htps://www.stmaartennews.orgday, President Louis Mussington had the pleasure of meeting the 9 young women from Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy who will try to win the Miss Saint-Martin / St Barth contest on July 29th.
The winner will represent the northern islands in the national Miss France competition next December.
Aujourd’hui, le président Louis Mussington a eu le plaisir de rencontrer les 9 jeunes femmes de Saint-Martin et Saint-Barthélemy qui vont tenter de remporter le concours miss Saint-Martin/St Barth, le 29 juillet prochain.
La gagnante représentera les îles du nord au concours national de miss France, en décembre prochain.
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten—Prime Minister Jacobs recently flew to the United Nations (UN), as part of the delegation in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. She was part of the delegation taking part in the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). During the three-day visit the Prime Minister attended and presented at various discussions aimed at familiarizing countries with the others’ issues, solutions, and future plans.
“It was very important to be at this Forum. The representation of the Caribbean islands is imperative when discussing the progression of global policies.” said Prime Minister Jacobs. Although the international community is not completely aware of the differences between the Netherlands and the other three Caribbean countries, the HLPF gave the Prime Minister a platform to highlight the vulnerabilities of the Small Island Developing State (SIDS) countries even while being a part of a Kingdom, which many associate solely with the Netherlands. The days were packed with panels of discussion, presentations, and other smaller networking moments. One such moment was broadcasted live, as the Prime Minister sat in on a round table event with Tajikistan and other representatives from the Netherlands to converse on their joint plan for water conservation.
Prime Minister Jacobs also had the honor officially hand over the ‘SDG Piano’ to the UN. A collaboration between the Kingdom and Sing for Hope, a non-profit US whose mission is to harnesses the power of the arts to create a better world. The piano, painted in the 17 SDG goals, combines the value of art not only as a means of expression and healing but as a diplomatic tool as well with the important educational component of the Global development agenda. “On Sint Maarten we have seen the importance of art, in all its forms, as a means of comfort during this pandemic but also as a serious means of expression and livelihood for our countless artists so participating in this initiative fell very much in line with both my personal but also our cultural diplomacy program” stated Prime Minister Jacobs. During the HLPF, Prime Minister Jacobs also attended, bilateral meetings with United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Suriname and Jamaica, and the Minister of Minister for Planning, Economic Development, Climate Resilience, Sustainable Development, and Renewable Energy of Dominica. There was also a technical-level meeting with the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The meetings were fruitful, centering around issues thematic to SIDS including food security, rising inflation and global shortages, trade, and airlift. With some of the countries areas for cooperation in education, training, and sports were also identified. She went on to say, “It was an opportunity to meet other SIDS to share, learn and where possible to collaborate to build new partnerships with regional SIDS and organizations facing similar challenges. We are stronger together, and that can be expanded upon when we convene.”
Each country presenting at the panel put forth their Voluntary National Reviews (VNR), which aims to share best practices and raise awareness for issues that may hinder the steps to implement the country’s SDGs. Attending the HLPF, among other things, involved the Prime Minister presenting the VNR, which was an opportunity to highlighting the effects of climate change on each of the low-lying, coastal countries. “St. Maarten is particularly vulnerable to increased extreme weather, risks, and vulnerabilities; we are investing heavily in disaster preparedness and disaster risk management. Coming together to draft and present the VNR was an enlightening process giving much insight into each other’s challenges and strengths.” said the Prime Minister Jacobs. “We are focused on strengthening our greatest asset, our people. Therefore, investing in the equitable development of our population is our priority – reducing inequalities by strengthening education, health and creating opportunities to build the needed human capacity.” said the Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Silveria Jacobs, during one of her addresses. The government has been working diligently to rebuild and strengthen the country of Sint Maarten, as well as solidify its position on a global level.
“As countries within the Kingdom, while we differ greatly in our geographical locations, economic and social capacities, and starting points of the SDGs, the report also identifies our commonalities: Climate change is the main overarching concern for us all, which coupled with Covid-19 has delayed the needed progress towards the goals. Having said that, our ability to combat the effects of climate change, given these significant differences, must be considered when we engage internally with our Kingdom partners. As such, in my bilateral meetings I indicated my strong support for the Multi-dimensional Vulnerability Index, a mechanism being developed by the UN to determine developmental levels more comprehensively and in turn access to concessionary financing.” said Prime Minister Jacobs.
