UTS is a government-owned company
Filed under: Business and Economy, Government & Politics, Internet and Technology
Like their Curacao colleagues, United Telecommunication Services (UTS) workers in the Windward Islands received an advance on the profit share of five per cent for employees as laid down in the Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) signed by the union Sitkom. While one undoubtedly has to be happy for them as fellow residents, the whole issue raises some questions.
How does a company that has been losing millions and millions for years already even sign such a CLA? If management’s reasoning at the time was that the company would never make a profit anyway, the Supervisory Board of Directors and shareholders should have stepped in.
Moreover, how is it that a company that has incurred such great losses that the managing director was held responsible and made to leave can suddenly turn around and come up with a profit of 25 million? There was talk that the former management used so-called creative bookkeeping to keep the profit down so that dividends would not have to paid, but the reported financial result for 2006 still seems questionable at best. While the profit sharing is in the CLA, the bylaws of the company reportedly also state that profits made after losses incurred should be used to offset those losses. Why was that not done in this case?
The answer is simple: UTS is a government-owned company and it was a political rather than business decision. Commissioner of Finance Mike Willem and Minister of Transport and Communication Maurice Adriaens initially had their objections, but they were overruled by the majority in the PAR/PNP/FOL coalition of Curacao parties governing at both the island and Antillean level.
It’s once more proof that the so-called ‘privatisation’ of utility services by making them government-owned companies instead of government services did not solve the problem of political influence. Who knows how much more affordable and reliable the service provided by these companies could have been had they really been privatised?
In any case the UTS employees have something to celebrate about. They should remember that this is an advance that hinges on the approval of the annual account confirming the profit. Considering all that’s happened at UTS in the past few years, they would probably do well not to spend it before that approval is granted, because in the event it is not, they may have to pay it back.
Source: The Daily Herald St. Maarten
Woman held with ganga
38-year-old Irone Briggs of Berwick Road in Kingston 13 was arrested on Tuesday at the Norman Manley International Airport as she tried to leave the island with compressed ganja.
Allegations are that Miss Briggs was about to board a flight to Curacao.
During a routine security check, she was allegedly found with less than one kilogram of ganja.
She was charged with possession of, dealing in and taking steps to export the drug.
Miss Briggs is booked to appear in the Half Way Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Source: Radio Jamaica
Holland America Line Increases Popular 7-Day Southern Caribbean Sailings in 2008
SEATTLE, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ — In 2008, Holland America Line doubles departures of its seven-day deep southern Caribbean itinerary, created for those seeking a week-long cruise to lesser visited Caribbean ports. In January the company will deploy ms Westerdam on seven cruises and ms Eurodam on a special New Year’s Eve cruise. The latter departure visits Oranjestad, Aruba, Willemstad, Curacao and the company’s award winning private island Half Moon Cay.
“We are the only major cruise line to offer a seven-day itinerary that sails so far south from Florida,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “It is a popular cruise among our guests for the unique ports of call and the extra day at sea.”
The first port call is at Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s award-winning private Bahamian island, where guests can unwind on white sandy beaches and enjoy the aqua blue waters. For the more adventurous, the island offers guided Aqua Trax(R) tours, deep-sea fishing, kayak tours, horseback riding, parasailing and snorkeling.
Another highlight of the cruise includes a late night departure from Oranjestad, Aruba, where guests can enjoy the vibrant nightlife of the island. During the day guests can try scuba diving without the gear on a submarine adventure. The Atlantis submarine dives to depths of up to 150 feet viewing exotic marine life and shipwrecks that surround the island.
At the final port call, Willemstad, Curacao, visitors can tour the Distillery at Chobolobo Mansion, where famous Blue Curacao liqueur is still made by hand. Other sightseeing on the island includes 17-century Fort Amsterdam, Mikve Emmanuel Israel, the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, Pietermaai Cathedral, the Franklin D. Roosevelt House and the many distinctive examples of Dutch colonial architecture.
Cruise fares begin from $849 per person for an inside stateroom. Taxes and fuel supplement are additional. For more information, consult a travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.
– www.hollandamerica.com –
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc ] Holland America Line’s fleet of 13 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 314 ports of call in 97 countries, territories or dependencies. Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents, including Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal.
In the 2006 Portrait of Affluent Travelers survey by Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown and Russell, Holland America Line topped the list of cruise lines sought after by affluent leisure travelers. Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, totaling more than $225 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine — a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes — Explorations Cafe powered by The New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner’s Dream Beds.
World’s Leading Cruise Lines
The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America Line is a member of the exclusive World’s Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. The World’s Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations.
