PHILIPSBURG: --- Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams said on Monday at a press conference that she will be calling a fourth Public Meeting of Parliament on Monday, May 20th, to verify the credentials of the two incoming Members of Parliament, namely Richnel Bruk and Viren Kotai.
Wescot Williams said that six members of Parliament have traveled to Brazil to attend Parlatino meetings, so the parliament of St. Maarten will not have sufficient members present to form a quorum for the meeting to be held before May 20th.
SMN News asked Wescot Williams why the eight members of parliament who form the two-by-four coalition did not show up for the meeting on May 2nd when it was first called. Wescot Williams said that she could not say exactly why all members of parliament did not attend that meeting.
Regarding the meeting held on Monday, May 6th, Wescot Williams was also asked if she, as the chair of parliament, was within her rights to deny the opposition members of parliament the opportunity to vote when they asked that an agenda point be added, which was dismissed. Wescot Williams made clear that she was fully within her rights not only to deny the request to modify the agenda of the meeting and to add agenda points but also that she was within her rights based on the rules of order to refuse the vote.
The chair of parliament was also asked to explain how the parliament of St. Maarten could book the letters of resignation on May 1st, a public holiday; Wescot Williams explained that the letter of resignation was sent by email on April 29th, 2020, stating that the resignation goes into effect as of May 3rd, 2024. Wescot Williams said that even though May 1st was a public holiday, the Parliament of St. Maarten continues to work even on a public holiday.
Wescot Williams said she is hopeful that all members of parliament will show up to carry out their duties and that the parliament of St. Maarten will not have to head to court to get the documents of the incoming members of parliament, or they may have to use other options such as seeking the governor’s assistance or the Kingdom Council. The chair of parliament also admitted that there is a standoff in the parliament of St. Maarten.

BES ISLANDS:--- In a criminal investigation conducted by the National Criminal Investigation Department into a violent incident, three employees of the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (KPCN) were arrested today, Monday, the 13th of May. They are suspected of assault and forgery/perjury.

The KPCN previously started a disciplinary investigation following a recent violent incident involving members of the force. Signals of integrity violations in relation to this incident emerged from both internal findings and from citizens of Bonaire. The force takes these types of signals very seriously and, therefore, started the disciplinary investigation. After finding criminal components in the disciplinary investigation by the KPCN, consultations took place with the Public Prosecution Office (OM). The Public Prosecution Office then transferred information about the case to the National Criminal Investigation Department. This led to a criminal investigation, and the three arrests were made this morning. Due to the ongoing criminal investigation, no further details can be provided at this time about the violent incident in question, the involvement of the employees, and the investigation itself.

Despite the fact that only limited information can be shared at this stage so as not to harm the criminal investigation, Chief of Police Alwyn Braaf would like to emphasize that the force leadership team intervenes when there are signals of integrity violations. Braaf: “Integrity is the basis of good police work. As the police, we serve society, and members of the force serve as an example. Something for which they took an oath or promise when they were appointed. Society can therefore expect us to act carefully and adequately, to take responsibility for this and to be transparent about it. We take signals of actions that are not appropriate or compatible with a position in the police seriously and will investigate it thoroughly. We will, of course, await the outcome of the investigation, but as the police leadership team, we can already say that we will take decisive and strong action against inappropriate and/or punishable behavior.”
In addition to the current investigation, the force will also make efforts to prevent undesirable situations in the future to ensure that society can rely on an honest organization in which the well-being and safety of citizens always come first. “Professional and binding action by members of the force towards citizens is crucial to guarantee our legitimacy as a police organization. We, therefore, owe it to society and our own colleagues to actively work as a police leadership team to prevent integrity issues and to intervene if necessary. The realization that we as an organization still have steps to take in the field of integrity is painful, but we do not shy away from it. On the contrary, we want to take those steps,” says Alwyn Braaf.

KPCN Press Release.

~HNLMS Groningen intercepted two drug shipments in the Caribbean on April 24 and 28.~

WILLEMSTAD:--- An American maritime patrol aircraft discovered both go-fasts, after which HNLMS Groningen was called into action. HNLMS Groningen set course for the go-fasts and then launched her fast interceptor boats with the Fleet Marine Squadron and Law Enforcement Detachment of the U.S. Coast Guard on board.

In the first action, the suspects did not simply surrender. That happened only after verbal warnings. In the second action, that was not necessary. The four suspects and a total of 1,072 kilograms of cocaine were turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard. The drugs have been destroyed, and the suspects will be prosecuted in America.

HNLMS Groningen has been active in the Caribbean again since early April 2024. The Dutch naval vessel is deployed for counterdrug operations in alternating cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunication Grisha Heyliger-Marten met Friday, May 10, 2024, with market vendors to hear their concerns about the proposed new marketplace.
The market project had already been awarded to J&J Construction for a total of Nafl 1.2 million, however many of the market vendors were not satisfied with the design.
During the meeting, the vendors highlighted the lack of storage facilities for their wares and the need for better lighting, bathrooms, and security. They also requested security, including cameras and guards who would patrol the grounds after hours. They also called for a groundskeeper to keep the place clean.
In addition, the small businesspeople informed the minister that the design could be more aesthetically appealing to blend with the city's overall beautification plans. The market vendors also asked the minister to ensure that the material used for the stalls would be durable enough to withstand hurricane, wind, and rain damage.
Minister Heyliger-Marten, accompanied by top cabinet officials, exchanged feedback and suggestions with the vendors regarding how to enhance cooperation and improve consumers' overall market experience.
“Based on the insights gathered from the vendors, we will conduct a comprehensive analysis of market trends and competitor activities to inform our strategic decision-making process,” the minister said.
She added, “We will incorporate vendors’ feedback and suggestions into our operations and strategies to improve market dynamics and foster better vendor relationships.”
The minister said she would explore providing vendors with training and support to enhance their product knowledge, marketing skills, and overall business operations.
“We will implement quality assurance measures to ensure consistency and reliability in product offerings across all the vendors and establish clear and effective communication channels with them to facilitate ongoing dialogue and collaboration,” Heyliger-Marten said.
According to the minister, the meeting with market vendors provided “valuable insights and laid the groundwork for future collaboration and growth opportunities.”
“By fostering strong partnerships with the vendors and implementing the recommended actions, we aim to enhance our market position and deliver greater value to consumers,” Heyliger-Marten said.
The minister will meet again shortly with the vendors to further discuss specific action points and timelines agreed upon during Friday’s meeting.