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An Island Of Strong Women

By Lilia Burunciuc, World Bank Division Director for the Caribbean

During one of my visits to Sint Maarten, I spoke with a woman who works as a taxi driver. She had once held a job in a hotel that was highly seasonal, leaving her with little or no income during the off-season and few opportunities to increase her earnings. Determined to change her situation, she moved into the transport sector, starting out as a taxi driver. She worked long hours during the high season, saved money, and later rented an additional vehicle and hired another driver Read more

Interscholastic Swim Meets 2026

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Excitement filled the air on Sunday, March 29th, as students, parents, and supporters gathered to witness the annual Caribbean Gems Interscholastic Elementary and High School Swim Meets. The event, organized by Caribbean Gems, Carib Swim Team (CST), and the St. Maarten Aquatic Federation (SMAF), brought together young swimmers from the different schools in a spirited display of talent and sportsmanship.

The morning session kicked off with the elementary school competition, featuring seven participating schools Read more

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina Expresses Condolences On The Passing Of Former President Of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi

Philipsburg The Honorable Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Dr. Luc Mercelina, conveys his deepest condolences to the Government and people of Suriname following the passing of former President Chandrikapersad Santokhi.

Prime Minister Mercelina noted that former President Santokhi served his country with distinction and remained committed to the principles of democratic governance and regional cooperation.

On behalf of the Government and people of Sint Maarten, I extend sincere condolences to the family of former President Santokhi, as well as to the Government and people of Suriname Read more

New Mural Added To Clem Labega Square

Philipsburg – A new mural has been added to the pay station at Clem Labega Square as part of the @ColorMeSXM project by the Be The Change Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of General Affairs. Since 2020, the initiative has introduced more than 24 murals throughout Philipsburg. The new mural was funded by the Mondriaan Fund, which promotes visual arts and cultural heritage in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

We are excited about the central and highly visible location of this mural and grateful to everyone who supported its completion, said Laura Bijnsdorp, Coordinator of @ColorMeSXM Read more

Dcomm Visits French Side Counterparts

Philipsburg/Marigot On February 26, the Department of Communication of the Government of Sint Maarten paid a working visit to their French counterparts of the Collectivit of Saint-Martin, Communication Department, which includes the protocol section.

The working visit was to get a deeper understanding of how the French side Department of Communication functions within the Collectivit, to exchange mutual operational information and ideas, and to continue fostering the working relationship.

In their Marigot offices, the head/director of the French side Department of Communication Nathalie Longato gave a short presentation and shared an overview of the work and responsibilities Read more

Traffic Advisory Road Measures In Cole Bay/Simpson Bay

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) informs the public that traffic measures will be implemented today to help alleviate congestion in the Cole Bay/Simpson Bay area during peak hours between 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM.

During this period, vehiclescannot use Arlet Peters Road to travel toward Cole Bay. All vehicles must instead useA.J.C. Brouwers Road toward Kruithoff Roundaboutto reach Simpson Bay or Cole Bay. Traffic from Simpson Bay will be directed alongA.J.C Read more

Vromi Continues Demolition On Pond Island

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — Minister Patrice Gumbs of the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) has issued a statement that demolition has commenced and will continue on Soualiga Drive, Pond Island. Occupants of the land were informed in September 2025 that they needed to vacate by December 2025 Read more

Babysitter Convicted In Child Abuse Case

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten (OM) The Court of First Instance has sentenced a family friend to 50 months in prison for serious offences committed against an eight-year-old girl. The suspect was acting as a babysitter at the time of the incident and was found guilty of acts that severely violated the childs personal and physical integrity.

A key element in the case was forensic evidence. DNA material belonging to the suspect was found on the victims clothing, which played a decisive role in corroborating the childs statement and establishing the suspects involvement.

A central legal issue in the proceedings was whether the proven acts qualified as sexual penetration under criminal law Read more

Clara Reyes Retirement

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport extends its heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Clara Reyes on her retirement as Head of the Department of Culture. She became the Head of the Department in 2018 and concluded her day-to-day duties in December 2025, having utilized accrued vacation leave. Her official retirement takes effect in April 2026. She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy, having made an indelible impact not only within the Ministry but on the cultural landscape of the island of Sint Maarten as a whole.

Throughout her many years of dedicated service, Ms Read more

Dna Relationship Testing Procedures

Overview – DNA Testing, Used with Some Immigrant Visa Applications

Genetic testing is a useful tool for verifying a stated biological relationship when no other form of credible evidence is available in conjunction with an immigrant visa (IV) application. Commonly tested relationships that utilize DNA testing include paternity, maternity, full-siblingship, or half-siblingship Read more

Minister Arrindell Expressed Strong Appreciation For AugustyS Dedication And Contributions To Researching And Preserving Sint MaartenS History

THE NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE) Her Excellency Minister Plenipotentiary Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell met with young Sint Maarten historian Jean-Marc Augusty during his recent research visit to the Netherlands in November.

