For expansion of Vocational Training school 

SOUTH REWARD--The Island Government will begin demolishing the old police apartments in South Reward on September 13 to facilitate the expansion of the St. Maarten Vocational Training School.

The building consisting of 10 apartments were constructed by the Federal Government, on island government property, for police officers primarily from Curaçao who came to work in St. Maarten. Now decades old, the building is in poor condition and the structure is not up to par.

"It has been deemed unliveable." Head of the Department of New Works Kurt Ruan said. "People have also used the building as a drug house. Notices will be placed to keep the public and especially the people in the immediate area informed of the work that will be carried out in their neighbourhood." Ruan added.

"More information about the expansion and duration of the work will be announced soon." Ruan concluded.

Shortage of personnel remains a concern

THE HAGUE--The opening of a youth section at the Pointe Blanche prison in St. Maarten is a positive development, but the shortage of personnel is worrying.

The third progress report on the implementation of improvements after the 2007 visit of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torturing and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment CPT to penitentiary facilities and police cells in the Netherlands Antilles is milder than the previous two progress reports.

This has to do with the general improvements that have been made at the facilities, especially the Pointe Blanche Prison, the Philipsburg police cells, the Bon Futuro Prison in Curaçao and the police cells at Barber in Curaçao.

"Both in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, visible improvements have been made compared to previous reports. While there are still areas of concern, the state of the facilities since the 2007 CPT visit has considerably improved," stated Dutch caretaker State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld-Schouten on Tuesday.

Bijleveld-Schouten has sent the third progress report along with a letter to the Second Chamber. The report of J. de Lange and P. Vegter dated May this year, but was only now sent to Parliament.

According to the progress report, things at the Pointe Blanche Prison are not too bad considering the limited available means. There are activities and training programmes for the prisoners and inmates have sufficient opportunities to air.

However, the personnel shortage on the level of staff and middle management is worrisome. To alleviate the shortage of personnel somewhat, 15 persons have started training.

There are also problems with rivalling gangs within the prison. Occasionally there are fights. The Staff tries to keep gang members separated as much as possible which is not easy considering the cross-formed building. The tender for the renovation of the Pointe Blanche Prison has recently initiated.

The situation at the Philipsburg police cells complex remains a concern. There are some improvements in the area of hygiene. "The cell block makes a reasonably clean impression and there are sufficient mattresses," it was stated in the report. The airing of detainees at the police cells is still not what it should be. "It couldn't be ascertained whether the one-hour airing per person norm is met at all times."

Detainees generally stay at the police cells too long. The construction of the detention centre for foreigners with about sixty places in Simpson Bay should be ready by the end of 2010. The expansion of the cell complex at the Philipsburg police station was delayed, because of the intake unit that needs to be realised.

The new cell complex in Philipsburg hasn't been fitted with a space to air the detainees, a fact Vegter and De Lange pointed out during their visit to the complex earlier this year. There are plans to construct an airing cage on the parking space underneath the complex.

Until this has been realised, detainees would use the airing space of the current complex. However, this is not an ideal situation and deserves top priority, the report stated.

The police cells in St. Eustatius and Saba were deemed to be in order. A new prison is being constructed in St. Eustatius with a capacity of 30 detention spaces. It should be ready late 2013. By that time the new prison in Bonaire should also be completed.

In her letter to the second Chamber, the State Secretary pointed out the prisons and police forces of Curaçao and St. Maarten would be resorting under the General Measure of Kingdom Government Plans of Approach Guaranteeing Country Tasks.

Under these plans of approach much will be invested in the police forces and the prison in the coming years. The plans of approach will be approved at the Final Round Table Conference (RTC) in The Hague next week Thursday.

PHILIPSBURG--The Main Voting Bureau on Thursday allocated the colours to the four political parties contesting the early Island Council elections set for September 17.

The parties' lists were also numbered. Democratic Party has been allocated number one as well as its requested colour red; Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) has been allocated number two as well as its requested colour gold; United People's Party has been allocated number three as well as its requested colour green and National Alliance has been allocated number four as well as its requested colour white.

These parties will be listed according to their numbers on the election ballot. Thursday's meeting was chaired by Acting Chairperson of the Main Voting Bureau Ligia Stella as Chairman Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt had been chairing a meeting of the Island Council at the time.

On Wednesday the bureau had validated the candidates list of each party.

CPA's one-man list was validated. However, the party has until midday today to submit an updated list with one additional candidate to be validated. This is based on CPA winning a court case to have a candidate added to its list and re-inscribed on the voter's register on Wednesday.

PHILIPSBURG--Utility company GEBE reported on Thursday that the electricity supply from the power plant had stabilised. Repairs to the distribution grid continued throughout Thursday as GEBE technicians worked on repairing the high tension and low tension lines in the various districts.

As reported earlier, the priority is to first repair the primary distribution grid, consisting of the high tension lines and transformer houses. Although more than 90 per cent of the high tension system is underground, there are areas that still have an overhead system.

Next is the secondary distribution grid, consisting of the low tension lines. Once this has been completed, the technicians can start on the individual house connections. GEBE has approximately 18,500 electricity connections in St. Maarten.

GEBE is asking residents for their continued patience as the repair crews continue their work in the various neighbourhoods.

"The crews are working as fast as they can, but also as safely as they can," a GEBE statement read. "Reports that a repair worker in Antigua was electrocuted during the restoration of the electrical network after Hurricane Earl have underlined the need for our workers to be safe and take their time while working on the electrical grid. High tension lines can carry as much as 12,600 volts and workers need to be sure that lines are not electrified before they can begin their repairs."

As for St. Maarten Cable TV, technicians have already repaired and upgraded a number of areas, including Philipsburg, Fort Willem, Madame Estate, Guana Bay, South Reward, Ebenezer, St. John's, Saunders, Retreat Estate, Belvedere, Arch Road and parts of Sucker Garden. Cable TV and Internet services have been restored in these areas.

If any subscribers in these areas still do not have service, this is due to a broken house drop and they should inform the Cable TV offices. Cable TV management further explained that if there were damaged or broken poles on the main route or side streets, these needed to be replaced or repaired by the respective companies before any repairs could be done by Cable TV's technical team. Cable TV will provide a detailed listing of these areas in its next update.

Following the restoration of electricity in the Cole Bay area, the technical team was busy checking the main cable route right down to the Lowlands. The public should also note that if GEBE implements load-shedding in the districts, this will delay Cable TV's restoration process.

Cable TV offices can be contacted at 542-4361.

THE HAGUE--The Dutch Tax Department (Belastingdienst) is willing to assist St. Maarten in tax matters.

Dutch caretaker State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld-Schouten stated this in a letter that she sent to the Second Chamber on Wednesday. In this letter, she evaluated her visit to the Windward Islands from August 17 to 20 this year.

Since her visit, there has been contact between the Dutch Tax Department and St. Maarten. The Dutch Tax Department can, against cost price, render assistance to the island, she announced.

This assistance is needed, because St. Maarten has insufficient knowledge and capacity in the area of taxes. In a meeting with St. Maarten's Executive Council on August 19, government had indicated that it wanted to reform its tax system.

St. Maarten wants to do this by introducing indirect taxes, realise improvements in the levying and collection of taxes and, if necessary, change the existing taxes and tariff structure.

Financial management is an important pillar for a new country like St. Maarten, said Bijleveld-Schouten. "St. Maarten will have to give content to that, both in quality and in quantity," she said.

She said this legitimises the Kingdom Law Financial Supervision for Curaçao and St. Maarten. "This law provides sufficient starting points and instruments to maintain constructive relations between the Netherlands and St. Maarten," stated Bijleveld-Schouten.

She explained that in the coming period there would be intensive contact between the Council for Financial Supervision CFT and St. Maarten to come to a "good view" on the island's financial situation and to assist with drafting a budget for 2011.

"More concretely, CFT will be present several days per week to advise and support the Financial Department of St. Maarten's Government. Knowledge will be exchanged on the drafting of the budget and the progress reports," she stated.

In the meeting with St. Maarten, the State Secretary further pointed out that local government wouldn't be able to escape "difficult policy decisions in the expenditures area."

In her letter, Bijleveld-Schouten also elaborated on her visit to Saba and St. Eustatius and the talks that she had held there with the local administrations. She further elucidated on the progress that was made in the constitutional trajectory to dismantle the Netherlands Antilles, the creation of Countries Curaçao and St. Maarten, and the integration of the BES islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba into the Netherlands as 'public entities' per October 10, 2010.

The State Secretary updated the Second Chamber on the state of affairs concerning, among other things, the Kingdom Laws, the execution legislation, the Constitutions and organic laws for Curaçao and St. Maarten, the legislation for the BES islands and the plans of approach for Curaçao and St. Maarten to guarantee the execution of tasks that the new countries cannot fully carry out.

PHILIPSBURG--Brooks Tower Accord (BTA) permit-holders have an additional two weeks to file for extensions under the temporary-legalisation programme, chief coordinator Tiara Haselhoef said on Thursday.

Only about half of the 4,000-plus Brooks Tower recipients have applied for extensions since the project started on August 2.

The Central Government decided recently to give these persons until the end of September, past the initial September 18 deadline. The BTA extension allows most applicants to remain legal residents for three years as long as they "keep complying" with the mandates of valid insurance and passports.

Only 201 persons have collected their permits thus far and some 623 persons still need to collect theirs. The Central Government has posted the numbers of all persons whose permits had been approved at the Salvation Army Building in Cole Bay and the Immigration and Naturalisation Building on A.Th. Illidge Road.

Haselhoef urged persons to apply early and collect their extension permits before November when all the original BTA permits will expire. "They shouldn't wait until the last minute. They should come early." Haselhoef said. "The new one they are getting starts November 3."

Already 1,528 persons who fall under Category I-a – persons who arrived in the Netherlands Antilles before 2002 and are employed – have applied for extensions. Only 42 applied under Cat. I-b – self-employed persons who arrived before 2002. "Many people went from Category I-b to I-a," Haselhoef said, explaining that the change would be allowed if the permit-holder persuaded his or her employer to sign as his/her guarantor.

The change prevents Cat I-b candidates from having to pay application fees for a sole-proprietorship licence, one of the conditions for a self-employed person to stay under the BTA.

A total of 185 permit-holders who arrived between 2002 and 2005 have applied for extensions, while 429 persons have applied for family.

It has been nearly a year since Antillean Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba announced the start of the Brooks Tower Accord and the major information campaign to inform English-, Spanish- and Creole-speaking undocumented immigrants about legalising their status.

More than 4,000 persons had applied for themselves or family when the BTA ended its six-week term from November 3 to December 15, 2009. Most persons received permits, but many fell into the hands of a special review committee that evaluated applicants who did not exactly meet the Central Government-stipulated criteria.

Three companies identified ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Daily Herald has been reliably informed that the Island Government has appointed Crastell Gumbs to lead the negotiating team to find a suitable partner for the TelEm Group of Companies or a company that would opt to purchase TelEm outright.

Commissioner in charge of TelEm Group affairs William Marlin could not be reached to verify the report on Thursday. However, three companies have received letters indicating that negotiations will commence soon. These companies are Caribbean telecom giant Digicel, Lime (Cable & Wireless) and United Telecommunication Services (UTS).

The process to partner TelEm with a third party has been an ongoing one for more than two years. Former TelEm Group CEO Pieter Drenth had noted that the telecom market was quickly reaching the saturation point, with more and more operators being allowed into areas once held by TelEm.

Against this backdrop, he argued, the company must now move more urgently with its restructuring plans and go into partnership with a third party if it is to remain sustainable.

Gumbs is currently an advisor to Minister of Telecommunication Patrick Illidge.

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten has finally established and put regulations in place for the Office of the Ombudsman, a public representative and a defender of the constitution for Country St. Maarten, after years of talking about it. The law on the Ombudsman was passed by the Island Council on Thursday along with several other "organic laws."

Those regulations, derived from articles and stipulations in the constitution, had to be in place ahead of the Round Table Conference (RTC) in The Hague on September 9 that will vet the readiness of St. Maarten and Curaçao to become countries within the Dutch Kingdom on 10-10-10.

The laws, although passed unanimously, were not without controversy. Opposition Democratic Party (DP) members criticised government for rushing the laws to the Island Council for approval, leaving little or no time for proper debate. They also pointed out that while the first Parliament is set to take office on October 10, that that should not be a basis to rush decisions through.

On government's side, Constitutional Affairs Commissioner William Marlin and National Alliance (NA) Island Councilmen Rodolphe Samuel and George Pantophlet said these were laws that should have been prepared or had been in preparation by the former DP government.

Marlin said the push to meet the deadline of the RTC was compounded by the lack of manpower in critical times, as well as the recent passing of Hurricane Earl that shut down the island for some 36 hours. He thanked the government's support staff and the DP members for their cooperation.

Independent Island Councilman Louie Laveist said it had been a long process, but while some might want to the laws to be perfect before they were passed, it was simply no such thing.

Responding to criticisms levied at his government, Commissioner Marlin said it was not the intention to have the Island Council rubber-stamp the laws, but with the time constraints "our backs are literally against the wall." He added that missing the deadline could have consequences for country status as negotiations to form a new government progressed between parties in the Netherlands that were not friendly to St. Maarten's cause.

He said the laws were "not engraved in stone" and the island could not become a country without a constitution and laws deriving from it. He said it would be up to the first Parliament to decide whether to make changes. The approval was to give that first Parliament the legal tools and instruments to do its job.

DP Island Council members Sarah Wescot-Williams, Maria Buncamper-Molanus, and Leroy de Weever called this approach "irresponsible," because it assumed that passing the laws without giving the people's representatives enough time to read the documents could cause problems in the future.

The regulation for the Office of the Ombudsman, including the salary, which will be equal to that of the highest-paid civil servant, was also passed by the council. The office will have its own budget and its staff will be civil servants. The person appointed to be the ombudsman will serve for a period of seven years with only a one-term renewal possible.

The Island Council will receive from the Executive Council soon a proposal for the appointment of someone to this post. Through this office, St. Maarten will have a unique place in the kingdom, as the ombudsman can challenge in the constitutional court laws made by Parliament that he or she finds are unconstitutional.

The ordinance regulating the Security Service for Country St. Maarten also was passed. This agency will work "clad in secrecy" to ensure that the national interests are protected and to gather informant on potential threats to democracy, Commissioner Marlin said.

The ordinance also outlines the task of the service to carry out background checks and "special investigations." Officers might intrude on someone's privacy in carrying out their duties; how this can be done and the rights of the individuals are also listed.

The ordinance on the Protection of Personal Information also received the Island Council's nod of approval. Commissioner Marlin said that in this information age there must be protection for people and outlined that if personal data was being collected, explicit permission must be given by the person. Information collected can only be used for the purpose for which it is collected and not for anything else.

The organisation of the Government of Country St. Maarten was also approved by the Island Council. That structure formalises the establishment of the seven ministries, departments/ministries assignment and the executive services of the ministries.

The ordinance on the legal position of the support staff of Parliament, which, like Parliament, is independent of government, was approved by government to give the staffers recognition as civil servants.

Also handled was the ordinance regulating the official publication of government information and laws. Any new or amended laws must be published in the National Gazette. Laws can be published electronically and hard copy. Once a law is passed by Parliament, there will be a three-month period for perusal and claims. Persons or entities such as the Ombudsman can do this.

Country St. Maarten now also has an ordinance on the management of emergency situations. After Hurricane Luis, then-Lt. Governor Dennis Richardson had no laws with which to handle the chaotic situations. These were passed later for the Netherlands Antilles and made retroactive to cover the 1995 hurricane situation.

This ordinance, also adopted by the Island Council on Thursday, gives the Prime Minister the right to proclaim an emergency situation and will cover times of natural or manmade disasters or issues. It gives authority to call in the military to keep the peace, demand personal information should this be deemed necessary, and limit the movement of people in time of disaster to protect lives and property.

The ordinance regulating the legal status of civil servants within the new Country St. Maarten was also approved.

DP Island Councilman Roy Marlin was absent from the meeting due to illness. He was admitted to hospital earlier this week with high blood pressure. He was wished a speedy recovery by Island Council members.

Other members present for the meeting were Commissioner/Island Councilman Theo Heyliger, Commissioners Frans Richardson and Hyacinth Richardson.

Cleanup operations continued Thursday in the wake of the passing of Hurricane Earl, which downed trees, disrupted the electricity and water supplies, and caused minor damage in communities across the island on Monday. While heavy seas and seaweed were blamed as major factors in the disruption of electricity generation as a result of the passing of the storm, tons of seaweed washed ashore by the storm were also in evidence on the Great Bay beach promenade and at Captain Hodge Wharf. Several trucks were used Thursday to cart away the seaweed and other debris. (John Halley photo)

PHILIPSBURG--The Executive Council decided on Tuesday to reallocate Commissioner Theo Heyliger's portfolios among three of the four other commissioners – William Marlin, Frans Richardson and Xavier Blackman.

Reports reaching The Daily Herald last night said Marlin was now also responsible for the Public Works portfolio and Richardson for the Harbour Affairs portfolio, while Blackman would now also be responsible for the other portfolio areas hitherto held by Heyliger.

However, according to the "decisions list" of Tuesday's Executive Council meeting seen by this newspaper, but which still has to be ratified by the Executive Council at its next meeting, the Harbour Affairs portfolio was not listed as having been redistributed, suggesting that technically Heyliger would still be in charge of the harbour.

Present at Tuesday's meeting were Commissioners Marlin, Frans Richardson, Blackman and Hyacinth Richardson. The meeting was chaired by Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt.

Tuesday's Executive Council decision came more than a month after Heyliger, who is also leader of United People's (UP) party, had resigned to campaign for the early Island Council elections on September 17.

While according to Article 52, Section 4 of the Islands Regulation of the Netherlands Antilles ERNA Heyliger remains a "caretaker" commissioner until he is replaced in the Executive Council, he reportedly has not shown up for any meetings of the Executive Council. And according to Leader of Government Commissioner William Marlin, Heyliger, who is also an independent member of the Island Council, does not sign any Executive Council documents.

Marlin said the Executive Council had taken the decision on Tuesday for the sake of continuity in government.

"We [the Executive Council] have no clue what is happening because it's as if he is running his responsibilities outside of the Executive Council and we don't know what is happening until it pops up in an Executive Council meeting. ... So in order to carry out the responsibility, this decision was taken," Marlin told this newspaper.

Marlin said that while Heyliger had resigned to campaign, governing had to continue. "He has shunned his responsibility and has indicated that he has no interest in government."

He said Heyliger would be informed of the decision and would be sent the Executive Council's resolution with the decision.

Article 52, Section 4 of the ERNA also states: "The alderman [commissioner] who has resigned shall continue in office until his successor has assumed such function" and stipulates that the vacancy created should be filled "if possible in the very next meeting of the Island Council."

However, with two weeks to go before the September 17 elections, instead of filling the vacancy, the National Alliance (NA) has opted to redistribute Heyliger's portfolios.

According to the Executive Council's decisions list, "with immediate effect" Marlin will oversee the Public Works Department, specifically New Projects Development and Planning, Environment and Spatial Policy VROM, Domain Affairs, and Inspection. He is also now responsible for utilities company GEBE.

Blackman will oversee Management Support Services, specifically the Fire Department, Projects and Programmes Bureau, also with immediate effect. He is now also responsible for the setting up of the Justice Ministry, a task that was not assigned to Heyliger.

Commissioner Frans Richardson will now oversee government-owned companies Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation (SLAC). These two companies are subsidiaries of St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies.

These new portfolios are in addition to the ones Marlin, Richardson and Blackman have held since NA and Heyliger formed a coalition in June 2009. Marlin's main areas have been Constitutional Affairs and Education, Richardson's Tourism and Economic Affairs, and Blackman's Finance and Personnel Affairs.

Marlin and Blackman will oversee each other's portfolios when either is away, while the same will happen between Frans Richardson and Commissioner Hyacinth Richardson.

Meanwhile, although Heyliger resigned from the Executive Council on July 19, he never pulled his support from the coalition – a move that some persons contend could take NA out of office, as the coalition agreement was signed between the two. The "Emilio Wilson Estate Accord" gave majority support in the Island Council – six seats – to an NA-led government. NA already had five seats in the 11-member council.

Independent Island Councilman and former Democratic Party commissioner Louie Laveist had pledged his support to NA, but nothing has been signed publicly between him and NA on the matter.

Heyliger ended his 11 consecutive years as commissioner with the stroke of a pen on July 19, when he signed his resignation letter in Dr. A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall and submitted it to Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt. He continues to be an independent Island Council member until the first Parliament for Country St. Maarten is elected and new members take office on October 10.

Heyliger was the youngest commissioner ever to take office in St. Maarten when elected in 1995, and still is. He served from July 2, 1995, to August 17, 1997. He returned as commissioner from July 2, 1999, until he resigned from DP on June 4, 2009. Heyliger formed the coalition with NA two days later, immediately returned as commissioner, and has held that post until the present.

BEACON HILL--The National Alliance (NA)-led coalition has amended government's long-standing casino policy – "Rules of the Game."

The decision to change the policy was taken on Tuesday and the amendment, which was recorded on the Executive Council's decision list, makes it possible for Caravanserai Beach Resort to become eligible to receive a casino licence without the completion of the previously-needed 200 rooms.

Caravanserai CEO Haresh Manek was "elated" with the news when contacted by The Daily Herald. He said he had been told by Commissioner William Marlin that changes would be made to the policy that had prevented him for so long from acquiring a licence.

Manek said he had been informed that he could now resubmit a request for a licence under the new regulations and rules as soon as possible.

Those new rules/changes pertained to Article 3B of the policy that had stipulated that a resort/hotel must have at least 200 rooms to come under consideration for a casino licence.

That article now states that a licence can be granted to a hotel or resort that has 65 per cent or more of the required rooms completed, has sufficient financing to complete the project of 200 rooms or more, and must be open already or ready to be re-opened.

The only resort seeking a casino licence that fits these criteria is said to be Caravanserai, which announced the recommencing of the second phase of its expansion, a US $12 million investment, on August 4 and renewed its plea for a casino licence.

Manek said Wednesday, "We have been waiting a long time for this and we are happy that it is finally happening."

The construction contract, financed by Scotiabank, was signed by Manek and Liccom N.V. Director Andre Sneep, putting some 100 people, including subcontractors, to work on the completion of the two buildings in Phase II.

The beachfront resort will have 216 rooms when completed in December 2011 at a cost of some US $26 million, 16 rooms more than the number needed for the casino licence as stipulated in government's Rules of the Game.

Already 130 rooms are completed, of which some 90 are operational as a combination of hotel and timeshare units. All 130 rooms will be ready for vacationers when the first phase of the resort opens officially in November.

The second phase comprises 86 rooms ranging from hotel rooms to three-bedroom penthouses. Sixty per cent of the units of this phase are already sold.

Manek had told the press at the contract-signing in August that he had hope that government would grant the licence as early as November when the first phase opened. A casino on the property would bring enormous benefits and income for the resort and government in taxes and fees, he said then.

Caravanserai has been fighting for a casino licence for some six years now, since the now-closed stand-alone Dolphin Casino moved from its premises to the former Sunset Theatres building in Cole Bay. The resort was first granted a stand-alone licence by government, in contravention of the casino policy, but this was reversed by Governor of the Netherlands Antilles Frits Goedgedrag on the basis that the policy said 200 completed rooms and not the intention/plans to build.

A lengthy court battle ensued and in the end was halted.

Issued: Thursday, September 2, 2010 11:00 A.S.T. (15:00 U.T.C.)

valid until Friday midday 12:00 hours. September 3, 2010.

... SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION OVER THE LOCAL WATERS ...

Weather:
Today through Friday midday: Partly cloudy with a chance of an isolated shower.

Forecast high will be 32°C, 90 °F. and low 25 °C, 77 °F.
Sunrise will occur at 5:58 A.M. and Sunset at 6:24 P.M.

Winds:
Today through Friday midday: East-Southeasterly and generally moderate, 5 to 15 miles per hour.

Synopsis: As tropical storm Fiona continues to move Northwest away from the local area expect an area of moisture associated with this system to combine with local effects today through early this evening to produce some cloudiness and possible isolated shower activity over parts of the islands. Otherwise, a weak high pressure will prevail across the local region with generally fair weather expected for the upcoming weekend.

Sea conditions: Moderate with waves between 3 and 5 feet in East swells. The highest waves will be in breakers off the East and North facing coasts and therefore, Small Craft should exercise caution.

Tropical weather systems: Tropical storm Fiona continues to move Northwestward away from the local area. Tropical storm Gaston moves slowly over the Central Tropical Atlantic with no change in strength. This morning Gaston weakened to a tropical depression and was located at about 1500 miles East of the Lesser Antilles. With maximum winds near the center about 35 miles per hour Gaston is moving toward the West-Northwest near 7 MPH. The Meteorological Service of the NA & Aruba continues to closely monitor the development of tropical depression Gaston. All interests are advised to be informed and to continue monitoring the further progress of tropical depression Gaston. For more information on these tropical cyclones, please visit our web page at: http://www.weather.an/cyclones/index.asp .

Special Features: None.

Outlook until Saturday midday: Generally partly cloudy with a chance of an isolated passing shower.

The next weather forecast will be issued on Thursday at 18:00 A.S.T. (22:00 UTC ).

PHILIPSBURG--Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) on Wednesday won its case to add another candidate - Leo Richardson - to its party's slate and to have that person inscribed into the voter's registry.

"I am very happy that we won both requests. As I said from the beginning, we felt like David against Goliath. This is an extraordinary situation," CPA Leader Jeffrey Richardson told The Daily Herald shortly after receiving the verdict. The judge was forced to issue a verbal verdict as there was a power outage in the area at the time.

Chairman of the Main Voting Bureau Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt said the Bureau will abide by the court's decision. CPA will be given until this Friday to present its new list with accompanying documents. The list will be immediately validated.

CPA had protested about Leo Richardson not being allowed to be on the list because he was not properly registered in the Civil Registry. Leo Richardson was already registered in the system on January 1, 1986 at the time that Aruba separated from the Netherlands Antilles. However, after he had left the island and returned there were some issues. Leo Richardson was represented by attorney Zylena Bary.

Groeneveldt said during the validation of candidates list earlier in the day that the Main Voting Bureau would abide by whatever decision is made by the court.

The candidate lists of the three other parties contesting the September 17, early Island Council elections were validated on Wednesday morning. These parties are National Alliance (NA); United People's (UP) party and Democratic Party (DP).

PHILIPSBURG--The Main Voting Bureau on Wednesday validated the candidates list of the parties contesting the September 17 early Island Council elections.

One party, Concordia Political Alliance (CPA), will have to submit an updated list with one additional candidate by Friday to be validated. This is based on that party winning a court case to have the candidate added to its list and re-inscribed in the voter's registry (see related story).

The list numbering and awarding of colours to the slates is scheduled for 10:00am today, Thursday, at Government Administration Building. The session is open to the public.

Chairman of the Main Voting Bureau, Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt said the necessary corrections have been made to the candidates lists that contained errors and the lists are now valid.

Democratic Party (DP), National Alliance (NA), United People's (UP) party, and CPA had submitted slates of candidates on August 18 for the September polls.

During today's Main Voting Bureau meeting, lots will be drawn for the list numbering while the slate colours – traditionally the party's colour – should be awarded without any hitch. All parties requested different colours: UP asked for green, DP red, CPA gold, and NA white.

UP, headed by Theo Heyliger; and CPA, led by Jeffrey Richardson are recently formed parties that are contesting an election for the first time.

DP, the island's oldest party, is led by Sarah Wescot-Williams, the only woman party leader. NA, headed by William Marlin, is at the helm of the government for just over a year.

WILLEMSTAD--Curaçao's main Voting Bureau forwarded credentials to the 21 members who were chosen as Island Council members during last Friday's elections.

PAR has eight seats, MFK five, PS four, MAN two, and FOL and PNP one each. Until now, two prospective members have given up their respective seats.

Because Central Government ministers may not be members of the Island Council, Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage and Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba have officially declined for now. If it turns out PAR is not part of the new coalition in the Executive Council, it is not excluded that these two would still join the Island Council.

As of this Saturday, the PAR faction will consist of Zita Jesus-Leito, Glenn Sulvaran, Pedro Atacho, David Dick, Marilyn Alcalá-Wallé, Dennis Jackson, Malvina Cecilia and Anthony Hollander.

The MFK faction consists of Gerrit Schotte, Jacintha Constancia, Jorge Jamaloodin, Gilmar 'Pik' Pisas and Dean Rozier.

For PS it entails Helmin Wiels, Lionel Jansen, Ivar Asjes and Melvin Cijntje. The MAN will delegate Eunice Eisden and Charles Cooper to the Island Council.

The FOL will delegate Anthony Godett, but it is still uncertain who will hold the PNP seat in the Island Council. A decision on this matter has not been taken yet, according to party chairman Imro van Wilgen.

PHILIPSBURG--Electricity supply to the island remains touch-and-go as utilities company GEBE waits on sea conditions to return to normal, and damage to high and low tension infrastructure to be addressed.

After the initial assessments, the damage to GEBE's high tension and low tension distribution grid was reported to be minimal. According to GEBE, approximately 80 to 95 per cent of the grid is intact and can be powered once the electricity supply has been stabilized.

The Cay Bay power plant said seaweed has begun to settle and the plant has started the sea water cooled engines to test the situation. This, combined with the repairs throughout the distribution grid, should have restored power completely by Wednesday afternoon.

However, there was no guarantee that electricity supply would be constant as seas were still affecting the plant up to early Wednesday evening.

GEBE teams were deployed to most districts to begin the process of repairs and restoration. Teams could be seen throughout Cole Bay, Cay Bay, Middle Region/Dutch Quarter, Pointe Blanche, Sucker Garden, and LB Scott Road/ St. Peters /Reward areas.

The teams focused first on the primary areas of distribution, the high tension lines, and transformers then started work on the secondary areas, the low tension lines, leaning poles, and finally individual house connections.

The water distribution situation improved on Wednesday with most tanks being filled. The water distribution team looked to supply the water pumps with electricity first in order to supply the outer areas as well with water. Areas that are still experiencing no water as of mid-afternoon Wednesday were Pointe Blanche, Cole Bay, Pelican, St. Peters, and Reward.

PHILIPSBURG--Eight additional organic laws and the establishing of the statues for the joint Central Bank of St. Maarten and Curaçao will be up for debate when the Island Council meets at 9:00am today.

The meeting follows Tuesday's Central Committee meeting, which continued on Wednesday, on these issues.

Organic laws up for debate are the ordinances governing the rights of civil servants; establishing the organisation for Country St. Maarten; establishing the rights of personnel of the secretariat of parliament; the ombudsman; the security service of Country St. Maarten; the protection of personal information; the ordinance on public notices and promulgation of laws, and the ordinance regulating a state of emergency.

Some 17 organic laws have already been established. The holding of the final Round Table Conference (RTC) in The Hague on September 9 hinges on, among other things, the passing of these laws, Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende stressed during a meeting with the Executive Council at The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa on Sunday.

Leader of Government Commissioner William Marlin on Tuesday stressed the importance of the laws being finalised.

He told reporters Tuesday that St. Maarten was working against time to meet a "serious deadline" to achieve its new status. "We have a serious deadline to meet and if we don't meet that deadline, then there is no RTC."

Marlin said the laws need to be handled by this Friday so that preparations can proceed for the final RTC.

In a press release on Wednesday, Democratic Party (DP) leader Sarah Wescot-Williams was again critical of the process to approve the laws.

She said: "It now appears certain that matters to be regulated by ordinance (law), because they are classified as organic laws, will be passed by a majority in the Island Council of St. Maarten, mostly without any debate or deliberation."

She said no amount of time pressure should relegate the passing of laws to "routine" matters.

"In other words, it cannot be expected that the faction of the Democratic Party, as eager as we are to cooperate with reaching the finish line of 10-10-10, will rubberstamp matters such as the joint Central Bank and joint currency with Curaçao. The urgency that the government of St. Maarten attempts to convey, in our opinion, is nothing more than a smoke screen to cover up other actions by the government that continue unabated," she said in the release.

PHILIPSBURG--Windward Islands Bank (WIB) and Chase Bank, Tampa, Florida, were swindled out of US $365,000 in February and March, it emerged from Wednesday's sitting of the Court of First Instance.

R.G.B. (47) and Z.K.B.F. (37) stood trial in a sizzling hot courtroom Wednesday morning, due to the fact that the air-conditioning was not working.

The Prosecutor's Office is holding the couple responsible for falsely cashing eight cheques of a company named Associated Accommodations at WIB by using false signatures. They are also accused of having defrauded Chase Bank in Tampa, Florida, of $32,000.

Both suspects are also charged with the attempted swindle of WIB to the amount of $12,000 by using a so-called point of sale machine.

The case against the two alleged swindlers was postponed until October 27, because R.C.G. was in Trinidad to attend his daughter's wedding.

Attorney-at-law Shaira Bommel, who will be representing both defendants in this case, also requested a postponement because, in the aftermath of Hurricane Earl and the following power outages, she hadn't had sufficient time to prepare the case, she told the court

WILLEMSTAD--The recent visit of outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende (CDA) to Curaçao was purely and only within the framework of his concern about the constitutional changes. In no way whatsoever did Balkenende wish to exert influence on the local political process, in other words the efforts to form a new Island Government.

The aforementioned is at least what several local political leaders declared after they had spoken with Balkenende. During this visit, the Dutch prime minister himself categorically refused to speak with the local press.

Political leader of "Movementu Futuro Kòrsou" (MFK) Gerrit Schotte said Balkenende wanted to be informed on the local political situation and what are the consequences, of such for approval or not, of the draft Constitution for the new country Curaçao.

The new Island Council that is to be seated on September 4 will have to deal with the draft. There must be clarity on the Constitution before September 7, as the Second Chamber of Dutch Parliament will be meeting on that day to decide on the commencement date of the amendment of the Kingdom Charter, enabling Curaçao and St. Maarten to gain the status of autonomous country within the Kingdom.

According to Schotte, Balkenende is concerned that the date for the final Round Table Conference (RTC) is in danger if there is no majority for the Constitution in Curaçao.

MAN list leader Eunice Eisden also visited with Balkenende and said she made it clear that one will have to wait until Saturday when the new Island Council is seated.

"Pueblo Soberano" (PS) in any case will not cooperate with the approval of the draft Constitution in the Island Council. PS leader Helmin Wiels informed Balkenende accordingly.

