News

SMNN - Philipsburg: --- The island government and the department of Legal Affairs are currently investigating an inspector of ROB (Public Works) who allegedly tried to extort monies from Blue Marine. According to reliable sources, the ROB inspector and his girl friend are owners of Blue Blood Construction tried to extort $42,000 from Blue Marine, a company that belongs to Saro Spadaro. SMN News learnt that the inspector committed his act since July 2009 and to date no actions has been taken.

The source said the inspector sent his girlfriend (another civil servant) with an invoice in the name of Blue Blood to Blue Marine for $42, 000 even though Blue Blood did not conduct any work for Blue Marine. It is further understood that when Blue Marine questioned the invoice they were told that they should pay the invoice if they wanted to get their inspection approved on the buildings that were constructed at Pointe Pirouette.

The Daily Herald -

PHILIPSBURG--Commissioner and United People's (UP) party leader Theo Heyliger wants the Island Government to honour agreements made with The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa and Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino, regarding the properties receiving exemption from paying room tax. Both resorts have "letters of comfort" from Government, outlining Government's intention to amend the Room Tax Island Ordinance in such a manner that a waiver of room taxes can be granted for brand name resort developments for a period of time. (See also DH Editorial - Keeping one’s word.) [More....]

The Daily Herald - CUPECOY--Blue Mall-Blue Residences, a multi-million dollar project in Cupecoy, will pump US $1 million into the upgrading and recreation of a large section of Rhine Road, the main access road to the high-end mall and residences.

Blue Mall developers said this investment was necessary to improve the driving experience and overall safety for residents and island visitors, who ultimately would be shoppers in the mall. The road upgrading will start in the near future.

SXM Island Times - This is to 'compliment' Mr. Jan-Peter BALKANENDE and all those Dutch ministers and parliamentarians, who against the growing public sentiments and fears of the St. Maarten people, have decided to declare the 'Antillean dossier' including the ill-fated constitutional changes 'non-controversial'.
Never mind that there is a growing momentum on the island to have a number of 'outstanding issues' placed in the draft-constitution of 'Country St. Maarten'.
To make matters even worse, even supporters of '10-10-10' are becoming extremely worried about the very ominous consequences of statements made by members of the ruling St. Maarten Government that in 'Country St. Maarten' there will be no (more) separation of 'State and Church', which has opened a 'Pandora box' for religious violence on the island, which can easily spread to mainland Holland.

SMNN -

GREAT BAY:--- "It is sad, very sad, that some people would deliberately take a decision of government meant for the good for our youth and create a big controversy from it about the separation of church and state." These were the initial comments of Commissioner Frans Richardson regarding the ongoing debate about remarks he made at the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Methodist Church building in Belvedere last Saturday. He reiterated that the decision of the Executive Council, taken unanimously, to assist the Methodist community in the construction of a new chapel in the Belvedere area to serve Dutch Quarter, Middle Region and environs, was meant as compensation for an oversight of government.[More....]

SMNN - Philipsburg:---The Central Committee meeting was requested by the Democratic Party to hear from the Executive Council regarding its position on (incidental) subsidies/investments. The granting of subsidies by government is regulated by the Subsidy Ordinance St. Maarten and the subsidizing of religious institutions regulated by the State Regulation (Staatsregeling).
This meeting was requested by the DP, considering the public spat between government and organizations such as the Carnival Foundation and the Heineken Regatta Organizers. In answering the Democratic Party Faction's questions on the budget, the government had also informed the Island Council that for the information requested on the subsidy to the Foundation for Government Buildings, the Island Council(!) should contact the Foundation's president, Mr. Kurt Ruan. Now imagine that.

SMNN - PHILIPSBURG - Wednesday's meeting of the Central Committee of St. Maarten, did not go as was planned by the Democratic Party (DP) of St. Maarten.

In a press release that was issued on Wednesday after the meeting, the leader of the (DP) Council Woman Sarah Wescot-Williams stated that the meeting that was requested by the Democratic Party to hear from the Executive Council regarding its position on (incidental) subsidies/investments turned out to be a joke.

SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - The SHTA believes that the Executive Council has set a dangerous premise by stating that the State and Church are not separate.

Furthermore, Government has opened the door for every denomination (Catholic, Hindu, Jewish etc) to seek similar funding for their establishments.

SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - The SHTA believes that the Executive Council has set a dangerous premise by stating that the State and Church are not separate. Furthermore, Government has opened the door for every denomination (Catholic, Hindu, Jewish etc) to seek similar funding for their establishments.

The SHTA tried contacting Commissioner Frans Richardson and Lt. Governor Richards to get some insight into this decision, but they were both unavailable.

The Daily Herald - During the groundbreaking for the controversial project in which the Island Territory will build a chapel for the local Methodist community at Belvedere, not only were recent media reports on the issue characterised as "vilifying," but members of the Executive Council went as far as to say there would be no separation of church and state in St. Maarten. While the commissioners involved perhaps are not fully conscious of the historical meaning of this concept in terms of exchanging theocracies for democracies, their statements are nothing more than an emotional attempt to defend a decision that simply cannot pass the test of good governance.

SMNN -

Philipsburg: --- The Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba was advised by the Police Unions not to grant any contracts to officers who are scheduled to leave on pension. SMN News has been reliably informed that at least six officers, two of which are from the management team of the police force are scheduled to go on pension. The source said even though the police force on St. Maarten is grossly understaffed it is the opinion of the police union that officers currently in the force can do a better job than those in management and those officers should receive the necessary promotions to lead the police force.[More....]

SMNN - Philipsburg: --- The Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba was advised by the Police Unions not to grant any contracts to officers who are scheduled to leave on pension. SMN News has been reliably informed that at least six officers, two of which are from the management team of the police force are scheduled to go on pension. The source said even though the police force on St. Maarten is grossly understaffed it is the opinion of the police union that officers currently in the force can do a better job than those in management and those officers should receive the necessary promotions to lead the police force.
Already Hildo Martina is on vacation and he is scheduled to go on pension on April 15, SMN News learnt that Martina sent in a request to extend his contract but his request it is understood went by the Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran for an advice. Dafnis Francesca it is understood was asked by government to stay on the force, he is scheduled to be leaving on pension sometime in May 2010.

SMNN -

Educating young inmates through training in the trade areas of barber, computer repair and tailoring, is a very positive development and a step in the right direction in rehabilitating these persons and making their way back into society as productive citizens. Last week Foundation Judiciary Institutes Windward Islands signed a financial agreement with Dutch-funding agency AMFO for over Naf.155,000 to develop the intervention rehabilitation program based on the aforementioned trade areas. [More....]

SMNN -

Philipsburg: --- The executive council is set to discuss is set to the request of a building permit submitted by an island council member and former commissioner of public works on Tuesday. The former commissioner has requested a building permit for a gas station, which is to be built next to the Dutch Quarter round about. According to reliable information reaching SMN News is that the island councilman is planning to also build a shopping mall in the area.[More....]

SMNN - Philipsburg: --- Island Councilman Leroy de Weever felt that the current executive council led by leader of National Alliance William Marlin has left commissioner of Public Works Theo Heyliger to fend for himself as all of the members and supporting members of the current executive council did not show up to give Heyliger the required quorum for an island council meeting on Monday. De Weever said it was clear that Heyliger had to fend for himself and woe; the votes from members of the Democratic Party to get his proposal to amend the spatial planning ordinance. Absent from the island council meeting on Monday was independent Island council member Louis Laveist, leader of the National Alliance William Marlin who is currently off island, Island Council member Rudolph Samuel and Island Council man George Pantophelt who did not wait for the voting. Seven votes were cast on Monday after the debates on the amendment four of which came from the Democratic Party. Members of the DP said the only reason they gave Heyliger the quorum was that they understand the importance of the amendment to the ordinance, which would allow most parts of the island to be zoned.

