PHILIPSBURG--Separating the Mediator and his team from the Labour Department and giving them their own Bureau was one of several conclusions in the first Mediator's Report, presented to Labour Minister Cornelius de Weever on Wednesday. The first annual report of the Mediator is a requirement as laid down in the National Decree on Labour Peace I. This decree states that the Mediator must submit an...
~ With ‘aerotropolis’ vision as future structure ~ By Michael R. Granger AIRPORT--With the mobilisation of demolition equipment on Friday, March 28, the management of Princess Juliana International Airport SXM will move to a significant stage in its capital improvement programme, as it moves to push SXM airport to the top of the region’s jet-set hierarchy. The US $132-million bond acquired in January...
THE HAGUE--The movement of persons between the different parts of the Kingdom will have to be arranged, with or without the Bosman initiative law proposal, but the best way to go about this controversial issue would be through a joint solution in the form of a Kingdom Law. Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk said this during a debate in the Second Chamber of the Dutch...
PHILIPSBURG--Nationals of Colombia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who hold a multi-entry visa for the United States, Canada or the Schengen countries will not require a specific St. Maarten visa to visit the country, thanks to some changes to the visa requirement regulation. The Cabinet of the Prime Minister, in a press statement issued Tuesday, stated that new visa regulations...
~ Committee to iron out details ~ PHILIPSBURG--A Memorandum of Intent (MOI) was signed on Tuesday to provide temporary relief in utilities cost for senior citizens ages 62 and over. The temporary relief is part of a pilot programme that aims to reduce the electricity cost of seniors who qualify. Seniors will have to apply and meet certain criteria to qualify for the relief. The relief granted will...
PHILIPSBURG--The Nature Foundation marked an historic moment on Monday, when it signed a service level agreement (SLA) with the Ministry of Housing, Spacial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI. The SLA states that the Nature Foundation will manage Marine and Terrestrial Ecosystems of the territory of St. Maarten. The Nature Foundation will be authorised to make and execute all necessary...
POINTE BLANCHE--The St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies is interested in acquiring Fort Amsterdam where it can be restored allowing for its sustainable use by school children, residents and tourists to tour and sample the heritage experience of the country. According to a press release from the company on Monday evening, the acquisition falls into the draft ports master plan for the Greater Great...
PHILIPSBURG--Health Minister Cornelius de Weever has instructed Social Health and Sickness Insurance SZV to "facilitate the financing of the renovations and expansion" of St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). De Weever signed the instruction on Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams. This instruction is required by law based on article three of the National Ordinance SZV. The...
PHILIPSBURG--The sixth annual Lion Rudy Hoeve Health and Wellness Fair organised by the St. Maarten Lions Club at the Festival Village on Saturday, March 22, was deemed to be a great success, according to organisers and visitors to the fair. The Lions saw a record attendance of around 1,000 visitors at the fair, most of whom had tests done and received vital information, while any children in attendance...
~ Meyers elected UP Deputy Leader ~ PHILIPSBURG--A "clear mandate" is what United People's (UP) party leader Theo Heyliger said he received from the party's membership to pursue general elections as soon as possible. Heyliger told the press after the party's congress in Celebration Palace, Sunday, he and UP Deputy Leader Franklin Meyers will meet with the party's newly elected board, headed by UP...
PHILIPSBURG--The Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) has admitted that an error had occurred resulting in a deduction of 4.2 per cent from their workers' salaries in January and February. The board said its employees at the two sections of St. Maarten Academy will be reimbursed. "We would like to inform you that due to an error in our payroll system, 4.2 per cent was deducted from...
PHILIPSBURG--Koen Luijks will remain presiding Judge over the so-called Masbangu case involving election fraud, the Chamber of Challenges announced Friday afternoon. Attorney-at-law Cor Merx had filed a recusal request on February 17, because he considered Judge Luijks to be biased and one-sided. The Chamber of Challenges, however, found no reason to question Luijks' impartiality and no grounds to...
HARBOUR VIEW--Social and Health Insurance SZV has stepped up its anti-chikungunya fight by bringing in 10,000 chemical-free insect repellent sprays, which will be given out to residents for free. Health Minister Cornelius de Weever helped to personally distribute some of the repellents to some SZV clients, who visited the insurance service provider on Friday morning. The repellents are available at...
PHILIPSBURG--Managing Director of Princess Juliana International Airport operating company PJIAE Regina Labega led the unveiling on Friday of three bronze brown pelicans, St. Maarten's national bird, at the airport roundabout, and proudly proclaimed that the pelican has traits that are inherent in the St. Maarten personality: grace, resourcefulness, courage and sacrifice. The roundabout and the three...
MARIGOT--The signing of a convention Thursday between the State, Cap Emploi and Association de Gestion du Fonds pour L'Insertion Professionelle des Personnes Handicapées (AGEFIPH) is to further improve employment prospects for the handicapped following the setting up of a branch Association Guadeloupéen Insertion des Handicappées(AGIH) in St. Martin connected to these organisation that will work with...
PHILIPSBURG--The Court of First Instance acquitted a married couple from the Dominican Republic of money laundering charges on Thursday. Both had been facing three years for money laundering and firearm possession. During the March 6 hearing, the Prosecutor's Office also demanded payment of a NAf. 62,970 fine in the husband's case. In the end, the Court only found possession of three firearms proven,...
PHILIPSBURG--It is "not fair" to the people of the country and to any possible new political parties that a firm date has not been set for this year's parliamentary elections, opposition National Alliance (NA) leader Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin said at a party press conference held in Parliament House on Thursday morning. "It is important to have clarity." The NA leader's comments came...
~ After oil loss forces schedule change ~ PHILIPSBURG--Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas stayed overnight in St. Maarten on Thursday when it was forced to cancel two port calls after an oil loss from the ship's fixipod propulsion unit forced the shutdown of the pod as it arrived at St. Kitts' Port Zante on Tuesday. No official word could be obtained from port officials in St. Maarten, but a...
PHILIPSBURG--The Joint Court of Justice sentenced Vesuvius-case accomplice Andrew Selvin Davis (32) to four years on Wednesday. The Court of First Instance had sentenced Davis to six years for the preparation of murder, firearm possession and for membership in a criminal organisation, on November 15, 2012. Both Davis and the Prosecutor's Office had filed for an appeal. Davis claimed he was innocent....
PHILIPSBURG--September 5, the 19th anniversary of Hurricane Luis, is the proposed date for the 2014 parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams told reporters on Wednesday. This date would be most feasible, taking into consideration the various constitutional requirements that have to be met during an election period. Wescot-Williams outlined some key aspects of this process during...