ST. MAARTEN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Never a dull moment

In St. Maarten there is again a lot of discussion about political developments, but also about constitutional law. I will answer some frequently asked questions here. Of course, I didn’t come up with all the answers myself. At the bottom of this text the most important source is mentioned.

Can parliament fall? Can parliament have an outgoing status? The answer is no. If parliament is dissolved, it remains fully empowered. The dissolution becomes effective on the date on which the newly elected parliament meets (Section 59(3) Constitution). Professor Van Rijn and professor Rogier are also of …
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28
Sep 2019
CATEGORY

Legal

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THE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW OF ST. MAARTEN

According to constitutional law it is simple and difficult at the same time

The following is simple:

Section 33 Constitution of St. Maarten:

  • The Prime Minister and other Ministers are appointed and dismissed pursuant to a national decree.
  • If a Minister no longer has the confidence of the States, he will resign from his post.
  • With regard to the second subsection further rules can be laid down in a national ordinance.
  • The States can only reject a draft national ordinance or decide not to put forward a proposal of such a draft with two-thirds of the votes of its current …
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  • 20
    Oct 2015
    CATEGORY

    Legal

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    HET STAATSRECHT VAN SINT MAARTEN

    Staatsrechtelijk is het simpel en moeilijk tegelijk

    Op de Naar mijn mening-pagina is vandaag een stukje geplaatst naar aanleiding van de recente (staatsrechtelijke) ontwikkelingen in Sint Maarten.

    Karel Frielink

    (14 oktober 2015)

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    Ps (16 October 2015)

    The second Vice President of Parliament Hon. Cornelius de Weever, on Thursday, 15th October, has sent a letter to the Members of Parliament (MPs) requesting additional information with respect to a convocation for an urgent meeting of the House of Parliament.

    The letter reads as follows:

    I have taken note of your Convocation for an urgent meeting of Parliament …
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    14
    Oct 2015
    CATEGORY

    Legal

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    DOING BUSINESS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

    Invest Dutch Kingdom

    Invest Dutch Kingdom ” is a collaborative effort between the four countries of the Dutch Kingdom with the aim of providing useful information about investment opportunities within the Kingdom. The website offers key insights into the economies of these dynamic countries, making it easier for companies to identify avenues for establishing a new business, branching out to the Dutch Kingdom or actively trading within or via the countries. For more information click on:

    Aruba

    Bonaire

    Curaçao

    St. Maarten

    And if you need any legal advice regarding the …
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    17
    Jun 2015
    CATEGORY

    Various

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    LEZING NIEUW VENNOOTSCHAPSRECHT SINT MAARTEN

    Nieuw Boek 2 BW en nieuw personenvennootschapsrecht

    Op verzoek van de Orde van Advocaten te Sint Maarten heb ik op 21 mei 2014 in de Flamboyantzaal van het Courthouse te Sint Maarten een lezing gegeven voor de rechterlijke macht en de advocatuur. De lezing ging over enkele van de wetswijzigingen die in Sint Maarten op 1 april 2014 van kracht zijn geworden.

    Er is een herzien Boek 2 Burgerlijk Wetboek (Rechtspersonen) ingevoerd en een nieuwe regeling inzake de personenvennootschappen. Mijn verhaal is hier te lezen.

    Karel Frielink (advocaat)

    (30 mei 2014)

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    30
    May 2014
    CATEGORY

    Corporate

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    TRUST INTRODUCED IN SINT MAARTEN

    Brief summary of several of the powers and obligations of a Trustee

    On April 1, 2014, new legislation entered into force pursuant to which it is now possible to set up a trust, similar to the trust in Anglo-Saxon common law jurisdictions, in St. Maarten (a civil law jurisdiction). Similar legislation entered into force in Curaçao on January 1, 2012.

