St. Martin News Network - St. Maarten

MP Duncan Requests Information on Government’s Plans for Developing Local MSMEs.

ludmilladuncan20012020 PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Solange Ludmila Duncan recently submitted a number of questions to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT), respectively, regarding their ministries’ plans for the development of locally-owned micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

With significant growth in small businesses and entrepreneurship on St. Maarten over the last 2 years, the MP is curious to know Government’s plan to stimulate local industries. She also looks forward to a collaboration between the Ministry of Finance and TEATT in the coming months.

“As a former senior policy advisor for Government, I am well aware of the need for more cohesion and joint collaboration on fiscal and economic policy and I believe these two ministries in particular need to work more closely together to effectively address economic issues on St. Maarten,” stated the MP.

MP Duncan suggests the establishment of a standing inter-ministerial committee between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of TEATT tasked with a number of objectives including policy alignment to ensure coherence on joint concerns pertaining to MSMEs and entrepreneurs such as taxes and business license fees.

MP Duncan believes that it is extremely important to create such an environment that local entrepreneurs and business owners receive relief when needed and more importantly the tools and support necessary to allow them to thrive and succeed on St. Maarten. The MP also wants Government to pay keen attention to the needs of women business owners in particular. “St. Maarten’s women have always been progressive; as leaders in the community and in business but we need to ensure that they are empowered.”

The MP sees a need for improved cooperation and partnership between Government and the private sector to stimulate local investment and business development through various types of projects. “Our banks and other commercial organizations need to play a role as well in the development of MSMEs and entrepreneurship on St. Maarten. It’s a win-win for the economy and our people when all sectors get involved behind a common purpose; economic development.”

MP Duncan is working on a small business development law that aims to encourage, strengthen and protect local MSME’s as an approach to economic diversification and empowerment and looks forward to working with Government and the private sector on initiatives that will accomplish such.

Continuation Plenary Public session of Parliament about the appointment of a Chairperson and member of the General Audit Chamber.

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The House of Parliament will sit in a Plenary Public session on January 21, 2020.
The Public meeting which was adjourned on December 12, 2019 will be reconvened on Tuesday at 10.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda points are:
2. Advice on appointment Chairperson General Audit Chamber
(IS/210/2019-2020 dated October 29, 2019)
3. Advice on appointment member General Audit Chamber
(IS/277/2019-2020 dated November 8, 2019)

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.
The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1 www.pearlfmradio.sx, via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and Parliament’s Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten

Dr. Maccow Thomas Presented at Rotary Sunset General Meeting.

rotary20012020 PHILIPSBURG:--- The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset invited Dr. Tasheena Maccow Thomas to present at the general meeting during the month of January 2020. Dr. Maccow Thomas has a passion to serve and helps others in living and sustaining a healthy lifestyle. The membership was fully engaged in her presentation, which included among other things, the benefits of detoxing, and the inclusion of mental, physical and emotional wellbeing as part of a healthy lifestyle. She also presented the membership with various plants and herbs that can be used for various ailments.
As a means to promote healthy and holistic living among the members, Club Administration Chair, Shemaiah Fleming, reached out to Dr. Maccow Thomas in order to present at the meeting. Dr. Maccow Thomas was chosen due to her passion to serve the community and her desire to help people in her capacities, which mirrors the Rotary International Motto “Service above Self”. Dr. Maccow Thomas also served as the ideal representative to inform members as she holds a Masters in Social Work and Psychology and a PhD in Sociology with a major in Heavy Drug Addiction from the American Intercontinental University. She is also certified in the fundamental biology of plant and their medicinal aspect. Dr. Maccow Thomas provided information about her business, the TeeZan Health and Wellness Center, which is a center that specializes in the use of naturally grown herbs and spices aimed at creating better regimes for clients overall healthier living and wellbeing.
The club would like to thank Dr. Tasheena Maccow Thomas for the presentation, words of advice and tips, especially with the use of various plants and spices. The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset meets every second and fourth Monday of the month at Carl N Sons Unique Inn and Conference Facilities in Colebay at 7:30pm. The club can be contacted via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via the official Facebook page at facebook.com/rotarysxmsunset.

Minister Irion addresses the concerns of the teachers and staff of Martin Luther King Jr School.

ardwellirion28112019 PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport went to meet the teachers of the Martin Luther King Jr. school after they organized a sit-in. This protest was due to their concerns of possible mold in the classrooms. Minister Irion and his cabinet listened to the concerns of the teachers and began addressing the issues.

On Friday, The Minister brought dehumidifiers to the school and had it assessed. Apparently, the primary issue was caused by sewage affluence. The minister had the sewage pits pumped, the buildings sprayed to kill harmful bacteria and the lights fully restored in the classrooms. The AC Company also returned on Friday to donate their services and service the rest of the air conditioners at the school seeing as they hadn’t been maintained since before Irma. All classrooms, the principal office and staff rooms were cleaned with non-toxic mold solutions to ensure that mold was no longer a concern.

All parents should be advised that school will continue as usual. Not all of the classrooms were effected, and the remainder of the students will take classes at the Dutch Quarter Community Center, located on the same property. The Minister met with the contractor for updates on the process of rebuilding and the projected timeline on the roof repair, works should commence the first week of February.

Bank Fees should be justified and approved by Parliament.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Insurance Brokers Association is calling on the 15 newly elected members of parliament to go to work soonest and focus on some key issues relating to the financial sector.
Besides our own experiences, we have been hearing daily from our clients; both private and corporate about the predatory and sometimes even abusive conduct of some commercial banks.
While this sector is overregulated for all the right reasons, the poor interpretation and/or application of some treaties and regulations results in a significant slowing of the economy on many fronts.
The slowing productivity in commercial banks because of over-regulation should no longer give them cause to unilaterally introduce new fees and raise existing fees on customers.
It should also be noted that most commercial banks are now conducting business verbally, leaving clients in a disadvantageous position when things go wrong and cannot show proof of what was promised or agreed upon.
Commercial banks should present a list of services and associated fees to Parliament. The fees must be justified and approved via legislation. In the absence of this legislation, our people will remain in a vulnerable position.
It should be clear that this trend, if not stemmed by Parliament will damage our social fabric, as families and businesses are being victimized in the process.