News
Rhuggenaath believes in a good ending of the CDM meeting
WILLEMSTAD — Commissioner Eugene Rhuggenaath (Economic Affairs, PAR)”s reaction was very calm on the eve of the Shareholders’ meeting (AVA) of CDM, during which a decision will be made on the local company’s interpretation of the director’s function. Rhuggenaath indicated that, if Franklin Sluis is appointed as new director, he will resign as commissioner.
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Sustainable energy placed high on Caribbean agenda
WILLEMSTAD – The Fundashon Antiano Pa Energia (Antillean Energy Foundation, Fape) has participated in a two-day seminar on sustainable energy and the use of that in the Caribbean region. The seminar took place on the island Nassau in the Bahamas. According to Fape-treasurer Frank Elenburg, with the continuous increasing of oil-prices and the inflation that goes with it, it is a topical subject and worldwide a matter of concern; “especially for those countries or islands in the Caribbean that have to pay the high oil prices.”
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Antillean commercial banks fairly healthy
WILLEMSTAD — From a global point of view, Antillean commercial banks have had a good year. During the presentation of the annual statistics of 2007 last week, president chief executive Emsley Tromp of the Bank of the Dutch Antilles (BNA) said the local banks to be ‘healthy’.
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Two thirds casino’s does not meet requirements
WILLEMSTAD – While the temporary licenses for the eleven active casinos on the island expire this month and next month, it seems that only a third meet the current requirements for a definitive license. The temporary license has already been prolonged. Casinos which do not operate in conformity with the rules, can expect measures being taken against them very soon.
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CBS-investigation of agricultural sector
WILLEMSTAD — The Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) will investigate the needs of employees in the agricultural-, fishery-and livestock sector. According to Deputy Anthony Godett (LVV, FOL) the investigation should show what the employees in this sector need to function well.
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Curaçao hosts ICT-congress
WILLEMSTAD – The Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (Lacnic) and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) will both hold a congress on Curaçao next week. Both organizations are dedicated in the development of internet-and communications technology (ICT) in the region.
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Van der Gen about IMF-rapport: Course is paying off
WILLEMSTAD — Island Council member for PNP, Gimena van der Gen seized a report of the INF about the Antilles to say that ‘the set and transparent course that the current government pursuing is paying off’.
The report that was published last week states that ‘even the international organization IMF has noticed that good times are along the way for the Antilles and Curacao’. According to her, the IMF predicts an economic growth of 3 percent for the coming years, which is even more than the local institutions have considered in their calculations’.
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Higher water tariff inevitable
WILLEMSTAD – Aqualectra will talk with the Governing Body (BC) tomorrow about the water tariffs. The utility company wants a concrete decision on her earlier request to increase these tariffs.
Aqualectra has submitted a request for price increase of electricity as well as water early this year.
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Hostages Freed in Colombia Returning Home
Bogota, Colombia — The day after she was rescued in a daring operation by Colombian commandos, Ingrid Betancourt, the French-Colombian politician who was held hostage by leftist guerrillas, stood on an airport tarmac and embraced the family she had not seen in six years.
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Curises and UNA communicate only in writing
WILLEMSTAD –/DEN HAAG – The directors of Curises and the University of the Netherlands Antilles nowadays fight out their dispute via the media. Curises published a lengthy press-release on Thursday about the latest developments since the UNA annulled its collaboration with Curises end May. That same day the rector magnificus Jeanne de Bruijn also responded with a press-release.
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Amfo helps environmental defense foundation
WILLEMSTAD – The Antilliaanse Mede Financiering Organisatie (Amfo) has made 358.313 guilders in funds available for the Stichting Milieu Defensie ‘s (environmental defense foundation) ‘Bread for impoverished children’ project. This new foundation led by Urwin Sillé, aims to feed five hundred children from destitute families on Curaçao on a daily basis.
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Well-regulated finance is part of good governance
WILLEMSTAD –/DEN HAAG – “Well-regulated finance is an essential part of good governance”, says State Secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten of Kingdom Relations (CDA), while the opposition in the Island Council and the Parliament go on and on against the Order in Council for the Kingdom (AMvRB) Financial Supervision, which makes the arrival of a College financial supervision possible.
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Island wants to get a move on Isla
WILLEMSTAD –United Telecommunication Services (UTS) has booked positive results for the second consecutive year. Director Paul de Geus announced this afternoon that the company made a profit of 11.6 million guilders in 2007. Thanks to a windfall the year before, the company’s profit was with 25 millions, more than double.
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Again profit for UTS
WILLEMSTAD –United Telecommunication Services (UTS) has booked positive results for the second consecutive year. Director Paul de Geus announced this afternoon that the company made a profit of 11.6 million guilders in 2007. Thanks to a windfall the year before, the company’s profit was with 25 millions, more than double.
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Protection of Marine Park
WILLEMSTAD – Commissioner Eugene Rhuggenaath (Tourism, PAR) indicated during the opening of the Dive Festival 2008 that before the end of this year, Curaçao will come with rules and legislation for the management of the coast and the protection of the underwater marine park. “This way the island government will contribute to the further development of the tourism and the national parks and his responsibility for a permanent development of these.”