    The St. Maarten Trust could serve as an important tool for various financial and commercial transactions: as a security agent, for tax and estate planning, as a pension or investment fund, asset protection, voting structures, promoting cultural, academic and charitable …
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    15
    May 2014
    CATEGORY

    Finance

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    DE ENE ADVOCAAT IS DE ANDERE NIET

    En het ene kantoor is het andere niet…

    Je moet werken vanuit je eigen identiteit en overtuiging. Dat kunnen we vandaag lezen in een interview met Mark van Eck van Business Openers in Advocatie.nl. Een kantoor dat werkt vanuit wat dat kantoor uniek maakt, waarin het zich dus onderscheidt van andere kantoren, is meer succesvol. De kern van zijn boodschap is dat je moet werken vanuit je eigen kracht, ofwel: doe waar je goed in bent. En hij bedoelt werken, niet alleen maar praten, en al helemaal niet praten over je concurrenten, laat staan negatief. Volgens Van …
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    26
    Feb 2014
    CATEGORY

    Legal

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    THE CURACAO TRUST BECOMES MORE AND MORE POPULAR

    Curaçao Trust could be used for asset segregation purposes

    According to Professor of Law David Hayton, an Anglo-Saxon trust arises from the settlor’s transfer of title to property to another person, intending that person to be a trustee-manager of it for the benefit of beneficiaries or for a charitable or other permitted purpose. Trusts are founded on a transfer of title to property: contracts are not. Professor Hayton:

    Such a contractual concept inevitably leads – or rather misleads – civil lawyers to consider that the Anglo-Saxon trust is simply a glorified form of contract between the settlor …
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    08
    Feb 2014
    CATEGORY

    Finance

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    INDEPENDENT SUPERVISORY BOARD IN ST. MAARTEN

    Should be mandatory for government-owned entities

    Under the laws of St. Maarten, the main task of a board of supervisory directors is to supervise the board of managing directors of a limited liability company (NV or BV).

    The St. Maarten Corporate Code provides for two different kinds of boards of supervisory directors, a “regular” board of supervisory directors and the so-called “independent” board of supervisory directors (Section 2:139 Civil Code). Within this context the word independent means that the supervisory directors are independent of the shareholders, interest groups (“belangengroepen”) and to a certain extent from the shareholders’ meeting.

    An independent …
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    27
    Nov 2013
    CATEGORY

    Corporate

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    US LAW GOVERNED AGREEMENTS

    Curaçao and St. Maarten Courts will accept the choice of laws

    One of the questions frequently asked is whether the Courts in Curaçao or St. Maarten, if an action is brought before them, will pay deference to a “choice of governing law” and/or venue provision in an agreement, in particular when the parties have chosen US Law, and a US Court to resolve their disputes.

    The choice of the laws of (a particular State of) the United States of America as the laws governing an agreement is valid and binding under the laws of Curaçao/St. Maarten, and will therefore be …
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    21
    Nov 2013
    CATEGORY

    Legal

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    LIFTING THE CORPORATE VEIL IN ARUBA

    Only under exceptional circumstances

    In terms of “piercing the corporate veil” and shareholders’ liability, the laws of the Netherlands and Aruba are nearly identical. As far as a tort matter concerns the laws of Aruba, Dutch case-law and Dutch legal literature should be considered as well.

    In exceptional cases shareholders of an Aruba company can be liable for the company’s debts and obligations. Generally, two grounds for such liability are mentioned: a tort (onrechtmatige daad) committed by the shareholder and an “alter ego” situation (vereenzelviging) as regards the shareholder and his company. Under Aruba law, both can be categorized under …
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    08
    Nov 2013
    CATEGORY

    Corporate

    COMMENTS No Comments

    REGULATORY LAWS IN THE BES ISLANDS

    There are three regulators

    According to the Dutch Central Bank (“DCB”), financial institutions must be sound, reliable and stable to ensure confidence among businesses, consumers and others. DCB states on its website: “In addition to making certain their customers are properly informed about their products and services, these institutions also have a duty of care towards their customers. The financial services industry should also give a high priority to integrity and should never be used for money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, corruption or other illegal activities. Finally, the market should function properly and there should be adequate market access, with …
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    31
    Oct 2013
    CATEGORY

    Finance

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