Wiels was not pleased as to how the conversation came about. The PS leader received an invitation at eleven o'clock for a meeting that was to take place at two-thirty already.

Eventually Wiels agreed to the conversation that started at three o'clock and was to last forty-five minutes. During the conversation Balkenende also mentioned his concern about the financial and law enforcement situation in St. Maarten; the problems to get the amended Kingdom Charter approved by the Aruba Parliament and Curaçao to approve its draft Constitution.

As it relates to the latter, Wiels was very critical of the role played by the Netherlands. "The Netherlands fell into the trap that they had set together with PAR. They thought that the PAR would now win the elections with ten to eleven seats."

"However, as this did not happen, they are left holding the bag. I clearly indicated that PS would not cooperate. We oppose this Constitution and find that a new process should be started to realise a real Constitution for country Curaçao," added Wiels.

According to the PS leader, the conversation took place within the framework of a lobby with Balkenende attempting to rescue the constitutional process. "He sees they will not succeed and now appeals to us."

Balkenende was also in Aruba, where he also expressed his concern about the situation on Aruba relating to the approval of the new Kingdom Charter that the Aruba Parliament is discussing.

In case there is no two-thirds majority for the proposal in the first "reading," it will be put on the agenda again for a next meeting, in which it can then be adopted with a regular majority.

Looks like PAR is out

WILLEMSTAD--Curaçao is likely to get a completely new governing coalition now that the three parties MFK (5 seats), PS (4 seats) and MAN (2 seats) signed a statement of intent to come to a new Executive Council which would have a minimal majority support of 11 seats in the 21-seat Island Council.

The signing took place at the home of MFK leader Gerrit Schotte, after he had cancelled a meeting with Antillean Parliament Chairman Pedro Atacho who was conducting formation talks on behalf of PAR, which won the election with eight seats. However, because PAR's current partners PNP and FOL got only one seat each, the existing coalition had lost its majority.

In addition to pro-independence party "Pueblo Soberano" (PS), MAN had also stated it would not work with PAR, leaving "Movementu Futuro Korsou" (MFK) as the yellow party's only viable option. Apparently Schotte's new party prefers a coalition in which it is the biggest partner and would claim the first Prime Minister of country Curaçao should the constitutional change process for the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles be concluded on 10-10-10 as intended.

Whether the latter will still be the case remains to be seen, however, as both PS and MAN oppose the agreements made with the Netherlands and voted against the draft constitution for country Curacao in the outgoing Island Council.

The latter resulted in a lack of the required two-thirds majority to pass the constitution and the dissolving of the Island Council to elect a new one that can pass the draft with a regular majority and also become the first Parliament of country Curaçao.

PS has already said it will vote against the current draft. The MFK/PS/MAN statement of intent said there will be "a new process to result in a new constitution."

At the same time, however, the three parties give each other the room to vote on the current draft constitution "according to their conscience" and said the voting result will have no impact on the negotiations for a new Executive Council. This could mean that MFK and/or MAN may vote in favour together with the current coalition parties so that the new relations within the Dutch Kingdom can still take effect.

The so-called "Duncan Law" that the Antillean Parliament adopted last March states that the new Island Councils to become the first Parliaments of future countries Curaçao and St. Maarten will implement the "dualistic system" (separation legislative- and executive branches of government) en route to acquiring country status within the Dutch Kingdom. That means it will no longer be possible for commissioners to be Island Council members.

The Explanatory Memorandum on the law states: "After the dissolution of the Island Council, an Island Council will namely be formed of, which the members cannot be members of, the Executive Council at the same time. Within the framework of the constitutional reforms, it is desirable to implement dualism after the interim dissolution. The acting Island Council of Curaçao at the time of commencement of the Constitution will namely receive the capacity of Parliament of Curaçao."

In view of the fact that Commissioners David Dick (PAR), Zita Jesus-Leito (PAR), Marilyn Alcalá-Wallé (PAR) and Anthony Godett (FOL) will certainly be seated in the new Island-Council this Saturday, this means the Island Territory Curaçao could be without commissioners if no new coalition is concluded by Saturday.

It is not certain yet whether Humphrey Davelaar (PNP) will become a member of the Island-Council. The PNP earned one seat, but the party hasn't decided yet as to whom will hold this seat. Davelaar will resign as commissioner though.

Commissioner Dick has started clearing his office already. He seems to feel PAR will not be part of a possible new Executive Council.

AIRPORT--The Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) was a scene of organised chaos on Tuesday as operations resumed in the aftermath of Hurricane Earl. Passengers who were stuck in St. Maarten as a result of the storm and those scheduled to fly on Tuesday, crowded the terminal in an effort to catch their flights.

Management of PJIA stated on Wednesday that aside from a few cancellations due to the weather conditions related to tropical storm Fiona, operations at PJIA are progressing as normal.

The airport resumed operations on Tuesday shortly after the lifting of the curfew that was in effect during the passing of Hurricane Earl. Airlines and handling companies have since been working hard to restore normalcy.

Airlines such as Air France and Caribbean Airlines added additional flights to accommodate stay-over passengers who had been stranded in St. Maarten.

"All in all, the resumption of operations went smooth. Because of the expected weather conditions associated with hurricane Fiona, a number of airlines did cancel some flights. PJIA is monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, we urge passengers to contact their airlines directly for information regarding their flight," a PJIA press statement read.

Winair employees must report 

AIRPORT—Regional airline Winair resumed its services to Saba at midday on Wednesday. Managing Director Edwin Hodge said the airline managed to transport all passengers who were scheduled to fly on Wednesday as well as those on stand-by due to the cancellation of flights during the passing of Hurricane Earl.

Hodge expects the airline to operate as normal on Thursday, with a few delays on Thursday morning. By the afternoon hours, he said, all flight operations to Winair destinations should be back to normal.

Hodge also asked all Winair employees to report to work on Thursday at the regular working hours.

In related news, InselAir cancelled its flights to St. Maarten from Curacao and from St. Maarten to Haiti on Wednesday. Airline management cited unfavourable winds at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) associated with tropical storm Fiona.

Passengers were asked to return on Thursday morning to Hato International Airport on Curacao to take their flight to St. Maarten. Passengers scheduled to fly from Curacao to Haiti were flown directly to Haiti late Wednesday, forgoing the stopover in St. Maarten.

POINTE BLANCHE--Serenade of the Seas is expected to be the first cruise ship in port on Friday after the cancellations caused by the passing of Hurricane Earl and Tropical Storm Fiona.

Ship Captain Michel Claveau contacted St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies expressing eagerness to visit the island on Friday. "If there's not too much damage we definitely want to dock on Friday. Any restrictions?" The captain wrote in an e-mail.

Harbour officials are working to make the cruise pier accessible for the cruise ship as they see the arrival of a ship a morale booster for the hurricane weary island.

The only restriction so far to the ship's arrival is some of the steel at the expansion joints on the smaller cruise pier was lifted by the waves. That problem is being addressed.

The new mega-cruise ship pier is in good condition and Serenade can berth there on Friday. On that pier some of the dock boxes with outlets were damaged. Repairs will be carried out soon.

Aside from the minor structural damage, an underwater survey between the old and new piers as well as the approach will be carried out in advance of the ship's arrival to ensure all is clear for use of the Eastern side of new pier.

Philipsburg in particular needs to be cleaned up and ready to receive cruise passengers, according to harbour officials.

"St. Maarten has built a reputation as a premier cruise destination and the cruise lines are eager to be back in port. Passengers and crew look forward to visiting, shopping and experiencing our island. It's up to us to be ready to welcome them with an island that looks untouched by hurricane and show that no matter what St. Maarten is alive and kicking," Harbour Group CEO Mark Mingo said.

The tower that “houses” ECC and TelCell antennas on Naked Boy Hill.

UTS, Caribserve antennas shift

PHILIPSBURG--TelEm Group offices will be open for business today (Wednesday) following the passing of Hurricane Earl. As of 3:00pm on Tuesday, all TelEm Group personnel were advised that Wednesday is a regular work day with offices opening at 7:00 am Wednesday morning.

The company will be monitoring the situation with Tropical Storm Fiona, which is in the area and will advise personnel accordingly during the course of Wednesday morning.

Early assessments of damage caused by Hurricane Earl, on Monday, have shown 25 to 30 per cent of the company's overhead cable network damaged.

"At this stage it could take up to three weeks to get all hanging cables secured and repaired especially since a number of the cables run parallel with high-tension cables that have to be made safe for our workmen first," said Head of Outside Plant, Anthony Carty.

Carty said upon first assessments the most affected areas for TelEm Group's Outside Plant are South Reward and Cole Bay. TelEm is also reporting congestion and outage on its mobile network as a result of hurricane Earl.

Several cell sites have been affected by intermittent power problems caused by the Hurricane Earl as of 4:00pm Tuesday. These sites are: Cuperi, Link 1, St. Rose Arcade, Front Street, Penny's, Back Street, Simpson Bay, Porto Cupecoy, Oyster Bay, Pelican, Naked Boy Hill and the Harbour in Saba.

Glen Carty of United Telecommunication Services (UTS) reported that the company's transmission antennas shifted causing some service interruption, with minor problems at five of its cell sites. Carty said Caribserve encountered service interruptions when its antennas also shifted.

Technicians from TelEm, UTS and Caribserve are out in the field and have asked the public for some patience as they work to get service restored.

PHILIPSBURG--Major hotel properties on the island reported no serious damage from Hurricane Earl. Most of the properties only reported landscaping damage and debris that had been blown onto the premises by the strong winds.

Maho
The Sonesta Group maintains a detailed Hurricane Preparedness Plan, which went into effect as soon as the threat of the storm was announced. Staff and management at every property had already taken all precautions to keep guests safe, comfortable and well informed. As such, all went smoothly.

"The security and comfort of every guest and staff member had the absolute priority of our general managers and operation teams during Earl. All precautionary and prudent measures were taken to ensure their safety," said Sonesta Group spokesperson Andria Mitsakos.

"We are extremely grateful that we didn't suffer any structural damage from Earl and that all hotel guests and staff weathered the storm safely. Guests currently in-house at all of our resorts are in good spirits and we look forward to receiving new guests with future reservations.
Sonesta Maho Beach Hotel is open and operational. There is no major structural damage; landscaping and outdoor facilities suffered limited damage; loose debris is being cleaned up and disposed of at this time. The hotel remained open during the storm and accommodated guests. Sonesta Maho will take new arrivals as of September 2 at noon. The property remains open for current guests, with a few public areas and facilities closed for clean-up.

Great Bay Beach Hotel
Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort is open and operational. There was no major structural damage, just some water damage; landscaping and outdoor facilities suffered limited damage; loose debris is being cleaned up and disposed of at this time. The hotel remained open and accommodated guests. The resort is honouring all existing reservations from today through September 5, and will receive new arrivals as of September 5 at noon. Guests can still make reservations online for any stays beyond September.

Pelican
Pelican Resort Club and Pelican Marina Residences in St. Maarten reported relatively minor damages, mostly contained to the resorts' gardens and shrubbery.
Royal Resorts Caribbean (owners of Pelican) CEO Richard Corso remained on-site throughout the entire storm. He credits the hard work and preparedness of Pelican Resort's staff for protecting the resort and owners' interests and also ensuring the safety and comfort of guests.
Despite high winds and heavy rain, Pelican Resort's staff attended to the needs of its nearly 500 on-property owners and guests. The rain and flooding brought employee transportation to a halt, but by 6:00am workers arrived at the resort on foot and began the task of cleaning the grounds and readying the pools and beach.
During the storm the resorts maintained continuous power and AC through its generators. The TV signals and guest wireless services were virtually uninterrupted. As of Tuesday afternoon, the pools were opened and all services returned to normal.

Westin
The Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa did not suffer any damage besides landscaping.
According to the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA), the smaller hotel properties and inns also came out of the storm fairly unscathed.

PHILIPSBURG--Police held a prosecutor J.B.D. for about five hours Saturday, after he had allegedly been involved in a hit-and-run road accident.

D. had reportedly hit another driver and left the accident scene before police arrived.

They released J.B.D. from custody that night after determining that he hadn't been intoxicated when he caused the accident, Prosecutor Rienk Mud told The Daily Herald Tuesday.

D. had caused an accident, but didn't realize it was his fault and drove away, Mud said. Police later tracked him down and took him to the police station "like anyone else who causes an accident and leaves." There, they determined that D. was sober and they let him go.

Police are investigating, Mud said.

PHILIPSBURG--Arts Video Studio (AVS) has postponed its second political debate to this Saturday, September 4, from 7:00 to 9:00pm.

The debate was originally scheduled for this evening at Philipsburg Cultural and Community Centre. However, Executive Producer Ricardo William said it was postponed because of the expected passing of Tropical Storm Fiona today, Wednesday. He said too that most St. Maarten Cable TV subscribers had lost service due to the passing of Hurricane Earl on Monday. The debate is usually broadcast live on St. Maarten Cable TV and streamed live via the Internet.

Saturday's debate is one of four organised by AVS in the run up to the September 17 early Island Council elections to give the community an opportunity to hear the plans and views of candidates from the four parties in the race: the Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) the Democratic Party (DP), the National Alliance (NA) and United People's (UP) party.

The first political debate was held at Philipsburg Cultural and Community Centre on Sunday, August 22. The third debate will be held on Sunday, September 5, and the final debate on Sunday, September 12.

Party leaders Jeffrey Richardson (CPA), Sarah Wescot-Williams (DP), William Marlin (NA) and Theo Heyliger (UP) are set to square off in the final three-hour debate of the series on September 12.

WILLEMSTAD--While the PAR has started its first attempts to form a new Curaçao Government as the winner of the Island Council elections of last Friday, another -alternative- coalition without the largest party should not be excluded.

One party likely to be part of such a scenario should it materialise is "Pueblo Soberano" (PS), which does not want to work with PAR. There are already rumours of an agreement in the offing between the parties MFK (five seats), PS (four) and MAN (two).

Together, these three parties have a minimal majority of eleven against the ten seats in the new Island Council that is to take office this Saturday. So far, however, all parties concerned have denied there is a question of official negotiations and have left it at "informal contacts that are currently being held between all parties."

The PAR-led negotiations under the direction of Antillean Parliament Chairman Pedro Atacho started Monday. A MFK delegation was the first he talked to, but political leader Gerrit Schotte was not present and board members Jorge Jamaloodin, Amerigo Thodé and Carol Capriles represented the white party.

Schotte indicated later that his party had in any case complied with the call from the largest party to talk about the forming of a new coalition. On the question whether official negotiations had taken place between his party and the PS and the MAN during the past days, he answered in the negative.

MAN was represented at the talks with Atacho by a delegation of three under leadership of party chairman Eugene Cleopa. He too denied there were any informal negotiations and said he had no knowledge of such.

The blue party went to the meeting especially to learn what the PAR's plans were regarding the future government of Country Curaçao.

A FOL-delegation, consisting of party leader Anthony Godett, Almier Godett and Juniël Carolina, met with Atacho in the afternoon. Anthony Godett expressed hope that the parties which acquired seats in the new Island Council would join hands to get the draft Constitution approved.

"We will respect all invitations that we receive. Although we have been contacted by other parties, we will only respond to official invitations."

The PNP was the last party to meet with Atacho. Party chairman Imro van Wilgen and Norman Girigorie said it went to listen to what PAR as the largest party had to say. "As party we only have one seat and nothing to demand in this process, so we will listen and take our position based on the conversation."

PS leader Helmin Wiels had already indicated that he would not participate, as the pro-independence party wants nothing to do with the PAR. "At the last formation, we already pointed out to them that we are not prepared to form a government together with PAR, in view of the bitter experience suffered by the people and this country under the PAR for sixteen years already.

"We have not changed our viewpoint and have repeatedly indicated that under no circumstance will we cooperate with PAR," PS wrote in a letter to Atacho. Wiels underlined once again that he will absolutely not vote for the current draft Constitution when it is put to the vote in the Island Council.

In view of the constitutional change process, the formation must take place within a very short period. The new Island Council members are to be installed this Saturday, September 4, and the current PAR/PNP/FOL Executive Council's intention is to offer the Constitution to the Island Council to put it to a vote again that same day.

On September 5 the delegation of Curaçao is to leave for the Netherlands, because the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament will be voting on the commencement date of 10-10-'10 for the amendment of the Kingdom Charter on September 7, while the Final Round Table Conference (RTC) to confirm that the new relations will indeed take effect is on the agenda for September 9.

For this reason, PAR wants to combine the two processes; the forming of a new Island Government and the voting on the Constitution. Therefore, without clarity on which parties will be forming the new government of Curaçao, the Executive Council will not forward the draft Constitution to the Island Council.

It must be clear for the party which government is to represent Curaçao during the final RTC, because on September 4, when the new Island Council starts, the current Executive Council will no longer have majority support in the Island Council.

PANAMA / PHILIPSBURG--Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines has confirmed that it will start service to St. Maarten in December, Commissioner of Tourism Frans Richardson announced Tuesday.

The Commissioner said he was "elated" that Copa had agreed to service the destination, a testament to St. Maarten's potential for the airline and standing in the Northeastern Caribbean. "More business for the island means more work for our people and significant contribution to our economy. The effort of this administration, our tourist office and others is paying dividends in attracting new carriers to St. Maarten," he said.

Copa is the third airline the Commissioner has secured for St. Maarten since taking office in July 2009. WestJet out of Canada and GOL out of Brazil are the other two.

Richardson and St. Maarten Tourist Bureau head Regina Labega met with Copa's International Sales Director Adolfo Sen last week Wednesday. The flight will be a direct one from Panama City, Panama, servicing the island twice weekly. It will arrive on Tuesdays and Fridays at approximately 4:50pm. A 90-seat Embraer aircraft will be used for the flights.

Labega explained that Copa had been looking at both flights in the course of the workweek, but Fridays and Tuesdays would work best for St. Maarten, allowing both business and leisure travellers the advantages of the weekend and Monday.

St. Maarten will commit US $1 million in pulling and pushing the new market, while other promotions will be executed cooperatively with Copa. The new flight will be for an 18-month introductory period and both parties expect demand for the route and the flight to grow based on projections.

Sonesta Maho and Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resorts have already indicated that they will work with Copa in terms of packages rates.

"Copa is part of our continuing effort to attract new businesses to St. Maarten. We have been successful with GOL Airlines from the South American market and we are confident Copa from the Central American market will be successful as well," Richardson told The Daily Herald.

Copa Airlines serves as Panama's flag carrier. Its main base of operations is Tocumen International Airport, from which it operates approximately 148 daily scheduled flights to 45 destinations in 24 countries in North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

Earl causes minor damage

PHILIPSBURG--Schools will reopen their doors to students on Thursday after being closed for three days due to the passing of Hurricane Earl on Monday.

However, teachers are asked to report to school today, Wednesday. An assessment was carried out at schools on Tuesday, Government Information Services (GIS) said in a press release last night.

Teachers are asked to report to schools to prepare their classrooms for tomorrow's reopening.

In the meantime, several schools reported minimal damage as a result of the passing of Earl, which battered St. Maarten with heavy wind and rain.

Principal of Sundial School Mireille Regales said the main gate at the school's entrance was blown down, as well as the aluminium side panel. There were water leaks in several classrooms, as well as water damage in the main office for the first time. No documents were damaged, as these had been secured before the passing of the storm.

There was also tree damage. A team of about ten persons, including National Alliance (NA) candidate Terry Peterson turned out to help clean the school.

General Director of Milton Peters College (MPC) and Sundial School John Wolff said there was a lot of tree damage and minor leaks in MPC's computer room. "It was not so bad," Wolff said when contacted on Tuesday. At the time that he was contacted he said there was no water and electricity and it was difficult to assess whether damage had also occurred to electrical fittings.

Damage at St. Dominic High was also minimal. Principal Jose Sommers said apart from a "little" water that got into some classrooms and some tree branches that fell, the school was unscathed.

The situation was similar at the academic section of St. Maarten Academy. Principal Shareed Hussain said there was a lot of debris from fallen tree branches, but the school's structure was in tact.

PHILIPSBURG--Schools now will reopen their doors on Monday, not today, Wednesday as authorities had originally announced.

  The instability of the electricity and water supply in the various districts was among the factors authorities took into consideration when making their decision.

  A press release from the Government Information Service (GIS) on Wednesday stated that after an assessment of the situation at schools, and in consultation with educational officials, it had been decided that schools would remain closed this week and would open on Monday.

  Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt said that after a total assessment of the situation on the island, including the instability and lack of public utilities (electricity, water) in various districts; it had been decided to keep schools closed for the remainder of the week.

  He said this would allow for the situation on the island to normalise in the coming days and for the necessary preparations and repairs that needed to be carried out at the various schools.

  Schools have been closed since Monday due to the passing of Hurricane Earl, which battered St. Maarten with heavy winds and rain.

Island under tropical storm watch 

PHILIPSBURG--Various contractors working with the Public Works Department were out in force from the crack of dawn on Tuesday, cleaning up in the aftermath of Hurricane Earl and preparing for Tropical Storm Fiona.

On 5:00pm on Tuesday, Tropical Storm Fiona was located near latitude 16.7 North and longitude 57.7 West, or about 270 miles east of the Leeward Islands. Maximum sustained winds were at 40 miles an hour and movement was towards the West North West (290 degrees) at 24 miles per hour.

The storm was expected to make a more Northerly turn on Tuesday night and pass 90 miles northeast of St. Maarten early today. The island is still under hurricane watch, however, and residents are urged to keep a close watch on Fiona, as tropical systems tend to be unpredictable at times.

According to the met office, cloudiness and thundershower activity would increase late Tuesday evening into Wednesday, as Fiona approaches the north-eastern Caribbean. Tropical storms winds extend outward 140 miles from the centre of the system.

Locally some flooding is possible due to the saturated ground. Winds on the SSS Islands will become north-easterly and gradually shift to the north-west. Fresh to possibly strong winds are possible in gusts accompanying thundershowers. Seas could become rough on mainly east and north facing shores.

As for the clean-up efforts in the aftermath of Earl, Benjamin Ortega of the ROB Department explained that contractors were out early clearing and cleaning the main roads. He said the clean-up was executed without a hitch and will continue today.

Several side roads were also cleaned before the contractors moved into all of the districts. "We pretty much have the whole island covered," he said. As clean-up continues today, Ortega asked the public to continue cooperating with the clean-up crews to ensure the work is completed as quickly and effectively as possible.

Public Works cleans up after Earl

PHILIPSBURG--Contractors working with the Public Works Department were out in force from the crack of dawn on Tuesday, cleaning up in the aftermath of Hurricane Earl and preparing for Tropical Storm Fiona.

  Tropical Storm Fiona was located at 11:00pm Tuesday near latitude 16.9 North and longitude 59.4 West, or about 260 miles East of the Northeastern Caribbean. Maximum sustained winds were 40 miles an hour and It was moving West-Northwest at 20 miles per hour.

  The storm was expected to take a more Northerly turn Tuesday night and pass 90 miles Northeast of St. Maarten early today. The island is under tropical storm watch and residents are urged to keep a close watch on Fiona, as tropical systems tend to be unpredictable at times.

  According to the Met Office, cloudiness and thundershower activity was expected to increase late Tuesday evening into Wednesday, as Fiona approaches the Northeastern Caribbean. Tropical storms winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the centre of the system.

  Locally some flooding is possible due to the saturated ground. Winds on the local islands will become Northeasterly and gradually shift to the Northwest. Fresh to possibly strong winds are possible in gusts accompanying thundershowers. Seas could become rough on mainly East and North-facing shores.

  As for the clean-up efforts in the aftermath of Earl, Benjamin Ortega of the ROB Department explained that contractors had been out early clearing and cleaning the main roads. He said the cleanup had been executed without a hitch and would continue today.

  Several side roads were also cleaned before the contractors moved into all of the districts. “We pretty much have the whole island covered,” he said. As cleanup continues today, Ortega asked the public to continue cooperating with the cleanup crews to ensure the work is completed as quickly and effectively as possible.

UPDATE:

GREAT BAY-- Operational leaders of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) 10 Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) met at the Fire Department in Cay Hill this morning to assess the situation on the island with respect to post Hurricane Earl clean-up as well as approaching Tropical Storm Fiona.

Tropical Storm Fiona: A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for Sint Maarten.  Fiona is expected to pass approximately 70 miles North East of the island around 2.00pm this afternoon.

The Netherlands Antilles/Aruba Meteorological Service informed the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Wednesday morning that the island can expect an increase in cloudiness, an increase in shower activity along with some heavy thunder storms.  The possibility also exists for some high to gusty winds as the system passes.  The majority of the weather is located in the Northern part of the system well away from the island.

Curfew: During the passing of Tropical Storm Fiona, all persons are advised to remain indoors at home or at work until the weather passes.  At this time it is not necessary to re-introduce a curfew.

Schools: Clean-up efforts at the various schools will continue today Wednesday and completed by the end of the day.  Teachers are required to report to their respective schools in order to prepare their classrooms.  Schools are to open on Thursday, September 2. 

Electricity/Water: GEBE has reported that by late this afternoon, most of the island will have electricity.  There are still some issues with overhead cables in some districts and these should be back online by late Thursday.

Drinking water production is dependent on electricity.  GEBE along with the Water Production Company Airfin have been busy replenishing the water tanks and as electricity is restored this problem would have been remedied.

Clean-Up: Clean-up efforts continue.  The Boardwalk will be cleaned during the course of Wednesday.  Philipsburg has been cleaned for the most part and district clean-up of debris and household garbage will continue. 

The power situation remains unstable due to the rough seas. A load shedding schedule is therefore not possible at the moment until the situation stabilizes. The transformer house connecting the Air Fin Water Plant to the GEBE power grid has been repaired. GEBE is working to restore electricity to the water plant as soon as possible to restart water production. However, GEBE is still urging residents to use both water and electricity sparingly.

GEBE crews will continue to go through the different areas to make assessments and repairs to the distribution grid. Reports on live wires down can be made on the emergency number at 544-3100. Please keep this line available for emergencies only. Reports can also be made via the GEBE website www.nvgebe.com, GEBE on Facebook and Twitter.

More updates will be posted as they become available.

The Princess Juliana International Airport NV announced on Tuesday morning that it is open for business under normal operations. A number of airlines have confirmed that they will be operating today, Tuesday, August 31 2010. However, passengers are urged to contact their respective airlines directly for flight details. All airport concessionaires are also requested to come in and resume service.

WINAIR

WINAIR has resumed flights to Statia and St. Barths, and will resume service to other destinations later today (Tuesday). Service to Saba is still on hold pending better wind conditions. Management of Winair explained that wind conditions still exceed safety levels into Saba.

As soon as flight conditions normalise, the public will be informed. Additionally, Management announced that service could be interrupted as a result of Tropical Storm Fiona. An advisory will be issued at a later date.

LIAT

LIAT wishes to advise its passengers of the possibility of further disruptions to its services as a result of the impending passage of Tropical Storm Fiona through the Leeward Islands later today and tomorrow.

All passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to Antigua, St. Kitts, Nevis, St Maarten, the US and British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Santo Domingo and San Juan on Wednesday September 1, 2010 should contact: from Antigua – 1-268-480-5582; toll free from the rest of the Caribbean – 1-888-844-5428 and from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands – 1-866-549-5428; or their local LIAT office.

Additionally, passengers with evening reservations for Tuesday 31st August to fly to Antigua, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Maarten, the US and British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Santo Domingo and San Juan are urged to contact their local LIAT office to enquire as to the status of those flights as it is possible that airport closures and stormy weather could force the airline to reschedule, cancel, or re-route flights into those countries later this evening.

Cargo vessels can come in

POINTE BLANCHE--The cruise section of Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities may not be operational until the weekend, as divers first have to ensure that access to two cruise piers is clear after the passing of Hurricane Earl, St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies CEO Mark Mingo told The Daily Herald.

Divers can only do the underwater inspection after the rough seas have subsided. More inclement weather and rough seas are expected to continue this week from Tropical Storm Fiona.

The cargo section should be able to accommodate incoming vessels today, Tuesday, despite some damage to the wall of Captain David Quay. Some 25 metres of the concrete quay wall did not sustain any damage. However, the brick section was battered by the powerful and high waves generated by the then-category 2 hurricane.

The damage to the cruise and cargo facilities was not as extensive as that caused by Hurricane Omar in October 2008. Mingo said, "Damage was limited due to improved designs, in particular for the cargo sections."

Several empty containers stacked in the cargo section were blown into Great Bay by the strong winds. One 40-foot container from the cargo area ended up across the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Pier entrance gate. Those in the bay will have to be "fished out" as soon as the waves subside.

As for the cruise section, Mingo said divers first had to assess the situation. "As far as we can see there is no problem with either of the cruise piers. All the fenders [the buffers between the pier and the ships] are all intact. However, we need a visual assessment from the divers first before there is an all-clear."

Three cruise ships – Norwegian Epic, Carnival Dream and Carnival Victory – had cancelled their calls for Sunday even before Hurricane Earl reached St. Maarten. Ships' agent S.E.L. Maduro and Sons Ltd also announced the cancellation of Oasis of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas for the week on Monday.

All of these cancellations came without the assessment of the cruise sections by the Harbour Group officials. They assessed the damage Monday afternoon after Earl was well on its way to the British Virgin Islands and Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) head Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt gave limited clearance for people with hurricane passes to assess damage, if any, to government-owned companies and private businesses.

Mingo said cruise lines had been informed about checks that needed to be carried out to ensure the approaches to the two piers were clear and safe. Ships' agents were also informed of the situation.

Mingo will give Groeneveldt a full report on the facilities today. That report will also include an assessment of Simpson Bay Lagoon, which is overseen by the Harbour Group via Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation (SLAC).

These cancellations and the need to assess the approach to the piers before cruise ships are allowed to come into port will set the island's cruise arrival number back by a several thousand passengers, just when the island was nearing the 1.5 million milestone.

St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies' arrival projection for year was 1,454,274 cruise passengers before the three cancellations. It said it would release the new projection after the passing of Hurricane Earl.

St. Maarten hosted its millionth passenger for the ninth consecutive year on Saturday, August 21. A New Yorker from Carnival Victory was randomly selected by harbour officials as the millionth passenger. He received an island tour, lunch for 14 family members and a one-week stay and round-trip tickets for St. Maarten for himself and three or four close relatives.

Need for approving organic laws emphasised

DAWN BEACH--Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has underlined the need for St. Maarten to approve the remaining organic laws in time for the final Round Table Conference (RTC) on September 9.

Balkenende did so when he met with Constitutional Affairs Commissioner William Marlin at The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa on Sunday.

According to Marlin, the holding of the final RTC also hinges on the approval of the new constitution for Country Curaçao and on Aruba's approval of the changes to the Kingdom Charter.

The final RTC will vet Curaçao's and St. Maarten's readiness to become countries. It will be chaired by Balkenende.

Marlin who updated Balkenende on St. Maarten's preparedness during Sunday's meeting, said Balkenende had wanted to meet personally with all stakeholders "to ensure that all will be well" for the holding of the RTC.

"It was a very positive meeting. We had a good discussion, but as Chairman of the RTC the Prime Minister needed to touch base with all stakeholders. ... The Prime Minister has made it clear that we need to have those organic laws in place in order for us to be able to proceed with the RTC," Marlin told The Daily Herald Sunday.

Fifteen organic laws were handled in the Island Council last week. The remaining laws are expected to be handled in a meeting of the Central Committee today, Tuesday, following which they can be debated in the Island Council. The meeting was originally scheduled for Monday, but had to be postponed because of the passing of Hurricane Earl.

"The intention is to start the Central Committee [meeting] as early as possible and complete the process so that we can go on to the next phase, which is the public Island Council meeting," Marlin explained.

The Executive Council also has to finalise several other issues based on recommendations in the final report of the Vetting Committee, which was presented on Friday. One of the recommendations is that a secretary to the Advisory Council be appointed before the RTC. A candidate has been identified and government is in the process of informing the individual.

Other issues such as the preparations of the Plans of Approach "have been dealt with" satisfactorily, Marlin said.

With elections now over in Curacao, once the new government has been formed and the new Island Council sworn in, the constitution for Country Curacao can be handled.

"If this is not done, then we have a problem there as well," Marlin said.

Balkenende is scheduled to have discussions with Aruba's Prime Minister Mike Eman today, Tuesday, and the need for the Aruban Parliament to vote on the changes to the Kingdom Charter is expected to be on the agenda. The Antillean Parliament has already voted on the changes.

The RTC will be preceded by a Political Steering Group (PSG) meeting. The RTC will serve to conclude the process to realise new constitutional relations in the Dutch Kingdom whereby Curaçao and St. Maarten will become countries and the BES islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba part of the Netherlands as public entities.

Balkenende also held separate meetings with the Executive Council and with the future Governor of Country St. Maarten Eugene Holiday, before cutting short his visit due to the passing of Hurricane Earl.

EOC: Curfew lifted as of 10.00am;

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (GIS) – Operational leaders of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) 10 Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) met at the Fire Department in Cay Hill this morning to assess the situation on the island with respect to post Hurricane Earl clean-up as well as approaching Tropical Storm Fiona.

Curfew: The curfew was lifted at 10.00am by order of the Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt. This was done because of the accelerated clean-up efforts carried out by the Departments of Public Works, Fire and private contractors of the main road network system.

Acting Lt. Governor Groeneveldt recommends those persons who don't need to be on the road should remain at home cleaning up their yards in order for the national clean-up effort to continue in the various districts.

Groeneveldt would like to thank all government departments and emergency services that played a role in the pre and post hurricane period for their efforts and doing a great job.

Schools: An assessment of schools will be carried out on Tuesday and a decision will be taken quickly when schools can reopen.

Electricity/Water: GEBE continues to be confronted with the situation of rough seas at the Cay Bay Power Plant. A number of generators that use sea water to cool the systems are still offline due to the sea state. Load shedding will be necessary and you are hereby advised to use as less electricity as possible in order to limit load shedding in the various districts.

GEBE crews are out assessing overhead lines and the distribution grid and making the necessary repairs.

Water levels in the storage tanks are at low levels. A transformer at the Water Plant has some problems and technicians are busy working on repairing the problem. Until that issue has been resolved water production is limited and residents are advised to use water sparingly until this problem has been resolved.

Clean-up & Debris Removal:

The Public Works Department has teams out clearing the various districts. Front and Back Street should be cleared of most debris within the next few hours. The Boardwalk will be cleared once an assessment has been made with respect to Tropical Storm Fiona which is forecasted to pass over 100 miles from Sint Maarten.

Drains are to be cleared prior to any inclement weather.

