Council of State Maria van der Sluijs-Plantz Paid Met Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs, Finance Ardwell Irion Irion, Justice Minister Anna Richardson Education Minister Samuels
On May 17, St. Maarten representative on the Council of State Mrs. Maria van der Sluijs-Plantz paid a courtesy visit and met with Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs, Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion, Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson and Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport drs. Rodolphe Samuel. After a frank discussion, Mrs. Van der Sluijs-Plantz shared copies of her new book with the Ministers present who were unable to attend the launch held.
Prime Minister Jacobs and Minister Richardson were honored to receive a signed copy of the book titled ‘Oletales Sweet Memories’ and filled with historical treasures.
Photo caption: Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson, Mrs. Maria van der Sluijs-Plantz and Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs
Sint Maarten continues to opt for tourism, despite warnings from The Hague
PHILIPSBURG – At least a thousand people on Sint Maarten will soon be able to work on a cruise ship. The government has signed a deal with Royal Caribbean Group, while warnings are sounding to make the island’s economy less dependent on tourism. It is a ‘historic step’ for the island, says Minister Otmar Ottley of Health, Social Development and Labour. Unemployment has risen sharply in the past two years due to the corona pandemic, as tourists stayed away en masse. With his signature, he hopes to help people find a job. The economy of Sint Maarten depends to a large extent on tourism. Restaurants, hotels and other tourism-related sectors account for about 45 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).https://stmaartennews.org/sint-maarten-continues-to-opt-for-tourism-despite-warnings-from-the-hague-caribbean-network/ ‘Too dependent on tourism’ In the short term this would be good news for people looking for a job. But the island seems to be further dependent on tourism, which is prone to disasters and the global economy. To the frustration of politicians in The Hague. Since the devastation of Hurricane Irma (2017) and then the major economic blows caused by the corona pandemic (2020-2022), the warnings have been resounding. The Dutch cabinet provides financial assistance, but in return wants the island to make its economy ‘less dependent’ on tourism. State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen (Kingdom Relations, D66) also emphasized the danger once again in a letter to the House of Representatives at the beginning of April. “The small-scale and often one-sided economy makes the countries vulnerable. The corona pandemic has made this vulnerability painfully clear.” But then what? Warnings are not only issued from the Dutch cabinet, but also from the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten and the Financial Supervision Board, which monitors the government budget. Politicians on the islands understand the concerns, but often immediately ask the other question: ‘where else can we get the much-needed economic growth?’ For Sint Maarten there would be no other choice in the short term. ‘Unemployment has risen since Hurricane Irma’ “As Minister of Labor I can rightly say that this is a milestone in our labor market”, said Minister Ottley at the signing. “Since hurricanes Irma and Maria (2017), unemployment has been rising steadily.” The deal with Royal Caribbean, one of the major players in the international cruise tourism market, comes at a good time for the cabinet of Sint Maarten. The Ministry of Justice also states that it is working to create ‘lucrative jobs’ for the population of Sint Maarten. The souvenir market is finally being refurbished The collaboration with Royal Caribbean Group appears to have other advantages as well. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT), the cruise company will invest about 600,000 Antillean guilders in the reconstruction of the Philipsburg Marketplace . Before Hurricane Irma, it was a lively market and a major draw for tourists. There were kiosks full of souvenirs, but since the devastation of the hurricane, the market has been labeled as an eyesore. Vendors sit with their stuff under makeshift tents, there is no water and there are no toilets. Why Sint Maarten embraces American aid Politicians on the island often feel that they have to fight unfairly for the funds that the Netherlands has made available for reconstruction after 2017. There were also many meetings with former State Secretary for Kingdom Relations (CDA) Raymond Knops (CDA). The Hague hurdles before all ‘corona loans’ were transferred in Philipsburg. The decisiveness that speaks from the cruise company’s decision is the reason that the agreement with Royal Caribbean is so embraced by the Jacobs government. An ‘own’ agreement with a large American company for more employment and investments on the island is a big step for the government, which wants to get rid of the loans from the Netherlands and stand on its own two feet. Minister Ottley summarized it briefly in his speech: “Like the Rihanna song says: work, work, work!” “More tourism, more income, more jobs” is seen as a means to restart the economy, after the two biggest crises the island has known. https://caribischnetwerk.ntr.nl/2022/05/19/sint-maarten-kiest-verder-voor-toerisme-ondanks-waarschuwingen-uit-den-haag/
Changes to the Declaration of Conduct (formerly “Certificate of Conduct)
Following the recent publication about the changes to the Certificate of Conduct application form by the Minister of Justice in the National Gazette, citizens are hereby requested to take note of the changes.
