You are hereFrench St. Martin
French St. Martin
Is this the Collectivity's idea of a sick joke?
Has anyone had a chance to read the latest POINT COM, the Collectivity's propaganda glossy put out monthly on both sides of the island. Well in the latest No. July 2010 is an article which on the surface may look a piece promoting assistance projects for the community. But once you understand what this piece is really talking about, then it becomes clear it is a sick joke and we are the brunt of that joke, the hard working Saint Martiner. I am sure the UP-UMP majority leaders were cackling their heads off when they read it to each other as they rolled on the floor with laughter at how they had tricked the Saint Martiner yet again.
Here it is...
So who are these lucky owners? None other than our esteemed Senator LOUIS-CONSTANT FLEMING and his sister ANNE BROOKS-FLEMING. and the article shows off the picture of their recently renovated buildings stretching along Rue de la Republique in Marigot (former site of Manek's and the old Chopard Jewllers building before it was demolished to make way for Anne's latest investment in Saint Martin's ailing economy).
This article appeared on the page reserved fro the OPPOSITION. On the surface the last paragraph is an attack on all the funding cuts to the 2010 Budget, but they did not use opportunity to spill the real story on Louis and friends. It is lamentable there have been so many budget cuts to worthy causes, so that these "lucky owners" can benefit once again. I wonder if Alain Richardson read or even understood the irony of this article.
One can just imagine the laughter emanating from behind the closed doors of power by these anonymous "lucky owners", as they read the article.
I have restrained myself from writing over the years because I have not seen any real efforts to eradicate our worst enemy, nepotism and personal aggrandizement at the expense of all hard working citizens. Nor have I seen any of these dirty politicians get their wings clipped. Even talking to news gatherers on both sides of the island, reveals a sad resignation to keeping the status quo and that it is a lost cause that will only get you in problems. Well I think it is time stand up against these audacious and blatant abuses of power.
And where the article states "it is difficult to identify the general interest", I guess they got that part right, they mean to say, It all depends on who you are !.
St. Martiners aspiring to become Gendarmes
MARIGOT--Four final year Lycée students are currently following a training course initiated by the Gendarmerie, the first stage of a lengthy programme to be undertaken in French St. Martin and France that will see them in the future become full-fledged Gendarmes. The project called "Partenaires pour l'Avenir" is supported by the State and the Collectivité and was presented to the press Wednesday by Commandant Stéphane Brunet and the Brigade for Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency BPDJ. It is the first time such a training programme has been offered by the Gendarmerie.[More....]
New French law calls for vehicle registration
SXM Island Times - MARIGOT - Motorists on French St. Martin are now being advised that they will have to comply with new registration rules that will go into effect on the 1st of June 2010.
The Government of St. Martin announced that they will be implementing a new system of registration for motor vehicles (car and motorcycle), for the territory of St. Martin.
Qualifying motorist will be given a new registration number and a new certificate (ex-logbook) that will go into effect from 1st June 2010. The new certificates will be issued gratuitously a government release stated.
A2013 Development Contract to be initiated this summer
The Daily Herald - ~ Cooperation a major theme of Minister's visit ~
MARIGOT--French St. Martin's long-term development plan based on the Contrat de Développement between the Collectivité and the State up until 2013 will be launched this summer when the Préfet Délégué receives a formal mandate to negotiate on behalf of the Collectivité and subsequently sign an agreement outlining the State's precise involvement and annual budget.
French Minister meets with Lt. Governor Richards
SMNN - PHILIPSBURG - High level talks about the land demarcation in Oyster Pond were held this past weekend between representatives of St. Maarten led by Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards and the French Minister of Overseas Departments & Territories Marie Luce Penchard. This is the Minister's first trip to the island.
Fleming: ‘Turn-over tax to reap 16 million euros’
The Daily Herald - MARIGOT--Senator Louis-Constant Fleming has sought to dispel what he contends are misconceptions that some commentators have been disseminating in print and via broadcast media about the budget, taxes, and fiscal matters in general.
He started off by countering a statement made on a radio programme that the turn-over tax TGCA will only bring in 500,000 euros. "The two per cent turn-over tax is supposed to yield 16 million euros," insisted Fleming. "Total sales in St. Martin in 2008 for example, declared by companies paying taxes, were 800 million euros. That was on what was declared, and you still have the factor of what was not declared," he added.
Three Arrested for Concordia Murder.
SMNN -
Marigot: --- The gendarmes have arrested three persons between the ages of 20 to 24 for the murder of 18-year-old Franck Petion who was shot in Concordia last Saturday morning. Vice Prosecutor Jacques Louvier said that two of suspects were placed in temporary custody while the third suspect was placed under judicial control. According to Louvier, the killing was caused by a drug deal that went sour. [More....]
Homicide in Concordia raises youth death toll
The Daily Herald - MARIGOT--An 18-year-old young man was fatally shot in Concordia by an assailant about 8:30am Saturday, in another act of senseless violence that continues to plague the youth. The incident took place close to the Post Office's new sorting centre.
A passing doctor saw the victim lying on the ground clinging to life and immediately called the Gendarmerie and the ambulance. However, the young man passed away on the way to the hospital.
18-year old Gunned Down --- Shooter Called Victim to His Death.
SMNN - Marigot: --- The gendarmes are busy investigating the shooting of 18-year old Franck Petion better known as Vebby who was brutally murdered early Saturday morning in the vicinity of the sorting station of La Poste (Centre de Courrier) at Rue Francois Hunt in Concordia.
According to bystanders, the young man was shot and pushed in the nearby bushes next to the La Poste but somehow a doctor that was passing through the main road saw him and summoned the ambulance and gendarmes, the victim was rushed to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital but later succumbed to his wounds. It is not clear if the victim was shot more than once and where exactly he was shot.
COM Aborted Road Tax for New Vehicle tax System --- No Information says Gumbs.
SMNN - Marigot: --- President of the MOCSAM Julien Gumbs is once again sounding the alarm about the possible road tax. Gumbs in an exclusive interview with SMN News said that while the window that is supposed to be collecting the road tax is closed since October 2009 to date the Collectivity and its representatives has not seen it fit to update its population on the reason why they stopped collecting the tax which is supposed to be used for road developments.