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Administrators very little aware of integrity
WILLEMSTAD – Administrators, heads of service and departments are little aware of integrity. Also the integrity trajectory did not contribute to the improvement of the confidence in the government. Peter Verton comes to this conclusion in his final report ‘Evaluation Integrity Trajectory Phase 2 of the island territory of Curacao’.
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Hunt for highly educated Antillean persons
WILLEMSTAD -/ROTTERDAM – The future political changes of the islands of the Neth.Antilles will also have consequences for the employment on the islands. There is a need for well- and highly educated personnel on government level. St. Maarten that has 61 openings, offer Antilleans that went to school and graduated in the Netherlands, very favourable terms to return to the island.
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Come to the Island Council
WILLEMSTAD – The opposition parties MAN, NPA, Forsa Kòrsou, Pueblo Soberano, and also PLKP united in Aliansa Patriótiko are inciting people to come to tomorrow afternoon’s public Island Council meeting about the measures taken by the Governing Body to ease the price increases of fuel, water, and electricity.
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Minimum wage must increase with 5 percent
WILLEMSTAD -The Governing Body has taken some measures to ease the price increase of fuel, electricity, and water for the less privileged in the society. The welfare is increased to 272.90 guilders biweekly and the AOV will also be increased. The BC will also submit a request to the minister of Labour Affairs to increase the minimum wage with 5 percent (51.80 guilders) per month
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Drov didn’t officially know of the Rif plan of MetaCorp
WILLEMSTAD – Other than from Cayco from Venezuela and Gold Investments from here, the Environmental Development and Public Housing Department (Drov) didn’t officially know of other requests for the development of the Rif area. Drov didn’t know of MetaCorp/Credit Suisse presentation to the Governing Body in September of last year.
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Andalex Group new owner Holiday Beach
WILLEMSTAD -As of today, the Andalex Group from New York, or better, Silver Entertainment, subdivision of The Andalex Group, may call herself the new owner of the Holiday Beach Hotel & Casino. Even though the closing was going to take place around noon today, after this paper had already gone to press, we still received an invitation to be present at the conveyance with the cutting of a ribbon by Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage (PAR).
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Parliament demands meeting rules POK
WILLEMSTAD – The Antillean Parliament wants meeting rules for the Parlementair Overleg Koninkrijksrelaties (Parliamentary Deliberation Kingdom Relations, POK), so that the chairman is authorized to take actions when offensive or disparaging comments are made.
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10 Megawatts for the time being
WILLEMSTAD/ORANJESTAD -The 14 diesel generators that Aqualectra has rented and that are good for the production of 10 megawatts are since a few weeks running in Mundu Nobo. The generators are rented from Aggreko from Houston, Texas, a company that is active worldwide. Aqualectra rented the generators for 9 months.
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Third cycle under review
WILLEMSTAD – The Department of Education Affairs (SAE) continues to be an advocate of the third cycle of basic education (fo) (13 to 15 years), and with this, the department takes an isolated position, because the National Government, the Catholic-, as well as the Protestant school boards do no longer believe in it. If it is up to them, the third cycle may be dropped.
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Hyatt currently offers employment to 300 men, and later to 800
WILLEMSTAD - Almost 300 men are currently working permanently on just the construction of the hotel; this does not include the workers that are constructing the golf course and that are putting up the Marina Village. In November 2009, when the first phase of the project is finished off, the construction workers must make room for the 700 and 800 personnel members for the Hyatt Regency Curaçao that will then open her doors.
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Scarcity of coins
WILLEMSTAD – On some of the Antillean islands, there is a scarcity of coins. The Bank of the Neth.Antilles (BNA) took note of this and requests the public to use the coins they have for payments and to exchange bigger quantities for bills at the commercial banks.
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More tourists from Venezuela than the Netherlands
WILLEMSTAD - It is for the first time in years that most of the tourists that visit Curacao are not from the Netherlands, but from Venezuela. The tourist bureau registered more than 11.000 Venezuelan tourists in February, a growth of more than 500 percent. The tourism from the Netherlands grew with 11 percent to a total of 10.000. After months of falling-off, also the number of tourists from the United States increased from 4000 to 4600.
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December 15, 2008 unfeasible
WILLEMSTAD /DEN HAAG – The decision is made. What everybody knew all along but didn’t dare saying out loud, is said: the commencement date for the political structure for the Neth.Antilles on December 15, 2008 is definitely not feasible. State Secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten (Kingdom Relations, CDA) that travels to the Antilles today, states in her periodical progress report of March 31 that several projects cannot be completed before the end of this year.
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Direction-group won’t make the end of March
WILLEMSTAD – The so-called direction-group political restructuring won’t manage to be ready with the proposals by the end of March as was planned and because of that, the political steering committee, whose work is coordinated and prepared by the direction-group, won’t take place.
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Dollar tourism still big business
WILLEMSTAD -The dollar tourism from Venezuela that visit Curacao is still booming and has meanwhile attracted attention also in foreign countries. The International Herald Tribune – for sale in more than 100 countries and associated to the New York Times – reported over it under the headline that Venezuelan citizens ‘bend over backwards’ just to get the American dollar.