This is an important agenda for our region and more importantly very important to us as Caribbean countries within the Kingdom given that it will consider a wide range of factors besides GDP as a tool within which to frame future global discussions on development policy. While the SDGs are part of a collective outlook, each country within the Kingdom of The Netherlands is responsible for its individual outcomes. To represent SIDS at the Forum was an opportunity to be vocal about our challenges and provide a framework on how we can further develop.
For more information on the HLPF, please visit the website at https://hlpf.un.org/.
Department of Legal Affairs host lecture on Fair Taxation and EU-OCT relations
The Department of Legal Affairs & Legislation organized a two-part lecture on: “The Role of Small Island Developing States in the Formation of Fair Taxation as Customary Law” and another on: “Development in EU-OCT Relations for St. Maarten.”
The reason for this lecture is to provide policy officers/policy advisors/legal advisors/lawyers information about legal topics,” said Ramona Ismail, Legal Policy Advisor of the department.
The two lectures were Professor Dr. Flora Goudappel and Germaine Rekwest, both of the University of Curacao.
Dr. Goudappel spoke about the relation and the development of the European Union and the Netherlands and St. Maarten, as OCTs, Overseas Countries and Territories. Indicating that there are several aspects to the relationship, from the environmental to the social to the trade and development.
St. Maarten can benefit more and take advantage of the opportunities as a member to the EU, which ranges from having access to the European market to applying for EU funds to develop social and environmental projects. There is more to being a partner in this partnership, Dr. Goudappel said. A professor of European law and dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Curaçao, Goudappel specializes in the relation of the overseas countries and territories to the European Union.
There is a new instrument, Prof. Dr. Goudappel said, the Decision on the Overseas Association underpinning the political/institutional, trade and financial cooperation framework for the EU-OCT partnership for 2021-27. The new Decision on the Overseas Association unifies the rules for the partnership with all Overseas Countries and territories (OCTs), which St. Maarten and other OCTs can take advantage of.
With an ever-changing world, from 25 OCTs down to 12, there are many changes that’s happening in this developing world. The aim of the new regulations are to strengthening competitiveness, increasing resilience and reducing vulnerability, and promoting cooperation and integration between the OCTs and other partners and neighboring regions. In addition, there are financing options with regard to Disaster Risk Reduction, Multiannual program funding, and emphasis on UN 2030 Agenda and Environmental Protection.
The other speaker was Germaine Rekwest (LL.M) who provided information on the concept of Fair Taxation as it relates to an international standard and contextually to global developments, as well as exploring the topic of Fair Taxation, from the different angles—economic, legal/judicial, political, and philosophical.
The central question in this lecture is whether the implementation of Fair taxation by the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) contributes to the formation of Fair taxation as a principle of customary international law, said Rekwest, who is a researcher and lecturer in tax law at the University of Curaçao and is currently finalizing her PhD at Leiden University.
The Government is dealing with (the implementation of) international tax standards, so it is relevant for civil servants to learn more about this. The same applies to the new OCT decision. In addition, there has to be the considerations for not complying with certain EU stipulations as it regards this topic of fair Taxation.
The Department JZ&W is very thankful that Professor Dr. Flora Goudappel and Germaine Rekwest (LL.M) have given the lecture on the Legal Platform.
Legal-Affairs New lecture Fair-Taxation and the Latest EU-OCT 2022
On Tuesday, July 5th, I had the distinct honor of giving a presentation on Survival Skills to the enthusiastic students who will pursue their studies in the Netherlands beginning this fall, as part of the preparatory workshops organized by the Division of Study Financing.
The aim of the presentation, was to provide students with knowledge and skills needed to survive or be successful in challenging environments. As such, I rendered an interactive presentation on living in the Netherlands, healthcare insurance, shopping, public transportation, tax system and budgeting. After the presentation, students asked questions and inquired concerning things or situations they could expect while living abroad.