Airport/Harbour and Hotel Infrastructure:

No damage has been reported at the Princess Juliana International Airport. The airport will provide information about flight operations.

Assessments are to be carried out at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo facilities. No major damage has been reported based on a preliminary assessment. Divers need to assess the water depth before the all clear sign can be given. As the seas clear and subside these assessments will be carried out immediately.

The hotel plant infrastructure is all intact. No major damages have been reported other than minor water damage.

Food Safety/Dengue Fever Prevention: Health inspectors are out in the field assessing food safety matters where supermarkets, grocers and restaurants are concerned.

Residents are urged to implement measures to prevent mosquito breeding by removing any and all containers that can hold water.

Tropical Storm Fiona: The public is hereby asked to monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Fiona which is several hundred miles East of Sint Maarten. The island is under a Tropical Storm Watch.

The EOC meeting was chaired by Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt. Also present was second Acting Lt. Governor Nilda Arduin-Lynch.

Weather Forecast for the SSS Islands valid until Wednesday midday 12:00 hours. September 1, 2010.
Issued: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 11:00 A.S.T. (15:00 U.T.C.)

...AS MAYOR HURRICANE EARL EXITS THE NE CARIBBEAN,
TROPICAL STORM FIONA IS DASHING TOWARDS THE ISLANDS...

...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT
FOR THE SSS ISLANDS DUE TO THE APPROACH OF TS FIONA...

...A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONTINUES IN EFFECT
FOR THE LOCAL WATERS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...

Weather:
Today through Wednesday morning: Partly cloudy with a passing shower possible. Later tonight becoming partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.

Forecast high will be 30°C, 88 °F. and low 24 °C, 75 °F.
Sunrise will occur at 5:58 A.M. and Sunset at 6:27 P.M.

Winds:
Today: South to Southeast and mainly moderate to fresh 10 to 20 miles per hour, occasionally higher in gusts.
Tonight through Wednesday midday: Easterly, becoming Northeasterly 5 to 15 miles per hour with possible gusts to 25 miles per hour.

Synopsis: Major hurricane Earl continues moving away from the North Eastern Caribbean region. During the passage of hurricane Earl the maximum gust measured at the airports of St Eustatius and St. Maarten were respectively 67 miles and 68 miles per hour. The total rainfall amount measured at the Juliana Airport between Sunday evening and Monday evening was 117.2 mm.
A drier air mass ahead of tropical storm Fiona will influence the local weather today maintaining the area mainly partly cloudy with a chance of a few passing showers. Tropical storm Fiona is moving in a west northwest direction and is expected to reach the Northeastern Caribbean islands by Wednesday. Cloudiness and shower activity will increase late Tuesday evening through Wednesday as Fiona approaches the northeastern Caribbean. Winds on the SSS islands will become northerly and gradually shift to the northwest. The wind speed will increase to possible in mainly gusts in or near thundershowers. Seas could become rough on mainly east and north facing showers.

Sea conditions: Fairly rough in West to Southwesterly waves induced by Earl. The highest waves will be in breakers on the South and West coasts with waves in the range of 5 to 8 feet. A Small Craft Advisory continues in effect during this forecast period. Mariners are advised to stay in port and not venture over sea and keep their vessels securely moored.

Tropical weather systems: Major hurricane Earl is moving away from the Northeastern Caribbean into the Atlantic. Tropical storm Fiona is moving rapidly in a westerly direction towards the Northeastern Caribbean and is expected to pass Northeast of St. Maarten somewhere late at night on Wednesday or early Thursday. The Meteorological Service of the NA & A continues to monitor the development of all these systems closely. Residents are advised to continue monitoring the further progress of Tropical storm Fiona. For more information please visit our web page at: http://www.weather.an/cyclones/index.asp .

Special Features: None.

Outlook until Thursday midday: Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated showers and possible thunderstorms. Locally showers could become heavy.

Forecaster: Thomas.

The next weather forecast will be issued on Tuesday at 17:00 A.S.T. (21:00 UTC ).

http://www.meteo.an.

HILIPSBURG--A number of Public Works Department crews are primed and ready to clear the streets and surrounding areas of debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Earl.

The then category two storm uprooted trees and other foliage that fell or was blown onto the streets in various districts. Officials of the department met with the Emergency Operations Centre to formalise the plan of action.

While the streets in the districts may be cluttered in some areas, government has put the priority on clearing the main roadways. These main roads are important for cleanup and emergency crews to move around freely and to have traffic flowing freely once the curfew is lifted.

The public is being asked to have some patience while the clean-up is progressing. Following the clearing of the main roads, Public Works crews will move into the neighbourhoods to clear where necessary.

DAWN BEACH--Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's brief trip to the Dutch Windward Islands became even briefer on Sunday due to the threat of Hurricane Earl, the first storm system to threaten the island so far for the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

The prime minister arrived aboard Dutch Royal Airlines KLM's regularly scheduled flight from Amsterdam around midday Sunday and proceeded to The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa for several meetings. His original agenda had him staying overnight followed by visits to Saba and St. Eustatius. Those two islands will become Dutch Public Entities when the Netherlands Antilles ceases to exist on 10-10-10.

Balkenende flew a day early to Curaçao aboard the Dutch Coast Guard plane. He left Sunday afternoon just before Princess Juliana International Airport closed down at 5:00pm until further notice on the orders of the Emergency Operating Centre (EOC), headed by Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt.

While on St. Maarten, Balkenende had a private meeting with Leader of Government Constitutional Affairs Commissioner William Marlin and two other separate meetings with the Executive Council and future governor of Country St. Maarten Eugene Holiday. All three meetings did continue as planned although time was limited.

All meetings centred on the constitutional change process that should come to an end on October 10 with the dissolution of the Antilles and the emergence of the new countries-within-the-Dutch-Kingdom St. Maarten and Curaçao.

The meetings with Marlin and the Executive Council had also as a backdrop the September 9 Round Table Conference (RTC) in The Hague that will vet the readiness of St. Maarten and Curaçao to become countries in the kingdom, a status similar to Aruba. Marlin is expected to head the delegation to The Hague that should also include former Constitutional Affairs Commissioner, now opposition leader Island Councilwoman, Sarah Wescot-Williams, and advisors.

Preparing the Executive Council were Groeneveldt, Marlin, Commissioners Hyacinth Richardson and Xavier Blackman, and Programme Manager for Country St. Maarten ,former Lt. Governor, Dennis Richardson. Absent were Commissioners Theo Heyliger and Frans Richardson.

AIRPORT--Windward Islands Airways International Winair ceased all flights since early Sunday to give its pilots enough time to take its six aircraft to Dominica and St. Lucia as a safety precaution during the passing of Hurricane Earl on Monday.

Winair has four Twin Otters and two Gulf Stream aircraft. The airline has the most flights in and out of Princess Juliana International Airport. It is also the main means of airlift for Saba and St. Eustatius which are also under hurricane warning.

Most of the other flights in and out of the airport will continue to operate until 5:00pm when it will shut down until the "all clear" is given by the head of the Emergency Operating Centre EOC Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt. The "all clear" should come later on Monday.

Use remaining day-light time to prepare for Tropical Storm/Hurricane Conditions

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (GIS) – The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) isurging residents to prepare for tropical storm/hurricane conditions asHurricane Earl approaches the island chain from the East. The EOC was activated at midday. An update was provided on nationalpreparations for the passing of Earl and a number of decisions have beentaken in the interests of public safety and security to prepare for thepassing of Hurricane Earl with respect to the clearance of trenches, etc. Residents and contractors must use the remaining day-light hours to complete preparations for the passing of Hurricane Earl. Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate on Sunday night. HurricaneEarl is forecast to pass approximately 40 miles North of Sint Maarten onMonday morning as a Category 1 hurricane and possibly a Category 2. Schools: By order of the Acting Lt. Governor, schools are closed onMonday, August 30 until further notice. Businesses: By order of the Acting Lt. Governor, businesses are to remainclosed on Monday, August 30 until further notice. Government Offices: All government offices including federal governmentoffices will be closed on Monday, August 30 until further notice. Onlyemergency services and other related services to disaster management will beon call. Curfew: A strict curfew will be enforced at 12:00am (midnight) tonight until further notice. Residents are requested to remain indoors until the all clear sign has been given by the EOC in the interests of personal and public safety. Hurricane shelters: Information related to this will be released latertoday based on the latest hurricane forecast to be issued at 5:00pm. Airport Operations: Normal flight operations will continue up until thisafternoon 5:00pm. All evening flights are cancelled. Hotels & Guesthouses: Hotels and guesthouses are recommended to executetheir hurricane plans to protect guests and staff during the passing ofHurricane Earl. Road Closures: The following roads could be closed by the Police if theneed arises with respect to street flooding, rock falls and storm surge:Zagersgut Road, L.B. Scott Road, Bishop Hill Road, Cake House Road, PointBlanche Road, and Beacon Hill Road. The Traffic Police as well as thePublic Works Department will continue to monitor the situation with respectto the aforementioned roads. In the event the Beacon Hill Road has to beclosed due to storm surge, for emergency purposes, the emergency gates atthe airport will be opened by the relevant authorities to allow access (inand out) to the Beacon Hill residential area. Heavy equipment will beavailable to reopen any roads that are closed due to debris as HurricaneEarl passes the island. Garbage removal: The Public Works Department is coordinating the pick-upof household garbage by waste disposal companies and small items. Residentsare hereby urged to secure any other large items they may have in theiryards. Construction sites: Contractors need to secure small and large buildingsites immediately. Anything that can blow away should be properly secured.The Public Works Department will be conducting spot checks with respect tobuilding sites. Political Campaign Signs etc.: The Office of Disaster Management wouldlike to commend the political parties for heeding the call and removingpolitical billboards. By the end of the day, all political billboards,unsecured containers and plywood sheets used for posters should be removedas a precautionary measure to protect life and property. Types of preparations that residents should take immediately are: Residents should take all necessary preparations to secure property in the event Hurricane Earl reaches Category 2 status when passing the island on Sunday night and into Monday morning.The types of preparations entail at this point in time: - check storm shutters or/and pre-cut ply wood for window's and doors; - bring in outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans, and anything else that is not tied down; - secure outdoor objects; - check your battery-operated radio, flashlights; - coastal residents should remove outdoor furniture, place indoor furniture up high so it doesn't get wet if storm surge enters your home; - secure personal papers; - avoid driving in low lying areas due to street flooding; - if you live in a hillside area, avoid going out due to possible rock falls; - shut off gas bottles;The EOC will continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Earl very closelyand will issue advisory notices via radio and the internet with respect towhat further actions are required.

POINTE BLANCHE--Three cruise ships have cancelled calls to St. Maarten for Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday due to the passage of hurricane Earl close to St. Maarten early on Monday morning and the possible continuing inclement weather.

Norwegian Epic was due in port on Tuesday, Carnival Dream on Wednesday and Carnival Victory on Saturday, according to ships' agent S.E.L. Maduro and Sons Ltd.

These cancellations set the island's cruise arrival number back by some 10,510 for this week, just when the island was nearing the 1.5 million milestone. Arrival projection for the year from St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies was 1,454,274 cruise passengers before the three cancellations. The new projections will be released after the passing of Hurricane Earl.

St. Maarten hosted its ninth consecutive millionth passenger on Saturday, August 21. A New Yorker from Carnival Victory was randomly selected as the millionth passenger by harbour officials. He received an island tour and lunch for 14 family members and a one-week stay and round trip tickets for St. Maarten for himself and three-four other close family members.

Meanwhile, Harbour CEO Mark Mingo said all safety precautions have been taken at Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities. He said the normal security protocols were followed to protect the property and ensure that the island's port is ready to resume business as soon as the weather and the waves allow the safe berthing of cruise and cargo ships.

WILLEMSTAD—The PAR party led by Antillean Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage won Friday's early elections for a new Island Council that is to become the first Parliament of Country Curaçao by capturing 22,505 votes, good for six seats outright and two residual seats, for a total of eight.

However, the biggest winner can perhaps arguably be seen as "Movementu Futuro Korsou" (MFK) founded less than three months ago by Gerrit Schotte, the biggest vote getter in the January Antillean Parliament election on the combined MAN/NPA/FK "Lista di Kambio." The new party ended up with 15,949 votes, good for four seats outright and one residual seat for a total of five.

Not only that, but MFK has a good chance of getting into government, as the current PAR/PNP/FOL coalition fell short of a majority of 11 seats in the 21-seat council, because the FOL led by Anthony Godett (4,813 votes) and PNP led by Humphrey Davelaar (4,590 votes) earned only one seat each.

Also a winner was "Pueblo Soberano" (PS) led by Helmin Wiels with 13,661 votes, good for three seats outright and one residual seat, for a total of four. The only other party to get seats was MAN led by Eunice Eisden with 6,529 votes, good for one seat outright and one residual seat, for a total of two.

A total of 75,549 valid votes were cast, for a turnout of 66 per cent. The seat threshold was 3,540.6. The Democratic Party (DP) with its new leader Norberto Ribeiro came fairly close to a seat with 3,043 votes, while PAIS led by Alex Rosaria got 2,198 votes, "Partido Laboral" (PL) led by Errol Goeloe 509 votes and NPA led by Carlos Monk 336 votes.

Because pro-independence "Pueblo Soberano" (4 seats) stated again last night that it will not work with PAR and is at any rate against the current agreements for the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles, while MAN (2 seats) has also opposed the latter strongly, PAR (8 seats) is likely to look towards MFK (6 seats) to form a majority, possibly with or without (one of) the largest party's current coalition partners FOL and PNP.

There is of course also a possibility that MFK and PS opt to work together without PAR for a total of 9 seats, which combined with the two seats of MAN could form a minimal majority as well, possibly even complemented FOL and/or PNP. This is considered highly unlikely though, in light of the extreme position of PS concerning the process of constitutional change for Curaçao to become an autonomous country within the Dutch Kingdo

OYSTER POND--All vessels outside of Oyster Pond and Simpson Bay Lagoon are advised to seek early shelter in the lagoon on Sunday, August 29, in connection with the passage of Tropical Storm Earl close to the island around Monday midday. The high wind gusts are expected to restrict bridge openings on Sunday and Monday.

Normal bridge opening times will be 9:30am, 11:30am and 5:30pm. Additional bridge openings will be added before 12:00pm or after 7:30pm should there be an increase in marine traffic.

The bridge attendant will be on standby on VHF Channel 12 to advise all waiting vessels of additional opening times. All vessels that wish to enter must call the "Bridge Attendant" on VHF channel 12. The emergency contact will be Sam Peterson, who is also available via tel. 520-2059.

Once a vessel has entered the lagoon, the captain is requested to proceed to the designated marina or anchorage, outside of the fairways and holding area by the bridge, so as not to obstruct traffic.

All vessels are advised to lay out sufficient anchor and anchor gear capable of holding the vessel for the expected wind conditions and expected directions. No object must be left on deck or on masts and biminis that may come loose and add wind area or foul other vessels' anchors or propulsion.

St. Maarten Ports Authority's (SMPA's) Maritime Department will continue to monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Earl and give updates in case of any changes.

Regular bridge openings will be resumed after the passing of the system and more openings added if necessary, so that businesses may resume operations as soon as possible.

DAWN BEACH--Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende will meet future governor of Country St. Maarten Eugene Holiday during his one-day visit here on Sunday, according to the Office of the Dutch Representative in Willemstad. The meeting will take place in The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa.

  The Dutch Prime Minister will also meet with Executive Council of St. Maarten and have a private meeting with Constitutional Affairs Commissioner William Marlin about the September 9 Round Table Conference that will vet St. Maarten’s and Curaçao’s readiness to become countries within the Dutch Kingdom.

  Princess Juliana International Airport President Eugene Holiday was one of two candidates for the post of Governor whose names were submitted some two months ago by the National Alliance (NA)/Heyliger coalition for the new post that comes into being with the attainment of country-within-the-kingdom status on 10-10-10. The other candidate was accountant and Committee for Financial Supervision CFT member Roland Tuitt.

  No official announcement has been made locally that Holiday had been appointed to the position of Queen’s Representative on St. Maarten. Holiday also was tight-lipped when asked if he had received official confirmation.

  Holiday told The Daily Herald he didn’t comment on matters “unless they were official and even then it depends on the case” if he gave a comment at all.

  St. Maarten currently has Reynold Groeneveldt as First Acting Lt. Governor and Nilda Arduin-Lynch as Second Acting Lt. Governor. Franklyn Richards, who served as Lt. Governor, retired just two months away from his 10^th year in office.

  The role of Governor will be vastly different from that of Lt. Governor, although the first function is as the Queen’s Representative. The Governor of Country St. Maarten will be more removed from politics, because he/she will not chair meetings of St. Maarten’s Parliament and Council of Ministers.

  In the present system, the Lt. Governor chairs meetings of the Island Council and Executive Council.

  If the early Island Council elections on September 17 result in none of the four parties in the race receiving a clear majority, so that a coalition has to be formed, the governor will play a role in the appointment of an “informateur” who will explore the possibilities for a new government.

  Once parties have indicated that they are willing to work together, the Governor will appoint a “formateur” to iron out the governing accord and division of portfolios in the form of the new seven ministries.

  Contesting the elections are the Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) of Jeffrey Richardson, Democratic Party (DP) led by Sarah Wescot-Williams, National Alliance (NA) headed by William Marlin, and United People’s (UP) party led by Theo Heyliger.

  A total of 70 candidates are vying for seats in the 15-member parliament of Country St. Maarten that will be sworn in on October 10.

  If there is a 100 per cent voter turnout on Election Day, a candidate will have to muster at least 1,307 votes to capture a seat. Some 19,601 voters are listed in the voters register.

MIDDLE REGION--Police shut down portions of A.Th. Illidge Road and Middle Region Road late Thursday for intense controls of bars, restaurants and supermarkets.

Police shut down at least one supermarket for staying open beyond its allotted time, according to reports from the scene. Police did not issue an official report.

Firemen checked whether kitchens in bars and other areas were safe for use. Police also checked persons in the area for their legal status. The number of persons held in these controls is unknown.

Police also checked Middle Region, but they barred the media from following.

PHILIPSBURG--Authorities in the Dominican Republic dismissed this week claims of abuse against a St. Eustatius brothel owner after proving that he had not mistreated two of the women working at his club.

Two Dominicanas insisted to investigators at the country's Foreign Ministry that they had been mistreated during the week that they worked at Pink Pearl brothel. The investigation revealed that one of the women, C.A.V., had had episodes of apparent derangement, prompting their early dismissal from work as prostitutes.

Dominican Republic Consul in St. Maarten Doris Elsa Vasquez-Martinez told reporters Friday that stories that had circulated on, among others, global Spanish-language TV channel Univision about the women being enslaved and forced to have sex were untrue. Both V. and the other woman, R.I.J.S., knew what they were in for when they left their country.

However, she stressed that physical and emotional abuse at brothels was disturbingly common in St. Maarten. "Those things [are] still happening," she said.

V. was said to suffer from moments of erratic behaviour that, according to consul, happened only outside the country and scared her fellow workers and others. The women arrived in St. Eustatius via St. Maarten on August 10. A week later, they were home.

Through an interpreter, the consul said V. would lock herself in her room and often harm herself. Three times, she said, the club owner had called police to sedate her. It wasn't the first time that this happened. The investigation revealed that V. and S. had done something similar in Turks and Caicos recently.

They arrived at the airport in Santo Domingo barefoot and worn, alerting authorities. The consult said they were better. "They're behaving normally now," Vasquez-Martinez said through the interpreter. "They started healing from the physical trauma."

Univision reported last week that these women had been held hostage and forced into the sex trade, and that they had escaped back home. The consul said these women had insisted later that the reporter to whom they had talked had "twisted their story."

Citing cases like the nearly four-year-old unsolved murder of a prostitute in the club, Vasquez-Martinez said she planned to champion the rights of sex workers with local and international authorities to prevent abuse. "It is our concern to ... follow up the situation," she said. "This thing has to stop; the physical mistreatment [and] violation of their rights."

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) will on Thursday, September 2 hold private sessions with representatives of each of the political parties (party leader plus four candidates) to address some of the private sector's concerns going into 10-10-10.

The list of wide-ranging concerns/questions was sent out to the parties on Friday morning to allow them to properly prepare for next week's sessions.

The parties have been asked to respond to the questions in writing and submit their manifestos by next Wednesday, September 1, by 10:00am. This will be a closed session between the SHTA board and representatives of the political parties.

The following week, SHTA plans to organise a "member mixer" where its members and media will be updated on the sessions. More information on this will be published next week.

Based on the responses from the party leaders, the time slots have been allocated as follows: National Alliance 8:00am to 9:30am, Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) 10:30am to 12:00pm, United People's (UP) party 1:20pm to 3:00pm, and Democratic Party (DP) 3:30pm to 5:00pm.

THE HAGUE--Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende will arrive in St. Maarten this Sunday at the start of a three-day working visit to the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.

It will be the Prime Minister's farewell visit to the islands, as he will be leaving active politics after the installation of a new Dutch cabinet. It will be his fourth visit to the islands in his eight-year tenure as Prime Minister. No other Dutch Prime Minister has paid so many visits to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

The Final Round Table Conference (RTC) and the preparations for that meeting, which takes place in The Hague on September 9, are the main agenda points of talks Balkenende will have in St. Maarten and Curaçao with the local governments. Balkenende is Chairman of the RTC.

The RTC will serve to conclude the process to realise new constitutional relations in the Dutch Kingdom whereby Curaçao and St. Maarten will become countries and the BES islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba part of the Netherlands as public entities.

Balkenende's working visit starts in St. Maarten, where he will have meetings with the Executive Councils of all three Windward Islands on Sunday. He and his delegation will travel to Curaçao on Monday for a meeting with Antillean Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage and Curaçao's Executive Council.

The press release from the Dutch Representation in Willemstad VNW doesn't mention whether Balkenende will also meet with Bonaire's Executive Council during his visit to Curaçao. The Prime Minister will conclude his visit to the islands in Aruba, where he will talk with his Aruban colleague Mike Eman on Tuesday.

SIMPSON BAY--For ten years, 7 Alive Grocery in Simpson Bay has been entangled in a legal battle with 7-Eleven Inc. The world's largest retail store did not leave one stone unturned and not a court within the Kingdom unvisited in its bid to prevent the Simpson Bay supermarket from using its name and logo. To no avail, it emerged Friday, because the Joint Court of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba also ruled against the mega concern.

Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates franchises and licenses more than 7,100 stores in the U.S. and Canada, and approximately 31,400 convenience stores in countries including Japan, South Korea, China, Mexico, Australia, Philippines, Indonesia, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

Attorney-at-law Roeland Zwanikken, who assisted 7 Alive in this case together with attorney Niels Mulder, described the case as one between "David and Goliath."

"For ten years 7-Eleven has filed court cases aimed at forbidding the small local supermarket 7 Alive Grocery in Simpson Bay to use its name. In today's [Friday's] verdict, 7 Alive emerged victorious yet again," Zwanikken said.

On May 8, the case was heard by the High Court in The Hague, which referred the case back to the Joint Court. According the High Court, the Joint Court's ruling of August 31, 2007, had ignored the fact that according to the 1913 Authors Ordinance 7-Eleven should be considered the author of the store's logo. This meant that the Joint Court was to reinvestigate whether 7-Eleven would still be having copyright on its logo.

According to Laprior, 7 Alive's holding company, the 7-Eleven logo was first published in 1946, which would mean that the copyright had expired after 50 years.

7-Eleven, represented in the appeal case by attorneys Jeroen Veen and L.E. Fresco, had contradicted this statement, and had argued that the company's logo had only been made public in 1968.

However, Laprior submitted a book to the Court, as evidence to prove that the differences between the 1946 and 1968 logos were only minimal. This led the three Joint Court judges to follow Laprior's plea.

7-Eleven was convicted to pay the cost of the legal proceedings, estimated at NAf. 5,295.50.

Zwanikken said that 7-Eleven could still appeal this ruling at the High Court, "but chances of success seem to be very limited because the ruling is very detailed."

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PHILIPSBURG--Police officers held four men suspected of burglary and seized clothes, electronics and car parts believed to have been stolen, in a massive early-afternoon raid in Philipsburg on Thursday.

Officers arrested C.R., R.St.J., A.T. and G.C., all from St. Maarten, in Down Street about 1:30pm and searched two houses after "some very concerned citizens" reported crimes in which these men might have been involved in the lower residential section of Back Street.

Officers worked nearly two hours, taking into evidence more than half a dozen bicycles, motorbikes, and scooters, two cars, and miscellaneous car parts. They seized an LCD TV and other electronics from one house. In the other, they collected three trash bags full of clothes and several ladies' handbags, a few of which still had on their tags.

They also confiscated a sawed-off shotgun and a revolver from these men in the searches.

"This case is in its early stages," police spokesman Inspector Ricardo Henson said in a press statement. There is much work to be done on these cases."

Police officers blocked the end of Back Street to drivers and prohibited pedestrians from walking on one side of the street while they investigated the suspect house. Several residents and onlookers stood on porches and across the street to watch policemen, some in bullet-proof vests and others with special gloves, work the crime scene.

Police thanked the neighbours for their vigilance and their willingness to report the alleged crimes. "The Police Force wants to commend those concerned citizens who have provided the necessary information to get this investigation off the ground," Henson said. "Without there input this would not have been possible."

Earlier that day, a police officer shot and wounded a suspected burglar in the leg after he ran from pursuing officers.

DUTCH QUARTER--Gunmen shot a man in both his legs when he tried to run from an apparent hold-up in Dutch Quarter on Wednesday night.

Jamaican A.S. (37) was hospitalised for gunshot wounds about 9:00pm Wednesday. He told police three masked crooks had threatened his life for unspecified reasons, and one of them had opened fire as he turned around and fled for safety.

Police did not report the encounter as a shootout, as incorrectly reported Thursday based on information available at the time.

Doctors treated the victim's four gunshot wounds – one in his left leg and three in his right. He was still in hospital up to Thursday for treatment.

"This case is still under investigation by the Detective and Forensic Departments to determine what exactly happened and why," police spokesman Inspector Ricardo Henson reported.

Possible witnesses not talking 

COLE BAY--Police are investigating a stabbing in Cole Bay on Wednesday that left a man in critical condition in a French St. Martin Emergency Room.

No one in the area wanted to tell police how victim C.V. had been injured or by whom. The attack happened near Peiking Supermarket on Welfare Road about 4:00pm.

Instead of waiting for paramedics to take V. to St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), bystanders rushed him to the French-side hospital, police said. Officers didn't find him on the scene and nurses at SMMC told them they didn't know about him.

V. was in bad shape when police found him at Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital in Marigot. "V. had to be operated on immediately," police spokesman Inspector Ricardo Henson said Thursday. "When the victim is in condition to speak, a statement will be taken from him."

PHILIPSBURG--Government is seeking to tighten its belt by finding ways to pool and merge similar services necessary in the new ministry system for Country St. Maarten.

This move not only will save money, but will reduce the number of additional civil servants originally estimated for the new country operations.

Personnel Affairs Commissioner Xavier Blackman told the press on Thursday that one aspect of his trip to the Netherlands two weeks ago had been to look into creating service centres to serve the entire government apparatus.

Instead of separate finance departments for the seven new ministries, government may end up with one central finance bureau, cutting back on additional staff, drain on already limited resources and duplication of work. This way everyone will know what is going on and one finance department will not have an issue while another has already found a solution, he said.

This is part of government's approach "to curb expenses and increase income." Blackman pointed out that the island's financial issues would not just go away or be fixed easily because they "have been ongoing for decades."

Government is seeking to make its operations "more efficient" by streamlining the number of additional staff members deemed necessary and bringing in outside help only when needed, as this will be less expensive.

It had been estimated Country St. Maarten would need about 1,900 civil servants. Some 1,200 are already employed and another 300 now working for the Central Government will receive offers for new positions.

With pooling of resources and elimination of multiple departments carrying out the same functions, the civil service number could be about 1,700 for Country St. Maarten, Blackman said. This means 200 jobs that government had been saying it needed will become unnecessary.

This is a positive thing, he said, because there is no need to cut existing jobs, but it will eliminate possible additional positions through consolidation or "shared service concept." This shared service concept is applied in the Netherlands where, for example, P-Direct, a semi-government organisation, deals with all personnel-related services for the Dutch Government.

Increasing tax compliance is also seen as a way to increase government's income. Blackman also met with the Dutch Government's tax department and technical assistance will come from there soon to set up the organisation in St. Maarten.

There have been investments in the past in the Inspectorate of Taxes and Central Government Receiver's Office, but these have not been sufficient.

"Compliance is not where it is supposed to be. Better compliance means more income to render back services," Blackman said.

He dispelled concerns expressed in the community that more and more Dutch people will come in to carry out work and set up departments for Country St. Maarten. "We are going to do it ourselves, but with cooperation from the Dutch."

A move to indirect taxes is still on the government's table, with "the numbers being crunched" internally.

Dutch assistance will help to build the models and other charts necessary to test whether the move will result in more income for government without additional burden on the people, he said. All stakeholders will be given a chance to contribute when the models are ready.

Another area being looked at closely by government with assistance from the Dutch Government is improving financial management, especially with budget preparation. Based on the new Financial Supervision Regulations, figures for past budgets cannot be extrapolated and used for the new ones. Instead, the new ones have to be "backed up with research and sound policy."

The 2011 draft budget was submitted to the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT for approval by the National Alliance (NA)-led government on August 13 and Blackman was happy with the budget being submitted to CFT on time.

More information is still being sent to CFT, such as the package stating the plans for the shared services and increase of tax payment compliance. Blackman said, "The budget, I believe, was balanced," he said, countering what he called "some wild stories about a humongous deficit."

WILLEMSTAD--According to the opinion poll of the University of the Dutch Caribbean (UDC) in Curaçao, "Movementu Futuro Kòrsou" (MFK), which is participating in today's elections for the first time, will become the second biggest party.

Twenty-six per cent of the interviewees who said they will cast a vote in the Island Council election indicated they would vote for the new party of Gerrit Schotte.

The PAR led by Antillean Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage would remain the largest party, with 40 per cent of the votes. The aforementioned is translated into 10 (of 21) seats for PAR and 6 for MFK.

According to the poll, Pueblo Soberano (PS) led by Helmin Wiels will receive 12 per cent of the votes and therefore become the third party with two seats.

Seven per cent want to vote for MAN, the former party of Schotte, implying one seat for the blue party, where Eunice Eisden replaced Charles Cooper as the candidate heading the list.

The Democratic Party (DP) with its new leader Norberto Ribeiro would receive 6 per cent of the votes and therefore one seat. Five per cent of the voters would vote for the People's National Party (PNP) led by Commissioner Humphrey Davelaar, which is good for one seat as well.

The other four parties would all fall short of earning a seat. Three per cent of the votes would go to "Frente Obrero Liberashon 30 di mei" (FOL) led by Commissioner Anthony Godett and one per cent to the new "Partido pa Adelanto i Inovashon Sosial" (PAIS) led by former PNP-state secretary Alex Rosaria.

"Partido Laboral" (PL; formerly PLKP) headed for the first time by Island Receiver Errol Goeloe and "Niun Paso Atras" (NPA) with its new leader Carlos Monk supposedly both stayed at 0 per cent.

UDC pointed out that the margin of error with this survey is around 4 per cent. Thirty-seven per cent of those questioned for that matter indicated that they do not know whom they will be voting for or did not wish to say.

On the question of which political leader he or she had the most confidence, nearly one quarter (23 per cent) indicated they had no confidence in any of them at all. One-third (33 per cent) has the most confidence in De Jongh-Elhage (PAR).

Schotte (MFK) also scored high with 18 per cent. Ten per cent has the most confidence in Wiels (PS).

Cooper (although Eisden now heads the MAN-list) can count on 5 per cent of the voters, Ribeiro (DP) on 3 per cent, just like Davelaar (PNP). Two per cent mentioned Rosaria (PAIS) as the most confidence inspiring leader and the same percentage applies to Godett (FOL).

Only one person mentioned Goeloe (PL) as a leader in which he or she has the most confidence, which translates to 0 per cent. Monk (NPA) was not mentioned at all.

Ninety per cent of those questioned said they would go to the polls. Seven per cent did not know yet and 3 per cent would certainly not vote.

The number of people stated they would go to the polls is substantially higher than the average actual turnout at elections in the past, which is between 60 and 70 per cent. "Although we also saw similar high numbers of potential voters in the past, the turnout percentage always appears to be considerably lower in practice."

Those questioned for the opinion poll were approached by telephone, whereby they took a random choice of telephone numbers from a database of all fixed and mobile telephone numbers in Curaçao. In total, it involved data from 693 persons.

The UDC-results do not differ much from an earlier poll by "Antillaans Dagblad" in which PAR got 9 seats and MFK 6.

TeleCuraçao (channel 30 St. Maarten Cable TV) will provide election coverage during the entire day, while RTV-7 will relay the broadcast in the Netherlands.

PHILIPSBURG--More than thirty fairly young palm trees along Soualiga Road were recently dug up, disposed of and reportedly replaced with new trees, including some of the 12 foot brown trunk trees that were planted in July.

The exercise was carried out under a veil of secrecy over the past few weeks by government contractors. When contacted on Thursday for an explanation, "caretaker" Commissioner Theo Heyliger declined to offer comment and directed The Daily Herald to the Head of New Works & Project Kurt Ruan. Despite numerous efforts, Ruan could not be reached on Thursday.

Heyliger said, however, that neither he nor anyone from his office "ordered the removal of the trees. I would never have done that. I would have had them transplanted." He did not elaborate if he had indeed had the trees transplanted, where and why, only that he "would have."

As a result of additional inquiries, it was understood that the trees were dying due to a virus or disease that the trees have been known to contract. Additionally, the trunks of the trees were reportedly also filled with concrete and the trunks were turning black.

It is also understood that government officials were well aware of the state of the trees which were acquired from Miami, Florida, but opted to still use them on Soualiga Road phases one and two.

Like the Commissioner, none of the parties involved in the purchasing and planting of the trees wanted to comment on Thursday.

PHILIPSBURG--A tearful and regretful Louis A. Richardson (21), also known as "Sticky," withdrew his appeal that was due to be handled Thursday by the Joint Court of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.

Richardson was convicted by the Court of First Instance in April and sentenced to 16 years on seven counts, including five armed robberies and attempted manslaughter.

Highly emotional, Richardson told the three judges of the Court of Appeals that he was very sorry for what had happened.

