Published: 18 July 2021
PHILIPSBURG: - Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday publicly called on Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs to clarify reports that the Managing Director of the airport holding company Dexter Doncher has resigned and if she has appointed two new members to the airport holding board.
For transparency s sake, the MP said, it behooves the PM to clarify the status of Doncher and if he received the opportunity to be heard after she suspended him. If the PM chooses to provide clarity, the MP said this clarification should also include exactly why Doncher was suspended and what his resignation (if true) now means for the process.
Published: 18 July 2021
PHILIPSBURG: - Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday expressed concern for St. Maarteners, St. Maarten students in particular, and the Dutch people in general in the aftermath of torrential rain that started last Wednesday over Northern Europe.
“With the death toll throughout Europe rising daily, I can only sympathize with our people on the continent and in Holland in particular,” the MP said. “We know natural catastrophe all too well on St. Maarten and we know the toll it takes. With that said I pray that all is well with our students and St. Maarten families who are caught in it,” the MP said.
MP Emmanuel proposes sustainable Central Kitchen for breakfast program Published: 11 July 2021
~ Writes to Minister seeking collaboration ~
Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel has written to Minister of Education Rodolphe Samuel encouraging a collaborative initiative to establish a Central Kitchen to service the country’s breakfast program for children and possibly a lunch program in the future.
Emmanuel used the opportunity at the recently held debate on the country 2021 budget to approach the Minister with the idea. He stressed to the Minister that a long-term more sustainable approach is much better than the short-term remedy of throwing money at the recurring problem. “When the money runs out, we are back to square one,” he said, adding that the Minister seemed very receptive of the proposal.
Published: 08 July 2021
~ Tackle tax reform before Dutch do it for you ~
Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Thursday said that the government of St. Maarten has to say once and for all if land and property taxes as proposed by the CFT is on the table for consideration and future implementation yes or no.
Plain and simple, the MP said, government has to say whether it will entertain such suggestions and advice from the CFT or if it will inform CFT that such a suggestion is dead on arrival. “For me it already is,” the MP said. “From December 2020 I have warned the public and government that the CFT is serious about this issue and one day if they (government) keep giving in to demands, property taxes could become another famous condition,” MP Emmanuel stressed.
Published: 04 July 2021
PHILIPSBURG: - Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel said that the non-answers and unclear answers provided at the recent budget 2021 leaves plenty room for much more questioning in the weeks ahead and stressed that he will continue holding the government accountable.
“I will not be deterred,” the MP said pointing to the fact that consistency in holding government accountable has led to a possible payment of vacation pay, the truth about the vendors along Pondfill, some clarity, and truth about government’s financial position, legal basis or lack thereof outstanding police payments, massive overspendings such as the Pretty Boy affair and blatant lies from a government foundation (SOG – Stichting Overheids Gebouwen) that will be dealt with in due time.