I hope to have made an impact on our students’ academic success and social choices through the passing down of my own personal and professional experiences, having studied and lived in The Hague for 7 years.
As a former study financing recipient, I take this time to thank Ms. Jacquie Louis, CEO of IMBRACE, for inviting and trusting me as a presenter in preparing our students to thrive in the Netherlands.
The ship and her crew were received with military ceremonial on Saturday by the Marine Detachment Sint Maarten and the Volunteer Corps Sint Maarten from Fort Amsterdam.
Philipsburg Sint Maarten Groningen brengt een bezoek aan Sint Maarten. Het schip en haar bemanning is zaterdag met militair ceremonieel ontvangen door het Mariniers Detachement Sint Maarten en het Vrijwilligerskorps Sint Maarten vanaf Fort Amsterdam.
Philipsburg – On Saturday, July 16th, 2022, the Honorable Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson together with workers within the Ministry, participated in the first Justice Week Amazing Race throughout Philipsburg. The ‘Amazing Race’ was facilitated by Tri-Sport and combines action, adventure and fun in a fast-paced challenge modeled after the popular TV Show. Present at this year’s team building activity were teams consisting of the Minister of Justice, Acting-Secretary General of the Ministry, Staff Bureau, Judicial Affairs, Financial Intelligence Unit, Court of Guardianship, Foundation Judicial Institutes St. Maarten (SJIS), Coast Guard, Customs St. Maarten, Immigration and Border Protection Services, and the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.
At the start of the race filled with challenges, Tri-Sport representatives briefed the participants with instructions and the rules of the race. Each team included a navigator who was charged with a map of Philipsburg and a clue master who served instrumentally as the team member to solve the clues that would lead their team to the next destination, direct them to perform a task, or complete a challenge for bonus points.
Minister Richardson stated, “Justice Week began with our yearly three-day Justice Conference, a platform which brought together department heads and management teams to discuss various topics and strengthen collaboration between departments and agencies within the Ministry.
It was also necessary to include an exercise during Justice Week whereby workers of the different departments and agencies could interact, have fun and participate in a team building activity. Workers within the different departments are not very familiar with each other, as such, I am committed to changing the status quo to improve efficiency and collaboration across the entire Ministry.”
During the prize-giving ceremony at the end of the race, the Coast Guard came out victorious as the winning team for having completed most of the challenges within the shortest time frame followed by the Immigration and Border Protection Services in first place. “I’d like to thank the Avatars, Smooth Operators, Protection Avengers, Dynamite Explorers, Team Coast Guard, Team Customs and the IBP Minions for their participation, and I look forward to even more teams of the Ministry joining in on the fun in 2023,” stated Minister Richardson.
The Ministry of Justice hereby thanks the sponsors of the Justice Week Amazing Race including TelEm Group, Da Waterhole, Blue Point, Office World, ILTT SXM, CC1, Lucky Cosmetics, Sound 2000, Princess Casino, MNA AutoParts, St. Maarten Concrete, NV GEBE, the Indian Merchants Association and all other sponsors who contributed toward the event’s success.
The final day of the Justice Week celebrations will be on Sunday, July 17th, beginning with a church service at 9:00 AM at the Philipsburg Methodist Church. Minister Richardson encourages the general-public to celebrate Justice Week with the Ministry by joining the Justice Parade taking place in front of the church subsequently after the service at 11:00 AM. The route begins from Front Street and heads on to Emma Plein, Vogestraat, ending on E. Camille Richardson Street at the Police Station.
BREAKING: #Minister Franc Weerwind for Legal Protection, on behalf of his colleagues from Curacao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten, has recommended names for the Joint Court of Justice of the island, and the #Kingdom Council of Ministers has approved them. #Curacao. https://www.stmaartennews.org
Kingdom Council of Ministers APPROVES Weerwinds Recommendations Joint Court Justices for St Maarten, Curacao Aruba https://www.sxmgovernjent.com
On Tuesday morning, July 12, the euro reached the same value as the US dollar. For a short time, the European single currency stood at exactly 1.0 dollar, and then rose again to $1,003. This means that the so-called parity level, at which the two coins are worth the same, has been reached. The last time the euro reached that level was at the end of 2002.