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Kingdom extra alert
WILLEMSTAD -The recent events in South-America, especially between Colombia on the one hand and Venezuela and Ecuador on the other, are reason for the Kingdom, the Neth.Antilles, and Aruba to keep an extra eye on the developments in the Andes. The Amigoe learned this from government circles on Curacao. Representatives of the ministry of Foreign Affairs Administration in The Hague are the official spokespersons; for the Antilles it is Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage (PAR, in charge of Foreign Affairs Administration (DBB)) that acts as spokesperson. However, she was inaccessible when this paper went to press, so we’ll have to wait for a press report. According to reports, both ministries regret the conflict and they are pressing for a solution via dialogue.
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Dutch Parliament wants explanation on prison in St. Maarten
WILLEMSTAD -DEN HAAG – The Lower House wants St. Maarten to explain the procedures in the Pointe Blanche-prison. This is after last night’s first TV-programme of the Nova in a series about the Antilles.
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PdVSA wants payments on new Swiss account
WILLEMSTAD/CARACAS – The Venezuelan national oil company PdVSA has opened a new bank account with the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) and calls on all her customers to from now on, transfer all payments to this account. The lawyers of Exxon Mobile have informed the banks in the Antilles that PdVSA’s bank balances are frozen and that no amounts are to be diverted from local PdVSA accounts to other accounts.
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No country status without progress
WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG — St. Maarten must engage criminality and corruption into combat. This is the message that the Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende (CDA) gave in a suitable location this morning, namely the Courthouse of the island. “Because, without progress in the field of maintenance of law and order, administration of justice, and good governance, St.Maarten cannot get the status of Country.”
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More than 65.000 tourists
WILLEMSTAD/— Compared with 2006, the tourism has grown with almost 28 percent last year. A total of 299.730 tourists visited the island last year; 234.383 in 2006. A record number of more than 100.000 people from the Netherlands came to the island last year, 15.000 more than in 2006.
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With Venezuela The Netherlands reserved with new weapon transactions
WILLEMSTAD/ DEN HAAG — During a Parliamentary debate with the standing committees for Economic- and Foreign Affairs, and State Secretary Frans Heemskerk of Economic Affairs (PvdA) about the weapon-export policy, Minister Maxime Verhagen (CDA) of Foreign Affairs said that he will be reserved about the licence request for new weapon-transactions to Venezuela.
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— Compared with 2006, the tourism has grown with almost 28 percent last year. A total of 299.730 tourists visited the island last year; 234.383 in 2006. A record number of more than 100.000 people from the Netherlands came to the island last year, 15.000 more than in 2006.
No concrete suspicion
WILLEMSTAD -All the investigations of the past year under the command of the Public Prosecutor (OM), didn’t lead to real suspicions of arson in the first four of the five fires that raged through the free zone between November 13, 2006 and February 19, 2007 and startled Curacao. To the opinion of the OM, the fifth fire that burned down Hermanos Lalo’s warehouse was caused by arson.
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Chata: Airspace too drastically more expensive
WILLEMSTAD– Hotel association Chata is asking the government to reconsider her decision to approve a 50 percent increase of the tariff for airplanes that traverse the Antillean airspace. Chata fears that Curacao is pricing herself out of the market; that higher tariffs would lead to fewer flights or won’t lead to more airlift. This is bad for the tourism, which is our most important economic sector.
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Rosaria disapproves discussion Cifa via the media
WILLEMSTAD– State Secretary of Finance Alex Rosaria (PNP), who is in charge of Fiscal Affairs, disapproves the method of the association Cifa for discussing a few matters – as regards the legislation trajectory with respect to the international financial services sector – in the media. Rosaria states this in a letter to chairman of Cifa, Herman Behr.
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Unemployment in Curacao is dropping
WILLEMSTAD– The unemployment percentage in Curacao had dropped from 14.7 to 12 from October 2007 to October 2007. This appears from a workers’ inquiry (Ako) of the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS).
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Ombudsman: Clarification on allotment to KPMG
WILLEMSTAD– Ombudsman Fred Wiel wants the BC to clarify the tender allotment of the ‘‘Ontwerp Ambtelijke Bestuurlijke Organisatie Land Curaçao’ (Official Governmental Organization Design of the Country Curacao) to KPMG.
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Plaza Hotel issues bond loan
WILLEMSTAD– The hotel is going to expand her activities in 2008, states the website of Plaza Hotel. The hotel will be renovated and 50 new suites and two unique garden villas with own Jacuzzi and butler service will be added. Westbay Holding CV, established in Amsterdam, is the indirect owner of the building and the hotel in Curacao and is issuing a bond loan.
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Electricity 19 percent more expensive
WILLEMSTAD– Aqualectra and Curoil submitted a mutual proposal to the Governing Body (BC) today for the increase of the price of water, electricity, gasoline, and diesel. They propose an increase of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity (19.3 percent), one guilder per cubic meter water (8.4 percent), 10 cent per liter gasoline, and 10 cent per liter diesel, confirmed Commissioner Humphrey Davelaar (Energy, PNP).
