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Business and Economy
BIOWASTE in a RECYCLING SOCIETY
With the growth of St Maarten’s economy, constantly rising quantities of waste are continuing to be produced. Tonnes of bio-waste arise in food and garden waste and the food and drink industry. The first priority, of course, must be to prevent / reduce waste. This can go hand in hand with major environmental and economic benefits.
The enormous quantity of waste produced every day on this island cannot simply be squandered. Bio-waste plays an important part in combating climate change and offers valuable potential in terms of protecting the soil and promoting the production of renewable energies, and is therefore a significant factor in the recovery of this volume of waste. This means that sustainable development can be promoted through the efficient management of resources.
Amount projected from back taxes not collectable
The Daily Herald - ~ Exco reportedly had faulty figures ~
PHILIPSBURG--The NAf. 24.3 million projected by the Executive Council to fill the deficit in the 2010 budget through the collection of back taxes is not collectable.
The Daily Herald has learned that Commissioner of Finance Xavier Blackman has reports indicating that only NAf. 2.5 million can be collected for the period 2004-2007. The Commissioner had indicated that NAf. 14.4 million could be collected this year. Also, only NAf. 90,000 can be collected from 2008, not NAf. 4 million as was mentioned by the commissioner.
Hotel occupancy ticks upward from rough ’09
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--Hotel occupancy figures from January to March 2010 are mixed, but do not paint an overly negative picture compared to the same period in 2009.
Hotel occupancy was down slightly at 68.5 per cent in January 2010, compared to 69.5 per cent the prior January.
Figures leaped significantly in February 2010 to 74.8 per cent, compared to 64.6 per cent in February 2009. As the high season began to tail off in March 2010, so did occupancy, but not as badly as in 2009. March showed a 59.9 per cent occupancy level, compared to 52.3 per cent in the same period last year.
Second Motion of Non Confidence Filed Against Blackman--- Constantly Traveling—Has Priorities Set Wrong ---Says Leroy.
SMNN - Philipsburg: --- Island Council member Petrus Leroy De Weever tabled a second motion of non-confidence against finance commissioner Xavier Blackman on Wednesday during the island council meeting called by the Democratic Party.
De Weever said leader of government William Marlin has given Blackman a motion of no confidence when he publicly announced on Tuesday that he had to seek assistance from outside with the 2010 budget so that it could be approved by the CFT. De Weever said St. Maarten is confronted with a level of incompetence in Blackman who is constantly traveling overseas. He said Blackman needs to assume his responsibilities and not look for scapegoats or people to blame for his failure. He felt with the motion of non-confidence against Blackman would end the blame game against the civil servants especially those in the finance department.
EXCO APPROVES TRANSITION APPROACH FOR NEW MINISTRY OF TOURISM, ECONOMY, TRAFFIC AND COMMUNICATIONS
SMNN -
GREAT BAY:--- St. Maarten's Executive Council on Tuesday approved proposals for the transition approach regarding tasks for the new ministry of tourism, economic affairs, traffic and telecommunications for country St. Maarten. The Executive Council also approved an overview provided of the transfer of legislation by the Netherlands Antilles to the new ministry as well as the terms of the required legislation, Central Government tasks, policy, work instructions and procedures per department of the new ministry.[More....]
St. Maarten to Get Help to Deal With Budget Issues.
SMNN - Amsterdam/ St. Maarten:---The Island Government of St. Maarten on Monday received a response from the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT on its budget 2010 says leader of government William Marlin.
In its response, the CFT has requested that certain information be provided and certain adjustments be made to the budget within 14 days. The Island Government is currently working diligently to provide the necessary information and make the necessary adjustments.
Cft, DP Continue Questioning Budget 2010
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - The College Of Financial Supervision remains critical of the Budget 2010 for the Island Territory of St. Maarten.
In an April 6th letter, the Council says it is unable to know how the Government intends to collect outstanding taxes.
Duncan: BTA creates immigration challenge for SXM
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - Minister of Constitutional Affairs, Roland Duncan believes the Brooks Tower Agreement (BTA) has created an immigration challenge for St. Maarten in that the permits expire a mere month after the island becomes a country.
The government of Country St. Maarten will now be given the task of ensuring that these people remain legal residents and not fall back in to their previous illegal immigrant status, thus aggravating the social challenges of the island.
Economic figures in 2009 vary in all major sectors
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten economy continued to lose steam in 2009 from the earlier moderation in activity late 2008, says the Department of Economic Affairs and Policy Research (DEPR).
However, the department said much like the region and the developed world, slight improvements could be seen in the final quarter of 2009 as declines within the economic indicators were less severe than in the first three quarters. This was so even with government earnings, on a cash basis, contracting by 6.8 per cent in 2009 relative to 2008.
Financing for block D of Gov. Building shifted
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - Money set aside for equipment and furniture at the Tax Inspectorate for Country St. Maarten has been re-shuffled within the programme for Institutional Strengthening. Constitutional Affairs Commissioner announced the change during Monday's Island Council Meeting.
Democratic Party Island Councilman Roy Marlin had questioned the government in both the first and second round of debate about what would happen to the money considering that government is not currently moving forward with the plans to construct Block D at the new Government Administration Building on Pond Island.