"I want to become a better person. I do my best in prison. I follow all kind of course to obtain diplomas. I ask you to help me, please," Richardson said in pleading with the judges for a lesser sentence.

Judge F.J.P. Lock, who presided over the hearing, explained to Richardson that in appeal cases the Court not only weighs the interests of a defendant but also those of society.

"You ask the Court for mercy but we have weighed the merits of your case and your person. The balance on which we will be measuring your case has two scales, and based on what is in these scales we will make a decision," the Court President explained.

Richardson was found guilty of having committed seven crimes between November 2008 and August 2009. One of the most notorious of these was the armed robbery of Gold Creations jewellery store in Maho on August 1, 2009, during which merchandise valued some US $250,000 was stolen.

Richardson was also found guilty of attempted manslaughter in firing at least once at a police officer during this robbery.

He was also convicted of theft of a scooter, and of having taken part in the armed robbery of several men near their house on Welgelegen Lane in Cay Hill on May 25, 2009, and of an armed robbery one day later on Kangaroo Road. During both robberies a lot of violence was used.

After Richardson's lawyer Remco Stomp had confirmed that the appeal was only to determine the punishment, Judge Lock suggested that they go through the case file briefly. This, however, did not sit very well with Richardson, who stated that he did not want to discuss the case again.

"We cannot just look at you as a person but will also have to look at what has happened. People were robbed and shot at. Perhaps the victims think that 16 years is too low a penalty for you. The Prosecutor considered it too low; he had asked for 20 years," Judge Lock said.

This obviously made Richardson think. After two short recesses for consultations with his lawyer, Richardson decided to retract his appeal because he did not want to take the risk to get a higher punishment. This decision made his 16-year sentence irrevocable.

POND ISLAND--Some 19,601 people are eligible to cast their ballots in the early Island Council elections on September 17. Compared with the Antillean Parliament elections held in January, an additional 246 people will be eligible to vote – an increase from 19,355 registered voters.

Of the total number of voters, 8,422 were born outside of the Dutch Kingdom. In January that number was 8,362.

Those "foreign" voters include people born in former Dutch territories prior to independence. The Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia, falls in this category with a total of 13 registered voters, Dutch New Guinea (now New Guinea) one voter. Voters of Surinamese origin, both pre- and post-independence, were listed together as 397 by the Civil Registry.

Voters born in the Dutch Kingdom total 11,179, up from 10,993 in January. Of that number, 6,043 were born in St. Maarten, an increase from 5,841. Voters who were born in Curaçao tally at 2,037, a decrease from 2,052; 1,750 were born in Aruba while it was still part of the Netherlands Antilles and 21 after it attained country status; St. Eustatius (172), Saba (134), Bonaire (46) and the Netherlands (976).

Aside from the three partners in the kingdom, people who were born in 107 other countries, but who have Dutch nationality through a parent, option or nationalisation, are also registered voters.

The largest number of "foreign" voters is from the Dominican Republic – 1,416, down from 1,423. This number takes into account people born in that country to parents from St. Maarten and elsewhere in the Dutch Kingdom as well as naturalised citizens.

The French are the next largest group with 1,150 voters, an increase from 1,144 in January. This group includes people born in French St. Martin to parents with Dutch nationality and those who have opted for Dutch nationality because of blood relations.

Other large blocs of foreign-born voters are from St. Kitts and Nevis (995), Dominica (794), Haiti (538), Anguilla (502), the United States (345), India (295), Guadeloupe (289), Jamaica (176), St. Lucia (166), British Guiana (157), Trinidad and Tobago (119), China (110), and Guyana (112).

Other voters born outside the Dutch Kingdom are from the US Virgin Islands (97), Antigua (79), Grenada (74), Colombia (46), Barbados (43), Montserrat (41), Puerto Rico (33), Venezuela (28), Canada (26), Great Britain (26), Hong Kong (25), South Africa (19), Philippines (14), Jordan (13), Lebanon (13), Kuwait (12), Pakistan (12), Italy (8), Argentina (9), Belgium (8), Israel (8), Germany (7), Indonesia (8) and Nigeria (7).

Other voters were born in Martinique (6), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (5), Mexico (5), St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla (5), Australia (4), Brazil (4), Cuba (4), Morocco (4), Vietnam (4), West Germany (3), the British Virgin Islands (3), Czech Republic (2), Ireland (3), Syria (3), Thailand (3), Sweden (3), Switzerland (3), the Bahamas (3), British West Indies Federation (2), Ecuador (2), Belgium Congo, now Democratic Republic of Congo (2), Denmark (2), Ghana (2), Guatemala (2), Honduras (2), Iran (2), Malaysia (2), Nicaragua (2), New Zeeland (2), Norway (2), Palestine (2), Sierra Leone (2), Spain (2), Tunisia (2), Uruguay (2) and Tanzania (2).

One person is registered in the Civil Registry from each of the following countries: Belize, Chagos Islands (British Territory in the Indian Ocean), Chile, Costa Rica, Egypt, Finland, French Guiana, French Cameroon, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Soviet Union, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Zimbabwe.

PANAMA--Although the final decision is still a week away, Commissioner of Tourism Frans Richardson and Head of the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau Regina Labega are "99.9 per cent" certain that Copa Airlines will start servicing the island this December.

Richardson and Labega met on Wednesday with International Sales Director for Copa Adolfo Sen in the last session to finalise the flight. Copa officials will now discuss the final details based on information provided by the St. Maarten officials and is expected to make the official announcement next Friday, September 3.

Copa will be a direct flight from Panama, servicing the island twice weekly, arriving on Fridays and Tuesdays at 4:50pm and utilising an Embraer 90-seat aircraft. Labega explained that Copa was looking at both flights in the course of the workweek, but for St. Maarten Fridays and Tuesdays work best, allowing both business and leisure traveller the advantages of the weekend and Monday.

St. Maarten will commit US $1 million in pulling and pushing the new market, while other promotions will be executed cooperatively with Copa. The new flight will be for an 18-month introductory period, with parties from both sides expecting the route and the fight to grow based on projections.

Sonesta Maho and Great Bay Resorts have already indicated that they will work with Copa in terms of packages rates. "We expect the route to grow but naturally we need all stakeholders on board, "Labega said. " We pushed Princess Juliana International Airport as a hub for this region, which also facilitates growth of the flight," she added.

Furthermore, Labega continued, Copa officials were "very excited" about the possibility of forming a strategic alliance with Winair and the connectivity options such an alliance would create. Discussions on this front are expected to commence soon.

She pointed out that the amount of business that is already done between St. Maarten and Panama should not be underestimated or undervalued. Therefore, she said, the destination's goal to grow St. Maarten as a hub for the region is not solely on airlift, but for cargo as well.

Discussions with Copa also focussed on St. Maarten obtaining country status in October and how this new governing structure would allow St. Maarten to forge new partnerships that can lead to mutual growth. "It's about long term, sustainable relationships. We can even delve into the convention business, attracting various initiatives from their region. We also told them that the business community in St. Maarten is already excited that Copa will be servicing the island," Labega said.

She went on to credit the Commissioner for always ensuring that the marketing funds are available and accessible for these new flights. To that the Commissioner commented: "It makes no sense to meet with potential new business and not know if the financing is available to secure that new business.

"Copa is part of our continuing effort to attract new business to St. Maarten. We have been successful with GOL Airlines from the South American market and we are confident Copa from the Central American market will be successful as well," Richardson said.

Copa has been on the radar for St. Maarten for quite some time as a strategic objective outlined in the Airlift Development Policy Plan and the Tourism Master Plan. When finalised, Copa will be the third airline the Commissioner has secured for St. Maarten since taking office in July 2009. WestJet out of Canada and GOL out of Brazil being the other two.

WILLEMSTAD--Segundo Demei has requested the Prosecutor's Office in Curaçao to investigate an email circulating in which Antillean Justice Minister Magali Jacoba (PAR) would have seriously criticised MFK-leader Gerrit Schotte.

However, the question is whether the email is genuine. Demei now wants authorities to look into what exactly is going on.

The email mentions a number of illegalities supposedly committed by Schotte. In the document it is alleged that during his term as commissioner Schotte had tried to appropriate beaches, poisoned his own dogs, pointed a weapon at his own family and burglarised his own residence to collect insurance money.

The accusations are mentioned in an email which appears to be sent by the minister. It states her name and telephone numbers, but instead of the coat of arms of the Netherlands Antilles it shows the coat of arms of the Island Territory Curaçao.

When Demei received the email, he immediately contacted the minister, who assured him it was a falsification. "It is an evil matter if one falsified a letter to tarnish her reputation and I do not deem it opportune to respond to these lies just before elections."

However, Demei considers this a serious matter and requested the prosecutor to investigate the case thoroughly. "If the minister is innocent, it's correct to deny such publicly and file a report."

"It would be worse, if on the other hand she profits politically by keeping silent or incurring less political damage by such. If she had knowledge of this, one would have expected her to request the Prosecutor to conduct a thorough investigation herself," Demei argued in his letter to the prosecutor, which he copied to the media.

PHILIPSBURG--An old window hinge, smoking-pipe stems, one aluminium plate and pieces of ceramic were unearthed during an archaeological survey carried out at the request of the property owners and the Public Works Department behind Ballerina Jewelers on Hendrikstraat Wednesday.

Archaeologist Jay Haviser and his assistant archaeologist-in-training Christopher Velasquez of St. Maarten Archaeological Centre Simarc carried out the survey based on the department's new approach with the application of the Malta Treaty on the collection and preservation of artefacts.

This survey was tagged to a request for extension of a building behind Ballerina Jewelers located on the corner of Front Street and Hendrikstraat. The addition will not affect the historical Creole house, Haviser told The Daily Herald.

He explained that such surveys were already part of the draft archaeological policy for Country St. Maarten. The Public Works Department is already putting in place some aspects, such as the survey.

"This is the first application of the Malta Treaty that the Netherlands was one of the first to ratify. It has been used in Bonaire and Curaçao and to a lesser extent here," Haviser said.

The treaty, ratified in 2007, will be the "pillar" of the island's archaeology policy, and it sets conditions for protecting historical sites as much as possible. It also prescribes what needs to be done for proper research to be carried out.

Applying the new procedures to the Hendrikstraat survey is significant and a good example of urban-area archaeology. The small plot of land is located behind the Ballerina building and house of the late Dr. Claude Wathey, Haviser pointed out. "This whole area, including Kangaroo Court, was the old Government Salt Packing House in the 18th century."

For the Hendrikstraat survey, a one-metre by two-metre pit with a one-metre depth was dug by Haviser and Velasquez. They stopped digging after reaching "clean white sand" – the original layers of Philipsburg. The town was built on a sand bank that separates Great Bay from Great Salt Pond.

Developers are not to be scared away by the new policy, as this is a way to be a "good citizen and look out for the patrimony of the people."

Haviser said the Wathey family, owner of the Hendrikstraat property, had been very cooperative, had consented to the survey and had requested that Simarc, of which Haviser is the director, carry it out. Similarly, the department requested the Haviser do the survey, as he was the most competent authority.

These surveys, especially on "undisturbed" ground, will have to be paid for by landowners, with cost depending on land size. A cost scale will be developed by the department.

No artefact or historical evidence of high importance was found in the survey, but Haviser said it was more about the exercise than the collection, as such surveys would become commonplace.

The artefacts that were found will be stored by Simarc and entered as some of the first pieces of the island's permanent archaeological database. (Alita Singh)

THE HAGUE--With preparatory research starting next week, authorities on the BES islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba have made the first steps to legalise abortion.

The Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Wellbeing and Sports VWS has contracted researcher Wendele van der Wiele to make an inventory of current abortion practices on the BES islands. Abortion will become legal on the islands one year after they become part of the Netherlands as 'public entities' on October 10. Current Antillean law forbids abortion.

Van der Wiele already researched abortion practices in Curaçao. There she came to some shocking conclusions as abortions are very common in Curaçao with women taking big risks to get rid of the foetus themselves because they consider going to the doctor too expensive. One in three pregnancies in Curaçao ends in an abortion, many of them being performed in the illegal circuit.

Van der Wiele will visit the BES islands next month. According to spokesman Friso Fennema of the Regional Service Centre (RSC) in Bonaire the research is necessary because there is no good overview of the real situation pertaining to abortions on the islands.

The research is the direct result of an amendment that the Dutch Second Chamber approved in March this year during the handling of the first set of laws for the BES islands. Through this amendment Dutch Government and the BES islands by extension were forced to legalise abortion within a year after the transition date.

"We don't have figures on the BES islands. We need those figures to diligently prepare legislation," said Fennema, who said he expected to have the figures in the course of October. Van der Wiele starts her research in Bonaire on September 1, after which she travels to St. Eustatius on September 12 and five days later to Saba.

Van der Wiele will also do some research in St. Maarten. This has to do with the fact that women from Saba and St. Eustatius have to go there for an abortion. In the Windward Islands, the researcher will speak with doctors, other medical specialists and social workers.

A second research will take place in the same period. This research will focus on the views of BES residents on ethical issues like abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage. This will take place through pollsters.

"We want to know the concerns of the people so we can take this into account in the dissemination of information," said Fennema. Euthanasia and same-sex marriage will also be legalised in the BES islands, the first in two years and the second in one year.

One man was injured in a reported shootout on Madrid Drive in Dutch Quarter that started about 9:30pm Wednesday. Up to press time the police could only confirm the shooting and the hospitalisation of the sole victim, promising more information to the media today, Thursday. The Daily Herald doesn't know what sparked the shootout. (John Halley photo)

PHILIPSBURG--A 29-year-old woman was sentenced by the Court of First Instance on Wednesday for having smuggled 2.3 kilos of marijuana from St. Maarten to St. Eustatius.

French St. Martin resident Louissiana Richardson was sentenced in absentia to nine months, four of which were suspended, on two years probation, for the illegal transport that took place on June 18.

The illegal drugs were packed in five packages. Richardson said she had agreed to take the packages to Statia because she needed the money to provide for her four children, and to pay the utility bills.

Prosecutor Rienk Mud didn't mince words in proving his case to the court. He said he wanted to request of the court a "severe and prohibitive" punishment of nine months, three of which were to be suspended, on three years probation.

"This 'pack mule' has gambled and lost. This does not make her story less sad, but we cannot put the door wide open for transports such as these," he said.

Judge Monique Keppels slashed one month off the sentence and reduced the probation period by a year. The defendant had already spent 19 days in pre-trial detention.

Corso denies all allegations

PHILIPSBURG--The Board of Directors of the Tenants Association Pelican Resort Club (TAPRC) has warned the Pelican Resort Owners Group (PROG) and its membership that its ownership of the resort and timeshare interest are at risk due to a number of irregularities and a debt that exceeds US $20 million.

The TAPRC board announced that its independent investigation of Royal Resorts Caribbean's dealing with Pelican had uncovered breaches of contractual obligations, violations of good faith and "notions of fair dealing" required to be shown by a manager (Royal) to its principal (Pelican).

Pelican, the TAPRC board said, is burdened by excessive long-term debt related to the financing for the resort, which was arranged by Royal Resorts on terms beneficial to "Royal's alter ego lender" Quantum Investment Trust (QIT), and "extremely detrimental to timeshare owners."

"Royal has never, in the 13 years that it has managed Pelican Resort, completed a year of operations with a balanced budget and has borrowed extensively to cover operating expenses, rather than operating the Resort in a fiscally responsible manner. Losses over this period have exceeded $20 million," the TAPRC board reported.

"Royal and QIT have made repeated threats to foreclose on the resort, most recently stating at our quarterly board meeting on July 27 that they had met with seven St. Maarten lawyers on the previous day to discuss foreclosing on the Resort.

Faced with the financial situation as it existed at the start of this fiscal year, the current TAPRC board took action to avoid losing the Resort to Royal and/or QIT," the board added.

In response, Royal Resorts Caribbean CEO Richard Corso said his organisation had been taken "completely by surprise with their e-mail, and categorically refutes all allegations."

"We are greatly saddened that the board decided to act in this unprovoked and unwarranted manner. We are in constant communication with the board in relation to the myriad of decisions and consultations that a resort with the complexity of the Pelican requires," Corso said.

"We know from the comments of the Pelican owners that the vast majority of the owners support and appreciate the service and attention to detail that Royal Resorts Management has provided for 13 years. It is obvious that the personal agenda of certain individuals of the current TAPRC board has been, and continues to be, to the detriment of the resort and the membership as a whole."

"We know Pelican owners to be thoughtful, concerned and fair people and we believe that they will not be influenced by harsh rhetoric and propaganda style tactics and that they will draw reasonable conclusions based upon all the facts. Royal Resorts Management has always and will continue to fight to protect Pelican timeshare rights. Pelican owners will soon receive detailed information on what has transpired," Corso concluded.

The TAPRC board said that in response to the precarious financial condition of Pelican and the clear threats of foreclosure that had already been made on several occasions the board had retained experienced lawyers, accountants and timeshare industry veterans, and had performed a comprehensive overview of the legal and business circumstances surrounding the resort.

"Our advisors examined the existing contracts between Royal and Pelican, spoke extensively with members of this board as well as previous boards, and assisted in preparing a series of communications with Royal with the objective of restoring the financial integrity of the resort, assuring prudent financial operations prospectively and eliminating the rampant pattern of self-dealing by Royal that has existed for at least the past 10 years," the TAPRC board said.

It continued: "Throughout this process, Royal has consistently attempted to obstruct the Board's efforts. For example: refusing to provide the resort's general ledger and books of accounts to the board, disregarding management contract requirements providing the board with approval over the resort's budget and the application of Resort revenues, and refusing board directives as to the payment of certain expenses."

The TAPRC board said it had gathered extensive information concerning Royal's actions with respect to the resort and welcomed the opportunity to provide details to any timeshare owner who would like this information. The board believes that a series of webinars and, if desired by owners, in-person meetings in several cities in which owners tend to be concentrated are appropriate, and will arrange these based on owner expressions of interest.

"This Board has consistently conveyed the message that it hopes to restructure the existing relationships with Royal in a manner that assures good faith and fair dealing and the viability of the Resort. Although actions over the past several months have made this increasingly unlikely, the board has not given up on that option," the TAPRC board said.

"Nevertheless, Royal's consistent course of conduct dictates that the board also take prompt steps to communicate details of Royal's wrongdoing to interested stakeholders, including government officials in St. Maarten, various Attorneys General within the U.S. and professional organisations with which Royal is affiliated. Moreover, the board is focused on causes of action against Royal and its principals, not only in St. Maarten but in the United States as well," it added.

Hundreds of cars and persons stopped and checked 

PHILIPSBURG--Police warn that controls against all crime will be "much more intense" in the coming weeks, citing Monday's massive operation as the first of many.

Police and Voluntary Corps of St. Maarten VKS officers checked 216 cars and hundreds of persons in Cul de Sac, Cay Hill and Cole Bay until late Monday in the first day of increased joint controls with French St. Martin Gendarmes.

St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) and independent crime observers United Task Force Against Crime (UTFAC) applauded police for being more visible.

Officers stopped and fined 45 drivers for traffic violations and ordered 14 cars towed away for infringements. Police also controlled traffic in St. Peters and Sucker Garden.

Police warned three weeks ago that they would not tolerate persons who drive in vehicles with dark-tinted windows or without insurance and licences. Police checked 518 persons in the course of these controls.

"The focus was mainly to control business licences, vendors on the public roads, controls near school areas, for public order and safety," police spokesman Inspector Ricardo Henson said in a statement. Police closed 10 of the 31 businesses they checked, because "their permits were not in order."

The police reiterated their warnings in a statement Monday after agreeing with French-side authorities to beef up police presence and controls. They had been busy from 7:00am Monday, police said.

Officers detained several persons who were loitering and did not have ID cards, and arrested five persons for being undocumented.

SHTA said police had eased their fears that criminals would descend upon Dutch St. Maarten following a recent announcement by Gendarmes that they would beef up their security.

"Increased police presence on the streets leads to a feeling of safety in the community and, more important, reduces crime," SHTA said Tuesday, quoting its Safety and Security White Paper. "This includes increased police patrols at sensitive times and in sensitive high-crime areas, and increased traffic controls."

UTFAC urged residents to help police by offering information when they can and asked particularly BlackBerry owners to refrain from potentially tipping crooks off to police activity. "The police have their job to carry out and as a responsible society we should be mindful and respectful towards their task," UTFAC said Wednesday.

Henson told The Daily Herald that police would step up efforts throughout the coming weeks, insisting that residents carry their ID cards, residence papers and valid car documents with them at all times. "It's going to get much more intense," he said.

As inspectors seize new balls from casino 

PHILIPSBURG--Economic Affairs Department inspectors confiscated bingo balls from a casino yet again on Wednesday afternoon.

Unlike the confiscation of balls that did not comply with technical specifications regarding weight that took place at the end of July, the action on Wednesday was carried out for unknown reasons, without weighing, and added fuel to the fire of a looming court case casinos are threatening to initiate against government.

Inspectors confiscated balls from Tropicana, Coliseum, Rouge et Noir and Hollywood Casinos on July 29. They said at that time that none of the confiscated balls had any sort of indicators on them: "no codes – nothing that they can show to the public that they are in compliance with international measuring requirements."

To meet requirements, the ping-pong-size balls must weigh no less than 2.3 grams and no more than three grams. After the balls were weighed, the casinos were all found to have balls weighing less than 2.3 grams.

Hollywood and Rouge et Noir Casinos, claiming they have lost revenue on a daily basis as a result of the actions in July and on Wednesday, are challenging the legal basis on which they are bound by the technical specifications for bingo balls, and the legal authority on which the bingo balls were seized.

In a letter to the Executive Council dated August 18, the casino owners, through their attorney Jelmer Snow, also enquired about the legal status of the so-called technical specifications, and when and how these had been made public.

The letter to government was submitted in response to a letter dated August 13 from Ministry of Economic Affairs TEZVT Acting Secretary General Miguel DeWeever to Hollywood Casino.

DeWeever had informed the casino management that the balls did not meet the "technical specifications as established by the Metrology Service. In accordance with Article 21, paragraph 2 of the Federal Ordinance of 1956 relating to weights and measures, the bingo balls were seized as they do not meet current specification requirements," he said in his letter.

Attorney Snow said his mention of the federal ordinance in his letter was the only justification and/or reasoning received from DeWeever or government, despite numerous requests and telephone calls to DeWeever and by extension government.

"On what legal basis were the bingo balls seized?" Snow asked. "The reference to this effect by Miguel DeWeever to Article 21, paragraph 2 of the Federal Ordinance of 1956 does not make any sense, because bingo balls are not considered to be weights or measures, but rather objects to be weighed or measured."

Snow advised the Executive Council that in case government failed to show its authority for the confiscation action by noon on Friday, August 20, his clients would resume their bingo games unconditionally and would not hesitate to claim any and all damages suffered as a result of "this unlawful action from your government."

The casinos, which had not been executing any bingo games since the balls were confiscated on July 29, followed through on the advice from their attorney and resumed bingo games on Saturday, August 21. Four days later (yesterday, Wednesday), five Economic Affairs Department inspectors entered one of the casinos and confiscated brand new balls, effectively bringing a halt to the bingo games once again.

An incensed manager of the establishment in question immediately informed Snow that when he had approached the inspectors to inquire why they were confiscating the balls, he was told it was because they "already knew why."

"I told them that those were new bingo balls. I told them that they did not have the right to take the balls, and that actually they were committing a theft. I also told them that they did not weigh the balls, so they could not know if they were regulation balls, if there is a regulation.

"The new balls actually came with a paper from the producer saying that they each weighed 2.3 grams. They took the balls and the paper with the weights and gave no official paper or notice and they left like the thieves they are," the casino manager said.

Snow added: "The bingo balls in question are purchased by my client from the leading supplier of bingo balls. They have this stated in two letters – one from the sales company and one from the producer itself – that clients' bingo balls are used everywhere in the world by all bingo halls, and they have no issues in other gaming jurisdictions, including Las Vegas [Nevada]."

All efforts to reach DeWeever via phone and e-mail Wednesday proved futile. Snow is expected to commence court proceedings on behalf of his clients in the coming days.

At De Weever's property

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) will hold its first public meeting at the De Weever property in Dutch Quarter starting at 8:00pm sharp tonight.

De Weever's property is located in Dutch Quarter and not Sucker Garden as incorrectly stated in today's issue of The Daily Herald.

The party says its candidates will be addressing issues that are important to the community of St. Maarten. They are expected to give insights into how NA will be "moving forward together" with the community of St. Maarten as, and after, the Island Territory attains its new status as Country within the Dutch Kingdom, effective 10-10-10.

The NA held a "public rally" last week Wednesday evening at which it launched its campaign song and introduced its candidates, who made brief introductory speeches. The song is an adapted version of Addison "Shadowman" Richardson's "Follow the white line" hit.

NA leader and Leader of Government William Marlin heads the party's slate.

PHILIPSBURG--The Police Forensic Team received a new vehicle and new kits recently to help it investigate crime scenes. An expert in detective work also joined the team at the start of this month, police said.

Jos van Deventer is the last of a team of five Dutch experts who will be twinning with various departments in the soon-to-be St. Maarten Police Force to sharpen their crime-fighting. He will be working alongside police for the next two years, training them "to better manage a crime scene."

PHILIPSBURG--The Atlantic Hurricane season is expected to heat up in the coming weeks with at least two or more tropical storm systems forming per week. With this increased activity, the Office of the Disaster Management urges residents and businesses to maintain their preparedness. The hurricane season runs until November 30.

Residents are urged to update their family emergency plan, restock the First Aid kit and supplies of non-perishable food as the time before a hurricane strike can be short. Services such as supermarkets, gasoline, banks, running water, electricity and many other items that residents have grown accustomed to may not be available right after the passing of a hurricane. The normal requirement is to have enough supplies in-house for three to five days.

So far, four storm systems have already formed for the hurricane season: Hurricane Alex, Tropical Storms Bonnie and Colin, and Hurricane Danielle.

A low pressure system has developed near Cape Verde Islands in the far Atlantic Ocean, and this system is expected to become a tropical storm and will be called Earl. There is no threat to land forecasted for the system that is expected to pass several hundred miles to the north of St. Maarten.

Forecasted are 18-20 named storms and 10 to 12 hurricanes, five to six of those are expected to be category three or stronger.

Some preparations that residents need to make are: for those with a generator, to make sure that it is in good working order; check shutters, make sure that they fit and you have all the parts; remove debris from the yard; trim trees; ensure that travel documents are up to date and check on insurance policies to ensure they are current.

For weekly hurricane season preparatory tips and a listing of the hurricane shelters, check the Government Information Page published in both daily newspapers from Monday to Thursday.

The remaining names for storm systems for this season are Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Igor, Karl, Lisa, Matthew, Nicole, Otto, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tomas, Virginie and Walter.

PHILIPSBURG--Police have confirmed that officers arrested a man for questioning Saturday in relation to a fire in Over the Bank. The suspected arsonist is believed to have set fire to his own house.

The fire destroyed a zinc-roofed wooden building in the district about 5:30am. Firemen worked until mid-morning to extinguish the fire that threatened an adjacent building.

THE HAGUE--Dutch caretaker Minister of Finance Jan Kees de Jager doesn't exclude the possibility that a joint monetary system will be developed for all Dutch Caribbean islands in the future, based on the US dollar.

De Jager stated this in a letter to the Dutch First Chamber on August 17 in response to questions posed by Members of the Senate relating to the Law Monetary System for the BES islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.

Members of the Socialist Party (SP) had posed numerous questions on this monetary system and also asked about preparations for a monetary and fiscal system for the future countries Curaçao and St. Maarten.

The BES islands will have the US dollar as the official currency effective January 1, 2011. Curaçao and St. Maarten haven't taken a definite decision on their currency and for now will maintain the Antillean guilder as their official currency.

Introducing the US dollar as the official currency for Curaçao and St. Maarten is under consideration. However, considering the required preparation time, these two islands won't be able to introduce a new currency before January 1, 2012, stated De Jager.

If Curaçao and St. Maarten would decide to choose a different currency than the US dollar, the new currency will be linked to the US dollar in a fixed exchange rate. The two islands will have a joint Central Bank. The Dutch Central Bank will oversee monetary affairs in the BES islands.

According to De Jager, the choice to have the US dollar as the official currency for the BES islands hasn't gone unnoticed in Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten and has led to reflection on these islands.

A conference was organised in August 2009 to brainstorm on the advantages and disadvantages of having the US dollar as the official currency in Curaçao and St. Maarten. Aruba's Parliament in May this year adopted a motion in which government was asked to carry out an independent research into the advantages and disadvantages of introducing the US dollar as the official currency. Aruba currently has the Aruban florin, which is linked to the US dollar, just like the Antillean guilder.

"It is possible that one joint monetary system for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom will be realised in the coming years," stated De Jager. The Minister pointed out that the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, in the future the countries Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten are autonomous where it comes to monetary affairs.

The fiscal system of Curaçao and St. Maarten is also an autonomous affair of these islands, stated De Jager. The current Netherlands Antilles fiscal system will be maintained for the islands for now.

But, added the minister, that doesn't keep the future countries from introducing a modernised fiscal system in the future whereby the new system would have to yield sufficient revenues to cover government's expenditures.

The Law Monetary System BES islands has to be approved before October 10, when the new constitutional relations in the Kingdom go into effect and the BES islands become part of the Netherlands as public entities. The plenary handling and voting of this draft law in the First Chamber has been tentatively scheduled for September 28.

PHILIPSBURG--Housing the first parliament of Country St. Maarten comes at a hefty price tag of US $96,100 per month for taxpayers. This will create an unnecessary burden on the people at a time when the economy is still lagging and the budget deficit is said to be almost NAf. 100 million, according to the opposition Democratic Party (DP). The building will be rented for five to eight years.

The rental of the former Caribbean Palm building was approved by the Island Council by a seven to three vote margin in the wee hours of Tuesday morning when members of the National Alliance (NA)/Heyliger coalition voted for the rental of the building and the start of internal works to create partitions and offices for the 15 members of Parliament who will be sworn in on October 10.

DP members Sarah Wescot-Williams, Roy Marlin and Leroy de Weever voted against the proposal to rent the building next to the Courthouse, owned by the Williams family. DP member Maria Buncamper-Molanus was not present for the vote.

Three floors of the four-storey building will be rented by government; the ground floor is already occupied by two stores, Facilities Management Commissioner William Marlin told the council when he presented the rental agreement Tuesday morning. The building would provide adequate housing for the "highest legislative body" on the island, he said.

The rental price is broken down into two parts: US $60,000 for the rental of the space and US $36,100 to compensate the owners for investments made to prepare the building. The monthly rent is based on square footage and the initial investment that has to be made by the owners to make the building suitable for the parliament, with at least four faction offices, meeting rooms, and separate offices for each of the 15 parliamentarians.

The most urgent parts and offices in the building will be ready in time for October 10 and the rest in January.

Government intends to reserve 30 parking spaces on Clem Labega Square for the parliamentarians, secretariat, other staff and visitors.

DP Island Councilman Roy Marlin called for an investigation to see how the Finance Department had approved the rental amount. He said that based on his experience, he didn't think this expenditure should be approved, given that government was struggling with a mounting budget deficit. He called on Chairman of the Executive Council First Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt to review the procedure that had been used to select the building and approve the rent.

De Weever questioned whether some deal was being cooked up by the NA-Heyliger government with the owners, who also own property at the "Foot of Town" close to the Down Street jetty, and whether someone in government would be looking to make a deal. He urged government to "make haste slowly" by shopping around for a better deal.

Commissioner Marlin refuted De Weever's claims, saying he did not know about and was not involved in anything of the sort.

DP Councilwoman Sarah Wescot-Williams questioned the urgency of approving the rental contract at this time and asked why, in her opinion, government had "slipped in" the approval of the rental contract as an agenda point after a list of some 15 organic laws. Those laws were debated and approved by the council.

The final agenda point of the Island Council meeting that started on Monday afternoon and ended about 3:10am Tuesday was the approval of the Social Charter for the civil servants. With the Island Council's unanimous approval, government can now make offers for places in the civil service apparatus of Country St. Maarten to the managers/heads and staff of the Central Government departments that have offices here.

ST. EUSTATIUS--The board of the Democratic Party (DP) of St. Eustatius voted unanimously Tuesday night to oust DP Member of Parliament Reginald Zaandam from the party.

Board President Rueben Merkman told The Daily Herald after the meeting that the decision had been taken to remove the controversial MP for three reasons, including Zaandam's decision to go against the party's policy and vote in Parliament last week Friday against amending the Kingdom Charter to pave the way for the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles.

DP-Statia is a Central Government coalition partner, but while the party was supportive of the coalition's bid to amend the Charter, Zaandam broke with the coalition and voted against the amendment, contending that Statia had voted in a referendum to remain in the Antilles and that the impending new status for the Island as a Dutch public entity was fraught with inequalities not in the best interest of the people of Statia.

Fortunately for the coalition, the two-thirds majority vote needed to approve the amendment to the Kingdom Charter was secured through the support of some members on the opposition benches.

In outlining the other reasons for ousting Zaandam from DP-Statia, Merkman explained that the Statia MP consistently had acted contrary to the DP's policies at the local level and that he was not supportive of a cooperation agreement signed recently between Statia and the Central Government.

Merkman said all seven members of the party's board had been present at last night's meeting and none had been in favour of Zaandam remaining in the party.

He said that as a result of Tuesday night's board decision, Zaandam no longer had the confidence of the party and he no longer was allowed to act or speak on behalf of DP-Statia.

This newspaper understands that while Zaandaam has been booted from the party he may, if he wishes, continue to serve as an independent member of the Parliament whose life will end on 10-10-10 with the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles.

PHILIPSBURG--The opposition Democratic Party called on Monday for independent election observers to be invited to St. Maarten to observe the early Island Council elections on September 17.

The call was made by DP President Michael Ferrier in a lengthy press release in which he dealt with the controversy linked to Narda de Windt's decision not to run as a candidate on the Democratic Party's slate, but to run instead as the #18 candidate of the National Alliance (NA).

The DP is claiming that De Windt had informed it that she had been offered a car and US $20,000 by an NA commissioner and election candidate as an incentive to run on the NA slate – a claim denied by De Windt (see related story).

Ferrier said, "The stories of vote buying with raw cash by bagmen working on behalf of the National Alliance in the January (2007 Parliamentary) elections were numerous and plentiful," and this practice, if true, posed a "threat to the democratic process in our Country-to-be."

Against this backdrop, he called on "the competent authorities to be vigilant before and during this crucial election scheduled for September 17, 2010," and requested that "independent election observers be invited to St. Maarten to monitor this upcoming election."

