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Government and Politics
Legal Affairs Investigating ROB Inspector and Blue Blood---Seen at Questionable House in Cul de Sac.
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.
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.
Heyliger says he wants Westin, Maho comfort letters honoured
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....]
Editorial - Security
The Daily Herald - Yesterday's approval of the so-called BES laws by the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament is good news for particularly Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, which now have a greater assurance that their long-awaited change of status to become special overseas public entities of the Netherlands indeed will become a reality in the not-too-distant future. It is important to remember that amending the Kingdom Charter to formalise the new constitutional relations will be left to the next second Chamber to be voted into office on June 9, but all the groundwork can be done in the meantime, of course.
Frans says he didn’t call directly for no separation of church, state
PHILIPSBURG--Commissioner Frans Richardson, in a phone call from Germany on Wednesday, said it wasn't he, but his colleague Commissioner Hyacinth Richardson, who had made direct comments about no separation of church and state in St. Maarten, and he had been "grouped" wrongfully with the statement. Frans said he had only alluded to it. Frans issued a press release in which he once again defended Government's decision to build a Methodist chapel for NAf. 500,000 and pointed out that it had been a unanimous decision by the Executive Council. He also indicated what he had said at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new chapel in Belvedere last week Saturday.[More....]
Time to invite Geert WILDERS for a 'pep-talk' ?
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.
Jacoba Reassures Officers At Information Session
PHILIPSBURG - Justice Minister Magali Jacoba spent Wednesday afternoon updating Police & Immigration Officers on the ongoing Dismantling Process. The meeting was held at the request of both the Antillean Police Union (NAPB) and the ABVO Union. One of the main concerns is the legal position of the officers as and after the transition is made to Country Status for both Curacao & St. Maarten. The Minister says those concerns can only be addressed by the Island Territory because the responsibility is being handed over by the Central Government.[More....]
COMMISSIONER FRANS RICHARDSON: THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS FOR ME.
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....]
Justice Minister and Unions Held Information Session.
SMNN -
Philipsburg: --- Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba, and Junior Minister Ernie Simmons attended information session, which was given to several police officers on Wednesday. The Police Union NABP organized the information session, which was provided by Geomally Martes Director of the SOAB of the Netherlands Antilles. Officers of the KPSSS are very concerned about the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles. Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba said she understands the concerns of the Federal Government Civil Servants and as such, the information sessions are needed to bring the workers up to speed with the process.[More....]
A MEETING CALLED TO GET CLARITY FROM GOVERNMENT ON ITS POLICY REGARDING SUBSIDIES TO INSTITUTIONS TURNED INTO A BIG JOKE.
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.
