the illegal and discriminatory actions taken by Prime Minister (PM) Silveria Jacobs on June 15, 2022, when the PM, Minister Ardwell Irion, Minister Anna Richardson and Minister Rudolph Samuel went against the ordinance passed in Parliament (and ratified by the Constitutional court) containing temporary covid-19 measures for civil servants and the likes (Tijdelijke Landsverordening Covid-19 bezuinigingen arbeidsvoorwaarden overheidsdienaren).

This ordinance specifically regulates the percentage of vacation allowance civil servants were entitled to receive between July 2019 and July 2021 Read more

Immigration Border Protection Services Unveil New Look For Its Vehicles

Philipsburg In a bid to mark the one-year separation of the Immigration Border Protection Department (IBP) from the KPSM Police Force, the new look of the IBP vehicle was unveiled today, March 1, 2022.

The vehicle was unveiled in front of the Government Administration Building in the presence of Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs, Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson, Minister of VROMI Egbert Doran, Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion, IBP Mobile Unit Head Officer Ryan Peterson, and the board of the Sint Maarten Police Force Pensioners and Retires Association.

Also in attendance were Prison Director Steven Carty, Quarter Master Jovanni Sprott and a representative of the Coast Guard along with other invited guests Read more

Mp Emmanuel: Govt. Awarding Vacation Pay Illegally

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Thursday disclosed to Parliament that he has been made aware that the government has paid out vacation pay to some civil servants, in direct contravention of the law (national ordinance) to cut the employment benefits and income of civil servants, (semi) public sector workers.

Calling it discriminatory, unfair and clearly illegal the MP explained that the vacation pay was paid out to persons who left government service, while those who are currently in government service are not receiving anything These abusive laws were passed and went into effect Read more

Emmanuel: Coalition Seeking Greener Pastures On The Backs Of The People

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel is of the opinion that governments lack of empathy towards the people of St. Maarten and its disconnect from the common man has been re-enforced through its words and actions over the past few weeks. He said the insensitive words that the Council of Ministers continues to use towards people whose income they have cut is a sad indictment against themselves and the lack of care they have for people. People who have been made to suffer while coalition members show off in videos playing golf and eating lobster, the MP said.

The MP said Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion and Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs in particular, behaves as if they didnt grow up on St Read more

Council Of Ministers Meet With Ccsu Members On The Way Forward

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — On Thursday, November 18, the Council of Ministers held a fruitful consultation meeting with the Committee for Civil Servants Unions (CCSU) and its members of the Windward Island Civil Servants Union (WICSU/PSU), Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU), and Algemene Bond van Overheid en Overige Personeel (ABVO) union as well as a representative of NAPB.

The meeting, which was chaired by CCSU Chair Mr. Rafael Boasman, served as an opportunity for the membership to be updated on the Constitutional Courts verdict which confirmed governments position surrounding the three temporary national ordinances and pose their questions concerning this.

The three temporary national ordinances were issued by the government on July 1, 2020, to cut the employment benefits of civil servants, (semi) public sector workers and political authorities Read more

Mp Buncamper Proposed Increase Tot, Decrease Profit Tax And Scrap Income Tax For Seniors

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — During Thursdays central committee independent member of parliament, Claudius Buncamper addressed the minister of finance, Ardwell Irion regarding the country packages related to the ministry of finance.

MP Buncamper noted that the tax reform has been on hold for quite some time and is still not ready and may take years before it is ready for implementation Read more

Emmanuel To Irion: Will Doran Be Accountable For Alegria Penalties?

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel on Monday asked Finance Minister Ardwell Irion if he will make an example of Minister of VROMI Egbert Doran and hold him accountable over his mishandling of the Alegria affair that will now cost the tax-payer approximately Naf 500,000.

Emmanuel used Irions own words to remind him of his statement earlier this year that Ministers should be made examples of and be held accountable for their actions Read more

Smmc Upgrades John Cooper Jose Lake Sr. Multipurpose Sports Court

L-R: Department Head of the Department of Sports, Jonelle Richardson, SMMCs Medical Director, Dr. Felix Holiday, Hon. Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, drs. Rodolphe Samuel, Hon. Minister of Finance, Ardwell Irion, Director of the National Sports Institute, Maikel Cornet and Sports Facility Manager Sigfried Hodge.

CAY HILL, Sint Maarten — St Read more

Richardson Heirs Claim Vineyard: It Is Time For Redemption Now

By Jacqueline Hooftman
Source: The Daily Herald

Alfred Richardson Hassell, born in St. Maarten on November 15, 1887

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — 45 heirs of the late Alfred Richardson are the owners of the Over the Bank and Vineyard Heights area, liquidator Mylene Imelda Richardson revealed to The Daily Herald. Forty heirs have come forward to claim what is rightfully theirs, and to stop the unlawful actions of the Government of St. Maarten.

In addition to in St. Maarten, Richardson heirs reside in Curaao, Aruba, Bonaire, the Netherlands, Italy and the United States Read more

Minister Irion Approves Aps Budget 2022

Cayhill, Sint Maarten, — On October 29, 2021, Algemeen Pensioenfonds Sint Maarten received a letter from Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion informing the pension fund that its 2022 budget has been approved. The deadline for approval was November 1.

Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, APS net operational result in 2022 is expected to be positive at ANG 13.6 million, driven by strong positive results on investments Read more

The Minister Of Vromi Lied To Parliament

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Documents from the Ministry of VROMI in the ongoing saga about government long lease land situated at Over The Bank, paints a contradictory picture than what was relayed to Parliament by Minister of VROMI Egbert Doran. In fact, the documents paints Doran as a liar.

Doran, on multiple occasions, told Parliament that information could not be found on the 50 plus persons who were granted land in long lease by former VROMI Minister Angel Myers. Doran stressed that nothing at all could be found anywhere in the government’s administration or from civil servants Read more

Emmanuel: Finance Minister Proves Again He Cannot Be Trusted With Financial Information

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday said the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion proved once again that the financial information he shares with the Parliament and the people of St. Maarten cannot be trusted. The mis-information and hiding of the truth continues, MP Emmanuel said.
The MP was referring to the disclosure by Minister Irion that a 7.5% sales tax for online purchases is on the table as part of the governments tax reform plans Read more