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Tromp: 2008 looks good
WILLEMSTAD– Looking back and –ahead, the prospects for 2008 are in general very favourable, is the opinion of Central Bank president, Emsley Tromp. “However, I continue to hope for a total dept restructuring, so the government can realize tangible results for policymaking sooner.”
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All the investigations of the past year under the command of the Public Prosecutor (OM), didn’t lead to real suspicions of arson in the first four of the five fires that raged through the free zone between November 13, 2006 and February 19, 2007 and startled Curacao. To the opinion of the OM, the fifth fire that burned down Hermanos Lalo’s warehouse was caused by arson. Hotel association Chata is asking the government to reconsider her decision to approve a 50 percent increase of the tariff for airplanes that traverse the Antillean airspace. Chata fears that Curacao is pricing herself out of the market; that higher tariffs would lead to fewer flights or won’t lead to more airlift. This is bad for the tourism, which is our most important economic sector. The unemployment percentage in Curacao had dropped from 14.7 to 12 from October 2007 to October 2007. This appears from a workers’ inquiry (Ako) of the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS). The hotel is going to expand her activities in 2008, states the website of Plaza Hotel. The hotel will be renovated and 50 new suites and two unique garden villas with own Jacuzzi and butler service will be added. Westbay Holding CV, established in Amsterdam, is the indirect owner of the building and the hotel in Curacao and is issuing a bond loan. Looking back and –ahead, the prospects for 2008 are in general very favourable, is the opinion of Central Bank president, Emsley Tromp. “However, I continue to hope for a total dept restructuring, so the government can realize tangible results for policymaking sooner.”
Also leaders need heart surgery Frits Goedgedrag
WILLEMSTAD–Frits Goedgedrag dedicated this year’s Christmas speech to the heart. He had heart surgery in the Netherlands and is since recently back in office. He made in guarded terms an appeal to the quarreling politicians to bury the hatchet. “Evidently, even leaders need ‘heart surgery’ at times.”
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‘Junk’ cost RdK 500.000 million dollars
WILLEMSTAD– By order of the then NPA-commissioner Nelson Pierre, public enterprise Refineria di Kòrsou (RdK) has paid 500.000 dollars for a geopolitical appraisal of Curacao and the Isla-refinery in particular. This is the only RdK-study that has been kept secret until now. Rumours were going around for quite some time that it ‘is a four-page long piece of junk thrown together’.
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Opposition hares towards the OM
WILLEMSTAD–The Island Council brushed aside the request of Ombudsman Fred Wiel to adjourn the public consideration of the 2008 budget this morning. After the BC dismissed a request of DP-council member Norbert George to adjourn the budget consideration meeting in order to deal with Wiel’s request, the entire opposition (NPA, MAN, DP, FK, and PS) left the council chamber angrily and hared towards the Public Prosecution (OM) to lodge a complaint against the BC and the Island Council.
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Financing scheme BC not ready yet
WILLEMSTAD– The financing scheme of the Governing Body to balance the 2008 island government budget is not quite ready yet, admitted Commissioner Mike Willem (Finance, PAR) at the beginning of the budget consideration this morning. The BC has included in the policy document that goes with the 2008 budget that the financing scheme would be completely worked out, when considered in a public meeting.
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Opposition hares towards the OM
WILLEMSTAD–The Island Council brushed aside the request of Ombudsman Fred Wiel to adjourn the public consideration of the 2008 budget this morning. After the BC dismissed a request of DP-council member Norbert George to adjourn the budget consideration meeting in order to deal with Wiel’s request, the entire opposition (NPA, MAN, DP, FK, and PS) left the council chamber angrily and hared towards the Public Prosecution (OM) to lodge a complaint against the BC and the Island Council.
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Big Venezuelan citizens’ run for dollars in Curacao
WILLEMSTAD– Everybody benefits from it, from expensive hotels to cheap guest houses that are fully booked; store owners that sell extremely well; airline companies that are booked solid; Hato that sees the number of flight movements and passengers grow; and the local banks that almost cannot stock up on sufficient dollars. And all of this, due to the enormous run of Venezuelans for dollars, which is scarce in own country, but in abundance via ATM’s in Curacao.
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Building-college channels new hospital
WILLEMSTAD–Commissioner Humphrey Davelaar (Public Health, PNP) together with the St. Elisabeth Hospital (Sehos) has decided to channel the materialization of a new hospital via the Dutch College Building Health-institutions (Building-college). At the end of this month, they will start working on the realization of the build of a new hospital as soon as possible, said Davelaar.
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Aqualectra anticipates a profit of 30 millions in 2007
WILLEMSTAD–Aqualectra anticipates a positive operational result of approximately 30 million guilders for 2007. That is almost double the 16.2-millions profit in 2006.
In a conversation with the Amigoe, Casperson bases this prognosis on the 2007 semiannual financial result of the utility company, which was 13.5 millions; this was 6.7 millions in 2006, an improvement of 6.8 million guilders.
