SIMPSON BAY LAGOON - The St. Maarten Nature Foundation took part in the wide-scale clean-up of the Simpson Bay Lagoon which took place on Saturday. The Minister of VROMI the Honourable Maurice Lake spearheaded the clean-up and the Ministry, the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association and the Nature Foundation jointly organized the logistics.

During the clean-up the Nature Foundation focused on the removal of wrecks and major garbage on the lagoon. With the assistance of the Maritime Affairs Department many wrecks were removed within the lagoon, including those which were damaged by Hurricane Gonzalo and were wrecked to the side of the airport road.

The Nature Foundation hopes that a wide scale clean-up such as the one held on Saturday can be a yearly event where all the stakeholders of the Simpson Bay Lagoon can come together and hold a wide scale clean-up every year at the beginning of the yachting season.

The Foundation would also like to thank all of the stakeholders who participated in the clean-up.

PHILIPSBURG – Ton Maan is the new Chief Public Prosecutor for Sint Maarten.  The Kingdom Council of Minsters approved the appointment on Friday, December 5.  Maan will start his tenure as of January 1^st, 2015 and he takes over from Rick Noordhoek.

Currently Maan is Acting Chief Public Prosecutor for the Public Prosecutors Office of Oost-Nederland.  From 2011 to 2013 he also worked at the Regional Public Prosecutor’s Office for Anhem-Zutphen where he was head of the prosecution service in Zutphen.

According to a Public Prosecution Service (PPS) press release, Maan has a lot of experience with respect to fighting organized crime.

PPS thanked Noordhoek for his service and are excited with the appointment of Maan. 

PHILIPSBURG - According to the Cft the incoming government needs to amend the 2015 budget urgently in accordance with the legal requirements and resolve the long pending issue of payment arrears to APS and SZV.  

The Board visited Sint Maarten from December 3rd to December 5th, which was the last visit to the Wescott-Williams III administration. Meetings were held with the Governor, the deputy Prime Minister, the minister of Finance, the Council of Ministers and the Central Committee of Parliament. Main topics of discussion were the 2014 budget execution, the draft budget 2015 and the payment arrears with SZVand APS. Chairman Age Bakker also held a presentation on the experiences with financial supervision on Sint Maarten for the members of the SHTA during a membership mixer at the University of Sint Maarten.

2014 budget execution

The 2014 budget execution is expected to end with a deficit of approximately ANG 10 million if no additional measures are taken. The deficit is caused by higher personnel expenditures and lower revenues than budgeted. The Cft was informed that government is currently exploring the possibilities to raise dividends from the government owned entities to cover the deficit. The Cft reminded government that any remaining deficits need to be compensated in future budgets.  

2015 draft budget

In October 2014 government presented the draft 2015 budget for advice. In its advice, the Cft has recommended to lower the budgeted revenues of ANG 445 million to the level of approximately ANG 426 million, reflecting the level of revenues which were actually realized during the last few years. The Cft has been informed by the government that the budget 2015 including the necessary adjustments will not be ready before the legal deadline of December 15. It was agreed that government will formally request for a postponement until January 31, 2015. The Cft will honor this request which will enable the incoming government to present an amended budget in accordance with the Cft advice. The Cft stresses the importance of preserving a timely presentation of the budgets, a goal which has seen considerable improvement this year. Therefore the Cft will have to revert to procedures in the Kingdom Law if the deadline is not met.  

Multi annual approach

It has been a continuous challenge for Sint Maarten to balance the budget. This reflects the ongoing discussion on the appropriate size of government for the country Sint Maarten. The Cft recognizes the desirability of formulating a multi annual approach for building up government institutions and providing the appropriate level of public services. The Cft has noted earlier that government revenues do not keep pace with economic growth and therefore strengthening of the tax system should be a priority for the incoming government.  

Payment arrears

The Cft points out the lack of progress to solve the existing payment arrears with both SZV and APS. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. The Cft advises the incoming government to solve this problem with the greatest urgency.

POINT BLANCHE – Port St. Maarten management and invited guests on Friday welcomed Royal Caribbean International’s new Quantum of the Seas, the third largest cruise ship in the world, to the destination for the first time on Friday, December 5th.  The vessel has been debuted as the world’s first smart ship. 

Royal Caribbean International took delivery of the newest addition to the cruise line’s fleet from Meyer Werft Yard, Germany on October 28, 2014.

Port St. Maarten Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo on Friday morning welcomed Captain of Quantum of the Seas Srecko Ban to St. Maarten along with his guests and crew.  Mingo during the plaque exchange highlighted the importance of security and safety for cruise passengers and the industry which Port St. Maarten has heavily invested and promoted over the years. Cruise passengers present were happy to hear this and applauded.

CEO Mingo thanked Captain Ban for visiting the destination and added that the port has a 20-year strategic agreement with Royal Caribbean International. 

Captain Ban thanked the St. Maarten delegation for their hospitality adding that the destination is one of the highlights in the Caribbean where cruise passengers just love the island.  He pointed out the great cooperation that Royal Caribbean International has enjoyed with the port and looked forward to a continued great working relationship.

Representing the Minister of Tourism Hon. Ted Richardson was Chef de Cabinet Ludwig Ouenniche.  Quenniche apologized for the minister not being able to attend the ceremony due to being away on business.  He added that Government works very closely with Port St. Maarten in partnership for the positive development of the cruise sector on the island.

Perla Rombley, Executive Secretary of the Dutch St. Maarten Taxi Association (DSTA) also presented Captain Ban with a token of appreciation after welcoming him and his guests and crew to the country, adding that DSTA will continue to offer the best service to its customers as they continue to call at Port St. Maarten.

Present for the welcome ceremony onboard Quantum of the Seas were stakeholders from the Tourist Bureau, DSTA, Water Taxi, Supervisory Board, Port St. Maarten officials, and representatives from the Police Force.

Quantum of the Seas welcomed her first guests on November 2^nd in Southampton, United Kingdom and then took a trans-Atlantic voyage to her home port of Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Bayonne, New Jersey.

The new smart ship left New York harbour on her inaugural season cruise last month and will ply the Caribbean until May 2015 when the vessel moves to its home port of Shanghai (Baoshan), China.

“We were honored to welcome what has been classified as the smartest cruise ship afloat.  Royal Caribbean International is one of our key stakeholders and partner cruise lines, and I congratulate them for their innovativeness and always keeping ahead to offer cruise passengers the best cruise experience that technology can offer.  We are also proud to be on the itinerary of Quantum of the Seas for this season,” CEO Mark Mingo said on Friday.

Quantum-class ships are the world’s most technologically advanced in the world with a lot of bandwidth which allows the cruise line to offer unprecedented connectivity – 500 times more than any other cruise ship afloat.  The systems are easy to use and it expands guest choices.

Quantum-class ships span 16 guest decks; weighs in at 167,800 gross registered tons; carries 4,180 guests at double occupancy; and features 2,090 staterooms.