The focus on that one-to-one value of course means nothing in itself, that is purely symbolic. As if your car has reached 100,000 kilometers and is running around the clock: it’s just a number. Ultimately, it’s about the underlying flow, why those two coins are now worth the same and what the consequences are for the islands. Is that something we should be concerned about or not and is it good for the Caribbean islands?
Opinion I Roland 0B van den Bergh
The euro-dollar exchange rate has been erratic since the introduction of the euro.
When the dollar was introduced on January 1, 1999, the value of 1 euro was set at
1 .17 dollars. By October 2000, the value had fallen to its lowest point of $0.82 and in July 2008 the euro reached its all-time high of $1.60. The fluctuations were mainly the result of the monetary policy of the central banks.
The ECB in Europe, the FED in the United States and the economic outlook in Europe versus the United States. In addition, the dollar is the currency in which most goods and services are calculated
For example, think of the world prices of oil, gas, coffee and grain that are quoted in dollars and not in euros, Yuans or Rubles. It is therefore also the world number one reserve currency (also called anchor currency). If you own dollars, you run no dollar exchange rate risk and you can easily pay with it anywhere in the world. This is less the case for the euro.
The fall in the value of the euro – in short – is attributed to:
the higher interest rate of the FED compared to the ECB: 1 .75% vs. 0.0%;
the threat of gas shortages and the sharp rise in energy costs in Europe. The US, on the other hand, is a net energy exporter;
the threat of a coming economic recession in Europe partly as a result of the war in the Ukraine. The economic outlook for the US is more favourable.
In addition, there is a lot of speculation about the exchange rate of the euro.
Sentiments among speculators and investors are currently negative towards the euro.
The majority expect the euro to fall further to possibly $0.95.
The Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG) has been pegged to the US dollar since 1971 at a fixed rate of one dollar is 1.79 ANG. This means that our guilder and also the Aruban Florin show exactly the same exchange rate fluctuations against the euro as the US dollar.
For Curaqao, a lower euro exchange rate means that our holiday to Europe will be cheaper. Since 1 January, the Antillean guilder has increased in value by 12% against the euro. The strong dollar has also made destinations in Latin America cheaper for us islanders.
Goods and services from those countries have therefore become cheaper in principle. The point is, however, that the seller in, for example, the Netherlands or Colombia can decide to increase his margin and thus the price slightly and the trader in Curacao can decide not to pass on the price advantage to the consumer and to put it in his own pocket.
The fact that you do not immediately see that your new European car has become 12% cheaper may be due to the fact that the dealer bought the car more expensive, at an even higher price at the time. Furthermore, a European car can contain parts that must be paid for in dollars. Inflation, now 8.6 percent in Europe, also contributes to the fact that prices of European products in supermarkets have not become cheaper.
The latter argument does not hold up for many products and services because inflation in Europe is mainly the result of price increases for energy and transport. Many goods in Europe still have the same price as a year ago.
A smart consumer can realize the exchange rate advantage by ordering directly online from European web shops.
More expensive
Curacao has become more expensive for the export of goods and services to nondollar countries. The island is becoming more expensive for European and Latino tourists. Curacao is highly dependent, for more than half, on Dutch tourists. The question is whether a more expensive stay on the island deters Dutch and other European tourists.
Perhaps that is not so bad because in practice there is a lot of family and friends traffic between the Netherlands and the Caribbean islands; many Dutch people have a second home on Curacao or Bonaire and therefore continue to come.
The trend in tourism is towards more authentic and exclusivity, which makes it less price sensitive. On top of that, COVID has led to fewer holidays and more savings for many Dutch people.
The lower euro could lead to a reduction in the demand for second homes on Curacao and Bonaire because this market is strongly dominated by Dutch buyers. Many apartment projects are under construction and new ones are in the pipeline. The outlook for this market has become more uncertain.