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EVRM not applicable on Aruba
WILLEMSTAD /ORANJESTAD – In the preliminary proceedings of a European Dutch woman against the country of Aruba the judge found that the Fourth Protocol in the Treaty for the protection of human rights (EVRM), in which Europeans are free to choose residence within the EU, is not applicable to Aruba. This verdict is in flat contradiction to the verdict of the 13th of September in a LAR-procedure in which the judge declared the treaty to indeed be applicable to Aruba.
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Free Zone to court for insurance payment
WILLEMSTAD–Fifteen businesses that are victims of the controversial fires earlier this week, take insurance companies to court, and so force then to pay their claim. According to a tentative inventory, the businesses are currently already on a claim of 13 million guilders.
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Pechtold was always in favour of total debt restructuring
WILLEMSTAD -While CDA-fraction chairman Pieter van Geel elaborates that he doesn’t know all the details of the Final Declaration and certainly not the preparations, the person that was very close involved and former minister of Kingdom Relation and currently fraction chairman of D66, Alexander Pechtold, says that if it up to him, the debt restructuring may be for 100 percent and the interest charges for Curacao and St. Maarten zero, just like the president of the Bank of the Neth.Antilles (BNA), Emsley Tromp argues.
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State Secretary ignores advice of the Council of State
WILLEMSTAD–Secretary of State, Ank Bijleveld-Schouten of Kingdom Relations (CDA) has ignored an advice of the Council of State to adapt a few issues in the Order in Council of the Kingdom regarding the financial supervision of the BES-islands.
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Positive advice of electoral council on European suffrage
WILLEMSTAD /DEN HAAG – The Electoral Council advised State Secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations (CDA) to award the inhabitants of the Neth.Antilles and Aruba suffrage for the European Parliament. This advice fits the bill to amend the electoral law.
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Prasad again at the head of RBTT Dutch Caribbean
WILLEMSTAD–Rodney Prasad, who was general director of RBTT Bank Neth.Antilles and also at the head of RBTT Dutch Caribbean, is back again.
It appears that Prasad was already appointed to this post immediately after Simon Fons left. Fons made a change-over to Banco di Caribe last month. Prasad’s appointment is now officially confirmed. The personnel are meanwhile informed.
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Second chance for the youngsters
WILLEMSTAD–The training Personal Development & Job Participation that is conducted by the Foundation Training Center for Youth Work (SVJ) and which is an initiative of Second Chance employment Agency is considered ‘the first phase’ in a project that should lead the participants to job participation. Fifteen young persons rounded off the training and received a certificate yesterday.
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Second chance for the youngsters
WILLEMSTAD–The training Personal Development & Job Participation that is conducted by the Foundation Training Center for Youth Work (SVJ) and which is an initiative of Second Chance employment Agency is considered ‘the first phase’ in a project that should lead the participants to job participation. Fifteen young persons rounded off the training and received a certificate yesterday.
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Godschalk rows to gold
WILLEMSTAD/MUNCHEN – The Curacao born rower Marshall Godschalk won gold on the world championship in Munich, Germany. He did this as the first man in the boat of the Dutch light eight. Marshall Godschalk was born and raised in Curacao. He left to go to college in the US when he was 15, and that’s when he started with rowing. He currently lives in Amstelveen, where he practices rowing on the Bosbaan. With his golden medal, he is on his way to next year Peking games.
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Many Curacao talents leave permanently
WILLEMSTAD/PORT OF SPAIN –The brain drain, the loss of talented youth, for Curacao is by now 70 percent, said Jeanne de Bruijn, rector magnifico of the University of the Neth.Antilles (UNA) during the opening of the academic year 2007-2008, yesterday evening. “Compared to other years, more students went to the Netherlands this summer to continue their education, and from those students, 70 percent won’t come back.”
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Godschalk rows to gold
WILLEMSTAD/MUNCHEN – The Curacao born rower Marshall Godschalk won gold on the world championship in Munich, Germany. He did this as the first man in the boat of the Dutch light eight. Marshall Godschalk was born and raised in Curacao. He left to go to college in the US when he was 15, and that’s when he started with rowing. He currently lives in Amstelveen, where he practices rowing on the Bosbaan. With his golden medal, he is on his way to next year Peking games.
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Malta prospers from slump elsewhere in the internet gaming industry
WILLEMSTAD/PORT OF SPAIN – After not even one month in the internet gaming industry, Malta is already prospering with 27 new international ventures, states The Times of Malta. These 27 new international ventures include businesses that left Curacao recently, because the United Kingdom refused up till now to add Curacao to the so-called ‘white list’.
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Transition agreement signed
WILLEMSTAD/PORT – This morning’s governmental deliberation on the transition agreement was very tiring, but the atmosphere was fine. The transition agreement was about to be signed when this paper went to press. The deliberation has been adjourned twice and the planned press conference was also suspended twice.
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Curoil: Monthly adaptation of fuel prices
WILLEMSTAD/PORT OF SPAIN – Curacao distinguishes herself from the rest of the world by adapting the fuel prices to the fluctuating international oil prices on a monthly basis. This will put an end to endless discussions and political squabbling on the materialization of the price.