Former Democratic Party Island Councilman and Commissioner, now independent Island Councilman supporting the NA-led government and the #9 candidate on the National Alliance list Louie Laveist told a public NA rally in Philipsburg last week Wednesday that a lot of money was being pumped into the current election campaign and that he had been offered "a bundle of money" on more than one occasion to withdraw his support from the NA-led Government.

In his press release Monday, Ferrier also called on the office of the Lt. Governor "to urgently issue the rules and regulations that need to be adhered to by one and all to allow the voters of St. Maarten their God-given right to cast their votes free from all pressure and in a fair and peaceful manner."

He said prohibiting voters from entering the voting booths with cell phones or other devices capable of taking pictures of how voters cast their votes was "a giant step in the right direction," but additionally, no party paraphernalia and/or party supporters should be allowed within 500 meters of any of the polling stations, and this should be strictly enforced by the police.

Ferrier continued: "The National Alliance cannot ignore the fact that when an elected Island Council member accepts the position he/she is elected to in any election, he/she must either promise or swear that he/she has accepted nothing from anyone, or promised anyone anything to hold the highest public office in the land. The Democratic Party wonders how this will apply to the NA candidate #18 if, God forbid, she gets enough votes to be elected to public office on September 17."

PHILIPSBURG--The Rules of Order for the new Parliament were the cause for much debate in the Island Council when they were tabled with fourteen other organic laws on Monday. Opposition Democratic Party (DP) members were absent for the vote, as they did not agree with several parts and pointed out a number of possible changes from typos and rewording.

When it was time to vote on the Rules of Order, DP Councilman Roy Marlin asked for individual voting. He and the other two DP members – Sarah Wescot-Williams and Leroy de Weever – walked out of Dr. A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall. DP Island Councilwoman Maria Buncamper-Molanus was not present for the last part of the meeting.

The remaining seven members of the council – Commissioners William Marlin, Frans Richardson Hyacinth Richardson and Theo Heyliger (caretaker), Island Councilmen Rodolphe Samuel, George Pantophlet and Louie Laveist – voted for the Rules of Order.

The law on Registration and Financing of Political Parties was also adopted unanimously, putting a cap to the amount any one contributor can give to a political party and candidate combined per year. That amount was set at NAf. 50,000 after some amendments to the law.

The other 13 organic laws, which are derived from articles in the Constitution of Country St. Maarten, were adopted unanimously by the council. These laws are a vital part of the constitutional change process and will be looked at during the vetting Round Table Conference (RTC) in The Hague on September 9. The RTC is seen as one of the last hurdles in the quest for country-within-the-Dutch-Kingdom status on October 10.

Approved unanimously was the Electoral Law, which establishes that the election system for parliamentarians will be based on the number of votes a candidate receives and not based on his or her position on the list. This is the system used for Island Council elections.

Other laws approved were the Integrity Ordinance for ministers, Parliamentary Enquiry, Public Gathering/demonstrations, Openness in Government, Constitutional Court, the ordinance on the position of the Secretary General of Parliament, setup and organisation of the Secretariat of Parliament, pension plan for present and past parliamentarians, travel cost for the council of ministers, travel cost for the members of parliament, and non-activity rule for civil servants who serve in elected office.

The Island Council meeting that started at 2:30pm on Monday continued until early Tuesday morning. The debate centred on the renting of the Caribbean Palm building on Front Street for the offices of the Parliament of Country St. Maarten for which members will be elected on September 17 and sworn in on October 10. The final point on the agenda was the approval of the Social Charter.

Another batch of organic laws is expected to be reviewed and debated by the Central Committee of Island Council next week before they are tabled for official approval by the Island Council by the end of the week.

PHILIPSBURG--Heads of the Dutch St. Maarten Police Force and French St. Martin Gendarmes decided on Monday to launch intensive joint controls to combat the "increase in various criminal activities" on both sides of the island.

Gendarmerie Commander Major Stephane Brunet, Capitaine Antoine Cuignet and Colonel Jean-Pierre Chenel met with St. Maarten's Police Chief Commissioner Peter de Witte and Deputy Chief Commissioner Carl John for talks about fighting crime and enhancing their investigations.

Customs and the Coast Guard also will be involved in these controls, police said.

Candidate denies, says DP should respect her decision

PHILIPSBURG--The Democratic Party (DP) has alleged that candidate Narda de Windt, who switched her candidacy from DP to the National Alliance (NA) just before Nomination Day, was offered US $20,000 and a car by an NA Commissioner and Island Councilman to run on that party’s slate.

  DP president Michael Ferrier, who denied widely circulating rumours that DP had offered De Windt US $35,000 to run on its slate, also claimed that she had been offered money by Louie Laveist when he ran on the DP slate in the 2007 Island Council elections.

  Ferrier also said “it was a little bit strange” that former DP candidate Gregory Richardson had resigned from DP to form a political foundation “and a week later was on the list” of the United People’s (UP) party, but said he couldn’t say whether money had influenced Richardson’s decision.

  De Windt has expressed shock at the DP’s accusations. She told The Daily Herald Monday that the DP should respect her decision not to run on its slate and her independent choice to run with a party that she believes is more progressive and has the interest of the people of St. Maarten at heart. She said the allegations were a bitter reaction from the DP aimed at tarnishing her image because she had exercised her freedom of choice by opting not to run with that party.

  At the party’s press conference on Monday, DP President Michael Ferrier said he and DP leader Sarah Wescot-Williams had approached De Windt on August 11 to “invite her” to run as a candidate with the DP in the early Island Council elections on September 17.

  He said De Windt eventually had “accepted and agreed” to run with DP and had expressed disgust with the “few” promises kept by NA Commissioner Frans Richardson, for whom she reportedly campaigned during the parliamentary elections in January.

  Ferrier claimed that De Windt had said “many thousands of dollars” had been paid to her by Laveist in 2007 to “take care of things for him” in that election, which was won by DP. At that time Laveist was a DP candidate.

  Asked why the party had not taken a stand on the issue at the time, Ferrier said the party had not been aware of it then. Ferrier said De Windt had said “all these shady deals did not sit right with her, being someone who believes in the Lord.”

  Ferrier said De Windt had said she felt indebted to DP, because that party had made it possible for her mother to migrate to St. Maarten “to make a living,” which she couldn’t have done in her native Dominican Republic. He said she had agreed to go “on board” with DP “no strings attached.”

  “She just needed the assurance from the DP leadership that all would be done to assure an improvement in the conditions of the most needy among her fellow DR [Dominican Republic] countrymen and women once DP was back in government, and if immediate help was available from DP to a few persons truly in need, so much the better,” Ferrier said.

  He did not indicate whether any “immediate help” had been offered, but said the only thing that DP had given the candidate was a phone and US $50 credit, as she did not have a phone at the time and wanted to know how she could stay in contact with the party. The phone was purchased and given to her after her campaign photo had been taken, Ferrier said.

  Ferrier said he had been told on August 17 that an NA Commissioner [name provided] had offered De Windt a car and US $20,000 to distribute among her constituents if she would run with that party. He said the candidate had said at the time that she was “not for sale.”

  She had also given them an insight into a speech she had prepared to present at the party’s “meet and mingle” event that evening. However, she was a “no show” at the function and efforts to reach her had proved futile, he said.

  The party learnt later that she had become the #18 candidate on the NA slate.

  Ferrier continued: “The Democratic Party now asks: if the offer of a car and $20,000 did not convince De Windt to join the National Alliance, what did? Could it have been more money? A nicer car maybe?”

  In an invited comment on the allegations, De Windt denied accepting any gifts to run with the NA. She said she had changed her mind because she believed that NA was the better choice and her only interest was to run with a party that had integrity and the interest of the people of St. Maarten at heart. She said issues such as education were of concern to her and she wanted to be with a party that wanted the best for St. Maarten.

  She said the DP appeared to be irked that she had opted to run with the NA. “I want the best for my community,” she said. “I am not doing this for Narda. I am doing this for my people. I think that NA is the best choice. I don’t see any future with the DP.

  “No one has offered me anything and I am not taking anything from any party; money will be spent and finish, but the things that you do for your country will [benefit] many people. All I want is for them to do what’s right for the people of St. Maarten and for our children.”

PHILIPSBURG--The Main Voting Bureau is reviewing the legality and possibility of allowing the Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) to add a second candidate to its list for the early Island Council elections on September 17.

The candidate lists of CPA and the three other parties in the race, the Democratic Party (DP), National Alliance (NA) and United People's (UP) party, were reviewed by the voting bureau in a closed door session at Dr. A.C. Legislative Hall on Monday.

Bureau head Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt told this newspaper CPA had protested about Leo Richardson, its potential second candidate, not being allowed to be on the list because he was not properly registered in the Civil Registry.

Leo Richardson, Groeneveldt explained, should not have had a problem, because he was registered in the system on January 1, 1986, at the time that Aruba separated from the Netherlands Antilles. However, there were some issues after he left the island and returned.

"We are checking to see what, how and if he can be added," Groeneveldt said.

The party will be informed of the Main Voting Bureau's decision by today, Tuesday.

CPA would have two candidates on its slate should Richardson be allowed on the party slate. Party leader Jeffrey Richardson now is the only candidate on the slate.

The Main Voting Bureau found "minor problems" with the slates of the DP, NA and CPA. These problems were not disclosed.

The UP, contesting an election for the first time, had all paperwork in order and needed to make no adjustments.

Miss Jamaica 2010 Yendi Phillipps competes in her Dar Be Dar swimsuit during the Miss Universe pageant swimsuit competition at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada August 23. Miss Jamaica was named first runner-up.

PHILIPSBURG--The four slates of candidates for the September 17 early Island Council elections will receive their numbers at Dr. A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall on Monday, August 30 at 3:00pm. This sitting of the Main Voting Bureau is open to the public.

The Democratic Party (DP), the Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) the National Alliance (NA) and United People's (UP) party submitted their slates of candidates for the September polls on August 18. The vote is for the election of the 15 members of the first Parliament of Country St. Maarten.

Head of the Main Voting Bureau Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt told The Daily Herald the numbering and the awarding of colours to the slates will be done in tandem.

Lots will be drawn for the list numbering, while the slate colours – traditionally the party's colour – should be awarded without any hitch. All parties requested different colours: DP asked for red, CPA gold, NA white and UP green.

CPA, led by Jeffrey Richardson, and UP, headed by Theo Heyliger, are recently formed parties that are contesting an election for the first time.

DP, the island's oldest party, is led by Sarah Wescot-Williams, the only female party leader.

NA, headed by William Marlin, has been at the helm of government for the past 15 months as a party of a coalition with Heyliger.

PHILIPSBURG--While Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) results are out in the region, St. Maarten Academy and St. Dominic High are still awaiting the results for some subjects.

St. Dominic High is still awaiting results for Physics, Biology and Chemistry, while St. Maarten Academy is awaiting the results for Chemistry. Results for other subjects were received mid last week.

While officials at both schools have indicated that the performance of students looks very promising, exam analysis cannot be completed without the missing grades. Additionally, students, some of whom are already abroad for tertiary studies, are awaiting their official exam results before they can start college.

Academy Principal Shareed Hussain and St. Dominic Principal Jose Sommers said they are communicating with the local Department of Education, which communicates directly with CXC to see how soon the results can be sent down.

In St. Dominic's case, CXC is claiming that there were some missing forms. However, Sommers insists that the information was sent. The information was still resent recently to avoid any further delays.

Most colleges in the Netherlands, where many of St. Maarten students go for higher education, are preparing to open.

St. Dominic usually asks colleges to be patient with students, as CXC results are usually received later than that of other secondary schools. Sommers assured that the school is doing its utmost to obtain the missing results from CXC via the local Department of Education.

Hussain said St. Maarten Academy was promised that it would receive the missing results by today, Tuesday.

PHILIPSBURG--Commissioner of Tourism Frans Richardson recently met with a number of job placement companies as a follow-up to his intent to afford residents the opportunity to work aboard cruise vessels.

A few weeks ago Richardson announced that he would convene the meeting, after the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) had indicated that it would assist in seeking employment together with national tourism organizations and employment firms from the territories.

The Commissioner described the meeting as very fruitful and reiterated his desire to see residents of St. Maarten employed on the ships. He said the job placement firms will now be in direct contact with the CTO to further discuss and formalise the employment process.

"Like I said before, working aboard a cruise ship offers many opportunities to learn a trade and/or practise one. You get the opportunity to travel the world, learn about the cruise tourism product and more. It is my hope that we can see a few St. Maarteners aboard the ships soon," he said.

DR. A.C. WATHEY PIER--Kenneth Jones of Hempstead, New York, thought he was just another cruise ship passenger and was just looking forward to a day at the beach surrounded by some 25 members of his family when he disembarked Carnival Victory on Saturday, but had the shock of his life when he was randomly selected as the island's symbolic millionth passenger.

Jones, approached by St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies CEO Mark Mingo and COO Keith Franca on Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Pier, first thought it was some marketing gimmick to persuade him to buy some time or take a tour.

"Is this for real? It's not timeshare?" he asked and called family members to verify what he had heard. "I'm from New York and we always ask 'what's the catch?'"

Mingo assured Jones, who was surrounded by some of his family members who were about to take an island tour with a stop on Orient Beach, that the millionth passenger selection was legitimate. "No gimmick and no fine print," he said, adding that the prize for this honour was a round trip to St. Maarten and a week's stay in a hotel for Jones and three family members.

The immediately usable part of the prize was an island tour and lunch. Dutch St. Maarten Taxi Association President Otis Hughes was on hand for the presentation and ensured that the family received the best island ambassadors for their tour. The harbour took care of cost of the island tour and lunch for 14 of the 25 family members who had originally planned to participate in these activities. The remainder of the 25 paid for a taxi and lunch as they had planned.

After the presentation, Mingo said that African-Americans like Jones had become avid cruisers and travelled with large family groups. Jones was aboard Carnival Victory with 60 close family members and other more distant relatives.

"It was good that the millionth passenger came off of a ship in port on a Saturday. It is crucial that we have ships in port on Saturdays as well as Sundays, and we, as harbour, will continue to lobby for more calls," he said.

Mingo also pointed out that the passenger coming off a Carnival ship was also a reason to be happy. Carnival Corporation is a main partner in the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities expansion that included the addition of the mega-cruise ship pier designed for new 220,000-tonne cruise ships.

Involvement of the taxi association was also very crucial, as the harbour targets more African-Americans to come to enjoy St. Maarten. Based on research on the cruise industry, it was found that African-Americans are more likely to take land taxis – as the Jones clan was about to do – when visiting a destination.

Providing a week-long round trip and stay in St. Maarten is also strategic. Mingo said there had been talk about trying to convert cruise passengers into stay-over visitors, so this would help. It also made more sense, he added, to give the family an on-island stay instead of a cruise. "He is our millionth passenger, therefore he should be back here."

Franca said the random selection had turned out well. The idea was to look for a family with children and the harbour received a bonus because of the large group that was cruising together. "We now have 60 'postcards' – people who will talk about St. Maarten."

This is the first time the millionth-passenger mark has been reached in August. St. Maarten has been playing host to a million and more passengers for nine years now. This year is poised to be a record-breaker, as projections for the year are near the 1.5 million mark – a milestone yet to be attained. A total of 1,001,212 cruise passengers have visited these shores so far for the year. The arrival projection for the year is 1,454,274 cruise passengers.

OVER THE BANK--A fire destroyed a wooden house in Over the Bank early Saturday. Neighbours blamed an arsonist for setting the fire, which left at least one person homeless and threatened to destroy an adjacent building.

Firemen rushed to Over the Bank about 5:30am to extinguish the flames. They worked until mid-morning fighting the fire. Fire Officer Clive Richardson explained that they had had to cool down nearby buildings before stopping the main fire. He said he didn't know the cause.

Sources say police held a man for allegedly starting the fire.

The Daily Herald couldn't reach police for comment about the arson allegations and the reported arrest.

PHILIPSBURG--The Inspectorate of Health, Labour and Social Security VSA is currently investigating whether the recalled Write County Egg, which has made hundreds of people sick due to contamination with Salmonella bacteria on the egg shells, is being sold in St. Maarten.

An official of the department told The Daily Herald on Saturday that the inspectorate is aware of the recall and has already sent out correspondence to determine whether the recalled eggs are on local shelves. The department should have a clear picture by today, Monday.

The massive egg recall by Write County Egg has affected 13 retail brands that the egg factory packages.

The egg brands affected by the recall include: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps.

The eggs are packed in 6- 12- or 18-egg cartons with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 225 and plant numbers 1026, 1413, and 1946.

Dates and codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example: P-1946 223.

Consumers are being advised not to consume the eggs. Recalled eggs should be returned to the store where they were purchased.

Bacterial contamination on modern, industrial-scale chicken farms is said to be a growing problem. Cramped conditions are breeding grounds for disease and widespread use of antibiotics is creating drug-resistant strains of bacteria.

Salmonella poisoning symptoms include lower abdominal cramps, diarrhoea (sometimes bloody), vomiting, fever, chills, malaise, nausea or headache within 6 to 72 hours of eating an egg. Symptoms may persist for as long as a week. While most people recover without treatment, some patients require hospitalization.

PHILIPSBURG--Several organic laws vital in the process to achieve country status for St. Maarten will be tabled by Constitutional Affairs Commissioner William Marlin for approval in the Island Council today, Monday, starting at 2:00pm.

Island Council meetings are open to the public and are broadcast live from Dr. A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall on radio and cable television.

The Central Committee met for some 5½ hours on Saturday to debate as many laws as possible and sent them on to the Island Council for approval. The draft laws are derived from articles in the constitution of Country St. Maarten, termed the supreme law of laws.

Committee members reviewed and debated draft Rules of Order for the Parliament of Country St. Maarten, for which the first 15 members will be elected in the early Island Council elections on September 17 and sworn in on October 10, the date country-within-the-Dutch-Kingdom status will be attained after a 10-year struggle.

Also debated were the draft law on Campaign Financing for political parties, the draft law on Public Manifestations (gatherings) and the draft law on the Electoral Council that will regulate the Main Voting Bureau, among other items.

Opposition Democratic Party (DP) members proposed some changes to a few of the draft laws, which were agreed to by government. These changes are to be presented with the draft laws to the Island Council as "change notes" today.

The National Alliance (NA)-led government is also expected to submit to members of the Island Council answers in writing to questions posed in the Central Committee meeting prior to the start of today's meeting.

These draft laws, as well as several others still to be presented in the Central Committee and Island Council, must be dealt with as quickly as possible due to the Round Table Conference (RTC) in The Hague on September 9. The conference will vet the readiness of St. Maarten and Curaçao to become countries within the kingdom on 10-10-10.

The Central Committee met on Saturday because of the constricted time period before the RTC and the schedule of committee chairman George Pantophlet, who is also a parliamentarian. He was in Curaçao for the approval of the amendments to the Kingdom Charter that bring St. Maarten as a country into being. Those amendments were approved by the needed two-thirds majority of the Netherlands Antilles Parliament. St. Maarten has three representatives in that Parliament.

The remaining draft laws will go through the review and approval process in the coming days, so St. Maarten can have the some 40 laws in place ahead of the conference in The Hague. The island territory has been facing criticism from members of the Dutch Second Chamber about its readiness and ability to manage its own activities.

Commissioner Marlin is expected to lead the delegation to The Hague to defend St. Maarten's case. Opposition DP leader Sarah Wescot-Williams is also expected to be part of that delegation.

St. Maarten began its struggle to break away from the Netherlands Antilles with a referendum on June 23, 2000, in which the St. Maarten people voted to become a country within the kingdom, like sister Dutch island Aruba.

The constitutional change process has gone through many phases, but is to end on October 10. On that day the country the Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist, St. Maarten and Curaçao will become countries within the kingdom, and Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba will receive the status of Dutch public entities as a bloc called the BES islands.

MARIGOT--A 30-year-old man is currently in detention in Guadeloupe awaiting trial in connection with eight armed robberies committed in Baie Nettle, Orient Bay, Marigot, and Grand Case between April and August 2010.

Four of the robberies were committed in July at the height of a spate of robberies.

He was arrested on the street by Gendarmes and detectives from the VAMA unit on Thursday, August 19, around 11:30pm, following a discreet surveillance operation.

The Gendarmerie noted that the suspect had been working alone for several weeks, targeting restaurants and liquor stores to rob, usually holding the victims at gunpoint just before closing time.

Witness testimony also aided Gendarmes in identifying the suspect, who resided on the Dutch side, but carried out his thefts on the French side. A surveillance operation was launched and it was just a matter of time before Gendarmes could pick the right moment to carry out the arrest.

In a similar success, Gendarmes arrested two minors ages 14 and 16 at the end of July for armed robberies at a number of small businesses.

Gendarmerie officials said surveillance operations were being carried out day and night to curb criminal activities.

MARIGOT--Préfet Jacques Simonnet has ordered seven Sandy Ground apartments found in a deplorable and uninhabitable state last month to be closed. Investigations are continuing into another 23 apartments said to be in contravention of basic building and sanitary codes.

Border Police PAF agents found tenants and families living in appalling conditions in two apartment blocks during an immigration control at the end of July. A man and his son alleged to be the proprietors were taken into custody.

Subsequent inspections of the apartments have been carried out by Sanitary and Hygiene Services of Guadeloupe. The seven in the worst condition were ordered closed by order of the Préfet (arrêté prefectoral) and the families are to be relocated first, while the remaining tenants in other apartments will be moved later.

The Préfet noted that, not only were the seven apartments lacking sanitary facilities, but their amateurish wiring and electrical installations constituted very dangerous hazards.

Simonnet said it was estimated that the landlord was pocketing 15,000 euros monthly by renting the 30 apartments while not entering into leases or giving receipts and while not paying taxes.

He said a procedure was in effect with the Tax Services to recoup monies due for taxes on non-declared revenue from the proprietor's bank account. The owner will also be held accountable for returning the apartments to an acceptable condition.

The Préfet added that he would be seeking advice from the County Committee on Environment and Health Risks (Comité Départemental de L'Environnment et des Risques Santaires Coders) about what action to take in connection with the remaining apartments.

PHILIPSBURG--When three candidates for the early Island Council elections on September 17 squared off in the first political debate Sunday, taxes, health and education took centre stage as they shared their parties' plans and the weaknesses they saw in their opponents.

Representing their parties in the Arts Video Studio (AVS) debate were Democratic Party (DP) #5 candidate Maria Buncamper-Molanus, National Alliance (NA) #13 candidate Kendall Dupersoy and United People's (UP) party #9 candidate Jules James.

The debate, moderated by Toastmaster Jerome Gumbs, aired live from Philipsburg Community and Cultural Centre via St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 15 with the audience and viewers posing questions to the three candidates on issues that were of importance to them.

Crime has become a major concern for the St. Maarten community and the debate warmed up on this topic as the three candidates vying for seats in the 15-member first Parliament of Country St. Maarten presented what their parties would do if elected.

Buncamper-Molanus said the DP government had started the process to reorganise the Police Force and on returning to government all actions taken thus far to combat crime would be evaluated to see what was effective, after which the party would "build around" those actions. Crime fighting should be "a country effort" and placed as a priority in the first budget for Country St. Maarten, she added.

Youth and crime are priorities in the DP manifesto. Buncamper-Molanus, a current Island Councilwoman and former commissioner, said the youth were tired of hearing they are the future: "it's an old cliché." Their needs must be dealt with now and DP has a plan to urge them to stay in school so they can take advantage of job opportunities later. "DP wants to take you into our folds. We want to make you part of the solution."

Dupersoy, a private sector worker, said crime was linked to social ills that must be addressed in the community. NA will add more manpower to the Police Force and establish police substations with officers permanently based in the several districts, he said. Crime in and around the school areas will be tackled and truancy officers appointed, to ensure all children attend school. The Crime Fund (money seized from illegal activities) will be used in the interim fund projects, he said.

Education is "in crisis" with parents "shipping their children off" to Aruba and Curaçao. NA is focused on building the poly-tech school and a higher vocational education SBO school that should have been built by the former DP government. Foundation Based Education (FBE) was "a failure" and teachers need to be better trained, Dupersoy said.

James, a hotel director and St. Maarten Timeshare Association president, said the young people involved in crime were not a generation lost, but a generation that is desperate. Social partners such as the church need to become more involved with the youth by reaching out to them as they battle poverty, economic needs and peer pressure, he said.

On his party's top priorities, James said UP had plans to build a correctional facility for youngsters to guide them, to tackle affordable housing by acquiring land, and to put a greater emphasis on education.

Taxes

An audience member questioned Buncamper-Molanus about her plan to obtain more money for senior citizens as promoted in her campaign advertisement and why DP hadn't tackled this when in office. Her answer was that pension was a Central Government task until 10-10-10 and past plans to increase it would have been a bigger burden on the people.

However, Country St. Maarten will only have some 3,000 pensioners, a much smaller number than the entire Antilles, making an increase in the pension possible without a heavy burden on the general population, she said.

The tax system also needs to be revamped with a balance between direct and indirect taxes that could result in pensioners not having to pay any tax in the future, the DP candidate said.

Dupersoy chided Buncamper-Molanus for not supporting the pension increase in the past when she served as a Member of Parliamnet, and suggested that if NAf. 15 extra could be paid in premiums the pensioners would be better off. He said the NA was in favour of indirect taxes, because people who came to the island and benefited from it should pay, and a uniform tax system needed to be reached with the French side.

James said his UP party first had to carry out a "robust" review of the tax structure before any decision could be made on increases or tax breaks and the "free riders" in the system had to be tackled to increase tax payment compliance. He said his party had no plan to change the tax system.

Language

Dupersoy said NA believed the language of instruction in government-run schools should revert to Dutch from English, a change made by the DP, because parents were struggling to find places to put their children if they wanted them to have a Dutch-language-based education so that they might be able to secure top government jobs and take up professions such as law.

The system was changed at the start of the education chain, but not carried through to the end, while only the private primary schools have instruction in Dutch, he said.

This was refuted by Buncamper-Molanus, who said the primary schools run by the Catholic School Board had instruction in Dutch and those schools were not private, but subsidised by government. She said it was known that children learned better in their mother tongue – English in the case of St. Maarten.

James also believed that English was the right way to go with the education system, with an emphasis on offering Dutch so students who wanted to follow professions that required this language would be able to do so.

Dupersoy said the DP had not built one school during its past tenure, while the NA with only 15 months in office had moved ahead with plans for the poly-tech school, and two primary schools in Cay Hill and Belvedere.

Those were plans the former DP government had established that were now being claimed by the NA-led coalition, said Buncamper-Molanus.

James said his fellow candidates of DP and NA with their answers showed the promise and experience that people had had. He said it was a game of "musical chairs" and warned the people to "beware" of the promises and remember the experience they had had over the years with those two parties.

Health care

The DP and NA candidates also squared off when questioned by the audience about health care: what had to be done and what had not been done.

Dupersoy said NA had been accused of wanting to outsource health care which was far from the truth, as government was only going to outsource the setting up of the system. That system would cover everyone on the island, with those employed paying premiums and government paying for the unemployed, he said.

Buncamper-Molanus said the island should have had a new health care system in place to replace the Social Insurance Bank SVB, but thanks to the NA-led government such a system would not be in place until 2012.

James said government had nothing that was not from the people, the taxpayers, so if the NA was contemplating this, people needed to realise the premiums for the unemployed people would come from them. He called this "another campaign promise."

Why vote NA, DP, UP

Dupersoy said this was "not the time to return to the quicksand" of the past DP Government or to spend time on "unproven leadership" of the UP whose leader had left the Executive Council "to team up," but to stick with NA as it continued to move St. Maarten forward. He said country status "belonged to the NA," because it was that party that had achieved the date of 10-10-10.

Buncamper-Molanus said 15 months had really made a difference, as the people had been taken from "a mood of optimism and hopefulness" to one of insecurity and uncertainty under the NA-led government. She said NA might have achieved the date for country status, but at what cost, because the DP believed what the people had voted for in the referendum of June 23, 2000, had not been achieved.

James said UP leader Theo Heyliger was "a visionary" whose accomplishments for the island could be seen by just looking around the island. He said UP was about building an economically progressive country of freedom, equality, justice and integrity for all, with a focus on affordable housing, education and fighting crime.

The next AVS political debate will be in the cultural and community centre on Wednesday, September 1, starting at 7:00pm. It will also be live on television with streaming on the Internet.

POINTE BLANCHE--Cruise passengers arriving in St. Maarten today, Saturday, can truly consider themselves one-in-a-million, as the island territory will welcome the millionth cruise passenger for this year when Carnival Victory comes into port. This is the ninth consecutive year that the million-passenger mark has been reached.

This is the first time ever that the million-passenger mark was reached so early in the year. The earliest the milestone million was reached prior to this year was at the end of September 2006.

Carnival Victory, the only scheduled ship, will berth alongside Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Pier with 3,300 passengers. The island's head count so far for the year will be 1,001,212 passengers with the arrival of the ship.

A lucky passenger from aboard Carnival Victory will be selected randomly to be honoured by St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies as the millionth cruise passenger.

Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities has not organised any celebration for today as it did in 2002. The celebrations will be planned for when the 1.5-million and two-million marks are surpassed in the coming years.

St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies CEO Mark Mingo told The Daily Herald that maintaining the million-and-more passengers had not been without challenge, but every crisis that had affected the cruise industry had been weathered by St. Maarten.

Cruise numbers dropped slightly after the 9-11 terrorist attacks in New York. However, this was followed by the million-passenger mark being reached for the first time the next year (2002). Passenger arrival numbers continue to grow in general, although the peak occurred in 2005, with 1,488,537.

"All of our cruise partners are important for the island. St. Maarten's cruise arrival numbers have dropped in 2008 and 2009 because of the economic crisis. We are climbing back up this year and will probably even surpass the projection," Mingo said.

This year's projected number of arrivals is tagged at 1,454,274. However, that number can increase or decrease in the remaining months with ships diverted to or from St. Maarten due to the hurricane season.

Mingo said the harbour group's marketing and lobbying efforts had paid off well for the island territory and would continue to do so in the years to come. "We, or now-caretaker Harbour Affairs Commissioner Theo Heyliger, have never just sat back and waited. Our goal has been St. Maarten at the forefront of the cruise industry and the island continues to be one of the top three ports in the region."

He added that it was also symbolic that the millionth passenger this year would come from Carnival Corporation ship. Carnival has been the harbour's biggest partner in the expansion of the cruise and cargo facilities that include the mega-cruise-ship pier.

The first million-passenger mark was reached on December 17, 2002, and a passenger from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Explorer of the Seas was selected at random by Harbour Affairs and then-Tourism Commissioner Heyliger as the symbolic millionth passenger.

PHILIPSBURG--The Executive Council has appealed a May 17 court decision in which the Island Council had been given three months to come up with a new decision on a director's licence application on behalf of The Crew's Nest bar and restaurant.

The owners of The Crew's Nest had filed an administrative LAR appeal against the Executive Council's decision to reject the request to obtain a director's licence for one of its employers, a citizen of the United States.

They had based the appeal on the contention that, like Dutch nationals, the Federal Ordinance Foreign Workers LAV also was not applicable to citizens of the United States.

In an intermediate ruling in this case on February 22, a judge had already established that under the Friendship Treaty closed between the Dutch Kingdom and the United States on December 5, 1957, US citizens should be treated the same as European Dutch in the Netherlands Antilles.

The judge had therefore decided to reopen the investigation into the legal framework concerning the issuance of directors' licences and the rules for directors' licences for European Dutch.

According to the Executive Council, the request for a director's licence was a veiled attempt to gain access to the local labour market and to circumvent the LAV and the Federal Ordinance Admission and Expulsion LTU.

The plaintiffs said no difference should be made between European Dutch and citizens of the United States. The judge confirmed in his May 17 ruling that the same rules apply to US citizens in the Netherlands Antilles and European Dutch. This means that where European Dutch are exempt from the LAV, the same should apply to US citizens here.

However, the judge said his ruling would not mean that the plaintiffs should automatically be granted a director's licence. Like European Dutch, US citizens are foreigners and therefore subject to the LTU, the judge said. The conditions laid down in the LTU for European Dutch should also be met by US citizens.

Crew's Nest's legal representative in the case, attorney-at-law Michael Voges, said he was "surprised" by the Executive Council's decision to appeal the Court's decision. It is not yet known when the appeal will be heard.

PHILIPSBURG--Commissioner of Tourism Frans Richardson said on Friday he was "very happy" with the performance of the GOL charter flight and looked forward to increased numbers after the traditional slow August and September months.

He explained that after solid June and July figures, the season now moved into a period during which the Brazilian traveller tends to "stay at home." "This is not a period for them to travel, so naturally the numbers for August and September won't be as high as the fully-booked June and July period. Nevertheless, they are still travelling to St. Maarten and the flight is doing very well compared with the other destinations. I am very happy with it."

Erica Fortuno of East Caribbean DMC, the company that handles the passengers booked through Brazil's largest tour operator CVC, concurred with the Commissioner with regard to the slow-down for August and September. She explained that the Brazilian "winter" was July, which resulted in more travel.

When August rolls around and children go back to school, etc., the numbers tend to go down. "But judging from the numbers of the last high season, we think the numbers will go back up," she said. For comparison, Fortuno said July saw passenger figures in the mid-to-high 80s for the weekly flight, while those for August were down to an average of 55.

The weekly GOL flight is operated by Brazil's largest tour operator CVC and Nascimento Turismo, who split the 166 seats on the Boeing 737 60-40, respectively. The flight commenced on June 12 with an itinerary starting in São Paulo, making a stop at Manaus, Brazil, and continuing on to St. Maarten.

Looking to add another carrier from the vibrant South American market, Richardson and St. Maarten Tourism Bureau Head Regina LaBega will travel to Panama on Tuesday, August 24, to meet with officials of Copa Airlines and hopefully close the deal to have the airline service St. Maarten with direct flights.

Some discussions still have to take place, but Richardson is confident the deal will take place. St. Maarten's interest comes at a good time, as Copa is looking for growth by adding new destinations and increased flight frequency. The carrier has more than quadrupled its fleet to 56 aircraft since 1998 and now serves 45 destinations in 24 countries.

PHILIPSBURG--The economy, alternatives to tourism, and balancing taxes and services to the community are to take centre stage on Sunday in the first Arts Video Studio (AVS) political debate in connection with the early Island Council elections on September 17.

The debates will be held in the Philipsburg Cultural and Community Centre and will run from 7:00 to 10:00pm.

