Marigot: --- The UTCG, CTG, and UTC unions are seeking to represent a number of local civil servants that are being pushed aside even though they are fully qualified to hold top positions in the Collectivity of St. Martin. Unionist Janine Arnel told SMN News in exclusive interview on Thursday that there are a number of local St. Martiners that has diplomas but they are not given the opportunity to serve their country. Persons like Alex Richards, Philippe Stephen, Rodrique Angely, Murielle Benissa and Henoc Patrick are only some of the persons that were named. Arnel said over the years they are hearing that there are no qualified locals on the island to take up major positions but there are at three persons who are currently being pushed aside while Guadeloupians were brought in and given huge salaries and benefits even though they do not possess the necessary diplomas for the jobs they are holding. Right now St. Martiners are less fortunate in their own country Arnel said.
Arnel who holds a masters degree said she received a sanction on Thursday when she was informed that she was going to be taking up a new position over the dispensaries, while she has been the acting director of the social services for the past two years without a director. Arnel has served 25 years as a social worker with the General Council and she also holds a degree in management of sanitary and social affairs.(BAC+5 that is equivalent to a Masters Degree). Arnel said she had quite some challenges when she began setting up the social services on St. Martin because those in charge wanted things to be done outside of the law as if the island was part of a banana republic, something she is totally against.
Arnel said one of the DGA Regine Ramassamy recently went back to her island after she was recalled by the General Council. She said that position will now be held by the DGS Pascal Avern. Avern she said will be holding two positions in the COM, while there are qualified locals sitting on the side line.
Arnel said she was informed in a meeting that the COM is reorganizing the services and that they are making changes whereby she will be removed from her position. Arnel said she was an acting director now she is given a position as charge de mission which does not entail a promotion with salaries or benefit neither does it correspond to her qualifications. She said according to the law she is supposed to be promoted after three years of service but that has not happened. Arnel said she was made to understand that another outsider would be taking up her position even though that person does not have the necessary qualification to hold such a position. Arnel said another top position in the social services is also held by Guyanaise person who also is not qualified yet they are earning huge salaries with house and car benefits.
Arnel named a number of persons who were brought in by the elected officials of the Union pour les Progres and the island she said went backwards by 10 years. She said there is one person who has more qualifications than the DGS and he is pushed aside. This person she said is waiting for the past four months and his expertise is not being used. Arnel said she felt that the people of St. Martin are being insulted with their educational achievements. Arnel named a number of persons who are currently holding the same position and are being paid for not doing anything that would benefit the island or its people. She said even though the elected officials know that certain persons are not qualified neither are they performing the duties they are paid to do, their contracts and benefits are being renewed at the expense of the people.
Arnel said three unions are now gearing up to take actions against the COM. She said the unions met with the COM and they have sent a number of letters regarding the labour abuse against the civil servants. Arnel said one of the reasons she has chosen to speak out is to make sure the population is aware of the current state of affairs of their country. Arnel said the St. Martin people should be first in their country and she cannot continue to accept the mediocrity that is currently being displayed by the elected officials. The French civil servants intend to join the national strike which is scheduled to take place on September 7th regarding the pensionable age while they would be preparing to take action against the injustice that are meted out against the locals.
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French Civil Servants Claiming Discrimination --- Says Unqualified Foreigners are given Preference.
Island Council Passes Eight Organic Laws in First Session of Island Council--- 10 votes in Favor.
Philipsburg: --- Ten out of the eleven members of the island council of St. Maarten who attended the meeting on Thursday to debate and vote for the organic laws have voted in favor of the laws. Commissioner of constitutional affairs William Marlin in his elucidation explained the council that the island council is voting for these laws now so that the Round Table Conference can take place on September 9th to pave the way for St. Maarten and Curacao to attain its country status.Marlin said that when the parliament of St. Maarten is seated they would be able to make whatever amendments to any of the laws if needed. Members of the Democratic Party faction expressed their concerns saying the council was being pushed to vote these laws and they were not given enough time to study the laws. Even though expressing concerns the Democratic Party faction said they have confidence in the advisers who have worked long and hard to prepare the laws that would govern the parliament and country St. Maarten. The organic laws that were voted upon and approved are the ordinance regulating country St. Maarten, the ordinance regulating the personnel, the law regulating the promulgation of laws, the law regulating the position of the ombudsman, the law on emergency services, law regulating the legal position of the civil service, law regulating the security services for country St. Maarten, and the law regulating personal information.