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Again journalists in RvC public enterprises
WILLEMSTAD/PORT OF SPAIN – After all the fuss in the past about the appointment of journalists in commissionership of public enterprises, the new coalition of PAR, FOL, and PNP is in the process of nominating some well-known journalists for local public enterprises. These are editor in chief of La Prensa Mariano Heyden at Curaçao Airport Holding (CAH), Ultimo-journalist Roberto ‘Pimpel’ Cuales at Selikor, and Z86-journalist Paul Soliana at harbour company CPA. These are paid positions.
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Toursim combats poverty
WILLEMSTAD/PORT OF SPAIN – The new Curaçao should implement limitations to poverty and determine acceptable norms. So says Deputy of Economic Affairs Eugene Rhuggenaath (PAR). Tourism offers a lot of possibilities in combating poverty.
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RBTT still in talks about take-over
WILLEMSTAD/PORT OF SPAIN – RBTT Financial Holdings Limited is still holding talks with parties regarding proposals for the take-over of the bank with headquarters in Trinidad, but which also has establishments on Curaçao, Aruba, St.Maarten and Bonaire.
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Antilles most successful at the Kingdom Games
DEN HAAG/WILLEMSTAD– The Kingdom Games were concluded yesterday in The Hague . Queen Beatrix was also present. Secretary of state Jet Bussemaker (Sports, PvdA) handed the flag of the Games to the Aruban Sports-minister, Ramon Lee, since the Kingdom Games of 2009 will take place in Aruba .
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DAE looses case against CAP
WILLEMSTAD– After she lost the case against CAP yesterday afternoon, DAE agreed with Sita (supplier of the check in system Cute) that the passengers handling can continue today. The flight was not at risk due to this.
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Churandy Martina sprints to gold
RIO DE JANEIRO/WILLEMSTAD – At the Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro , sprinter Churandy Martina (r) won gold with 100 meter sprint; his time was 10.15 seconds. With this time, Churandy from Curacao stayed ahead of among others the American favorite Doc Patton (l), who won silver. This was the second medal for the Antilles in the competition, when earlier that evening, the hockey-ladies won bronze. They beat Chile 2 to 1.
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BC agrees with Marubeni taking over shares
WILLEMSTAD– During a special meeting yesterday, the Governing Body (BC) formally agreed with the proposed sale of the Mirant-shares in Aqualectra to the Japanese multinational Marubeni. Acting director of Aqualectra, Anthon Casperson expects everything to be arranged in the course of today.
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1000 Kilometers of cable to Trinidad
WILLEMSTAD – Since this morning, Columbus Networks is working with the cable-laying ship Tycom Reliance on a project offshore Marie Pompoen. The project is about pulling the Western Caribbean part of the Arcos-sea cable to Trinidad and once there, connect it with the Eastern Caribbean cable of Sub-Sea Carrier Partners. The length of the cable to be pulled over the seabed is 980 kilometers, says project manager Gordon Jones ( Columbus ). The cable will be laid at a maximum depth of 3.3 kilometers. Due to the depth, the length of the cable will be 160 kilometers longer. The length and width of the Tycom Reliance are respectively 139 and 21 meters, and its cable capacity is 5000 ton. The American telecommunication- and internet company Tycom has five more of these cable-laying ships. The Tycom Responder, built in 2001, was formerly in Curacao .
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CAP : More flights, more passengers
WILLEMSTAD– Compared with last year, the passengers’ traffic was 12.6 percent higher in June of this year. The total number of airplane seats – airlift – to Curacao increased with 16.3 percent. Taken over the first six months of this year, the number of passengers on Hato has grown from 11.4 to 15.8 percent.
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Outline Hyatt noticeable
WILLEMSTAD –The first outlines of what’s going to be the Hyatt Resort are rising behind Barbara beach. The 350-rooms resort extends from Barbara Beach to some hundred meters at the sea-coast towards Fuikbaai. What was used as beach-bar before, is now being used as site hut, “he most beautiful in the world”, says supervisor Ruud Reinen. The developer of the project is Geveke Development, a branch of the Dutch Vervat Group.
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Dipping into the main features of the final statement is not possible
WILLEMSTAD/DEN HAAG – “The main features will remain the same; it is not possible to dip into those”, says state secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten of Kingdom Relations ( CDA ). But discussing the difficulties in the final statement, there she won’t let any mistake about.
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Navy awaits cutback
WILLEMSTAD –The Lower House received the outline note from Defence-minister Eimert van Middelkoop (ChristenUnie) and secretary of state Cees van der Knaap ( CDA ) yesterday that includes a few radical economy measures. The plans are among others, to replace the marines in Curacao with short-term army militaries. The House will decide on this after the summer recess. Further interpretation of the measure is meanwhile being studied.
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Economy grows faster with SEI
WILLEMSTAD – With the investments as part of the Social Economic Initiative ( SEI ), which is part of the agreement-package in the final statement, the real economic growth in Curacao for the rest of 2007 is anticipated to be 2.5 percent. Without the SEI , the growth will be just 1.6 percent.
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Economy grows faster with SEI
WILLEMSTAD – With the investments as part of the Social Economic Initiative ( SEI ), which is part of the agreement-package in the final statement, the real economic growth in Curacao for the rest of 2007 is anticipated to be 2.5 percent. Without the SEI , the growth will be just 1.6 percent.