Squaring off in the first debate will be Democratic Party (DP) #5 candidate Maria Buncamper-Molanus, National Alliance (NA) #13 candidate Kendall Dupersoy, and United People's (UP) party #9 candidate Jules James.

Buncamper-Molanus is an Island Councilwoman who served as Economic Affairs and Health Commissioner from July 2007 until June 2009 when the DP government lost its majority support in the Island Council.

Dupersoy has been outspoken about issues such as the economy and particularly the former DP government's management of the island territory. He works in the private sector and has been a stalwart NA member and candidate over the years.

James of the green party is a hotel director and serves as St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA) president.

DP, led by Island Councilwoman Sarah Wescot-Williams, NA, headed by Commissioner William Marlin, and UP, headed by caretaker Commissioner Theo Heyliger, are three of four parties in the September 17 polls that will see the election of the first 15 parliamentarians of Country St. Maarten.

The fourth party Concordia Political Alliance (CPA), headed by former DP candidate Jeffrey Richardson, does not have a representative in the debate, as Richardson is the party's only candidate.

He will debate with the other party leaders in the fourth and final debate on Sunday, September 12. The second debate will be held on Wednesday, September 1, and the third on Sunday, September 5.

All four debates will be broadcast live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 20, and streamed live via the Internet, and will include a segment for questions from the audience.

The public is invited be part of the debates, but is advised by the organisers to arrive by 6:30pm at the latest, as the debates go live at 7:00pm and as seating in the cultural centre is limited.

Zaandam votes against 

WILLEMSTAD--The Antillean Parliament approved the amendment to the Kingdom Charter on Friday evening after much debate with a 17-4 vote margin. This formalises the emergence of new countries St. Maarten and Curaçao with the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles on October 10.

A two-thirds majority was needed for approval.

Reginald Zaandam of Central Government coalition partner DP-Statia, Democratic Party of Bonaire, and the two members of pro-independence Curaçao opposition party "Pueblo Soberano" (PS) voted against the charter change.

The change makes possible the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles for Curaçao and St. Maarten to become countries within the Dutch Kingdom, while the BES islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba will become Dutch public entities.

Zaandam said his island had voted to remain in the Antilles and he had big problems with the lack of equality between inhabitants of St. Eustatius and the rest of the Netherlands. In his view, all kinds of things are being dictated to the BES islands, yet their people do not have a right to same treatment they would receive in the Netherlands.

"Lista di Kambio" opposition faction member Eunice Eisden (MAN) said the Charter change would not give the people what they had voted for in the 2005 referendum. Nonetheless, she voted for it in the end.

PAR faction member Glen Sulvaran spoke of an historic occasion to take the next step to realise the constitutional wish of the people. "We have the key to give the population what it wants."

With Zaandam voting against, the Central Government coalition would have been left with only 13 seats in favour, two short of the 15 needed for a two-thirds majority in the 22-seat legislature. One parliamentarian was not present for the meeting.

COLE BAY--Jewellers, one of the biggest business sectors in St. Maarten, apparently have not yet realised the importance for the continuation of their business and for the economy that they are knowledgeable about and fully compliant with the regulations for financial transactions.

They have shown very little interest up to now in the information sessions of the Financial Intelligence Unit MOT, St. Maarten division.

MOT Antilles Director Kenneth Dambruck told the press Friday that the information session organised especially for the jewellers this week had been poorly attended.

Only two jewellers were present to learn more about the laws against money-laundering and terrorism-financing and their obligations to report certain transactions to MOT. "Their attendance was very, very minimal and that is putting it positively."

As of May 15, jewellery stores, car dealers, real estate agents, notaries and several other non-financial-based businesses are obligated by law to report to the centre for unusual transactions MOT transactions of legally specified amounts.

For jewellers, every transaction involving NAf. 20,000 or more must by law be reported to MOT, or the business runs the risk of being caught up in legal troubles should it be found that a client was involved in money-laundering or the financing of terrorism. Reporting transactions as prescribed by law indemnifies the reporter.

MOT Antilles (in the future, of St. Maarten and Curaçao) will be evaluated by the international monitoring agency for unusual transactions Financial Action Task Force (FATF), in November.

The Netherlands Antilles will receive grades for compliance: for having the laws in place and for proper reporting of transactions. Should a failing grade be given, the result will be the country/new countries potentially being labelled as centres for money launderers and terrorism financiers.

Based on the evaluation, FATF might advise potential (foreign) investors to stay away and existing investors "to pack up and leave," Dambruck said. For these reasons, it is important that all new reporters become compliant with the laws ahead of the evaluation.

FATF representatives will select some of the new reporters at random to visit during their trip here in November.

The separate sessions this week for new reporting entities, including the jewellery sector, were organised at the request of the jewellers. They had requested a session more focused on information for their sector prior to the law going into effect, after a general gathering of all new reporters in February.

Dambruck said the sessions also allowed for the unit to find out from the new reporters how the application of the law was in each new area, and where it might have overreached or could have been worded differently.

Amendments to the law on unusual transaction-reporting are pending and should be put before the Parliaments of Countries St. Maarten and Curaçao for approval in November. One change to the law will be the inclusion of extra monitoring of "Politically Exposed Persons" or PEPs. This covers politicians, immediate family, close friends and associates.

Dambruck joked that in St. Maarten "everyone is a PEP" because everyone has easy access to elected/political persons. At present, the extra monitoring for such double-checking or asking for additional information when a PEP is involved in a transaction only applies to foreign/visiting PEPs.

He explained that on the international scene it had been found that politicians were sometimes at the heart of some of the worst fraud schemes.

For more information about MOT, e-mail

mot.na@gov.an .

COLE BAY--Brooks Tower Accord (BTA) coordinators hope to open registration on Wednesday for permit holders who are allowed to start businesses under the legalisation project.

About 32 per cent of all BTA recipients (1,385 up to 3:00pm Friday) have applied for extensions since the Central Government started accepting applications on August 2.

BTA officials met with Commissioner of Economic Affairs Frans Richardson and members of the Economic Affairs Department on Friday morning to discuss a possible exemption for more than 2,000 permit holders that would allow them to obtain business licences.

"We are waiting for the Executive Council to agree," said local coordinator Tiara Haselhoef. "We have nearly everything in place to start registering them."

Haselhoef's team hopes to persuade the Executive Council to make an exception for BTA permit holders allowing them to apply for licences for sole proprietorship businesses, a privilege reserved for legal residents and Dutch nationals.

The Central Government has made special provisions for BTA applicants to remain legal residents, citing the difficulty most, if not all, would face trying to qualify for the regular work/residence application process.

Economic Affairs workers will be stationed at the BTA headquarters at the Salvation Army in Cole Bay, issuing and accepting business licence applications. Both the Central and local governments plan to translate the documents, which were exclusively Dutch, into English, Spanish, and Creole (Haitian patois).

Only 11 of the persons in BTA Category I-b, self-employed persons who have lived in the Netherlands Antilles longest, have applied for extensions, Haselhoef said. Most persons in that category must wait for the Executive Council to make the exception before they can apply. Those who applied for the extension in the first three weeks already had business licences. Haselhoef couldn't explain how.

Other applicants include persons who arrived before December 31, 2002, and work for others (1,058) and those who arrived between 2002 and 2005 and work for others (263). Student applicants, persons who can obtain a one-year extension for studies, are zero, Haselhoef said. And 263 persons have applied for relatives.

BTA workers had issued only 30 of the 237 extension permits since Wednesday.

Haselhoef had urged permit holders through The Daily Herald this week to apply before registration closes on September 18. More than 4,000 BTA permits issued earlier this year will expire on November 3.

Former candidate says she was 'not ready' 

POND ISLAND--With much perseverance and determination to represent in particular the "indigenous people of St. Maarten," Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) leader Jeffrey Richardson gathered on Thursday the 134 endorsement signatures needed for his candidacy in the early Island Council election on September 17.

Richardson, a former candidate and executive assistant for the past Democratic Party (DP) government, hopes to win at least one seat in the first parliament for Country St. Maarten.

CPA is one of two parties that needed their candidate lists endorsed because they have no representation in the present Island Council. The other party, United People's (UP) party, headed by caretaker Commissioner Theo Heyliger, also received the required number of signatures that represent one per cent of the voters in the most recent election.

CPA had announced a slate of four candidates on August 15, with Richardson as #1, but two candidates fell out of the race on Nomination Day, Wednesday, because they were not properly registered in the Census Office. It was not possible to register them in time, despite much effort by Richardson, Denicio Wyatt and Leo Richardson.

The fourth candidate, Natasha Chumney, had pulled out as a candidate on Tuesday for unknown reasons. She submitted a handwritten explanation to The Daily Herald on Thursday stating that she was not ready for the elections.

Chumney wrote that she wanted to set the record straight and inform the people of St. Maarten that she "didn't give up on them or pull out of this election because of fear of the bigger parties."

She added, "I am a very excited, strong and willing candidate ready to stand up and put the people of St. Maarten first. Unfortunately, both the party and I were in many ways not prepared for this election. One thing I can say with certainty is that I will be ready and fully equipped for the 2014 elections to fight for this country and for the people of St. Maarten."

POND ISLAND--A line formed outside the Census Office on Pond Island just before 8:00am on Thursday. The gathering was not clamouring for new identification cards, driver's licences or registration papers; they wanted to sign to endorse the United People's (UP) party candidate list so that the "green" party officially would be in the early Island Council elections on September 17. And sign they did.

At 9:30am, half an hour after the office began taking endorsement signatures, the UP slate of 23 candidates headed by caretaker Commissioner Theo Heyliger had the required 134 signatures, and more people were still in line to sign up. The Census Office did not give an official count of signatures, but estimates are that more than 200 people had endorsed the list by closing time at 8:30pm.

UP was one of the two parties that required endorsement for the same reason. The other party was Concordia Political Alliance (CPA), headed by former Democratic Party (DP) candidate Jeffrey Richardson. The "gold" slate with just Richardson as a candidate also received the needed signatures.

The two slates needed the endorsement signatures, representing one per cent of the votes in the most recent election, because they do not have any representation in the present Island Council.

UP was launched officially on July 24, 2010. Heyliger, although an Island Councilman, was elected in 2007 as a candidate on the DP slate.

He thanked the "St. Maarten family" for endorsing the slate and the green party in general, and said he looked forward to their continued support on Election Day, September 17, when the island will vote for the first 15 parliamentarians for Country St. Maarten. The seven-member council of ministers will also emerge from that election, as well as St. Maarten's first prime minister.

"We are up and running even faster now that we have received yet another overwhelming endorsement from the St. Maarten people with the enthusiasm shown for the green list. The UP team has truly teamed up for St. Maarten and all candidates are ready to tackle the housing situation, education, fighting crime and bringing about better living standards for our island. Together we can all move St. Maarten up," Heyliger said Thursday evening.

Candidates on the UP slate as well as those of the three other parties – CPA, the Democratic Party (DP) and National Alliance (NA) – will be reviewed by the Main Voting Bureau in Dr. A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall on Monday starting at 10:00am. This is a legally prescribed review carried out to ensure all candidates are in compliance with the rules and regulations to vie for public office.

Party launches campaign song at first rally

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) candidates gave an insight into the issues they would focus on if elected, at the party's first public rally at Clem LaBega Square Wednesday evening.

NA also launched its campaign song, an adapted version of Addison "Shadowman" Richardson's "Follow the White Line" hit. In its campaign song, the party urges the electorate to "follow the white line" to the polls on September 17, for the early Island Council elections to select the first Parliament of Country St. Maarten. Shadowman sang the song live, while dancers performed on stage.

The several candidates spoke about the issues of concern they planned to focus on if elected. NA has said that it is aiming for 10 seats to represent 10-10-10, the date St. Maarten is expected to receive its new status as Country.

Candidate number 16 Head of School Bus and Taxi Dispatcher Martha Simon-Thewet said that, since taking up her current position, she had advised government on measures that promoted safety of students. She said only school bus drivers whose vehicles passed the inspection test would be compensated. Since her proposal was submitted, it was accepted, she said, adding that this showed that government cared for the safety and security of the island's youths.

Candidate number 22 Jean Boasman, a bus driver for 10 years and a taxi driver for 16, said that, with his years of experience in the transportation industry, he had good insight into the issues that existed and the knowledge necessary to help "fix" the problems in the industry.

Candidate number 21 Jacinto Mock, a hotel supervisor, said the establishment of testing centres to test the level of students' ability was something he would champion. He said there were many smart children in St. Maarten and the testing centres would help to prove this.

Legal adviser Claudette Charles-Hassell, candidate number 20, said the electorate should not think that, because NA swept all three of St. Maarten's available seats in the January Parliamentary elections, that winning this election would be easy. She said NA was a party of integrity and voters should go out and convince other voters that NA was the right choice.

Candidate number 14, real estate professional Christopher Emmanuel, said NA had a "dynamic" list of candidates to serve St. Maarten and the "better life" for the people of St. Maarten would be achieved only through the NA.

Emmanuel, a former People's Progressive Alliance (PPA) candidate, said there were some things he needed to "get off his chest." One of those issues is the team-up between United People's (UP) Party and PPA former Leader Gracita Arrindell, which he called a "marriage of convenience."

"When you mix green and orange you get red," he said, adding that the UP slate consisted of "disgruntled" Democratic Party members. "She [Gracita Arrindell] was against Country St. Maarten; she shouldn't be in the race," he contended.

Educator and human rights activist Terry J. Peterson, candidate number 10, said he would represent the voice of the people in government if elected.

Narda de Windt, candidate number 18, spoke to the electorate in both English and her native language Spanish. She pledged to work hard to represent the people of St. Maarten if given the opportunity to do so.

Young professional Leona Marlin-Romeo, candidate number 11, said she was ready to serve. She said she was new to politics, but she was not new to the functioning of government. She said NA had a strong team and a strong leader to take St. Maarten forward.

Educator Silveria Jacobs, candidate number 8, said she had "made a difference" in her home, in the classroom and on the sports field, where she volunteered, and she knew that she could also make a difference in government for the people of St. Maarten. "I am real. What I say, I mean [...] We need to move forward collectively."

NA Parliamentarian Henrietta Doran-York urged the electorate to "stick to NA" so the party could continue the work it had been doing. She also urged people not to sell their votes or to be "bought by sweet words" or "with US $300 to put a sticker on your car."

Telecommunications Minister Patrick Illidge said NA was on flight 10-10-10 with destination Country St. Maarten. He said the flight would reach an altitude of 10,000 feet and land the people of St. Maarten safely in Country St. Maarten. "Country St. Maarten is in sight," he said.

Constitutional Affairs Minister Roland Duncan said that other parties seemed to be so eager to start the political race that they "broke the rules," putting up political billboards early. He noted that in the Olympics, everyone had to start the race at the same time.

NA Parliamentarians George Pantophlet (3), Rodolphe Samuel (4) and candidates Dr. Lloyd Richardson (12), commissioner Hyacinth Richardson (5) and Kendall Dupersoy (13) also had positive words for the audience, encouraging them to stand behind team NA.

Also on NA's slate are Commissioner Frans Richardson (2), independent Island Councilman Louie Laveist (9), Rudy Engel (15), Jason Peterson (17) and entrepreneur Herbert Martina (19).

PHILIPSBURG--TheOpinionBank.com (a division of JS Consulting Services) will be conducting a poll of voters to ascertain the electorate's sentiments about the upcoming election on September 17 and what political party is likely to be triumphant.

The poll will be conducted on-line. A stratified random sample of the electorate will be invited (by invitation only) to log on to

www.sxmElection2010.theOpinionBank.com and complete the poll panel. Invitations will be sent out via e-mail and randomly distributed throughout the 15 voting districts.

Those invited will be directed to

http://www.sxmElection2010.TheOpinionBank.com. Persons will then have to enter the code on the invitation and complete the poll. Each code can be used only once. All respondents accurately completing the poll will be entered into a sweepstake, with a chance to win a flat-screen TV.

The polling will commence on Monday, August 23, and end on Thursday, September 16. Further inquiry about the poll should be directed to

info@sxmElection2010.theOpinionBank.com .

It could not be ascertained by press time if the poll would be released before the elections on September 17 - after closing the day before - and through which medium.

Claims 'people pumping money' into campaign

PHILIPSBURG--Independent Island Councilman Louie Laveist said Wednesday night that he had been offered "a bundle of money" on more than one occasion to withdraw his support from the National Alliance (NA)-led coalition government.

Laveist, who withdrew his support for the former Democratic Party (DP) government after infighting within the party coupled with his own legal issues, did not specify who or which party had offered him money to "drop the government."

"Despite all the bag of tricks and money offered to me, when I say I will support you I will," Laveist, who is now running as the number 9 candidate on the National Alliance (NA) slate, told supporters Wednesday evening at the party's first public campaign meeting on Clem Labega Square.

In what was seen as a thinly veiled reference to at least one of his former colleagues in the former DP Executive Council, Laveist said the youth of St. Maarten hadn't had an opportunity to own condos in Miami or Simpson Bay or to own a crane.

He said NA's caring for the people of St. Maarten was evident. Even though NA leader William Marlin "has a campaign to run" he did not "go and put up posters," but rather "remained in his office working" for the people of St. Maarten, Laveist said.

He urged the electorate not to take for granted the early Island Council elections on September 17 to select the first parliament for Country St. Maarten, "because they are pumping money out there."

Laveist also spoke about the "suffering" he had endured while serving as a commissioner in the former DP government.

"Today my eyes have been opened. Even in adversity there is victory," he said, adding that had there not been a rift in the DP, he would not have known of the ill feelings towards him. "And, my people, if they did it to me they can do it to you," he said in his brief but fiery speech, at the end of which he promised to tell more at upcoming campaign meetings.

PHILIPSBURG--The Main Voting Bureau will review on Monday the seventy candidates vying for the fifteen seats in the first Parliament of Country St. Maarten, to ensure they meet the criteria to contest the early Island Council elections on September 17, such as being properly registered in St. Maarten, eligible voters, and not having had their right to vote taken away by the court, among other things.

The list review meeting that starts at 10:00am will review the candidate lists submitted to the Main Voting Bureau by United People's (UP) party, the Democratic Party (DP), Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) and the National Alliance (NA) on Nomination Day, Wednesday.

The closed-door meeting, set for Dr. A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall, will be held based on Article 22 of the Election Regulation of the Island Territory of St. Maarten.

Any party having submitted the name of a candidate not meeting the criteria because documents are missing, his or her voting rights have been taken away, or for any other reason, will have to remove that candidate and will not be allowed a replacement, as Nomination Day has already passed.

After the list review, the voting bureau will deal in the coming days with the numbering of the four party slates and the awarding of the slate colours as requested by the parties. The four parties have requested different colours – red for DP, white for NA, green for UP and gold for CPA – so no changes are expected.

AIRPORT--The addition of two additional gates at the airport terminal is progressing well, after construction started about a month ago. President of the Princess Juliana International Airport operating company PJIAE Eugene Holiday announced in October 2009 that two additional gates would be added to the airport terminal, giving the facility a total of thirteen, to increase and enhance capacity in the B section of the terminal.

The number of B gates will be increased to five, located at the southwestern end of the airport. The objective is to enhance capacity of the B lounge during peak hours.

Holiday said the addition of the two gates in the terminal re-enforced the airport's commitment to improving its competitive position, by ensuring safe and secure operations in keeping with international safety standards, and by providing efficient and high-quality services.

The B section is primarily used by smaller airlines that do not make use of the jet bridges. Passengers usually walk or are taken via bus to their aircraft from this section.

In related news, The Daily Herald understands that negotiations are still ongoing for the implementation of a number of self-service, check-in kiosks in the terminal. An unspecified number of airlines have agreed to make use of the kiosks, while the specialist provider SITA of information technology (IT) solutions to airlines and airports is in discussions with others.

While PJIAE will own the machines, airlines also will have to make investments. The kiosks are part of the investment in the new terminal, and continue PJIAE's drive to deliver state-of-the-art services to its customers.

The passenger check-in kiosks are rapidly growing in popularity and necessity in airports throughout the world. Although no details have been released as yet about the number of kiosks for Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), airport management recognises that the market for the units is growing rapidly and should be a priority for PJIAE.

A major survey conducted by SITA of passenger habits at six leading airport hubs across five continents has found 20-per-cent growth in the use of self-service check-in options over the last year. However, with the continued growth of online check-in options, this number is expected to remain static for the foreseeable future.

PHILIPSBURG--The stationing here of Committee for Financial Supervision CFT secretariat personnel has been agreed on to assist St. Maarten to become more compliant with preparing balanced budgets and getting its financial house in order.

This was the result of Dutch State Secretary for Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld-Schouten's meetings with Constitutional Affairs Commissioner William Marlin, Finance Commissioner Xavier Blackman and the CFT on Thursday. Bijleveld-Schouten was on a brief visit to St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius this week.

St. Maarten's budget woes and the role of the CFT were foremost on her agenda, as questions are still being raised by members of the Dutch Second Chamber about St. Maarten's readiness to become a country within the Dutch Kingdom as of 10-10-10. The problems with balancing the budget and the CFT's constant dissatisfaction are thorns in the side of Bijleveld-Schouten and the island as the constitutional change process continues.

She told the press she wanted to ensure that "all was clear" with St. Maarten ahead of the crucial Round Table Conference in The Hague on September 9. She doesn't foresee any major problem in the Second Chamber that could affect the island.

Based on the agreement made between parties, the CFT will now write a new advice on the 2010 budget to the Kingdom Council of Ministers. The committee had written last month saying that the budget still had difficulties and government still had much work to do to improve its financial reporting and planning.

The budgetary process and compliance are to be strengthened with improved communication between the CFT and government that will be brought about with personnel from the CFT secretariat based in Curaçao visiting the island for two to three days of crucial weeks on the budget preparation calendar. The stationing of CFT personnel in St. Maarten at crucial times will allow for more timely reviews.

Commissioner Blackman said the meeting with the CFT and Dutch State Secretary had been positive and discussion about the budget for 2010 and the one for 2011 that is in preparation would continue with CFT on a "technical level." He noted that the supervisory task of CFT and the regulations for better accountability and more transparency in government finances were still "new" for all stakeholders.

Communication between the CFT and government are to be "more intensified from now on" so that issues can be recognised and dealt with earlier in the budgetary preparation process.

Government, faced with dwindling income caused by the global economic crisis and other factors that result in budget deficits, was encouraged by the Dutch State Secretary to think also of ways to raise income and not only work on reducing expenditures.

Debt cancellation for St. Maarten by the Dutch Government is will be worked on. This will help in freeing government revenues, said Marlin. The biggest debt the island has is a disputed amount to the General Pension Fund of the Netherlands Antilles APNA, totally some NAf. 65 million. Government has challenged this number and APNA still has to present substantiated proof of its claims to the Government's Accountants Bureau SOAB.

The disputed amount has to do with pension premiums not paid by government over the years, according to APNA. While the amount has not increased over the years, the interest the island has to pay is tagged daily at NAf. 12,000. Marlin said if this matter were resolved, the money paid in interest could be better used for the people of the island.

Marlin said St. Maarten was in the final stretch of attaining country status and he was happy that the Dutch state secretary could visit the island, as there were some issues that needed ironing out ahead of the Round Table Conference, such as the budget issues and concerns about the approval of more than 30 organic laws.

The handling of the organic laws in the Central Committee of the Island Council will begin on Saturday, with hope that these will be sent on for handling in the Island Council on Monday.

The meeting was called for Saturday because Central Committee Chairman/Island Councilman/parliamentarian George Pantophlet is Curaçao for a Parliament meeting on the change to the Kingdom Charter that is necessary for St. Maarten and Curaçao to become countries within the kingdom come October.

MULLET BAY--A man and a woman died early Thursday when the SUV they were in hit a lamppost in Mullet Bay.

Dead are French Quarter resident Geraldine Bliss (17) and A.Th. Illidge Road resident Jean-Michel McDonna (27). Police arrested the driver while they investigated the crash.

The Mitsubishi Pajero was carrying seven persons when the driver crashed into the lamppost on Rhine Road about 4:40am, police said. Most of the victims apparently were pitched from the SUV as it tumbled down the road.

Four occupants received only "minor bruises and scratches" in the crash. A fifth man ran away before police and paramedics arrived.

Police said the driver had been speeding before losing control, hitting the post and then "turning over several times" before the vehicle landed on its left side. "At the time the vehicle was turning over, the occupants were being thrown out of the vehicle," police spokesman Inspector Ricardo Henson said in a press statement. The tumbling Pajero pinned them to the ground.

Firemen used the Jaws of Life to lift the crashed Pajero off the two victims. About seven firemen then tried to roll the vehicle onto its wheels, but it fell back onto the corpses before they were successful.

Relief workers were busy until past 7:00am to secure the living victims and remove the dead ones from the scene.

Another young girl Khimouy Andromeda Antoine died in a crash earlier this month. Authorities ruled that Antoine had died in an accident in Saunders that day.

'DP was a mistake'

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) #18 candidate Narda de Windt says switching from the Democratic Party (DP) to "team NA" is the "best" choice she has made to serve the people of St. Maarten.

De Windt, who was born in the Dominican Republic, but raised in St. Maarten, told The Daily Herald shortly after the NA submitted its list of candidates on Nomination Day, yesterday, that the NA was a progressive party that had the best interest of the people of St. Maarten at heart.

De Windt made the news Wednesday when her picture appeared in a DP campaign ad in this newspaper while she appeared on the line-up to run with the NA.

She originally engaged in talks with DP and said she had "thought" that party was the one for her. As a result of her initial talks, her campaign picture was taken and apparently as a result used in yesterday's ad. However, she said she later had a change of heart when she realised that the NA's philosophies were similar to hers.

"I was very confused about running with other parties, but I made the best choice and I will keep it that way," she said. "I want to tell the people of St. Maarten that I am sorry if I made a mistake, but I did not make the right choice [with DP]. Thank goodness I made up my mind to be with NA in time."

De Windt said that, being raised here, she loved St. Maarten and its people and was ready to serve them to the best of her abilities.

"I want the best for my community and I see a good vision in the National Alliance. They have brought good progress for the island."

NA leader William Marlin, in response to questions from reporters on the subject, said it was not unusual in politics for candidates to have talks with various parties. He said though that "the reality is that we have to go by what is and not what was. We have turned in a list of 23 candidates and this is what we will be contesting the elections with. ... She [De Windt] has signed our list and if she was talking to other parties, which I am sure she did, ... it is politics."

Asked about claims by the DP that De Windt had been forced to join NA, Marlin said he was not in the business of gossip. "The candidate is on our slate. If the DP has failed to secure her confidence it is their responsibility. She is on our slate just like Jean Boasman, who was also asked to be on two other parties' slates."

He said another party had been courting an NA Island Council member up to last night to join its list.

In the run-up to Nomination Day, candidates were being courted by other parties. In some cases persons were approached by all three parties, seeking to encourage them to serve as candidates on their respective lists.

A candidate on the United People's (UP) party's slate, for example, was also on another party's slate and even had his campaign pictures taken, as was the case with De Windt, but that candidate also changed his mind later and decided to run with UP.

PHILIPSBURG--The United People's (UP) party candidates, families and supporters, clad in green and carrying green flags, marched to the beat of its campaign songs from the "Foot of Town" up Front Street to Clem Labega Square to submit the party's slate for the September 17 election to the Main Voting Bureau early on Nomination Day, Wednesday.

UP leader Theo Heyliger said, prior to submitting the party's slate that it was an "historic and crucial election" for the first 15-member parliament of Country St. Maarten and it would be "about the people." He said UP would do its best to win as "many seats as possible to represent the people of St. Maarten and we look forward to the people of St. Maarten giving that representation."

UP will focus on affordable and better housing, fighting crime and education, and is the foundation for a better St. Maarten, he said.

Asked what UP would do differently, as these have been the priorities of almost every party over time, Heyliger said, "This is the time now that I am the leader of the United People's party, so that is the number one difference. I have never had the opportunity [in the past] to be able to really [participate] in those three issues. If you look at our list as well you will see those three issues are reflected [in the abilities of the candidates].

The "green parade" flowed into the Government Administration Building after 9:00am, ready to hand in the slate, only to find that members of the voting bureau were not yet present in Dr. A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall.

After a lengthy wait, party leader caretaker Commissioner Theo Heyliger, UP number two Gracita Arrindell and UP advisor Joseph Richardson were called for a closed-door meeting with bureau head Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt.

After the missing members of the voting bureau arrived, Heyliger received the party's slate from UP advisor and "list maker" former commissioner Joseph Richardson. Heyliger then submitted it "on behalf of the family of St. Maarten – the United People's party – the winning slate" to Groeneveldt along with the request to use green as the party's colour.

Groeneveldt said, "On behalf of the people of St. Maarten, I accept your list. I wish you and your candidates and members of your party all the best for the elections and we look forward to the contributions and your participation in building Country St. Maarten."

After seeing UP's request for the colour "green," Groeneveldt said, "That's my colour" referring to the meaning of his name in Dutch.

The early Island Council election next month will be the first in which the "green" party has participated and the first time Heyliger, the grandson of the the late Claude Wathey, popularly referred to as the "father of St. Maarten," has headed a party slate.

The party needs 134 endorsement signatures by the end of today, Thursday, to be officially eligible for the September polls, because UP does not have any representation in the present Island Council. Heyliger is in the council, but was elected as a candidate on the Democratic Party (DP) slate in 2007.

The list will be available for endorsement in the Census Office on Pond Island.

Jeffrey feels 'like David attacking Goliath'

PHILIPSBURG--Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) with only one candidate, party leader Jeffrey Richardson, is hoping to be part of the September 17 race for the first parliament of Country St. Maarten because the main goal is to have a "voice for the people of St. Maarten" who have been "betrayed" by governments that have "failed them."

For CPA to become an official contender, the list must be signed by 134 voters by today, Thursday. The list will be posted at the Census Office on Pond Island from 8:00am until 4:00pm.

CPA's involvement in the elections was in limbo for most of Nomination Day, Wednesday, as Richardson had been originally scheduled to submit his list at 11:30am, but he informed the press of delays pertaining to completing the registration in the Census Office for two candidates.

When he finally submitted the CPA list of one candidate, a former Democratic Party (DP) candidate Richardson said he believed the Census Office was to blame because they didn't register the candidates despite the party "trying its best to get them to qualify."

Two CPA candidates were not officially registered as living on St. Maarten which was part of the criteria to be nominated for the elections. "We did everything in our power to get them registered," the party leader said. The reason for the third candidate's non-participation is not clear.

"Looking at the other parties, I feel like David attacking Goliath. All other parties in the elections have been in government. They have failed and betrayed the people," Richardson said.

After the trials at the Census Office, CPA had "a meeting" and the once potential candidates urged Richardson to continue in the race so that the people of St. Maarten will no longer be "marginalised or excluded...the people should not be left out of the country's development." It was not the intention to have only one person on the list.

CPA is "going to be significant" in the elections so it is prepared to prompt the "cultural identity" and "traditional way of life" of St. Maarten while ensuring that there is consultation with the French side. Richardson pointed out that is the party's goal to ultimately forge a "united" island with the Dutch and the French side no longer administratively separated. "The goal is for St. Maarten to become one country."

The other persons who were proposed candidates for CPA were private sector worker Natasha Chumney, Graphic Designer Denicio Wyatt and businessman Leo Richardson.

At the party launch on August 15, Richardson explained that his party's main goal was to strengthen, preserve and give content to the St. Maartener identity. He said that while the party was open to "common, sensible and logical interpretations" of who is a St. Maartener, the CPA will maintain focus on persons with St. Maarten roots as being a St. Maartener, so that, for example, no committee has to be formed to define who is a St. Maartener.

PHILIPSBURG--The Civil Registry Office (Census) has set aside four days when Dutch nationals can visit to apply for Identification Cards (IDs) or to renew existing cards in connection with the September 17 early Island Council elections.

The office will open on Saturday, August 21, August 28, September 4 and September 11 from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

Brooks Towers Accord (BTA) applicants and other persons can also visit the office from Monday to Friday during office hours. Only 75 identification cards will be issued daily.

Customers for services are being advised that today, Thursday, August 19, the Census Office will not issue any ID cards as new political parties will be presenting their list of signatures needed to participate in the election. Additional information can be obtained from the Census Office at telephone number 542-2457.

PHILIPSBURG--The Central Government was prepared Wednesday to grant legal extensions for Brooks Tower Accord (BTA) permit-holders, but up to mid-afternoon no one had claimed one.

BTA coordinator Tiara Haselhoef said government had published 237 numbers by midday for the matching permit-holders to collect their extensions at the Philipsburg police station. They had turned a few persons away earlier in the day because the permits had not been signed until shortly after noon.

Antillean Justice State Secretary Ernie Simmons and Haselhoef announced last week that they would present the first of the BTA extensions Wednesday. They said many of the 721 extension requests they had received would be available for collection.

Haselhoef said persons with BTA permits could check at the Post Office or the Immigration and Naturalisation Department (IND) building whether their Foreigner Manager System (FMS) numbers were ready.

The BTA extension was announced three weeks ago, promising permit holders a three-year legal stay through simpler regulations than the normal work and residence permit process. The Brooks Tower Accord was a one-year project that allowed thousands of undocumented persons who live in the Netherlands Antilles to become legal residents.

Simmons warned Friday that permit-holders "have to keep complying" with the basic requirements of a valid passport and medical insurance.

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten "truly deserves better" and this was the necessity for the Democratic Party (DP) to submit a full slate of 23 candidates to the Main Voting Bureau on Nomination Day, Wednesday.

Party leader Sarah Wescot-Williams and other candidates arrived at the Government Administration Building aboard "Da Party Bus" after taking a drive through Philipsburg. Other supporters of the red party joined candidates in front of the building and accompanied them inside.

Presenting the slate and request to use the colour red on its slate to Voting Bureau Head Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt, Wescot-Williams said the slate represented people with a "strong commitment to represent St. Maarten. We do it at this time in history convinced that if we look around today and see what is happening especially in the government of St. Maarten, we believe the people of St. Maarten deserve better."

Groeneveldt, receiving the list, wished the party "good luck, much success and God's guidance" in the upcoming elections. "I know for sure that all persons taking part in this election are doing so with the best interest of St. Maarten at heart," he said.

Speaking to the press after the list presentation, the Wescot-Williams said that with the dedication and commitment of the Democratic Party "we are going to turn things around in St. Maarten. ... The Democratic Party needs to do this. We have to give it our all to make sure that the people of St. Maarten have good representation."

