PHILIPSBURG - After four hours of talks between airport management, an employee representative, and trade union ABVO on Friday, management agreed to pay employees 100 per cent of what’s due to them this month.

Richard Panneflek.

PHILIPSBURG--The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA Richard Panneflek has announced that as of Wednesday, July 1 the total number of COVID-19 cases on St. Maarten is now 78.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. (Reuters/Yves Herman file photo)

THE HAGUE--The Dutch government has no plans at the moment to offer an apology for slavery and the Dutch role in the slave trade, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said during an often heated debate on racism and discrimination on Wednesday evening.

AIRPORT--Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) operating company PJIAE chief executive officer (CEO) Brian Mingo said on Thursday that while he understands staff sentiments, the airport’s reopening cannot be comprised.

The slavery abolition monument in Amsterdam’s Oosterpark, draped in red and black cloth.

By Marvin Hokstam

AMSTERDAM--Apologies from the Dutch authorities for Holland’s role in transatlantic slavery failed to materialise again as Amsterdam commemorated the Abolition of Slavery on Wednesday, July 1. However, the event nonetheless left the impression that awareness about its past is growing in the Netherlands, even though the event this year did not have the festive nature for which it has become known.