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Increase of salaries and pensions Island Council members and commissioners
WILLEMSTAD – Yet before the end of the current government period, the Island Council members and commissioners take care of themselves by giving themselves a big salary- and pension increase. In a proposal that is going to be considered in the central committee tomorrow, and in a public meeting on Thursday, the salaries of the council members will increase from 7700 guilders to more than 10.500 guilders per month, while the commissioners will get a salary of more than 11.000, instead of the current 8.000.
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Naturalization-test Antilles effective October 1st
WILLEMSTAD – The rule that foreigners have to pass the naturalization-test before they can apply for the Dutch citizenship, will also be introduced in the Antilles effective October 1st of this year. Justice-minister David Dick ( PAR ) informed the central committee of Parliament about this yesterday.
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RvC Curoil wants to suspend Capella
WILLEMSTAD – Based on the conclusions of consultant Vantage that has audited the company recently, the prominent member of Nelson Pierre’s LPNA and chairman of the board of Curoil, Farley Hernandez has convened a Board meeting for this afternoon, to suspend director Gensley Capella.
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Doubling fly over permits
WILLEMSTAD – WILLEMSTAD/DEN HAAG – The number of fly over permits has more than doubled in 2006. A letter of the standing committee for Domestic Affairs and Kingdom Relations of the Lower House show this. They are asking the government for an explanation. Read More...
Dutch union represents StrAF-members Coastguard
WILLEMSTAD – The members of StrAF that work for the coastguard and the Antillean militia are from now on represented by the General Christian Organization of Militaries (Acom); a union of military- and civilian personnel that are working for the Dutch ministry of Defence and are affiliated with the CNV (Christian National Union). The reason for this is a great number of problems, especially with the coastguard that Acom-chairman Jan Kleian has noticed during his annual working visit to the Acom-members that are posted here.
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Nomination of Farley Hernandez as director of CDM
WILLEMSTAD – The Board of Commissioners (RvC) of CDM Holding NV has nominated former commissioner Farley Hernandez (NPA) to be appointed as the new director of the Curacao Dock Company (CDM). The decision was made during an RvC-meeting on May 25th. The appointment of Hernandez will take effect on July 1st of this year. Hernandez, together with commissioner Franklin Esser ( MAN ), is managing the company on an observation basis. Hernandez and Esser are respectively chairman and vice-chairman of the RvC of CDM. The holding company of CDM has now decided to appoint Hernandez as director of daughter company CDM.
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Frensel Marchena not in management CPA
WILLEMSTAD -The Board of Directors (RvC) of Curaçao Ports Authority (CPA) has withdrawn the nomination of MSL -commissioner Frensel Marchena as one of the counter parts of the directors of the harbour company. The decision was taken with a majority of votes; only the MSL -members in the RvC voted against. The reason for withdrawing the nomination is because it goes against the statutes of the company.
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Caracasbaai peninsula is going to have security again
WILLEMSTAD-As a result of heavy polluted- and unsafe situation at the peninsula of Caracasbaai that was opened to the public last year after a lot of commotion, the location will get security again. But admission will remain free.
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Lease agreement with Winkel for DWI and Environmental Service
WILLEMSTAD – The island government has signed a lease agreement with Office Park Sta. Rosa of businessman Johnny Winkel for the lease of first 500 square meters and then another 600 on behalf of Dienst werk en Inkomen (DWI) and the Environmental Service. The government is going to pay 29.50 guilders per square meter for the office space in the office complex, ‘Jashi’, plus another 5 guilders service cost per square meter, which amounts it to 34.50 guilders per square meter all together.
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Military men caught with drugs are immediately returned
WILLEMSTAD-While stationed in the Antilles and Aruba, Dutch military persons, who for the first time are caught with drugs are immediately returned to the Netherlands . There has been a no tolerance policy on the island for years already, where on just a suspicion of being involved with drugs, a military and his/her family members are sent back, says a navy-spokesperson in Curacao .
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Sailing under water.
WILLEMSTAD – This local fishing boat named ‘Lagun’ stands stately on the seabed at a dept of 42 meters near Boca Sami. The boat sank last month during the traditional Sami Sail. A sports diver that coincidently came across the boat with the sails billowed in the light current, took the picture last weekend. The boat hardly shows visible damage. Possibilities are that there was a leak or the ballast started to shift during sailing and the boat shipped water via the side. While sinking, the weight of the ballast must have set the boat straight up again and it reached the seabed in this position.
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Coastguard’s super rhibs are weak
WILLEMSTAD /WASHINGTON –In practice, the super rhibs that the coastguard has at her disposal for duties like drug-control in Curacao, Aruba , and St. Maarten, are still not always put in. There are four of these super rhibs on each island, of which one is used for back-up.
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Deterioration strikes hard on the peninsula of Caracasbaai.
WILLEMSTAD – Tourists that stay at vacation resorts in Jan Thiel, cruise tourists, and also local people are experiencing the following delinquencies on the peninsula of Caracasbaai : in broad daylight, bicycles are being stolen, car are being broken in, severe filthiness, and even armed surprise attacks. “Some people do not even dare going to this place that has become a location where malevolent people go.”