The overarching change relates to the official name of the form, which has been changed from “Certificate of Conduct” to “Declaration of Conduct,” in conformity with the English translation of the Dutch abbreviation “Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag (VOG)” Additional changes include provisions for: • National Identification and/or passport information (Refr. #1.1) • Disclaimer when providing an email address (Refr. #1.1) • Immigration & Border Control application information (Refr. #1.2) • Judicial documentation (Refr. #1.3)
The new forms can be downloaded from the Public Service Center Department link on the Government of St. Maarten’s website at http://www.sintmaartengov.org/government/AZ/psc/Pages/Certificate-of-Conduct.aspx
The processing fees and requirements remain unchanged, and an appointment is required to apply. Prospective applicants must ensure that they are in possession of all the necessary documents on the date of appointment. Failure to do so can result in a delay in the processing time for the declaration.
Given the sudden demands for an appointment to apply for a “Declaration of Conduct” applicants are advised to schedule an appointment for recurring purposes well in advance.
For efficiency and practicality purposes, the department also wishes to inform that great efforts are being made to digitalize the application process. More information about this initiative will be provided in a subsequent release. For more information about the Declaration of Conduct process or the status of an application, inquiries can be sent to psc@sintmaartengov.org.
The management of the Public Service Center Department Public Service Center, Government of St. Maarten
WILLEMSTAD – On Wednesday parliament approved the report on the Caribbean Organ for Reform and Development (COHO) meeting of 11 May. The report will be sent to the Kingdom Council of Ministers by 20 May at the latest. During the meeting on the Kingdom Act, various parties expressed their views on the sensitivities surrounding the issue. For example, Rennox Calmes, leader of the political party Trabou pa Kòrsou (TPK) regretted that ‘the COHO is based in The Hague and is implemented based on Dutch laws’. According to the Member of Parliament for the MFK party Eduard Braam, countries within the Kingdom must cooperate with each other and that is the most important goal of the Kingdom.
During the Interparliamentary Consultation (Ipko) which recently took place in Sint Maarten it was agreed that the report on the COHO meeting would be sent before 20 May. The Parliament of Curaçao then received a response from the Kingdom Council of Ministers. The governments of Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten will also draw up a joint memorandum. https://www.curacaochronicle.com/post/local/parliament-agrees-with-coho-report/
Legislatives 2022 ✨ 🇫🇷 Ce matin, j’ai rencontré la presse locale, entouré par une partie mon équipe.
J’ai pu exposer mes motivations et les principaux enjeux territoriaux de #SaintMartin et #saintbarth à défendre ardemment et qui motivent ma candidature, au-delà des missions nationales premières du Deputé que j’aborde avec une importance réelle. Je vous en parle en détails tout prochainement. J’aurai également le plaisir de vous présenter, pour ceux qui ne le connaissent pas, mon suppléant @thomasgreauxsbh . Merci de votre soutien et de votre confiance. ✨This morning, I met with the local press, surrounded by a part of my team. I was able to explain my motivations and the main territorial issues of #SaintMartin and #saintbarth to defend ardently and that motivate my candidacy, beyond the primary national missions of the Parlementarian that I approach with real importance. I will be talking to you about this in detail shortly. Thank you for your support and trust.
BEWARE OF CRYPTOCURRENCY SCAMMERS, ST MAARTEN! LATEST SITTING PARLIAMENTARIAN ROLANDO BRISON INVOLVED IN PUMP AND DUMP
Meanwhile in other 💩-coin news. The #BCH team is planning a conference on the beautiful island of St. Maarten. They already have their most important speakers lined up. Roger Ver and @MPBrison will tell all about their wonderful plans to pump their ponzi to save Rolando’s salary https://t.co/Im4XMVgG1S
Minister Ottley commits to the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) and Great Shape! Inc’s 1,000 Smiles Project
PHILIPSBURG, On Wednesday May 11th, The St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) and Great Shape! Inc, met with the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley to present their newest initiative: 1,000 Smiles SXM. This pilot project aims to provide free dental service to at least 1,000 persons who have limited resources to provide for themselves.
Great Shape! Inc has grown to become a recognized volunteer based nonprofit organization, that matches skills and talents with communities in need. The organization’s growth led to the 2003 launch of its 1000 Smiles Project, the world’s largest, international, humanitarian, dental project. Building upon its initial commitment to the Caribbean.
During a presentation to Minister Ottley, Great Shape! Inc explained the procedures and expressed great interest in assisting the people of St. Maarten. The foundation also enlightened the Minister about the various Caribbean islands they have worked with and continue to fulfill yearly commitments to these islands.
Minister Ottley expressed his willingness to work along with the two foundations and committed himself to the realization of this project.