During the debate several issues were raised which was not related to the organic laws. Issues such as the executive council re-distributing the portfolios of care taker commissioner Theo Heyliger who has resigned since July 19. Councilman Leroy De Weever took a swing at the leader of government saying the only reason they took away Heyliger's portfolios was because the current government wants to take credit for the social homes that are to be given out soon. In rebutting that statement leader of government William Marlin assured that he is the commissioner in charge of housing since June 8th 2009 and he is not the type of person that would play with people's emotions during election. Marlin said he has no power over the 70 homes at Hope Estate and that the island government and the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation will be signing an agreement on the homes on Friday. Marlin also refuted the statements made by De Weever who said government is playing cheap politics by saying the councilman should have looked at the publication sheet and he would have seen who holds the housing portfolio. Marlin said he is not one of those persons who held on to land for eight years and then sold those parcels on land one Saturday before election to gain popularity or votes.
Also taking shots at the statements made by De Weever was Councilman Louie Laveist who said he is in no way defending Heyliger but government is about continuity and when Heyliger resigned he said he was doing so to begin his political campaign. Laveist said if Heyliger had indicated then that he was also pulling his support from the National Alliance/ Laveist and Heyliger coalition then his portfolios would have been distributed a long time ago. Laveist said that since Heyliger's resignation he has not shown up for work neither is he attending executive council meetings. Commissioner William Marlin also brought clarity to matter by saying that the information which was leaked to one of the daily newspapers was not correct. Marlin said since Heyliger resigned he did not attend any of the meetings neither is he participating in any of the deliberations. Marlin said because of that government felt it was prudent for them to redistribute the portfolios to the other members of the executive council. Marlin said the fire department and disaster management was transferred to commissioner Xavier Blackman, the SLAC, EDC and the harbor now falls under commissioner Frans Richardson, GEBE and ROB falls under William Marlin.
De Weever also took a turn at government for amending the casino license ordinance which would pave the way for Caravanserai resort to obtain a casino license, De Weever said government seems to want to harbor money laundering since the casinos and change points is where these types of activities take place while stores on Front and Back Streets are closing down. Island council man Louie Laveist jumped after the statements saying that what the National Alliance/ Laveist and Heyliger executive council did now is exactly what the Democratic Party executive council did or wanted to do, something he said he knows about because he was part of the council. Laveist also promised to let the cat out of the bag regarding the same resort and the Democratic Party executive council.
Marlin also mentioned that the former executive council voted in favor of granting a license to Caravanserai and the former chairman of the island and executive council had sent it to the governor general to have it overturned because the chairman was not in favor of granting the license. Marlin said had the policy been changed then the resort management would have had options which was to comply with the requirements as stipulated.
Nature Foundation Report Post-Hurricane Assessment: September 2nd 2010 EARL/ FIONA.
This report outlines the activities of the Nature Foundation post hurricane Earl and tropical storm Fiona.
On Tuesday August 31st the Nature Foundation Chief Marine Park Ranger was contacted by the Air Traffic Control Tower of the Princess Juliana International Airport concerning a possible oil spill in the Simpson Bay area. The report was radioed in to the tower by a pilot of a landing aircraft. An on-water survey was subsequently carried out by the Nature Foundation and no oil was found in the water, although significant debris and runoff was detected. Surveys concluded that the pilot possibly mistook runoff and dislodged particles as a result of the passing of hurricane Earl as an oil slick. Follow up surveys were conducted on Wednesday September 1st and Thursday September 2nd with no oil being present in the area.
On Thursday September 2nd Nature Foundation staff carried out a survey of the mooring installations of the Marine Park. All moorings were found to be intact with the exception of the newly placed Isabella Reef (N 18̊̊ 01.119' W 063̊ 07. 039', working depth 93 ft). Some minor maintenance of dive moorings was conducted by Nature Foundation staff.