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Antilles oppose place on list of tax haven
WILLEMSTAD /WASHINGTON – Together with 33 other islands/countries, the Neth.Antilles appears on a recent proposed bill by three American senators that want to engage the tax haven abuse (abuse of tax paradises). Via diplomatic channels in Willemstad , The Hague , and Washington , the Antillean government is vigorously protesting against that.
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Curacao is in for a hard coalition formation.
WILLEMSTAD – The popularity of the PAR with Emily de Jongh-Elhage as leader only increased after winning the Parliament elections last year. The party got 7 of the 21 Island Council seats, but even adding the 2 seats of the only other party that campaigned in favour of the final statement, PNP, they won’t have a majority advocating the agreement of the Netherlands.
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The Hague awaits a stable coalition
WILLEMSTAD /DEN HAAG – “Quite a job”, says secretary of states for Kingdom Relations, Ank Bijleveld (CDA) in her first reaction on the political situation after the Island Council elections in Curacao. “The island needs a stable coalition with a clear program that focuses on the well-being of the people.”.
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Chief executive officer Kase Lawal of Camac International Corporation.
WILLEMSTAD – Camac International Corporation, established in Houston wants to reach an agreement with the island territory on partnership in the Isla-refinery. The vice-president of the state owned oil company PdVSA, Alejandro Granado will come to Curacao on April 23rd for deliberations on PdVSA’s partnership in the Isla. After all negotiations, Curacao keeps a minority share in the refinery.
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American Eagle from the Dominican Republic to Curacao
WILLEMSTAD – The Dominican hotel association Asonahores announced that the American airline company American Eagle is going to fly to Aruba and Curacao from the Dominican Republic .
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PAR on top; FOL with heavy losses
WILLEMSTAD – A poll canvassed on the Island Council elections by Key Research (a division of the University of the Dutch Caribbean, UDC) in cooperation with the Dutch research bureau Interview NSS , resulted in PAR raking in 8 of the 21 (18 percent) seats on the island council (the yellow party has 5 currently) and with this the biggest party; if the elections took place today.
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Is the majority in favour of the final statement?
WILLEMSTAD – Depending on the DP, who first didn’t know, then was in favour, and since recently is not commenting, those in favour of the final statement will just have a majority with this polling result. Together, PAR and PNP will be good for 10 of the 21 seats and with DP, it would be 12.
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American Eagle from the Dominican Republic to Curacao
WILLEMSTAD – The Dominican hotel association Asonahores announced that the American airline company American Eagle is going to fly to Aruba and Curacao from the Dominican Republic .
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Communication Services to KNSM-building
WILLEMSTAD – For 25.000 guilders per month, Communication and Information Services will rent two floors and the attic of the former KNSM-building in the town-center. This was agreed in a declaration of intent on March 23rd. Amigoe has a copy of this declaration. Whether the lease contract has already been signed is not known.
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‘Debt Agency’ to tackle the debt-problem
WILLEMSTAD -- A special instance is going to work specifically on the debt problem of Curacao. This is one of the recommendations mentioned in the final report of the committee Financial Perspectives of the State of Curacao that will be presented to Finance-commissioner Renfred Rojer (FOL) this evening.
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Amicorp expands with a ‘firehouse’
WILLEMSTAD – Trust company Amicorp is going to invest 8 million guilders in a new building annex their three-year old building, the futuristic ship in Parera/Arrarat that emerges from the hill.
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Judge: Isla has to comply with standards, or…….
WILLEMSTAD –In the lawsuit of 24 neighbouring residents, two foundations, and a company under the Isla-smoke against Isla, the island- and national government, public enterprise Refineria di Kòrsou (RdK), and the BOO-energy plant, Judge Erik van Unen ruled that what the Isla-refinery is doing is illegal and continuing with production as it happens now is unacceptable, ......
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95 Percent of Social Fund spent on overhead
WILLEMSTAD – Of each guilder that is put in the social fund, 5 cents go to the man in the street. From the budget, as much as 95 percent are overhead. The rent payments on the Jashi-building beat them all. Office Park Sta. Rosa owns this building and Johnny Winkel is the director. Winkel maintains close ties with the FOL and was convicted in the past for fraud with public enterprises.
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Antillenhuis might be auctioned
WILLEMSTAD/DEN HAAG – As consequence of a labour dispute, the Antillenhuis is threatened to be auctioned. With this, employee Vivien Pengel-Calmez wants to collect her unpaid salaries.
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Venezuela wants controlling interest in Isla
WILLEMSTAD – The Venezuelan state-owned oil company PdVSA wants a controlling interest of 51 percent in the Isla-refinery and scraps the initial complaints against a third party. The Governing Body has approved the appointment of a committee yesterday that will negotiate this proposal of Venezuela. Commissioner of Public Enterprises Nelson Pierre (NPA) confirmed this before the Amigoe.
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Cabinet devotes herself to cooperation
WILLEMSTAD/DEN HAAG – “The cabinet devotes herself to an intensive collaboration with the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom”, said Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende (CDA) during his government policy statement in the Lower House today.
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