MP Wescot: “Government not transparent with respect to the budget of the Integrity Chamber. Answers to parliament not truthful and the question is why.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- The acceptance of the initial national budget 2022 included an amendment, initiated by coalition MP Brison that reduced the budget of the Integrity Chamber by approximately 700.000 guilders, without an utterance by the minister involved, in this case, the Prime Minister. This money was so-called redistributed to the island’s promotion. Only to learn later that this money could not be spent on promotion”, the MP explained.

In the meantime, the government was confronted with a disappointed Integrity Chamber, unable to fulfill (all ...

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TEATT set to Launch Online Business License Application.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication (TEATT), will be introducing its online business license application services on January 1st, 2023.

The Honorable Minister Omar Ottley and the Ministry of TEATT introduced the online system that will revolutionize the way we request a business license on St. Maarten. The system has been introduced to the various notaries and administration offices that help the population with various requests.

Members of the business community are scheduled to meet ...

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Slavery path discussions ongoing in the Netherlands, SXM to set up advisory committee.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister of St. Maarten Silveria Jacobs announced on Wednesday that the slavery path discussions continue in the Netherlands. On Thursday St. Maarten’s Minister of Plenipotentiary Minister Rene Violenus will participate in the discussions, while two other persons from St. Maarten participated in the discussions held in Curacao.
Jacobs said that she already indicated in writing to the Ministry of BZK and also in person to the State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen that St. Maarten did not participate in the discussions in th...

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Contractors paid; government admits to not paying its vendors on time.

PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion announced on Wednesday that the government of St. Maarten found a solution within hours after heavy equipment operators took action for nonpayment of work. He said the contractors were paid for two months and that work will continue until government finalizes the tender process. Ardwell said the tender process took longer than the government would have liked while there was an unsuccessful tender that was sent back from the governor’s office, and this had to be corrected.
He said that the govern...

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