Nature Foundation Staff carried out an in water survey of Great Bay Beach and the Capt. Hodge Pier as per the request of the St. Maarten Harbour Master. Some debris was found and cleared by Nature Foundation divers and a report was sent to the St. Maarten Harbour Master.
Once visibility clears the St. Maarten Nature Foundation will assess the damage caused to the island's offshore coral reef ecosystems due to the passing of hurricane Earl. Surveys will be conducted and subsequent cleanup efforts will be initiated on offshore reefs once deemed necessary. Surveys are scheduled to commence on Monday, September 6th 2010. Coral Reefs act as a buffer, protecting coastal areas from severe flooding caused by storm surge.
On Tuesday August 31st the Nature Foundation Chief Marine Park Ranger was contacted by the Air Traffic Control Tower of the Princess Juliana International Airport concerning a possible oil spill in the Simpson Bay area. The report was radioed in to the tower by a pilot of a landing aircraft. An on-water survey was subsequently carried out by the Nature Foundation and no oil was found in the water, although significant debris and runoff was detected. Surveys concluded that the pilot possibly mistook runoff and dislodged particles as a result of the passing of hurricane Earl as an oil slick. Follow up surveys were conducted on Wednesday September 1st and Thursday September 2nd with no oil being present in the area.
On Thursday September 2nd Nature Foundation staff carried out a survey of the mooring installations of the Marine Park. All moorings were found to be intact with the exception of the newly placed Isabella Reef (N 18̊̊ 01.119' W 063̊ 07. 039', working depth 93 ft). Some minor maintenance of dive moorings was conducted by Nature Foundation staff.
Nature Foundation Staff carried out an in water survey of Great Bay Beach and the Capt. Hodge Pier as per the request of the St. Maarten Harbour Master. Some debris was found and cleared by Nature Foundation divers and a report was sent to the St. Maarten Harbour Master.
Once visibility clears the St. Maarten Nature Foundation will assess the damage caused to the island's offshore coral reef ecosystems due to the passing of hurricane Earl. Surveys will be conducted and subsequent cleanup efforts will be initiated on offshore reefs once deemed necessary. Surveys are scheduled to commence on Monday, September 6th 2010. Coral Reefs act as a buffer, protecting coastal areas from severe flooding caused by storm surge.
CPA Won Court Injunction--- Leo Richardson will be Added as Candidate to the CPA List.
Philipsburg:--- The leader of the Concordia Political Alliance Jeffry Richardson has a lot to rejoice over after he won yet another battle in the Court of First Instance on Wednesday. Jeffry Richardson founder and leader of the Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) took the head of the voting bureau to court to have Fritz Leo Richardson added as the number two candidate on the CPA list and to also give Richardson a Dutch national who was born on Aruba the rights to vote and contest the September 17th election.Judge Van Veen ruled that the CPA must be given the necessary time to fill in all the necessary forms to add Richardson as the number 2 candidate on the CPA and submit it by Friday this week. In an invited comment Jeffry Richardson leader of the CPA said the civil registry has to give him all the necessary forms to fill in and if that is done he will finalize the new list for the CPA with the second candidate added and submit as ordered by the judge.
Pleading for the CPA was Attorney at law Zylena Bary who asked the court to allow her client Fritz Leo Richardson to vote as well as to become a candidate in the CPA list to contest the September 17 election. Bary pointed out to the judge that her client registered at the civil registry on July 16th while the voting registry closed on August 6th, she said the acting head of the civil registry mislead the leader of the CPA when she told him not to add three of his candidates to the list because according to her they were not registered, one of which was Fritz Leo Richardson. Bary said if the chairman of the main voting bureau has no problem allowing Fritz Leo Richardson the rights to vote then he should also be able to allow the CPA to add him as a candidate on their slate.
Representing the island government was the chairman of the main voting bureau Reynold Groeneveldt who told the judge that according to the law Richardson was supposed to register at the civil registry five days after he arrived on St. Maarten and that Richardson has been living on the island since 2008. Groeneveldt also asked the judge to declare the case of Richardson null and void since the injunction was filed against the chairman of the main voting bureau and not the island government. The acting Lt. Governor and chairman of the main voting bureau said that the problem Richardson is faced with was not caused by a mistake made by the acting head of the census office. Groeneveldt also told the court that the leader of the CPA Jeffry Richardson should have added Fritz Leo Richardson to his list even though he was told verbally that the candidate was not registered at the civil registry. Even though the lists from the various political parties were submitted on August 18th the validation of those lists only took place on September 1 2010.
