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Business and Economy
Blackman Escapes Vote of No Confidence for Lack Quorum--- Budget Issues Still Pending
SMNN - Philipsburg: --- Commissioner Xavier Blackman narrowly escaped a motion of no confidence which was to be presented by Island Councilman Petrus Leroy De Weever had the island council meeting convened on Thursday.
The Democratic Party Faction of the island council called an island council meeting on Thursday to discuss the pending 2010 budget and labor related matters, however the meeting could not be convened because the Democratic Party did not have a quorum even though Commissioner Theo Heyliger signed in for the meeting giving them five of the eleven signatures.
SOAB says Legal Time Frame Not Respected at Island Labour Department.
SMNN -
Philipsburg: ---The report provided to the executive council by SOAB on January 29 regarding the department of labour and social affairs clearly outlined several discrepancies. According to SOAB, they were given the mandate to investigate the internal control and administration of island labour on February 3 2009. The accounting agency conducted investigations at all four sections of the department namely department that handles and process working permits, medical cards and social aid. The aim of the investigation SOAB says that eventual problems must be scrutinized and corrected, since the executive council felt that this would be of vital importance to St. Maarten when she achieves her country status.[More....]
Senator Says Controls Are Necessary.
SMNN - Philipsburg:--- Senator George Pantophlet said he has receiving a number of phone calls from persons who are concerned about the upcoming immigration controls that is to take place soon. The senator said he wants to re-emphasize that these immigration controls will not only affect persons who are undocumented but it will affect many of us for example; businesses such as Hotels, Supermarkets, Taxi's, Buses, landlord just to name a few but they (controls) must take place.
The senator said for the sake of clarity persons who have requested residence permit under the Brook Tower Agreement and have not received an answer as yet will not be affected. However you should make sure they walk with their proof of application.
SOAB Gives lots of Advice to Executive Council in its report on Island Labour Department---Laws not properly Interpreted
SXM Island Times - Philipsburg:--- The executive council of St. Maarten definitely has a lot to chew on as they study yet another report delivered to them from the accounting agency SOAB. The SOAB delivered an extensive report on the island labour and social welfare department to the executive council on January 29, 2010. The executive council already have the report on ROB (Public Works) and to date the executive council neither the commissioner responsible for ROB has not acted on that report. The latter was sent to the Attorney General as well as the prosecutor's office by the Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards.
According to information, reaching SMN News a committee has been established by the executive council to study the report. The source said the committee members are from the department of Labour and Social Welfare and they were scheduled to meet with the commissioner of labour last week.
Minister of Justice Wants Labour Department to Act.
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....]
Economic Affairs Commissioner clarifies website comments.
SMNN -
Great Bay: --- St. Maarten's commissioner in charge of economic affairs, is clarifying an apparent mix-up which was at the core of an article published in the Today Newspaper of Wednesday, February 17. The article in question mentioned that data on the government website, investsxm.com, is heavily outdated and how island council lady Maria Buncamper-Molanus stresses the importance of economic indicators. According to the commissioner, however, the article is not only inaccurate but also incomplete.[More....]
Is GEBE ultimately to blame? – Part 1
PHILIPSBURG - On SXMISLANDTIME I read - on Feb 19, 2010 - "BREAKING NEWS, The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry will take legal action against GEBE. The Chamber who will be representing the business community of St. Maarten will be present in court on the 8th of March 2010, seeking compensation for damages resulting from the numerous power outages that the community of St. Maarten has had to face over the past months."[More....]
Carty: GEBE Lawsuit not against individual
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - President of the Chamber of Commerce Glen Carty stressed that the law suit against GEBE is not against any individual but rather against GEBE to ascertain the problem at the company regarding its ability to supply power to the St. Maarten community and what recommendations can be offered to solve the problem.
Carty said what they are asking seeking in the lawsuit, is for the judge to appoint an independent individual or company to "look under the hood" with the situation concerning the generator problem at GEBE.
Economic Affairs Commissioner clarifies website comments (February 20, 2010)
PHILIPSBURG - St. Maarten's commissioner in charge of economic affairs Frans Richardson, is clarifying an apparent mix-up which was at the core of an article published in the Today Newspaper of Wednesday, February 17. The article in question mentioned that data on the government website, investsxm.com, is heavily outdated and how island council lady Maria Buncamper-Molanus stresses the importance of economic indicators[More....]
Exco meets all CFT requirements says finance Commissioner
PHILIPSBURG - The Executive Council says it has met all requirements for submitting its budget to the Council of Financial Supervision (Cft). That is the core of the response that will be sent to the body in response to its advice on the 2010 draft budget. A preliminary response has already been sent. Finance Commissioner Xavier Blackman told the press on Thursday that the Government's full position on the advice as well as details of its revenue generating measures will be given when the Island Council meets in public session. There is no date yet for the meeting. The case will also be made when a meeting is held with the Cft in the week of March 2.[More....]