That good representation and plan of the DP for the island have been outlined in a manifesto that is now available only in digital copy. Wescot-Williams said hard copies would be available to the general public soon. The manifesto outlines new initiatives and projects that DP had started, but was unable to complete when a change of government occurred in June 2009.

"As country St. Maarten we will be taking on new responsibilities in the areas of crime, immigration, legislation, education, health and labour. We have addressed these issues and how we want to approach them also in the programme. We need to make sure that in those areas we will be getting as Country St. Maarten you need capable and experienced persons to be able to carry that responsibility," Wescot-Williams.

The 55-year-old party had been rocked by internal problems for the past two years that led to its being pushed from government into the opposition in the middle of the present Island Council term.

The party's difficulties continued up to early Wednesday morning when it had to find another candidate to complete its list after Narda de Windt, who had been announced as a candidate, signed up with DP's long-time rival the National Alliance (NA).

Melvin Gomez, described by party members as a vibrant young man, stepped up to the challenge and joined the slate for a better St. Maarten.

Wescot-Williams did not want to go into details of what had happened with De Windt, but labelled the situation "regrettable" because "a political party" had taken the "hardship of a person and used them as a political pawn."

The "red machine" had a pre-election celebration at the "Foot of Town" after presenting its list.

Mirrors the 'people of St. Maarten' 

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) candidates and supporters brought a festive atmosphere to Philipsburg on Wednesday when they marched from the Parliament building on Back Street to the Government Administration Building where the party's "winning slate" of 23 candidates for the early Island Council elections on September 17 was presented.

Holding white balloons and clad in white T-shirts, some candidates and supporters danced and chanted in unison as the procession snaked along sections of Back Street and Front Street on its way to the Government Administration Building. NA was the fourth party to present its list on Wednesday.

"Who's the winning team? The National Alliance," supporters chanted in the building after Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt accepted the list of candidates from NA Parliamentarian Henrietta Doran-York. She also had submitted NA's slate of candidates for the January Parliamentary elections in which National Alliance swept all three of St. Maarten's seats.

NA leader Commissioner William Marlin said in remarks after the list had been presented that the NA team of candidates "not only reflects the people of St. Maarten, but also reflects the experience and knowledge necessary to continue the process of governing Country St. Maarten."

"It's an ongoing list of capable, qualified and competent people. ... The voters can identify with the list. It is a list of the people, by the people," said Marlin, who has been a member of the Island Council for the past 24 years. He also has served as a Member of Parliament and is now serving as a Commissioner (and leader of government) for the fourth time.

Included in the line-up of experienced and up-and-coming politicians and professionals are Haitian native Jean Boasman and Dominicano native Narda de Windt, both of whom have been residing in St. Maarten for many years.

De Windt told The Daily Herald she loved St. Maarten and wanted to do her part to contribute to its development as it transitioned from Island Territory to Country. She said she had decided to join NA's "winning team" because its philosophies reflected hers.

Marlin also underscored the importance of the upcoming elections. "It is not just about going to the polls. It is about electing a group of people who will form the first Parliament of Country St. Maarten out of which we will also get the first government that will govern Country St. Maarten for the next four years.

"We still have a lot to do as a people in terms of putting institutions in place, putting the structures in place and transforming St. Maarten from being an Island Territory in the Netherlands Antilles to becoming a country."

Marlin: "This is a slate that we are confident will guarantee ... not just a victory, but an all-out victory, giving National Alliance the full mandate as was done in January to govern for the next four years to continue the process that St. Maarten is [going through] now to become country. We are confident that we will have the support of the electorate of St. Maarten."

He was high in praises for candidates on NA's slate, including independent Island Councilman Louie Laveist who he said continued to support the NA/Heyliger coalition despite being "begged" and made offers not to do so.

MARIGOT--Préfet Jacques Simonnet announced Tuesday he is taking full responsibility for a change in tactics now being employed by all law enforcement authorities on the French side to stem the current crime wave.

The major change in the modus operandi of the Gendarmerie and Police aux Frontières (PAF) is for a massive deployment of law enforcement between the hours of midnight and 5:00am, the period in which many crimes and incidents occur. This new procedure has already begun and includes controls at all four border crossing points.

The Préfet said tackling crime head-on was "an absolute priority" and that the new measures would remain in place indefinitely.

Lt. Colonel Bonneau who plans tactical operations in Martinique and Guadeloupe for the Gendarmerie is here to assist Commandant Brunet in the reorganization.

The Dutch side law enforcement authorities have also been informed of the changes.

The Préfet condemned the recent rape of a young student, describing the incident as "shocking and totally unacceptable." The rapists have not yet been caught but he vowed they will be tracked down.

He added there had been three recent incidents of cars being deliberately rammed and their occupants violently assaulted and robbed, while a car-jacking had also taken place in Friars Bay.

"If we are at a point where the rights of citizens to come and go as they please are being infringed upon then we have a very grave problem in society," Simonnet said at the press conference. "It is intolerable that on a touristic island such as ours we should be afraid of being attacked coming out of a nightclub or restaurant late at night."

That said, the Préfet again reminded that the onus is on hoteliers and the tourism office to advise their guests or tourists on taking sensible, common sense, precautions while on vacation.

Businesses must also take the necessary precautions to protect their shops and places of business, he said,

"It is simply not feasible to have a Gendarme standing outside every restaurant and grocery store. They cannot be everywhere. Everyone has to do their part to protect themselves and use common sense."

In another change, the Territorial Police will have more responsibility for maintaining law and order in the commercial districts and at the schools. Gendarmes will be relieved of this duty so they can be used more effectively elsewhere.

The Préfet advised car drivers to immediately call the emergency number 17 on their cell phone if they suspect they are being followed unusually close by another car.

Calls to the emergency number should be for real emergencies only, and not for minor matters or disputes.

MARIGOT--A 53-year-old national of the Dominican Republic drowned at Le Galion beach at around midday Wednesday, according to sources.

Reports reaching this newspaper identified the victim as Jesus Eusebio, a bachelor who resided on the Dutch side.

A rumour circulated that the man had been diving with a spear gun and accidentally shot himself; however, up to press time Wednesday, this could not be verified.

Apparently he had gone swimming around 10:00am and was due to finish at 12:30 but friends saw no sign of him until the body was spotted floating in the water. The body was brought ashore at the Tropical Wave Restaurant location.

Commandant Brunet confirmed the drowning and said his preliminary information indicated death was from natural causes and difficulty with breathing, possibly due to a heart attack.

CAY BAY--A significant oil spill contaminated the waters approximately 500 yards from the shores of the Cay Bay and Pelican areas while two cruise vessels were in port Wednesday.

Nature Foundation St. Maarten responded with its vessel Yellow Tail after the initial call on the sighting of the spill came from a day charter company that was unable to let its cruise ship guests snorkel along the sites affected by the spill.

A dive operator had to have guests swim away from the usual dive route to avoid surfacing in oil. Oil stains were also observed on the hull of the diving vessel. Assessing the environmental impacts of the spill on the marine environment, Nature Foundation rangers found that a large quantity of oil had entered the sea from an unknown source.

There was no oil present in the coastal area around Cay Bay and no activity was observed regarding oil entering the water from industrial sources on Cay Bay. During the assessment it was found that the spill stretched for approximately two kilometres in a West-Southwesterly direction, which indicated that a fairly large amount of oil had been leaked.

The foundation contacted all environmental stakeholders, including the St. Maarten Harbour Master and the Coast Guard, to inform them of the occurrence. The Coast Guard cutter Poema was also on scene investigating the spill. Communication and coordination between St. Maarten Ports Authority, the Nature Foundation and the Coast Guard was said to have been swift and effective in responding to this spill.

The Nature Foundation determined that the oil slick covered a significant area of the water above offshore coral reefs, which have significant ecological and tourism value to the island. Contact was made with the dive operators immediately, advising them that certain dive sites should be avoided because of a large amount of oil in the water, and swimming in Cay Bay and certain areas of Pelican also should be avoided.

Dive Centres had to look for alternate dive sites. Fishermen were also informed that they should avoid fishing along the Southwestern shore of the island until the oil has been dissipated offshore, as the consumption of petroleum-contaminated fish could cause significant health problems.

Three hawksbill sea turtles were found surfacing in the slick during the response and were covered with oil. Nature Foundation staff members were unsuccessful in tracking the animals to remove the contaminants, despite numerous attempts.

The Nature Foundation will continue to conduct follow-up patrols and dives to determine the impact the spills are having on marine flora and fauna. The prevailing wind and currents should push the oil offshore; however, the Nature Foundation will continue to monitor the direction of the slick and notify authorities if coastal areas are under threat.

In the context of handling oil spills, the Nature Foundation is recommending that the St. Maarten Oil Spill Response Plan, which the foundation and stakeholders are in the process of developing, be finalised as soon as possible to put a proper organisation in place to respond to similar events.

Moreover, the foundation suggests it would be better able to address oil spill events if the Marine Park Ordinance were in place to provide legal backing to combat spills. Until then the foundation can only report and seek to manage these events with a very limited operational budget and no legal framework within which to act.

PHILIPSBURG--A total of 70 candidates, representing four parties, are vying for the first 15 parliamentary seats for Country St. Maarten. The parties submitted their slate of candidates on Nomination Day, Wednesday to the Main Voting Bureau.

Submitting slates for September 17 early Island Council elections were United People's (UP) party, Democratic Party (DP), Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) and National Alliance (NA). CPA was the only party with one candidate on its list. The other three parties each submitted a slate of 23 candidates, the maximum allowed per party for the elections.

UP party was the first to submit its slate. The "green" party candidates and supporters arrived at the Government Administration Building to submit the list to the Main Voting Bureau after 9:00am, only to find out that all bureau members were not yet present.

UP's list and a request to official use the colour green for its slate was submitted after more than 30 minutes waiting and a private audience with Head of the Main Voting Bureau Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt.

DP, the island's oldest party headed by Sarah Wescot-Williams, was the next to submit its list of candidates later in the afternoon.

Sometime after that presentation, CPA, headed by Jeffrey Richardson logged in its list to the Main Voting Bureau.

NA, headed by Commissioner William Marlin was the final slate in the door.

There are 20 female candidates in this election. UP has eight females. DP and NA each have six females. DP is the only list headed by a female.

NA has the most elected officials on its slate with party leader Commissioner William Marlin, commissioners Frans Richardson and Hyacinth Richardson, Netherlands Antilles parliamentarians/Island Councilmen George Pantophlet, Rodolphe Samuel and Henrietta Doran-York.

DP has four Island Council members on its list including party leader Sarah Wescot-Williams, Roy Marlin, Leroy de Weever and Maria Buncamper-Molanus.

Of those four parties in the race, two slates – UP and CPA - require 134 signatures by this afternoon, before they can officially be counted as in the September 17 early Island Council elections. The lists will be posted in the Census Office on Pond Island today, Thursday.

UP, although headed for caretaker Commissioner Theo Heyliger, requires the endorsement signatures because it does not have representation in the present Island Council. Heyliger was elected in 2007 as candidate on the Democratic Party slates. The "green" party was only launched on July 24.

Richardson of CPA hopes to muster the needed number of signatures so he can continue his cause to protect the indigenous St. Maarteners.

UP candidates are Theo Heyliger, Gracita Arrindell, Gregory Richardson, Dr. Ruth Douglass, Rhoda Arrindell, Angelique Martis-Romou, Romain Laville, Johan "Janchi" Leonard, Jules James, Les Brown, Solange Apon, Richard Panneflek, Silvia Meyers, Veronica Jansen-Webster, Philip van Delden, Gina Illidge, Benjamin Kelly, Glenn Kemble, Clifton Brown, Kenneth Serrant, Eligio Somersall, Jesus Richardson and Octavio Garcia.

DP candidates are Wescot-Williams, Roy Marlin, Louis Halley, Leroy de Weever, Maria Buncamper-Molanus, Hubert Pantophlet, Stuart Johnson, Carlyle Rogers, Perry Geerlings, Aurillio Baly, Richelda Emmanuel, Steven Carty, Lourdes Brooks-Lake, Antonio Brown, Eric van Putten, Narda de Windt, Henry Solomons, Franklin "Nino" de Weever, Elton Jones, Henderson Williams, Harry Brown, Ursuline Clark-Romeo, and Claudette Forsythe-Labega.

NA candidates are William Marlin, Frans Richardson, George Pantophlet, Rodolphe Samuel, Hyacinth Richardson, Henrietta Doran-York, Patrick Illidge, Silveria Jacobs, Louie Laveist, Terry J. Peterson, Leona Marlin-Romeo, Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Kendall Dupersoy, Christopher Emmanuel, Rudy Engel, Martha Simon-Thewet, Jason Peterson, Narda de Windt, Herbert Martina, Claudette Charles-Hassell, Jacinto Mock, Jean Boasman and Roland Duncan.

Was govt material used for political billboards?

PHILIPSBURG--The Executive Council reportedly has taken a decision to suspend Public Works official Claudius "Toontje" Buncamper pending an investigation into whether government material and Public Works staffers were used to construct frames for political billboards on government property on Sunday, August 15.

Several Public Works staffers reportedly were making frames for what appeared to be political billboards in the Public Works yard on Sunday.

The Daily Herald understands the investigation is to determine, among other things, whether material purchased for a government project was used to make the frames for the billboards.

Buncamper reportedly was suspended in a bid to guard against the investigation being compromised in any way. Up to late last night, it could not be ascertained whether he had already received the suspension letter.

This newspaper understands that Buncamper was given a warning letter following initial investigations. However, the decision to suspend him apparently was made subsequently, to determine whether government material was used, as this would constitute misappropriation of government materials.

When he was first approached by this newspaper for a comment on Sunday, Buncamper said he was unaware of what was taking place in the Public Works yard. He also accused the newspaper of "playing politics" and threatened to sue when the name of the person at the centre of the allegations was mentioned.

He requested that this newspaper contact him on Monday evening for clarity, because it was Sunday and he "was off." However, he could not be reached on Monday evening around the time he had told this newspaper to call.

Commissioner Frans Richardson, who had visited the Public Works yard and witnessed part of the work being done there, had denounced the action on Sunday.

Workers on site were initially mum on who had ordered the construction. They eventually said there was no proof that it was for political billboards and later said it was educational material.

The frames did not bear the picture of any politician. However, persistent reports circulating on Sunday suggested that they were being constructed for a female Island Council member. United People's (UP) party leader Theo Heyliger and National Alliance (NA) officials said none of their candidates had political material being constructed on the property in question.

SIMPSON BAY--Airport Immigration Officers got new chairs after they walked off the job two Saturdays ago for what they called uncomfortable conditions and incorrect job specifications.

Police spokesman Inspector Ricardo Henson said Tuesday that authorities had since last week arranged for chairs for the officers. Most of the immigration staff walked off the job on Saturday, August 7, leaving the arrival and departure areas at the Princess Juliana International Airport unguarded for more than two hours.

Commissioner Frans Richardson and Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt denounced the strike as unnecessary and dangerous, saying that these officers had jeopardised the island's safety and image and violated the law.

They complained that they didn't have the proper job descriptions to cover their salaries and benefits. They also contended that their office chairs were uncomfortable and their computer screens were problematic.

Henson said officials had taken care of the chairs, but that they were still working on the job descriptions.

Samuel: Gypsies running amok

PHILIPSBURG--The Public Transportation Committee, an entity prescribed by law, has been disbanded by the National Alliance (NA)-led government while it attempts to revamp the ordinance on public transportation, leaving bus and taxi owners without any representation, said opposition Democratic Party Island Council members.

Tuesday's meeting of the Island Council was adjourned indefinitely by Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt after questions on the topic were posed by members to give government time to prepare answers.

Councilwoman Sarah Wescot-Williams said answers to DP's questions submitted in writing to government were less than adequate because they failed to clearly state the ground on which a legal entity was "disbanded" and its tasks split up among government departments. She questioned how the committee could have been disbanded before the amendments to the law.

She also called on government to explain its statements to recent applicants for bus and taxi licences that "government could not grant any at this time because of DP holding up the process. Explain how the opposition could hold up a process that government has started with lifting of the moratorium."

NA Councilman Rodolphe Samuel also added his voice to the public transportation debate on Tuesday, saying that the "gypsy taxis" (unlicensed transportation providers) were allowed to mushroom out of control under the former DP government. He said issues should have been dealt with in the past but were too much of an election issue as it is now for the former government.

Samuel said the state of the public transportation system is "a mess." A mess created prior to the NA-led government taking office in June 2009. He criticised DP for wanting no licences to be issued until a study is carried out.

Tuesday's session was the third calling of a DP-requested meeting, thus it did not need a quorum to begin. After questions were posed by DP and NA members, as well as independent Councilman Louie Laveist, in a marked difference from the other two times the meeting was called, members of the NA-led government and NA Island Council members were present and signed. The only member absent was "caretaker" Commissioner Theo Heyliger.

Wescot-Williams said government was reluctant to deal with the issue of public transportation because, as Commissioner Frans Richardson had stated in the press, the issue did not affect the daily lives of the people.

She questioned the lifting of the moratorium on the issuance of bus and taxi licences without a proper study on the saturation of the market. Similarly, DP Councilmen Leroy de Weever and Roy Marlin also questioned government on how it planned to issue licences now that the moratorium has been lifted.

Independent Councilman Louie Laveist, who supports the NA-led government, said as a former DP Commissioner of public transportation he was willing to give clarity and informed on the topic being discussed and fired off questions of his own to government, asking for them to provide the list of licences issued from 2007 to 2010. He said his request was aimed at removing the impression that licences for buses and taxis were being given out "left, right and centre."

DP Councilwoman Maria Buncamper-Molanus asked if government was proceeding with the "Changing Lanes" project as was envisioned by DP or were changes/adjustments made. If the latter is the case, the councilwoman asked for government to provide this to the council. She also said the lifting of the licence moratorium should have been linked to a study.

On the transportation study, de Weever also asked for government to provide the council with a copy of the decision to lift the moratorium as well as the accompanying advice that outlined that the lifting would not hamper or overburden the current situation.

NA Councilman George Pantophlet said public transportation was not easy to deal with but heading into the country status, a solution has to be found and that "solution may not please each and everyone." He pointed out that the island did not have a "public transportation system" in the true sense because this service to the community was provided by individuals with independent licences. He also asked for a list of licences issued by government between January and June 2009, the period prior to NA taking office.

PHILIPSBURG--The Small Business Development Foundation (SBDF) on Tuesday received NAf. 125,000 from the NAf. 200,000 subsidy for 2010 from the Island Government.

According to the SBDF, the delay in the disbursement of the subsidy was due to the concerns of the Finance Department that there were some "discrepancies" with the SBDF's financial reports, something that SBDF has constantly refuted but never had the chance to have any explanation or even indication on those discrepancies.

"This delay has resulted in the temporary closing of the office at Camille Richardson Street and the discontinuation of the implementation of the Social Economic Initiative (SEI) programs. With this disbursement of part of the subsidy, it is clear that there are no discrepancies, or at least they are not of any serious relevance to continue jeopardizing the continuation of the functioning of the foundation," the SBDF said in a statement.

"SBDF would like to sincerely apologize to the public for the inconvenience caused, especially for the interruption of the implementation of the SEI programs, where specific timelines are dictated in the signed financial agreements. As soon as all the logistics are dealt with, SBDF hopes to resume the implementation. Right before such date, the public will be informed accordingly."

SBDF's subsidy is always disbursed according to a payment plan. The remaining NAf. 75,000 should be released later this year.

PHILIPSBURG--Arts Video Studio (AVS) will host four live political debates leading up to the September 17 early Island Council elections to give the community an opportunity to hear the plans and views of candidates from the four parties in the race.

The first political debate will be held in Philipsburg Cultural and Community Centre on Sunday, August 22. The debate, from 7:00pm to 10:00pm, will be broadcast live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 20, and streamed live via the internet.

Expected to contest the elections are the Democratic Party (DP), the National Alliance (NA), United People's (UP) party and Concordia Political Alliance (CPA). The parties will submit their respective slate of candidates on Nomination Day, today, Wednesday.

Party leaders Sarah Wescot-Williams (DP), William Marlin (NA), Theo Heyliger (UP) and Jeffrey Richardson (CPA) are set to square off in the final three-hour debate of the series on Sunday, September 12.

Like the first debate, the candidates who will be panellists for the live debates on Wednesday, September 1 and Sunday, September 5 are not yet known to AVS. The parties still have to submit the names of the candidates who will be representing them.

The September elections will be for the first parliament of Country St. Maarten that will be birthed on 10-10-10. That parliament will consist of 15 members. The Council of Ministers will have seven members. The elections will also determine who will be the first prime minister of Country St. Maarten.

MIDDLE REGION--Fire destroyed two adjoining apartments in Middle Region Tuesday, sending at least four residents out of their homes.

Flames erupted about 5:45pm at an apartment block in Philips Drive. Fire incinerated the insides of the two homes and all the possessions inside. Smoke and water damaged another adjoining apartment on one end, while the apartment on the other end was unscathed.

No one was hurt in the fire. The Daily Herald does no know how the fire started.

 Island Council members held up at funeral service

PHILIPSBURG--Voting on a new personnel information system for St. Maarten was not done on Monday, as most members of the Island Council were held up at the funeral service of the late Clemencia Josie-Ann Julot, who was brutally murdered on July 22.

Leader of Government Commissioner William Marlin contacted Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt to inform him of the holdup before the Island Council meeting resumed.

When he could not reach Groeneveldt, Marlin sent a text message to the Lt. Governor explaining the situation and suggested the meeting be adjourned and rescheduled, however, Groeneveldt's phone was on silent and he did not realise he had received the message until after the voting for the system had ended and the final agenda point had opened.

The handling of the agenda point began in the morning, but was adjourned after noon to 2:00pm. When the meeting resumed, only Commissioner Xavier Blackman and Democratic Party (DP) Island Council members Sarah Wescot-Williams, Roy Marlin and Maria Buncamper-Molanus were in attendance.

After Blackman had delivered the answers to the questions posed earlier, Groeneveldt announced Marlin as the next speaker. The Island Councilman, however, gave up his right to speak, resulting in the matter being up for vote.

The three DP members present voted in favour of the purchase of the information system. However, at least six members have to vote for a motion to be carried.

Groeneveldt said the matter can be proposed at another Island Council meeting to be voted on again.

The Lt. Governor told the Council it was regrettable that he had not seen the message from Marlin earlier. He said the absence of the members did not represent a dereliction of duty of any sort.

Held up at the funeral service were: Commissioners William Marlin, Frans Richardson, Hyacinth Richardson and National Alliance (NA) Island Council members George Pantophlet and Rodolphe Samuel and Independent Island Councilman Louie Laveist. Marlin is a family friend of the deceased. He told this newspaper that it would have been heartless to walk out of the service, which started late because of the late arrival of Julot's body.

The absence of Independent Island Councilman and "caretaker" Commissioner Theo Heyliger from the Island Council meeting could not be ascertained. Heyliger, also the leader of the United People (UP) Party, was not at the funeral service or at the meeting.

Personnel information system

Blackman said the purchase of the system was necessary for St. Maarten in its new constitutional status. He said government had identified a company based in Curaçao which provided a human resource management system with an integrated payroll solution that met the requirements set by government. He said the system was tailored to the Dutch Antillean legislation and could also be readily updated.

Blackman said the system would cost NAf. 100,000 in the first phase, starting in 2010. The first phase would include connecting government's salary administration. Blackman said this would be more effective, streamline the salary administration process, result in less paperwork and reduce the possibilities of errors.

He said with the transfer of Civil Servants from the Central and Island Governments to the Government of Country St. Maarten, it was necessary to have a system in place that takes into account the projected changes.

Roy Marlin said he wasn't clear on government's proposal and asked for an explanation on what exactly government was purchasing and what its request to the Island Council was. He asked why locally established companies weren't considered to provide the service, since investing in them would have a ripple effect and result in "economic spinoffs."

Blackman said government had received bids from two local companies initially, but these were not in compliance with the terms of reference.

Roy Marlin said government should have sat with local companies to find out why their systems were incompatible and what could have been done to make them compatible.

Roy Marlin also questioned whether the system to be purchased would have the capacity for more than 1,000 workers. Blackman said this was possible.

He also asked how many companies had submitted proposals and requested copies of these.

Blackman reiterated that the system cost NAf. 100,000 with an annual cost of NAf. 23,500. He said the total amount would not exceed the NAf. 300,000 that government had budgeted to purchase the system in 2007.

Blackman said earlier that the Executive Council had agreed to purchase a system on July 24, 2007, and NAf. 300,000 had been budgeted at the time. Included in this amount was a cleaning up of the backlog and registering the personnel administration system.

Aim to take St. Maarten forward

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) on Monday introduced four new candidates who will run on the party's slate for the September 17 early Island Council elections during a ceremony at the PMIA Hall.

Announcing their candidacy are community activist and talk show host Christopher Emmanuel, who is into real estate; entrepreneur Herbert Martina; Hotel Supervisor Jacinto Mock and Section Head of School Bus and Taxi Dispatcher Martha Simon-Thewet.

Simon-Thewet and Mock are first-time candidates. Emmanuel and Martina are former People's Progressive Alliance (PPA) candidates, who are disappointed in the direction of the party, whose leader Gracita Arrindell has teamed up with United People (UP) Party headed by "caretaker" commissioner Theo Heyliger, someone Arrindell had heavily criticized in the past.

Over the weekend Alliance also introduced first time candidates Dr. Lloyd Richardson, the Social Insurance Bank (SVB) control doctor, and Leona Marlin-Romeo, head of the Civil Registry (Census Office).

National Alliance will present its full slate of members during a ceremony at Belair Community Centre this evening (see related story).

Experience

Mock, a former St. Joseph and Milton Peters College (MPC) student who holds a degree in public administration, drew rousing applause from the capacity PMIA hall when he outlined his platform and the issues that he would stand for. Mock said he was "willing" and "capable" of representing the people of St. Maarten.

"I can carry the affairs of our people on my shoulder. I will not tolerate financial crimes or environmental negligence or recklessness that can harm our people.

"Negligence and reckless acts have torn conscience, destroyed our cultural and historical sites and endangered our environment and our people. These acts have led to environmental losses. Our country is still to be compensated."

He also spoke about "experience" in the upcoming election. "I have been hearing others... talking about their candidates being more experienced. My question is: more years and more experience in doing what?" he asked. "Going in the wrong direction? More experience doing wrong things? More experience lying to our people? More experience in selling out and betraying our people?

"Even if you have 30 years of experience as a cook, you only have to poison someone once to be prosecuted and that has happened in our government in the past."

'Back home'

Emmanuel said he was happy to be "back home" with the National Alliance where he "belongs."

He said he had wanted to be part of something new and different when he joined his former party.

"I thought it was right and soon after the deception stepped in... but during the parliamentary election, I saw a ray of light and it was white," he said. Emmanuel said team Alliance needed to capture 10 seats to reflect 10-10-10, the date that St. Maarten is set to achieve its new constitutional status.

Referring to Marlin as Prime Minister, Emmanuel said he noticed the work that the Alliance team had done under Marlin's leadership to bring 10-10-10 home. "He fought for country. He fought for us. It's no longer a selected few who have control."

Integrity

Simon-Thewet, a mother of three young children, who said she was a hardworking and dedicated person, joined the Alliance because it was a party that stood for integrity and had the people of St. Maarten at heart. "I am not here because of popularity."

Simon-Thewet said while working at University of St. Martin (USM) General Equivalency Diploma (GED) unit, she had met many young people who were in difficult circumstances that affected their studies. She was drawn to the concerns of the students and wanted to be in a position to help on a higher level.

Neglected

Describing himself as an avid sportsman, Martina said sports and culture have been neglected areas for too long. Only recently, he said some efforts were made to spruce up sports facilities.

He said issues such as crime, education and Christian values were among the ones he would champion. "Culture is what defines us as a people," he said and added, "while compulsory education is now a reality, we won't stop here. We need young people to return home. A vote for me is a vote for the people."

'She was full of life,' says Marlin 

COLE BAY--Scores of mourners, clad in white T-shirts bearing the words "No excuse for violence. Non a la violence," turned out to say their final goodbye to the late, 20-year-old Clemencia Josie-Ann Julot, who was brutally murdered.

Her body was found in the Oyster Pond area on July 22, a day after friends and family had announced that she was missing and had asked for help to find her.

Julot was remembered as a fun-loving person who was full of life. Leader of Government Commissioner William Marlin, who was described in the programme as a "family friend," spoke of government's efforts to help her secure employment. He said everything seemed to be in her favour in her pursuit of employment and she had even sent flowers to his staff, thanking them for their efforts.

The Commissioner said when he was told Julot was missing, he was deeply saddened. "She was young, full of life and happy," Marlin told the large group of mourners.

He said when he and his staff found out that it was Julot who was missing, even though they did not know her as well as many of the mourners at the funeral service knew her, they were distraught. "We were hurting so much that we can understand your grief here today," he added.

Loud wails rang out among the mourners as they remembered the young woman.

Julot's death was a haunting reminder of other similar tragedies in the expansive undeveloped Oyster Pond hillside area. Authorities called her killing an "awful crime."

Julot leaves to mourn an ailing mother, along with friends and Faith Baptist Church congregation members in and out of the Haitian community. She was the second young person who was killed on the eve of a birthday this month.

PHILIPSBURG--Authorities held a man last week for questioning in the mysterious death of Dionosio Pozo.

Prosecutor Rienk Mud refused to reveal anything about the man in custody. An investigating judge granted the prosecution's request for an eight-day extension.

Mud said authorities believe the man wasn't involved in 51-year-old Pozo's death nearly two weeks ago. They do, however, think that he has information that can help with the investigation. "We only arrested him for questioning, because he could tell us something more," Mud told The Daily Herald.

An autopsy proved inconclusive in determining how Pozo had died. An unidentified caller reported to police on Friday, August 6, that he/she had seen a dead body lying in the bushes at Over the Bank. His body was found handcuffed.

Authorities don't know whether to classify Pozo's death as a homicide.

PHILIPSBURG--The recruitment process for two additional Managing Directors for utility company GEBE has been completed. The candidates have been interviewed, assessments made and reports on all the candidates are being prepared for the Supervisory Board and, ultimately, the Shareholder Foundation.

GEBE's Shareholder Foundation initiated a recruitment process for two new Managing Directors in June 2010. They will share managing responsibilities with current Managing Director William Brooks. GEBE's articles of incorporation allow for the appointment of three directors. Once appointed, the directors will form a Managing Board.

Before any of that happens, the firm that was contracted to execute the recruitment process will make a short list of all candidates interviewed, and present this list or report to the Supervisory Board of GEBE. The board will then meet to nominate two persons to the Shareholder Foundation.

The foundation will then decide positively or negatively on the board's nominations. Once that process has passed, the board will also have to appoint a President of this Managing Board who can represent the company on his or her own or with another member of the Managing Board.

Based on his contentious history with the Supervisory Board, it is highly unlikely that William Brooks will be appointed President of the Managing Board. The recruitment called for a director with financial profile and a director with an operational management profile. As such, it is unclear what role Brooks will play when the two directors have been appointed.

The Daily Herald has learned that decision on the two directors should be made fairly soon.

Brooks-Salmon to head Advisory Council

PHILIPSBURG--The first members and substitute members of the General Audit Chamber for Country St. Maarten were appointed by the Island Council on Monday. The Audit Chamber will oversee government's accounts.

Certified Public Accountant/Committee for Financial Supervision CFT member Roland Tuitt was appointed as chairman, while bankers Ronald Halman and Alfons Gumbs were appointed as members of the General Audit Chamber. Substitute members are attorney-at-law Mark Kortenover and banker Danny Hassell.

The Dutch Audit Chamber and government are in the process of signing an agreement for assistance with the setup of St. Maarten's General Audit Chamber. A member of the Dutch Audit Chamber has been "seconded" to St. Maarten to help with the setup for two years.

The Executive Council also informed the Island Council in Monday's meeting about the appointment of members of the Advisory Council. Unlike the General Audit Chamber, members of that council are appointed by a decision of the Executive Council.

Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary/educator Mavis Brooks-Salmon was appointed as vice chairwoman of the Advisory Council. Windward Islands Bank Managing Director Jan Beaujon, former Acting Lt. Governor/educator Mathias Voges, Constitutional Change chairman/Princess Juliana International Airport President Eugene Holiday and Project Director for St. Maarten/former Lt. Governor Dennis Richardson were appointed by the Executive Council as Advisory Council members.

Extraordinary members of the Advisory Council are Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt and Curaçao-based notary Miguel Alexander.

The Advisory Council does not have a chairperson as yet, because that function is held by the Governor of Country St. Maarten – a post that still has to be filled.

The appointments, especially of Tuitt and Brooks-Salmon, stirred some heated debate in the Island Council, as opposition Democratic Party (DP) Councilman Roy Marlin questioned the compatibility of, for example, Tuitt's role in the CFT and his new appointment as chairman of the General Audit Chamber.

The councilman argued that it would be a conflict for Tuitt to be part of the Audit Chamber, which approves government's accounts, and then to review those same accounts to give a stamp of approval as a CFT member.

Constitutional Affairs Commissioner William Marlin told the council that the possible conflict of interest or compatibility issues had been discussed with the nominees and they had all indicate they would resign from conflicting positions.

In the case of Halman, he would resign as a member of the supervisory board of the Kadaster. The conflict here is that the General Audit Chamber oversees the accounts of the Kadaster, which is an independent foundation with some government involvement.

Tuitt is expected to resign from the CFT and government will have to propose a new St. Maarten representative to the Kingdom Council of Ministers for appointment. Tuitt is also a candidate for the first governor of Country St. Maarten and should his candidacy be approved for that post, further adjustments will have to be made.

Holiday is also a candidate for the first governor for Country St. Maarten. Should he be appointed to that function, he also would have to resign from any conflicting functions.

Commissioner Marlin was very critical of the councilman's position on the possible conflict of interest, saying that if the Democratic Party (DP) had an issue recognizing conflict of interest, government did not and the matter had already been discussed with the nominees.

The Commissioner said Tuitt was good enough for the DP to propose to sit on the CFT, but now that the National Alliance (NA)-led government has proposed him as a member for the Audit Chamber, his professionalism is being "downgraded."

Councilman Marlin queried whether an advertisement had been placed in the newspapers for the positions in the Advisory Council and the General Audit Chamber. He added that had he seen an advertisement, he might have applied, as he had necessary experience as a former commissioner and a long service as Island Council member.