Groeneveldt told members of the media that all four list have been validated and that they would all be contesting the September 17 elections. Groeneveldt said when the committee of the main voting bureau met last week they noticed that there were some minor mistakes with some of the candidates. He said the parties with the mistakes on their list were notified and the necessary corrections were made.
Prosecutors Office Sends Letter to Attorney General on Develing Accident Case.
Philipsburg:--- The Prosecutor's office has sent a letter informing the Attorney General Dick Piar in Curacao of the findings involving prosecutor Jan Bart Develing and the traffic accident he was involved in on Saturday afternoon. Prosecutor Develing was arrested and spent almost six hours in custody shortly after the accident.
The letter was sent on Wednesday. Press Prosecutor Rienk Mud told SMN News that his office is still awaiting the police report from the police department regarding the accident which took place in the Middle Region. Mud said the only the reason the letter sent on Wednesday was because of the curfew on Monday and Tuesday due to the passing of hurricane Earl and tropical storm Fiona. Mud explained that the prosecutor's office also did not have electricity due to the hurricane and as such they were not able to communicate this information before. Mud said the Attorney General will take a decision on the course of action against his colleague Develing based on the letter that was sent to him.
Mud also explained that the attorney general has to be careful when taking decisions to sanction a federal officer of the law. Mud said no one can be suspended when there are no serious crimes committed and even though Develing is a public prosecutor he also deserves a fair trial.
The press prosecutor said his colleague Jan Bart Develing admitted to being involved in the traffic accident and he also gave his office the reason he drove away from the scene of the accident. According to Develing he was not sure if he was the main contributor to the accident or if it was someone who wanted to rob him. Mud said his colleague also said he took a split second decision to drive away from the scene simply because he was fearful and his intention was to call police the moment he got home which is not far away from the scene of the accident.
Mud further explained that based on article 9 of the traffic ordinance of the Netherlands Antilles gives a person 24 hours after an accident to report it to the police. However, Develing was stopped moments after he left the scene and was arrested by police. Mud also explained that Jan Bart Develing was not the traffic prosecutor some two years now and that he admitted to them and the police that he drank three beers prior to the accident and that was the reason police smelled alcohol on him at the time. He said the police conducted the sobriety test at the police station and they found that Mr. Develing was fit to drive. Mud also explained that the Dutch justice system does not have any other means to text drivers who are suspected of being under the influence of alcohol.
Apart from the letter that was sent to the attorney general by the prosecutor's office the police department has to continue their investigation into the accident. Mud said when the report is submitted to them they would have other colleagues outside of St. Maarten study the report and then they would decide if Prosecutor Develing will face prosecution for the offence he committed on Saturday. Mud said one of the reasons they have chosen to allow outside experts to study that report is to make sure Develing is treated fairly while justice is served.
Asked if the prosecutor's office was trying to cover up the case or if there is any type of class justice given to Prosecutor Develing, Mud responded by saying absolutely not and to avoid such accusations they have decided to send the letter to the attorney general so that he can decide on a course of action while they will also take other measures based on the police report.
The letter was sent on Wednesday. Press Prosecutor Rienk Mud told SMN News that his office is still awaiting the police report from the police department regarding the accident which took place in the Middle Region. Mud said the only the reason the letter sent on Wednesday was because of the curfew on Monday and Tuesday due to the passing of hurricane Earl and tropical storm Fiona. Mud explained that the prosecutor's office also did not have electricity due to the hurricane and as such they were not able to communicate this information before. Mud said the Attorney General will take a decision on the course of action against his colleague Develing based on the letter that was sent to him.
Mud also explained that the attorney general has to be careful when taking decisions to sanction a federal officer of the law. Mud said no one can be suspended when there are no serious crimes committed and even though Develing is a public prosecutor he also deserves a fair trial.