Negative trends are declining consumer confidence in Europe, the increased cost of a second home as a result of the higher dollar and increased construction costs, as well as more expensive airline tickets.
On the positive side, this is due to high inflation and lower investment results in Europe, which means that middle and higher income classes see a second home on a Caribbean island as a good investment alternative.
Economic indicators
The low euro exchange rate leaves most consumers and businesses in Aruba and Sint Maarten largely untouched because these islands are highly dollarized and most goods and tourists come from North America.
Based on economic indicators from the past, such as domestic product, employment, unemployment, balance of payments, price level, government debt, tourism, the eurodollar exchange rate appears to have had a limited influence. This is partly because the euro-dollar exchange rate has been (too) low or (too) high for a period of several years. Whether and for how long the euro exchange rate will remain low is speculation. History shows that price developments in the medium term are unpredictable.
The Dutch government has a windfall in this, though? The loans granted to the Dutch Caribbean islands were given as an ANG loan, with the Netherlands running the currency risk. That is now favorable for the Netherlands. Repaying the loans now will quickly yield 10-20% extra euros in the Netherlands. The question is, of course, whether Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten are willing and able to repay. And by the way, if we have to pay off, we are one, two or more years further.
In summary, for the time being, as a Dutch-Caribbean island resident, you don’t have to worry too much about the low euro exchange rate.
https://www.curacaochronicle.com THE HAGUE – State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen (Kingdom Relations and Digitization) and chairman Jan van Zanen of the Association of Dutch Municipalities have jointly launched the new VNG-BZK support program for Caribbean governments.
Through the Caribbean Exchange Facility, the 6 Caribbean islands are provided with assistance with concrete capacity, learning or advice needs in the field of government issues in a broad sense. Central to the program is that the islands are provided with municipal, but also provincial and departmental expertise. In concrete terms, this will take the form of short and medium-term expert missions, carried out on the islands, and 2 3-month internships for Caribbean staff in a municipality. Municipalities and Caribbean governments often face similar challenges, which means that further knowledge sharing has added value.
Around the end of the summer, information meetings will be organized for municipalities, provinces and departments that want to contribute expertise to the program. The exchange facility is a result of the letter of intent signed in 2019 for a Caribbean exchange network. The Caribbean Exchange Facility, a one-year pilot, is being implemented by VNG International, the organization for international cooperation of the VNG.
VNG International has extensive experience in project-based collaboration with the Caribbean. During the political structure change of the islands in 2010, VNG International implemented an internship and exchange program for the Caribbean governments, and since 2018 VNG International has been working closely with the government of Sint Maarten in the reconstruction after Hurricane Irma through several programs to strengthen the government.
CBCS does not trust Ansary’s ‘golden handshake’ to Gibson
The Central Bank CBCS and the Ennia companies placed under the emergency regulation take the position that there are indications for (official) bribery of former minister Richard Gibson.
At the end of 2014, Gibson senior from Sint Maarten resigned as a member of the supervisory board (SB) of Ennia Caribe Holding (ECH).
Richard Gibson Collected 7.8 Million From Ennia Bribe Allegations St Maarten News
Richard Gibson Collected 7.8 Million
When he left as supervisory director, he received a ‘golden handshake’: no less than approximately 2 million guilders. Incidentally, that was only part of what Gibson got all together, that was 7.8 million from Ennia in the period before theintervention by the CBCS by means of the emergency regulation.
The issue has become topical again with the proposed ‘intervention’ by the Central Bank at SunResorts (Mullet Bay on Sint Maarten) which is owned by Ennia Investments (EC Investments). The appeal has also been going on for some time – in writing, so out of sight of the public – in connection with the liability proceedings against the defendant ex-directors of Ennia, including against the American owner Hushang Ansary.
His confidant Gibson is admittedly not a defendant, but as a commissioner he did play a significant role in the Ansary/Ennia file and was ‘put in the waiting room’ in writing by CBCS. His name therefore appears in the groundbreaking judgment of November 29, 2021, in which the ex-drivers were ordered to pay compensation of more than one billion guilders.