As an organization deeply rooted in St. Maarten, SMDF is aware that dental care comes at a cost and that there is minimal or no financial support from local organizations to assist with meeting the dental care needs on the island.
Together, with the Ministry of VSA and SMDF, Great Shape! Inc aims to bring certified dental professionals to St. Maarten, to provide free services for a two-to-three week period, starting in the 2nd quarter of 2023.
“I would like to thank SMDF and Great Shape! Inc for this great initiative. It definitely has the support of the Ministry. Too often oral health is overlooked or cannot be afforded. Dental care is something that SZV and I are currently in discussions about, as we are looking into how we can cover our population for dental care or even a percentage of it.” Said Minister Ottley.
Ministry VROMI & Finance Job Mixer a Success. 300+ Attend
The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment & Infrastructure (VROMI) Egbert J. Doran and Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion held a job mixer on May 12, 2022, for persons interested in various positions within both ministries, and it has been a great success.
There was an average of 300+ persons who attended the event, which was held at the Government Administration Building room 1 from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm.
Both ministers expressed their gratitude for the interest shown in the Job Mixer and would like to thank all those who came to the event and those who have already applied.
The applications will be reviewed, and persons will receive an email once that process has been completed.
A team of the ministries staff and the Department of Personnel and Organization was on-site to provide valuable information and to answer questions that the applicants had about the job vacancies within the different ministries. Interested persons filled out the application forms and provided their resumes.
Ministers Doran and Irion were present to welcome all and interacted with the attendees. Both Ministers spoke and gave words of encouragement.
Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs was also present at the event and endorsed the Job mixer.
Other members of the Council were also present and showed support for the initiative.
The Ministry of VROMI has the following positions available: policy officer, secretary general, public relations officer, policy advisor, GIS officer, project manager, warehouse manager, head of infrastructure, maintenance worker, contract manager, senior employee in the Permits Department, permit evaluator, and inspectors in the Inspection Department.
The Ministry of Finance has the following positions available: policy advisor, division head, tax inspector, collections officer, section head in Support Services, public relations officer, and Head of Audit and Criminal Investigation.
For further information, please visit the Sint Maarten Government’s website: www.sintmaartengov.org/jobs, their Facebook page at Government of Sint Maarten, and the Facebook page of VROMI.
Persons can also contact the Ministry or department directly.
Philipsburg – The Honorable Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson with Union representatives and other external partners, continue to work diligently on the finalization of the remaining documents connected to compensation packages and benefits for law enforcement officers of the Ministry of Justice such as KPSM, immigration and the other agencies within the Ministry. One of the main items being focused on is the backlog of regulation for the legal position of KPSM police officers. The Function Book was approved on December 20, 2021, and the National Decree for its effective date is currently on the legislative track. However, in response to requests made for promotions by officers of KPSM, Minister Richardson has taken the decision to grant the pending promotions and process the relevant advices for the formalization of the awarded promotions.
The rectification of the position of officers within KPSM was preceded by several other actions required. The formalization required the function book to be approved, the new salary scales to be adopted, a new regulation, and several related regulations on the legal position of police officers to be completed. Steps are already being taken to implement the solutions recommended in the SOAB report which includes the needed information to proceed with the final disbursement of the payment due to KPSM officers and some immigration officers. Preparations are also being made for the settlements with police officers who have been waiting for a long time to have their legal positions regulated.
While the approved and published Function Book will come into force within this third quarter, the final actions, namely the salary scales and the updating of the regulation on the legal basis of Justice workers are currently being completed in consultation with three unions. All parties are working on a fast track to complete the remaining items so that the national decrees of promotions can be issued. Understanding that this conclusion has been long in the making, the position of the KPSM police officers is acknowledged as they have continued to serve and execute their tasks daily.
On May 16, Minister Richardson made a commitment in writing, expressing to the class of 2011 and 2015, that their promotions would be honored. In a recent court proceeding, the judge is of the position that the intent needs to be officially formalized by National Decree. This is in total alignment with the efforts being pushed behind the scenes by the Ministry and its stakeholders.
“My commitment to the KPSM officers and all Justice workers is steadfast and in no way deterred by the many obstacles encountered during the past year. Management of the Ministry of Justice and I will ensure that all rights due to personnel within the Ministry will be honored. Promotions have been granted and communicated to the KPSM officers, while with their union representatives, the last mile of work is being concluded. Solutions are sought and being worked on to bring relief while the formalization of the decrees is being awaited,” stated Minister Richardson. The value of the Justice workers is acknowledged and with new procedures adopted the Ministry strives to have better and faster handling of requests of its workers.