SXM Island Times -

PHILIPSBURG - The political crisis continues in Holland and the anxitey of the Antillian islands including St. Maarten continues. Gonzalo Cuales in his PJD-2 report on Thursday stated that the president of Parliamanet is insisting that in the first week of March, the Dutch parliament should deal with the legislation and the consensus laws that would make 10.10.10. possible.[More....]

SMNN - Now it is that the Methodist Church was given a Building permit and not a building stop. If the Church had gotten a building permit, why would a building stop have to be issued? The Methodist Church did not have a building permit for Belvedere. What the Methodist Church did have was a liaison of the Church, a National Alliance member who expected to do what he wanted, and the taxpayers must now bear the brunt. A NAF 500.000 (half a million guilders) brunt. Not because the Public Works department is in disarray should Commissioner Frans Richardson blatantly lie, and who is caught in the middle? The Methodist Church.
When the Seventh day Adventist want to build a school and the Catholic Church wants to build another church in Cole Bay, or the Muslims a new mosque they too should disobey the law and have government correct their mistake. Where in the world, say where could something like this happen.

SMNN - Marigot: --- The court of first instance has granted the request of the attorneys representing Pascal Morelle on Thursday as he appeared before the court for arresting four minors illegally. Batonniers Derussy and Nicolas asked the court to grant them a postponement since they have not received the process verbal on the case.
The lawyers said that they needed to have the necessary documents to prepare a proper defense for their client. The defense lawyers said they made a request to the prosecutor's office since February 11 2010 and to date they have not received the necessary documentation. Prosecutor Jacques Louvier objected to the request of the lawyers saying the case is rather simple. He said his intention was to finish this case on Thursday however, after a short deliberation the court decided to postpone the case until March 18.

SMNN -

MARIGOT—The gendarmes have detained a man for attempted theft on Tuesday. The man attempted to rob someone in the Marigot area under the threat of a knife the gendarmes reported. After an investigation it was determined that, the suspect is also responsible for three other armed robberies all of which occurred in the Marigot area.[More....]

SMNN -

Marigot:--- A demonstration is planned by several residents and supporters of Pascal Morelle on Thursday morning. Morelle is scheduled to appear in front of judge of instruction in Marigot charged with illegally detaining four minors who allegedly broke into his home at Orient Beach. SMN News learnt that Morelle's home was burglarized sometime earlier this year and he conducted his own investigation and detained four minors whom it is believed committed the robbery.[More....]

SMNN -

Philipsburg:--- Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba has sent a letter to the Lt. Governor of St. Maarten Franklyn Richards asking him to make sure the department of Labour and Social Affairs do its job when processing work permits under the Brooks Tower Accord. Jacoba told SMN News that a large of amount of people who applied for the Brooks Tower permit category two will suffer comes March 1 since the island labour department is not working efficiently to process the working permits for persons who qualified for the category two permits.[More....]

SXM Island Times -

PHILIPSBURG - On Wednesday, February 17, 2010, members of the cell VAMA, the police, assisted by Military police mobile squad 32 / 2 Toulouse, proceeded to arrest an individual, aged 24, who at the time was thought to be involved in two robberies recently. During the robbery in Marigot, the bandits used a knife to threaten the victims of their violent act. The investigations undertaken by the police led to confirmation that they were involved in other robberies as well.[More....]

SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - Roland Duncan, minister of constitutional affairs said the fall of the Dutch government does not affect the formation of the countries Curacao and St. Maarten or the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles as much as is possible.

He said he is not pessimistic about the matter but that he would rather wait and see what happens first. "We will deal with this situation on a day to day basis as it develops," Duncan said.

SXM Island Times -

PHILIPSBURG - The driver, R.F.G, from the car that was stopped by police on Wednesday February 10 holding 4 suspects of an armed robbery in Guana bay has been released by the judge of instruction this last Friday, his attorney Remco M. Stomp said. "Certainly it is suspicious if you are driving a car that is speeding from a location that was just robbed. Especially if the car contains a gun and stolen objects from the same robbed place only minutes after the crime, Stomp said.[More....]