Commissioner Marlin said no advertisement had been placed and in the case of Brooks-Salmon, she had indicated her willingness to serve. The Commissioner said that councilman knew that he would not be retaining his seat in the Island Council after the September 17 election and was pressing on the need for advertisements, so he could secure a new job. However, a new job was not necessary, because the councilman, as a civil servant, would be re-accommodated in the civil service.

Picking up on Brooks-Salmon indicating to government her willingness to serve, Councilman Marlin called on all young St. Maarten professionals to also send in letters outlining their willingness to serve Country St. Maarten, so government could consider them for high functions.

Commissioner Marlin answered that young professionals have already being indicating their willingness to serve and government has appointed several, including Kortenover, who is now part of the General Audit Chamber. Attorneys-at-law Richard Gibson Jr. and Melinda Hoeve are also serving on committees, he pointed out.

The Commissioner said the councilman was exhibiting "crab syndrome" by singling out certain nominees to "beat up on them" in the Island Council. These members were all professionals in the community and there was no need "to put a gun to their head" to get them to sign a letter indicating they would resign if appointed. "We need to treat professional people with respect and expect professionalism."

DP Island Councilwoman Sarah Wescot-Williams asked for government's position on the time span it considered acceptable enough for a person who served in a political function to be considered no longer active.

Commissioner Marlin said that the challenges in building Country St. Maarten were the serious lack of resources and if a process was started to "write off" people who have served in certain positions, either elected or appointed, "then we will soon run out of people."

Present and voting for the appointments to the General Audit Chamber were Commissioners William Marlin, Frans Richardson and Hyacinth Richardson, "caretaker" Commissioner Theo Heyliger, council members Sarah Wescot-Williams, Roy Marlin and Maria Buncamper-Molanus of DP, Louie Laveist (independent), George Pantophlet and Rodolphe Samuel of NA.

DP councilman Leroy de Weever was absent.

PHILIPSBURG--Long traffic lines and a host of large yellow buses making their way throughout the island were a clear indication that the 2010/2011 school year had begun Monday morning.

Although many of the young ones were in high spirits after meeting back up with their peers, several others were teary-eyed as they made their first steps into the "big school." Several schools opened their school year with devotions or an assembly at 7:30am, welcoming back some students and introducing others to the compounds.

At Methodist Agogic Centre, for example, parents accompanied their preschoolers to their first day of Early Stimulation. The group of pupils, parents, teachers and school executives gathered in prayer, requesting guidance to all over the course of the year.

The first-time school-goers and their parents were then introduced to their new classroom and teacher before settling in for their opening day of lessons. Several parents were not entirely eager to venture on to work just yet, overwhelmed by the transition.

It was also quite a busy morning at Caribbean International Academy (CIA), where a school assembly at 9:00 welcomed new students and staff along with returning students and set the expectations for the year ahead.

This year's school population of 293 students took time settling in, some meeting their 27 teachers and two administrators for the first time. CIA has added new staff to complement the returning teachers. The enthusiasm was at a peak as parents and students looked forward to the new school year.

St. Dominic High School welcomed to its institution 68 new students of the 178 students that sat its entrance exam in June. Other high schools were still busy tallying their total head count Monday, when new and old students settled in.

"My first day at my new school was pretty impressive," described one student. To his fellow peers his words of advice were, "Enjoy the school year, study hard, make the best of it and don't be bad."

Was taxpayers' money used?

PHILIPSBURG--Commissioner Frans Richardson denounced what he said was the construction of frames for political billboards on government's property – the yard of Public Works – allegedly involving some Public Works staffers on Sunday.

Richardson said he had visited the site and witnessed the construction of "frames for political billboards." Workers on site were initially mum on who had ordered the construction. They eventually said that there was no proof that it was for political billboards and later said it was educational material.

However, the Commissioner said it was clear that frames for political billboards were being constructed. The Commissioner said answers were needed as to whether taxpayers' money had been used to purchase the material and to pay the workers, and which official had ordered the construction of the material.

The frames did not bear the picture of any politician. However, persistent reports circulating on Sunday suggested that they were being constructed for a female Island Councilmember. Both the United People's (UP) party and the National Alliance (NA) officials said none of their candidates have political material being constructed on the property in question.

When contacted, Public Works official Claudius "Toontje" Buncamper said he did not know what work was being done on the property. He said he had visited the site when he had heard the reports, to determine what was being done, but he couldn't say at that time what was the purpose of the work.

He said this newspaper could contact him today, Monday, for clarity because it was Sunday and he "was off." The telephone interview took a turn for the worse when the name of the person at the centre of the persistent reports was mentioned.

Buncamper threatened to take legal action against the newspaper, suggested that "politics" was being played and said he too could play politics. He also said a photojournalist who had taken pictures on the property had been "trespassing."

Richardson said that while he was not aware for whom the billboard frames had been constructed, he was disappointed about the action. "This is the sort of thing that has been going on for many years and it's sad that we continue with the same old bad habits in this time that we are living in," Richardson said. "It's sad that we use civil servants to build campaign material for candidates on a weekend."

Photo journalist Gromyko Wilson, who took pictures and made a short video of the construction, said a truck from a private security company had arrived shortly after he had taken the pictures and had removed some of the material from the property.

Richardson: "This is wrong and I will be calling for an investigation. The Head of Public Works has to give an indication as to why this was being done. It's not right to use government premises to build campaign material."

On National Alliance list for Sept elections 

PHILIPSBURG--Civil Registry Department (Census Office) Head Leona Marlin-Romeo and Social Insurance Bank SVB control practitioner Dr. Lloyd Richardson will run on the National Alliance (NA) list in the early Island Council elections on September 17.

NA leader William Marlin introduced the first-time candidates during separate ceremonies at the capacity-filled Philipsburg Mutual Improvement Association (PMIA) Hall over the weekend.

The candidates said they had decided run with NA because, among other things, that party stood for integrity and had a vision. "It is a party that holds God high ... and a party whose intention is to be honest with the people and it is a party that stands for integrity," Richardson said as he announced his candidacy on Sunday.

In welcoming the new candidates, Marlin said politicians made a "tremendous sacrifice" to serve their country "because they have a commitment" and a desire to help their people.

"They are not getting involved because there is some personal or financial gain awaiting them around the corner, but because they love their country and they want to put their country first and they want to join a team," he said at the Sunday evening ceremony.

Marlin said Marlin-Romeo had taken on the challenge of improving the circumstances at the Civil Registry, which has had many challenges. "She put her shoulders under it and she has turned things around," he said adding that, as with other government departments, there was still more work to be done.

He said Richardson is a man of the people, who had waited until the time was ripe and when asked by the party had signalled his willingness to work for the people of St. Maarten.

The candidates' immediate and extended families turned out in numbers to show their support and were presented with NA T-shirts and caps bearing the party's "Forward Together to Country St. Maarten" campaign theme and the party logo.

'I am ready'

In a rousing speech Richardson said he was ready to serve St. Maarten in any capacity to champion health issues and to continue the work he had started many years ago to take substance abusers off the street and rehabilitate them to be useful to society.

Richardson is one of the founders of Turning Point Foundation. It was established in 1990 and has had an uphill battle over the years to carry out its work in the community. "We are still struggling to bring it to what it should be."

He spoke passionately about helping substance abusers. He said local and Central Government authorities had been approached on many occasions to assist the foundation. He said substance abusers were troubled, non-productive and cost money. Much effort is needed to help them turn their lives around.

"I am prepared to continue this fight, but to continue it with authority," he said, adding that he wanted to be able to make decisions that could make a difference.

He also spoke extensively about his heritage, and said he had chosen to run with NA because of what NA stood for, noting that at one point he had been asked by every political party to run on their slates, but he had declined the invitations from the others.

"I've realised that party's leader and the full force of its members place the people of this society before their pockets," said Richardson, who has served over the years in several capacities in community groups, including the Jaycees, Kiwanis, Chairman of the Task Force for the Adventist School and the project for Health, Welfare, Education and Youth.

Richardson, who has been at SVB since 1981, said his mother is Grenadian and his father from St. Maarten.

Part of the solution

Marlin-Romeo, who listed concerns such as crime and education reform as issues she would champion, said she had joined the NA to be "part of the solution" (see related story).

"Over the past couple of months, I have been extremely humbled, as many people from different communities and from different political parties have encouraged me to run for office. With this incentive, I went on a quest enquiring about the issues that touch our community the most and what they wanted to see improved.

"After speaking with my family, close friends and carefully considering this important decision to step into the political arena, I have decided to take part in this historical election," she said.

She said based on her experience, background, knowledge, and awareness of the current and upcoming challenges and developments of St. Maarten, she was a "strong candidate" to "contribute to the efforts already started by the NA."

Marlin-Romeo holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a minor in French from Adelphi University in New York. She also holds a Master's degree in International Relations from University of Amsterdam.

She worked at St. Maarten Student Support Services' (S4's) predecessor SSNA in the Netherlands for some time before returning to St. Maarten to serve as head of the Civil Registry. In the Netherlands, Marlin-Romeo mentored St. Maarten students who travelled there for tertiary studies. She said this experience had equipped her with knowledge that would enable her to champion policies that would benefit students abroad.

"My current position as head of the Census Office has given me a better insight in the rapid growth of our population and the consequences thereof which I will be focusing on during my campaign.

"This position has also provided me with a vast knowledge, experience and insight as to how government functions and as such what improvement is key/necessary for St. Maarten to take in order to be better prepared come 10-10-10 and after," said the first-time candidate, who grew up in Sucker Garden and is a graduate of the Methodist Agogic Centre (MAC) and St. Maarten Academy.

"I stand here today as a National Alliance candidate to state that it is clear that now more than ever we need committed, competent, innovative, solution-driven young professionals to take on the challenges that St. Maarten will face."

Marlin-Romeo said she would be taking her message to all corners of the neighbourhoods in the coming weeks leading up to the election and would be working as hard as possible to earn the confidence of the citizens of St. Maarten.

She stressed that NA stood on the solid support of its team. "I can now stand here and boldly state that I am ready. ... TEAM stands for Together Everyone Accomplishes More. And this is what we will do together as a team. We will win this election," she said to rousing applause from attendees and supporters.

Marlin-Romeo is the daughter of Marius Romeo of Middle Region and Marilyn Thomas of French St. Martin. She was raised by her stepfather Leonardo Mathew and is the wife of Richard "Richie" Marlin.

The NA will introduce four additional candidates this evening. William Marlin said all of its current Island Council members, ministers and former state secretaries would be part of the line-up on the party's slate.

PHILIPSBURG--The Island Council is scheduled to meet today, Monday, and tomorrow, Tuesday.

On today's agenda is the establishment of the island ordinance to establish the national archives; the appointment of the members to the general audit chamber; the purchase of materials for St. Maarten Vocational Training School and purchase of a new personnel information system.

Tuesday's agenda is set to discuss transportation, the Social Charter for civil servants, health care, common currency and Central Bank for St. Maarten and Curaçao. This is the third time this meeting is being called. When it was called on the first two occasions (August 4 and August 11) it was adjourned due to the lack of a quorum. A farewell Island Council meeting to former Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards was also held on August 4.

When opened tomorrow, the meeting, which was requested by the Democratic Party (DP), can proceed whether or not there is a quorum.

DP Island Councilman Roy Marlin did not want the meeting to be called tomorrow, because Wednesday is Nomination Day.

However, Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt said that Tuesday would be the best day if the meeting was to be called within a week, as prescribed. Groeneveldt said a number of meetings have been scheduled for this week, including today's Island Council meeting, nomination day on Wednesday and the visit of Dutch State Secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten on Thursday.

BONAIRE--Bonaire's referendum was postponed until further notice. The Island Council adopted an amendment on Friday, stating that a referendum on the negotiation result concerning the constitutional future of the island would be held "on a date to be determined later per Island Ordinance."

The amendment was presented by independent (former UPB) councilman Anthony Nicolaas, who is in the Executive Council with the ADB, led by Jopie Abraham. Opposition leader Ramonsito Booi (UPB) had asked for a vote count, after which his four-person faction got up and left without voting, leaving the amendment to be accepted by the four ADB faction members and Nicolaas.

Booi said his faction did not want to vote, because although the referendum called by the ADB/Nicolaas coalition was intended to oppose the agreements for Bonaire to become one of the so-called BES-islands (together with St. Eustatius and Saba) made by the former UPB government, his faction had challenged the current Executive Council to go through with it to get clarity once and for all.

The Referendum Committee had asked to postpone the poll from September 3 to October 1 to have more time to organise it properly. The dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles and new relations within the Dutch Kingdom are supposed to take effect on 10-10-10.

One of the matters that came up during the meeting was the cost of the referendum. This is now said to be about half a million guilders, while the budget approved earlier was only NAf. 350,000.

Preparing schedule for meetings 

PHILIPSBURG--The technical team reviewing the outstanding Organic Laws necessary for the proper functioning of new Country St. Maarten is hoping to have the laws ready and handled before the September 9 Round Table Conference (RTC) in The Hague, says Constitutional Affairs Project Director Dennis Richardson.

Richardson says all the laws will be handled before St. Maarten becomes a Country on October 10, but the team is aiming to have them handled by September 9.

He is currently preparing a tentative schedule for the handling of the laws. The schedule is expected to be completed and submitted to members of the Island Council this week, Richardson told The Daily Herald.

He said, though, that with the upcoming election he has to "tiptoe" around schedules of Island Council members to set the dates suitable for everyone.

Some 30 laws are to be handled, as well as some kingdom general measures based on the package of 10 Kingdom Consensus Laws, which were unanimously approved by the Dutch First Chamber in July.

Organic Laws already handled are the establishment of the General Audit Chamber, the Council of Advice and the Constitution for Country St. Maarten.

The debate of the Island Ordinance to establish the National Archives and the appointment of the members to the General Audit Chamber are among the agenda items for today's Island Council meeting.

Richardson, who gave an insight into the challenging task facing the small technical team, said the work involved was more than meets the eye.

"It's a great deal of work when you look at the number of laws to be handled," he said. "Drafting laws is work that has to be securely executed. There are only a few specialists in this world that can handle that. If you take, for instance, the idea of challenging an article or someone before the courts, you will understand that the work has to be very particular."

Richardson said, for instance, if changes are made to articles of one of the laws when it is handled in the Island Council, these have to be reflected in all the other laws that refer to the articles in question.

Budgets also have to be secured for laws that have financial consequences. "It is a very painstaking and secure work that has to be done, or you will be referring to articles that have no relationship with what you're writing about or that might not even exist," he said.

"Then there are other aspects, for instance when you get comments from the evaluation committee; you have to agree or disagree with those comments and, if you agree, you have to prepare an advice for the Executive Council. You then have to go back and draft the laws in accordance with the decision that has been taken.

"In the end when [the laws] are there, it doesn't appear to have been a lot of work to the people, but before you reach that point it is," he said in response to questions on the process by The Daily Herald. "There is a lot more than meets the eye."

In addition to working on the laws, members of the technical teams are also involved in information sessions on the process and attend Island and Executive Council meetings when required etc.

He said the island territory didn't have a "garrison of lawyers" capable of handling the highly technical work involved in the process at its disposal.

The technical team suffered a setback of about a month after Richardson had been badly injured in a freak accident at his home on Holy Thursday, coupled with the loss of committee members Iliana Pasman-Schotborg and Dorris Best, both of whom recently returned to Curaçao. The Island Government is currently engaged in talks to get Pasman-Schotborg back on board.

Richardson said the team of advisors also includes Eugene Holiday and Robert Vennix.

MARIGOT--An altercation between two men during the early morning hours of Saturday led to a Jamaican national being shot dead next to the car wash located at the start of the RN7 bypass in Grand Case.

The shooting took place some time before 2:00am and the suspect O.I. voluntarily gave himself up to Gendarmes immediately following the incident.

Family members of O.I. indicated later that morning that the Jamaican and his wife had gone to O.I.'s house on Rue de Millrum opposite the car wash during the night to confront O.I., although the exact motive for the visit was not exactly clear. Neither was it clear whether the two men had a history of feuding with each other.

It was apparent that the two men ended up outside on the street with the Jamaican reportedly threatening to kill O.I. with a knife. The Jamaican was killed with a single gunshot to the head on the side of the road next to the car wash.

According to O.I.'s family, the French wife of the Jamaican is a former girlfriend of O.I and even though married to another man has been a constant source of trouble to the family with her threatening behaviour, stemming from an "obsession" with O.I.

O.I.'s current girlfriend, who lives in the house on Rue de Millrum, said she didn't know what had taken place during the night, as she had been asleep with the air conditioner on and had only awoken when she heard the gunshot.

"She has been making my boyfriend's life as miserable as she possibly could," said the current girlfriend, who identified the other woman as Marie. "I can only say that she is sick in the head and she has a mental disease. She is obsessed. She once told my boyfriend that he must be hers and nobody else's. I told the Gendarmes that this was not the first time Marie is using somebody else as a tool.

"She once came here and stole the car keys from my boyfriend's sister. He in reply took Marie's car keys, hoping that they could just exchange the keys and finish with it. But she sends someone with a machete to the house to get her keys back. That's to show you that she is always the instigator. And last night she was right there at the crime scene."

The girlfriend said O.I. had had a restraining order issued for Marie. She added that O.I. had been involved in an incident before where he had been shot in the shoulder and since then had been very protective of his family.

"My boyfriend acted in self-defence. It was either he or the other man that was going to be killed. He was not only protecting himself, he was protecting all of us."

Detectives returned to the house on Rue de Millrum around midday with O.I., who was cooperating with the investigation. Gendarmes were searching a fairly extensive area for the murder weapon and other evidence. It was not known up to press time whether the wife of the deceased had been questioned by Gendarmes.

Stresses passion to defend St. Maarteners 

PHILIPSBURG--Emphasizing on passion to their cause and commitment to St. Maarteners, Jeffrey Richardson officially launched the Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) on Sunday to contest in the upcoming elections on September 17, with the hopes of securing at least one seat.

Richardson, who will lead the party as the #1 candidate, was joined by the other candidates for what he called a small, but dedicated team. The CPA's list will include private sector worker Natasha Chumney, Graphic Designer Denicio Wyatt and business man Leo Richardson.

Richardson explained that his party's main goal was to strengthen, preserve and give content to the St. Maartener identity. He said that while the party was open to "common, sensible and logical interpretations" of who is a St. Maartener, the CPA will maintain focussed on persons with St. Maarten roots as being a St. Maartener, so that, for example, no committee has to be formed to define who is a St. Maartener.

He said he recognized that the issue was a controversial one and that he expected to be heavily criticized. "However, if that's what it takes for St. Maarteners not to be marginalized in their own country, then so be it."

He said the CPA would look at balancing issues, such as the development of the country and immigration, in an effort to ensure that St. Maarteners "do not become extinct."

"Many people discouraged me out of concern. But there was an overwhelming voice telling me that we had to step up. Politicians on St. Maarten have forgotten the voting minority called St. Maarteners and focused more on winning an election. We will bring a relentlessness and passion to see that St. Maarteners are significant in their own country," Richardson said, adding that the CPA will be around long after the election and after 10-10-10.
He said he did not want the general population to get the wrong idea about the party. While it will be easy to label the party as "anti-foreigner," he said, nothing could be further from the truth. "We are a simple grassroots party, who will not stand by and watch St. Maarteners be further marginalized. That is not anti-foreigner," he said.

The simple fact that "St. Maartener" was consciously left out of the constitution for Country St. Maarten, Richardson continued, was a betrayal of the "forefathers who had worked to build St. Maarten" by current politicians. He said unlike the other major parties, the CPA was not financed by any major corporate sponsors and would make use of local expertise in formulating its governing policies.

Richardson said if St. Maarteners did not ensure that the CPA obtained at least one seat, "the other parties will ignore you and destroy you as a people. This is not about giving lip service, it's about giving life service," he said.

To demonstrate his commitment to the CPA's cause, Richardson affixed his signature to a document that was drafted at a manifestation of the Treaty of Concordia, held on the French side on May 15. In short, the document called for all politicians to indicate their commitment to defending the interest of the people of St. Maarten.

"Not a single politician signed it. So today I will sign it to say to the people of St. Maarten that we care about you and the people can hold us accountable," Richardson said. He said the existing group of politicos has "no guts" to stand up and say "we are for St. Maarteners" and challenged all to do so.

Richardson also lamented the fact that his party only had one day to acquire the 134 signatures to qualify to participate in the election as a new party. Parties without representation in the Island Council can submit their lists this Wednesday, Nomination Day, but have to validate those lists with 134 signatures.

He said in the past new parties were given a few days to acquire the signatures. One day, in his opinion, is undemocratic. "Nevertheless we urge all of you who believe in our message to go out on Thursday to the Census office and sign for us," he said.

Persons are reminded to walk with a valid form of identification.

Miss Trinidad and Tobago La Toya Woods proudly shows off the body painting that has provoked much controversy. La Toya will compete in the Miss Universe Pageant on August 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

WILLEMSTAD--After civil servants had assembled at Fort Amsterdam on Thursday to protest the offers received for positions with the new administration of Country Curaçao, personnel of the Directorate of Economic Affairs DEZ refused to go back to work and closed down the Island Government service.

The intention was that all civil servants on the island would receive their job letter on Tuesday, August 10. However, up to Thursday afternoon there were still several civil servants who had not received any offer.

Dissatisfied workers of DEZ decided to paralyse the government service after about half of their colleagues had not received an offer yet. Some were also not pleased with the content, while others were not even included on the list to receive a letter.

There was also a protest at the Directorate of Finance, where many had received offers they could not agree with.

Both groups had marched to the seat of the Central Government, saying they had gotten no audience from the commissioner in charge or the Antillean civil servant union ABVO and that they wished to speak with Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage. As the latter was otherwise engaged, the civil servants were offered a conversation with Interior and Constitutional Affairs Minister Roland Duncan (National Alliance).

It was notable that the angry civil servants at Fort Amsterdam were supported by board members of Curaçao's labour union for Tax, Customs and prison workers "StrAF."

In a reaction, Curaçao's General Affairs Commissioner Zita Jesus-Leito (PAR) called on all involved to keep a cool head in this matter. "There are only a few letters left that have not been forwarded yet."

"Several civil servants now indicate they do not agree with the offer in the letter. However, from the beginning we told everyone there's an objection procedure if one does not want to accept the offer.

"There is also a helpdesk where one can get help with complaints and questions. I call on everyone to keep a cool head and remain calm during these days."

ABVO board member Kenneth Bremer stated that the union was taking stock of the situation and considering its next step, also indicating that government had underestimated the entire delivery of the letters.

In total, 4,371 civil servants were to receive a letter since Tuesday, but about 1,000 were still to get it late Thursday. According to Bremer, the Executive Council meanwhile offered its apologies for any mistakes made in the process.

Many employees are showing up at ABVO and the police union NAPB, which have each set up their own help-desks to assist the affected members.

WILLEMSTAD--Former leader of People's National Party (PNP) of Curaçao and current Minister of Finance Ersilia de Lannooy has tendered her resignation as member of the green party.

The move came as a surprise to the current PNP leadership, even though De Lannooy had stayed on as minister for PAR at the request of that party's leader and Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage after PNP – with De Lannooy's successor Humphrey Davelaar heading the list – earned only one seat in the January Antillean Parliamentary elections and was forced to accept a state secretary rather than a minister in the Central Government formation talks, which post was occupied by Dudley Lucia.

Some within PNP were not happy with that arrangement, but Davelaar said he had a good relationship with the minister, and had not expected her letter, two weeks before the August 27 elections for a new Island Council that is to become the first Parliament of Country Curaçao.

PNP officially confirmed receipt of the resignation letter and said it would be dealt with in the next board meeting. De Lannooy, who was off-island, had recently been strongly criticised by PNP faction leader Faroe Metry for not presenting a 2011 federal budget in light of the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles as of 10-10-10.

Regular controls done

PHILIPSBURG--While some residents have questioned the prices of hurricane materials (lumber, etc.) at local hardware stores, the Economic Affairs Department assures that controls on hurricane items have already been done.

The Daily Herald received a few complaints from residents about prices at hardware stores which, according to them, were exorbitant.

In an invited comment, Director of the Economy and Tourism Sector for the Island Government Miguel DeWeever explained that hurricane items were not the same as "maximum-price items."

"The control of hurricane items is done to be able to freeze pricing once a hurricane is approaching St. Maarten. Therefore hurricane items do not have a maximum price on a regular/daily basis, which is different with the list of 12 products that are on our maximum-price list," he said.

The Sector regularly executes price controls on the 12 products and subsequently publishes the controls and prices in local media. The prices of lumber and other related material increasingly used in the hurricane period are largely based on market demand.

PHILIPSBURG/SCHIPHOL--A passenger aboard KLM flight 763 heading from Schiphol Airport to St. Maarten and Bonaire tried to smuggle an automatic weapon on Thursday.

A security officer in the baggage-handling department warned military police when he came across the contours of a firearm when the piece of luggage containing the weapon was scanned.

The weapon was disguised with a plastic bag and a blanket around it, according to a spokesman for the Royal Military Police at Schiphol. The owner of the luggage was already on the plane that was prepared to depart.

The suspect, a 34-year-old man of Hispanic background from Den Helder, was removed from the flight and detained for questioning. Other passengers on the flight hardly noticed the incident because it did not cause an extensive delay in departure time.

On a similar note, airport police discovered a passenger attempting to smuggle a pistol aboard a flight to Curaçao, a few weeks ago.

WASHINGTON--The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will introduce a fee for Electronic System of Travel Authorisation (ESTA) beginning September 8. DHS has had the discretion to charge a fee to cover the cost of administering the program since ESTA was implemented.

The fee is comprised of two parts: Processing Charge – all applicants requesting an electronic travel authorisation are charged US $4 for the processing of the application; and the charge determined by the Travel Promotion Act (TPA) – if your application is approved and you receive authorisation to travel to the United States under the visa waiver programme, an additional US $10 will be charged to the credit card.

If the electronic travel authorisation is denied, only the application-processing fee will be charged. The fee must be paid by credit card at the time of enrolment at

www.pay.gov.

Some debit cards may be used for payment, but only if they do not require a numeric personal identification number (PIN). Pay.Gov uses advanced encryption to protect transactions while applicants are logged in.

When accessing a profile, any account numbers applicants have entered will be masked on the screen. DHS is exploring the possibility of adding other payment methods in the future. Existing ESTA registrations remain valid for travel through their expiration date or until the passport expiration date if it expires sooner.

DHS also announced the elimination of the paper arrival/departure form (Form I-94W) for authorised travellers from nations participating in the visa waiver programme (VWP), which includes citizens with a passport issued by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

All travellers seeking entry to the US with valid visas still have to complete the arrival/departure record Form I-94. All travellers (travelling on ESTA registration and on visas) still have to fill out the Customs declaration form (CBP Form 6059B).

PHILIPSBURG--United Federation of the Windward Antilles UFA is aiming its arrows at Acting Government Mediator Kenneth Lopes. The labour union blames him for the deadlock in at least eight negotiations for new collective labour agreements (CLAs) with companies in St. Maarten and St. Eustatius. UFA filed an injunction Friday in which it seeks the appointment of a new mediator.

  Lopes has been government mediator since 1988, but the union has been dissatisfied with his functioning for years. Therefore, UFA launched an injunction against the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles and the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in a bid to obtain the desired new mediator.

  According to UFA, Lopes’ work as a mediator is incompatible with his being Director of the Department of Labour and Social Affairs, which makes decisions concerning the dismissal of workers, among other tasks.

  “This leaves the union and its members with a bad taste in the mouth,” UFA’s attorney Edwin Maduro said during Friday’s hearing.

  UFA board members and advisor Willy Haize are seeking the appointment of a ”more active” person to make an end to the current situation in which negotiations for CLAs drag on for years. The union claims that this situation causes much dissatisfaction among workers, which could lead to actions and disturbance of industrial peace, or even to “public violence and vandalism,” Maduro said.

   Attorney-at-law Terrence Matroos, representing the Governor and Minister in this case, pointed at the fact that the government mediator is appointed by law to maintain, improve and restore industrial peace within the private and (semi)-public sectors. The federal government is “very satisfied” with the way in which Lopes has acted and contributed to maintaining peace in the labour market in the Windward Islands throughout the years, Matroos stated.

  According to the government lawyer, UFA’s case should be thrown out, because this case should not have been brought before a civil judge, but before an administrative court. He further claimed that UFA’s complaints were insufficiently substantiated and were being contradicted by various employers.

  “We need a neutral mediator,” UFA advisor Haize told Judge Diederik Thierry. “Lopes is too good for the companies,” he said, adding that the leader of the Island Government would be against the appointment of a new mediator.

  Judge Thierry wondered whether it would be possible for the Curaçao-based federal mediator to step in and make efforts to try and restart negotiations in two deadlocked cases. He gave parties until next week to come to a solution in cooperation with the federal mediator.

  The judge will give his opinion on the matter if the negotiations fail. In that case, he will render his verdict next week Friday.

PHILIPSBURG--Only six of possibly 2,000 undocumented persons who could qualify to start legal businesses applied to do so during the first two weeks of the Brooks Tower Accord (BTA) extension, Central Government representatives reported.

Antillean State Secretary of Justice Ernie Simmons said officials were "a bit concerned" with the low turnout of applicants, considering the number of persons who could qualify, having already claimed their BTA permits. "It's a rather large group," the state secretary told reporters Friday.

Up to Thursday, 721 persons had submitted complete applications – including valid passport, proof of insurance, financial support, etc. – to the Justice Ministry workers for a three-year residence permit under BTA, a temporary legalisation programme for thousands of undocumented persons in the Netherlands Antilles. These persons represent 16 per cent of the more than 4,000 BTA-permit holders.

The majority of applicants since last week Monday are employed and qualify under BTA's Category I(a) as undocumented persons who have lived here longest and work for someone else. Six persons fall under what the Central Government calls Category I(b), which allows undocumented persons to start their own businesses for the first time.

Normally, only legal residents who have been here at least 10 years are allowed that freedom.

Coordinator Tiara Haselhoef said these persons already had opened their businesses.

The Central Government opened a six-week application period as an extension, on Monday, August 2, for persons with permits in BTA's Categories I and II (persons who have been here since before December 31, 2001, and persons who arrived between 2002 and 2005). A few hundred turned up in the first days, but most were sent back for having incomplete document packages. Haselhoef had warned the week before that anyone caught with a fake passport would be arrested on the spot and later repatriated.

Already, four have been caught trying to apply with counterfeit documents at Salvation Army on Union Road, a Marechaussee officer said.

Haselhoef said many had misunderstood the term extension, thinking they had a second chance to apply for the BTA permit. The deadline for that was December 15, 2009. "It is not possible for a new BTA permit," Haselhoef said, denouncing critics who complained that BTA was too much like amnesty.

Many, she said, complained of not being able to get a CRIB number for taxes. Haselhoef explained that the ministry hoped to get the Economic Affairs Department to attend the daily processing to help applicants start legal businesses. About 350 permits are ready for the Lt. Governor's signature. The Central Government expects to start handing over the permits from Wednesday.

BTA-permit holders can apply from 8:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Saturday, during this extension. Only persons with complete dossiers will be allowed to apply for the three-year extension.

Kofi Annan to deliver feature address

PHILIPSBURG--A high-level delegation, which includes three regional prime ministers and former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan, is scheduled to be in St. Maarten for the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS PANCAP tenth Annual General Meeting (AGM) from late October to early November.

This is the first time the meeting will be held in a Dutch Caribbean territory. The AGM will be held at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino from October 31 to November 2 and, as it will be PANCAP's 10th meeting, coordinators are linking it to the birth of new Country St. Maarten on 10-10-10.

"We can therefore consider it 10-10-10, 10," PANCAP Coordinating Unit Director Carl Browne told reporters at a press conference hosted jointly with St. Maarten HIV/AIDS Programme Manager Suzette Moses-Burton on Friday.

Annan will deliver the feature address at the forum. Among the approximately 170 participants will be St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas, a spokesperson in the region in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Also on the attendees list are Caricom Chairman Jamaica Prime Minister Bruce Golding; Outgoing Chairman Prime Minister of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit and Caricom Secretary-General Edwin Carrington. Health Ministers from around the region as well as UN representatives are also expected to attend.

Browne said PANCAP was trying to engage other prime ministers to attend and that, for the first time, a large number of non-English-speaking nations such as Haiti, Cuba, and French territories would be participating.

Browne has been in St. Maarten over the past three days conducting site inspections and assessing the logistical details and readiness of St. Maarten to host the meeting. He told reporters he was very pleased with St. Maarten's readiness as host, as well as with preparations made for security of the high-level delegation.

One of the highlights of the AGM will be signing a US $34-million grant between the Caribbean Community Caricom and PANCAP. The funds will be used for training, among other things. However, because the Netherlands is one of the contributors to the grant, St. Maarten will not be a direct beneficiary. The Island Territory can benefit indirectly though, Browne explained.

Another highlight will be honouring five Caribbean nationals for their pioneering and extensive work in the area of HIV/AIDS in the region. Recipients are selected by an "independent" panel of judges.

The meeting will focus on PANCAP's achievements and challenges over the past 10 years, among other things, as well as setting goals to work towards for the future.

Browne credited Moses-Burton's negotiating skills as responsible for the meeting being held here, adding that the 10th AGM originally had been scheduled to be held in Belize, but due to Moses-Burton's perseverance and tough negotiating skills, Belize had agreed to postpone its hosting of the meeting until 2011.

He noted that the AGM was PANCAP's "flagship" event, where the decision-making was done. This year's meeting is said to be one of the biggest in terms of expected participation.

A local team is assisting PANCAP with local coordination of the event.

PHILIPSBURG--Authorities have identified as Dionosio Pozo, a 51-year-old Dominicano, the body police have been investigating since last week Friday. They still don't know whether to classify the death as a homicide.

Detectives had searched Pozo's A.Th. Illidge Road home last week Saturday night, but they had said up to Wednesday that they didn't have enough evidence to determine the man's identity. Pozo's body was found in bloodied clothes with his hands tied behind his back in Over the Bank.

Authorities have still not confirmed the existence of handcuffs.

Police had released his description as being possibly of South American descent with a thick beard and moustache. They asked anyone who knew him by a distinctive bull's skull belt buckle he was found wearing to report his identity.

Prosecutor Rienk Mud told The Daily Herald that the preliminary findings of an autopsy this week couldn't determine the cause of Pozo's death. "We don't have the exact results," Mud said. He is awaiting the final results from the pathologist's tests.

If Pozo is found to have been killed, he will be the fifth official homicide victim in Dutch St. Maarten this year.