The press prosecutor said his colleague Jan Bart Develing admitted to being involved in the traffic accident and he also gave his office the reason he drove away from the scene of the accident. According to Develing he was not sure if he was the main contributor to the accident or if it was someone who wanted to rob him. Mud said his colleague also said he took a split second decision to drive away from the scene simply because he was fearful and his intention was to call police the moment he got home which is not far away from the scene of the accident.
Mud further explained that based on article 9 of the traffic ordinance of the Netherlands Antilles gives a person 24 hours after an accident to report it to the police. However, Develing was stopped moments after he left the scene and was arrested by police. Mud also explained that Jan Bart Develing was not the traffic prosecutor some two years now and that he admitted to them and the police that he drank three beers prior to the accident and that was the reason police smelled alcohol on him at the time. He said the police conducted the sobriety test at the police station and they found that Mr. Develing was fit to drive. Mud also explained that the Dutch justice system does not have any other means to text drivers who are suspected of being under the influence of alcohol.
Apart from the letter that was sent to the attorney general by the prosecutor's office the police department has to continue their investigation into the accident. Mud said when the report is submitted to them they would have other colleagues outside of St. Maarten study the report and then they would decide if Prosecutor Develing will face prosecution for the offence he committed on Saturday. Mud said one of the reasons they have chosen to allow outside experts to study that report is to make sure Develing is treated fairly while justice is served.
Asked if the prosecutor's office was trying to cover up the case or if there is any type of class justice given to Prosecutor Develing, Mud responded by saying absolutely not and to avoid such accusations they have decided to send the letter to the attorney general so that he can decide on a course of action while they will also take other measures based on the police report.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 01 September 2010 20:38 )
Breaker Box at Administration Building Caught Fire.
Philipsburg:--- A host of firemen and fire trucks responded to the government administration building on Wednesday morning when one of the breaker boxes that is located outside of the building caught fire.Spokesman for the fire department told SMN News who was on the spot that they basically had to secure the area and the building until GEBE was able to send someone to fix the problems with the breaker box. The fire department spokesman said that the main cause of the fire is that water got to the box either during the passing of hurricane Earl or from the rain from tropical storm Fiona.
Hurricane Exercise to Begin Thursday.
Philipsburg:--- The hurricane exercise is schedule to begin on Thursday and will last until Sunday September 5 the 32nd infantry company of the Netherlands Marine Corps participates in the yearly Hurricane Exercise on St. Maarten. During this exercise, realistic scenarios are presented to train the marines for any kind of emergency or disaster during the 2010 hurricane season.
The first two days of the exercise the marines will conduct surveys of the shelters, their reachableness and possible alternative routes. Also they will set up a command post that will need to maintain contact with the shelters, re-establish contact with governmental institutions directly after the hurricane and coordinate the actions the marines have to take after the passage. As of Friday various serials will take place all over the island. During the simulated passing of the hurricane, the marines will spend the night in the shelters to maintain order, dealing with injured and scared people. The days following the marines will conduct foot patrols to do damage assessment and will be confronted by a group of angry citizens demanding food, water and shelter in a riot control exercise.
During the Hurricane Exercise also the St. Maarten Voluntary Corps VKS personnel, members of the Aruba Militia, Red Cross medical personnel and the fire-department are part of the different serials.
We would like to invite the press for the coverage of this important exercise. This is possible at Friday September 3, 13.30 PM at Mullet Bay.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 01 September 2010 20:31 )
Schools to remain closed until Monday, September 6.
GREAT BAY:--- On Wednesday, after an assessment of the situation at schools, and in consultation with educational officials, it has been decided that schools will remain closed this week and will open on Monday, September 6.
Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Wednesday that after a total assessment of the situation on the island which also includes the instability and lack of public utilities (electricity, water) in various districts; it has been decided to keep schools closed for the remainder of the week.
This would allow for the situation on the island to normalize in the coming days and the necessary preparations and repairs that need to be carried out at the various schools.
Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Wednesday that after a total assessment of the situation on the island which also includes the instability and lack of public utilities (electricity, water) in various districts; it has been decided to keep schools closed for the remainder of the week.
This would allow for the situation on the island to normalize in the coming days and the necessary preparations and repairs that need to be carried out at the various schools.
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