CONTACT: Rose Abello
PHONE: 800-637-5029
FAX: 206-262-5934
EMAIL: pr@hollandamerica.com
Boogerd cancels Curaçao race
The 6th Amstel Curaçao Race taking place on Saturday, November 3 will not see retiring pro Michael Boogerd line up one last time on the tropical island of the same name. The Dutchman still has problems with his injured knee which led him to cancel his participation in the Giro di Lombardia in October, and even interfered with his farewell race on the Cauberg in his home country one day after the last ProTour race of the season.
Boogerd wanted to get on the bike one last time in Curaçao, where he is currently on a holiday with his family, but his knee wound still hasn’t healed properly. “As long as the wound is still open, I can’t do any sports,” the 35 year-old told the Algemeen Dagblad. “I can’t even play in the water with my son. It’s a real shame.”
Participants in the Amstel Curaçao Race include such other famous names as Tom Boonen (Quickstep), Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel) and Fränk Schleck (CSC).
Karate team at Curacao tourney
Three young female karatekas from the organisation Shotokan Karate-do International Federation of Trinidad and Tobago (SKIFTT), have qualified for the TTKU national team which left Friday for the Curacao Cup Tournament.
SKIFTT’s 3rd Dan champion karateka has also gone as coach of this national team, a first for any woman in Trinidad and Tobago.
Cindy Guevara will coach the 15- member team as they seek to bring back gold medals for Trinidad and Tobago at this year’s Curacao Cup Competition being held from today-November 4.
Guevara, a three time karate nominee for the WITCO sports woman of the year awards was chosen by the national body, from the hundreds of karatekas in Trinidad and Tobago, to be the national coach for this team.
The other members of SKIFTT who qualified to be part of the team at the TTKU trials held in July are – Chennise Charles, Rebecca Mohammed and Che-Marie Lee Kin.
Charles, a 14 year old energetic young lady, started karate at age six, and obtained her black belt at age 11 (one of the youngest to do so in the country). She has already represented SKIFTT and T&T at several championships in the Caribbean, Venezuela and Japan. She is a consistent champion, winning both kata and kumite at various competitions in the county.
Mohammed, also 14, will be venturing outside of T&T for the first time to compete for the country. She is a brown belt karateka and recently placed first in her category in kata at the SKIFTT 16th classified tournament. While Lee Kin, 18 years old, who recently obtained her black belt, came first in her category at the Taekijudo tournament held in August. This will also be her first international tournament outside of the country. She has already won in her category at the International Pan American championships held here in Trinidad in 2004.
Source; Trinidad Express
TelEm Group unaware of MIO’s plans, intention
Filed under: Business and Economy, Internet and Technology
The TelEm Group has stated it has not been contacted by Telecommunications Company MIO regarding a possible purchase of TelEm, but a MIO representative in Curacao has said, “I know we are interested.”
Christopher Engels of CuraNet, which is believed to be a MIO subsidiary, said he was very excited about the possibility of coming to St. Maarten to work for MIO, as he had worked in St. Maarten for Xerox in the past and loved the island.
Regarding allegations that Telecommunications Minister Maurice Adriaens was in bed with MIO, Engels said, “99 per cent of what we read in the Curacao newspapers is incorrect. I mean, these people even said I went on an MIO private jet to Suriname with the Minister.”
St. Maarten Telecommunication Holding Company TelEm Group Supervisory Board Chairman Rudy Hoeve said Wednesday he was unaware of any negotiations between MIO and TelEm Group for the purchase of the St. Maarten government-owned telephone company.
He said the board had scheduled a meeting with the shareholder for next week Wednesday during which several important matters would be discussed. He also said that there had been no decision yet regarding Curtis Haynes’ replacement as Managing Director of international phone company Smitcoms.
MIO boasts of being the largest provider of third generation (3G) mobile communications service in the Netherlands Antilles and the Cayman Islands. It also boasts via its Website of having licences to operate in Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, St. Maarten and the Cayman Islands, providing 3G services with strategic partners Qualcomm, Lucent, Sprint and Verizon.
3G is a wireless industry term for a collection of international standards and technologies aimed at increasing efficiency and improving the performance of mobile wireless networks.
MIO is part of EOCG E-Oliver Capital Group in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. EOCG has focused its activities on developing countries worldwide, concentrating on telecom and related media opportunities and a broad array of next generation technologies.
EOCG currently owns and operates networks in St. Maarten, Curacao, Bonaire and the British Virgin Islands. Its Website boasts its “strong network of domestic and international relationships with leading financial institutions, operating partners, senior business executives and government officials.”
“This strategic network,” it states, “has allowed EOCG to execute multiple acquisitions, contracts, agreements, joint ventures and organic growth opportunities.”