And in the complaint case before the Accountants Chamber against the former accountants of Ennia, it emerged that Gibson received 2 million when he retired as a supervisory director.
The complainants – that is to say: the CBCS and five Ennia entities, which have been controlled by the CBCS since mid-2018 in connection with the emergency regulation – do not trust or trust the matter. They point out that after his departure as commissioner, Gibson became Minister of Finance and subsequently Minister of Justice of Sint Maarten.
In this regard, they also state that Mullet Bay, Ennia’s largest investment, is located on Sint Maarten. ‘Why has such a large amount been awarded? “ The parties involved take the position that there was no indication of bribery and/or fraud”, the statement of the Accountants Chamber reads. ‘Involved parties’ in this case are the accountants, who both worked at their former office until early 2021.
This office took over the audit of the Ennia group from KPMG Curagao, which had already expressed its concerns about a number of issues in March 2017, including the valuation of Mullet Bay, and also had ‘questions about the integrity’ of the then board of Ennia.
Richard Gibson Collected 7.8 Million
“Gibson was and is a widely respected professional”, according to the Accountants Chamber, both Curagao accountants have stated in the case. In addition, it has been argued that Gibson was first Minister of Finance and Interim Minister of Justice of Sint Maarten at the end of 2015.
“The Accountants’ Chamber states first and foremost that it is not up to it to express an opinion on whether there was actually bribery and/or fraud,” the ruling reads. “It is up to the Audit Chamber to assess whether the external auditor has paid sufficient attention to the ‘golden handshake’ received by Gibson.”
The Audit Chamber is of the opinion that it is the duties of an external auditor to assess whether there are circumstances that lead to risks of material misstatement at the level of the financial statements and assertions due to corruption.
It is not clear from the documents submitted by the parties what compensation Gibson received at the time as a supervisory director of Ennia Caribe Holding for the work he performed. It does follow in a general sense from the file documents that ECH supervisory directors at the time received an annual remuneration of between NLG 150,000 and NLG 450,000 (while according to Ennia NLG 52,780 per supervisory director per year was/is ‘standard’ and acceptable).
Richard Gibson Collected 7.8 Million
The ‘golden handshake’ of approximately 2 million received by Gibson at the end of 2014 is ‘a multiple of this amount’, argues the Accountants Chamber. “This raises the question of why such a high amount has been allocated. Given the striking nature of this item, it would have been the auditor’s responsibility to ask critical questions about this. He has not done that.”
7.2 Million Gibson was ‘excessive’ The Audit Chamber is therefore of the opinion that the auditor, contrary to a standard, did not collect the audit evidence that justified the conclusions drawn by him. He also did not identify a fraud risk factor contrary to another standard.
In view of this, the Accountants’ Chamber is of the opinion that the accountant has not been sufficiently professionally critical in that regard. In doing so, he acted contrary to the fundamental principle of professional competence and due care. This sub-complaint is therefore founded with regard to the control of the ‘golden handshake’ awarded to Gibson.
From other documents, namely the application and the judgment of the Court of First Instance in connection with liability proceedings initiated by Ennia and CBCS against former directors, it appears that Gibson – not himself a defendant, but written to the Central Bank – collected 7.8 million from Ennia in the preemergency period.
Richard Gibson Collected 7.8 Million
Including 2018, when Gibson was suddenly back in the picture after retiring in 2014; he had been put forward by Iranian-American major shareholder Ansary as CEO to replace Ralph Palm, but this happened without the approval and approval of the Central Bank.
In the eyes of the CBCS, more than 7.2 million of that 7.8 million was ‘excessive’, because Ennia itself takes as a starting point with regard to the compensation to supervisory directors that 52,780 guilders per supervisory director per year was/is ‘standard’ and acceptable.
It was also Gibson who, just before the emergency regulation, signed an agreement with board member Abdallah Andraous on June 22, 2018 on behalf of Ennia Investments on the one hand and Ansary on the other, whereby $250 million, of which $100 million immediately, was withdrawn from Ennia. That was partly the deciding factor for the Central Bank to intervene in Ansary’s Ennia.