Augusty conducted historical research at Leiden University in The Hague, supported by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), with additional sponsorship from the Plantz family, enabling him to extend his stay in the Netherlands for further research.

During his visit, Augusty consulted historical materials at the Nationaal Archief (National Archives) and the University of Amsterdam, including rare maps of Sint Maarten Read more

Kpcn Welcomes New Group Of Police Officers

CARIBBEAN NETHERLANDS – Last Friday, November 21st, the Caribbean Netherlands Police Force (KPCN) awarded diplomas to 18 cadet officers in the presence of family, friends, and partners. This cohort is special because it is the very first group within the force to graduate at the MBO-4 level.

The ceremony opened with speeches by the education coordinator of the KPCN, mr. Rouel Pinedo and the Head of the International Department of the Police Academy, Mr Read more

St. Maarten Residents Encouraged To Join Remaining Financial Literacy Month Sessions

Philipsburg, St. Maarten The Minister of Finance, Marinka Gumbs, thanks the public for their enthusiastic participation in Financial Literacy Month. The sessions held so far have been well attended, highlighting the communitys strong interest in gaining financial knowledge.

The Ministry invites residents to register for the remaining sessions:

Nov 19 Understanding Your Pension | APS

Nov 20 Understanding Your Income Tax Assessment | Emauro Schoop

Nov 25 Taxation on Real Estate Income | Stephan van Riemen

Nov 26 Financially Strong St Read more

Tropical Storm Warning Is In Effect

FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
SMALL CRAFT WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

At 5:00AM the center of Tropical Storm Jerry was located near latitude 19.2 North, longitude 62.5 West or about 90 miles north-northeast of St. Maarten.

The system is moving towards the northwest near 17 mph (28 km/h), and a turn toward the north is expected tonight into Saturday, followed by a northward to north-northeastward motion through the rest of the weekend. On this forecast track, the center of Jerry is currently at its closest point: 90 miles north-northeast of St Read more

The Cbcs Nominated Candidate

Dear Editor,

On Monday morning, September 29, 2025 I followed the interview that Lady Grace conducted with the nominated candidate for the position of Chairman of the Supervisory Board of The Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten (CBCS), Mr. Jairo Bloem. On the many questions asked by Lady Grace Mr. Bloem answered with an explanation on the nomination process. He also explained how it all started. The clarification was clear and simple. He concluded and stated that the Honorable Minister of Finance, Marinka Gumbs, did not break any law as some of the MPs insinuate.

It is very difficult to understand what the hupla of last week in Parliament was all about Read more

Venezuela Hit By 6.3-Magnitude Earthquake

Venezuela hit by 6.3-magnitude earthquakehttps://t.co/1ejWM0ACKx pic.twitter.com/lj68IUq9WS

721News.com (@721News) September 25, 2025

Source: DW.com

The US Geological Survey reported the magnitude of the quake, which was located at a depth of 14 kilometers. No casualties have been reported.

A 6.3-magnitudeearthquakeshook west and northVenezuelaon Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said.

What do we know so far?

There were noimmediate reports of any casualties or serious damage.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located at a depth of 14 kilometers (8.6 miles) some 27 kilometersfrom Mene Grande, the USGS said.

A few hours later, the USGS reported on another 5.8-magnitude earthquake, 28 kilometers from Mene Grande.

Some 600 kilometerswest of Caracas,Mene Grande is an oil town in asparsely populated area of the state of Zulia.

Venezuela is the country withthe world’s largest proven crude oil reserves,estimated at approximately 303 billion barrels as of 2023-2024, significantly more than other countries such asSaudi Arabia, Iran, and Canada.

Are strong earthquakes common in Venezuela?

The Colombian Geological Survey measured the tremor at 6.1 and categorized it as a “shallow depth” event in Mene Grande, but the quake was also felt in neighboring Colombia, as well asthe Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire.

Strong temblors are not common in Venezuela, but Wednesday’s quakeshookbuildings and caused alarm in cities including Caracas and Maracaibo.

About 80%of Venezuelans live in seismic zones, but the South American country has not had a major quakesince 1997, when 73 people died inCariaco in the eastern state of Sucre.

In 1976, nearly 300 were killed and 2,000 injured when a quakehit Caracas.

As qued uno de los apartamentos en Maracaibo, estado Zulia, luego del sismo ocurrido hace pocos minutos Read more

Smmc Celebrates World Patient Safety Day

CAY HILL —On Wednesday, September 17th, St. Maarten Medical Center joined the global observance of World Patient Safety Day with a series of lectures and interactive workshops held on its main patio for staff. World Patient Safety Day, an initiative of the World Health Organization, is geared towards raising global awareness about patient safety and promoting actions that minimize harm in healthcare.

This years theme, Safe Care for every Newborn and Child, focuses on safety during neonatal and pediatric care – particularly vital for patients who cannot always advocate for themselves.

The program was organized by the Quality and Safety Department and reflects SMMCs ongoing journey to achieve Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation at the new St Read more

Minister BrugS Statements On Pjiae Notice

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — As Minister of Labor, I have taken note of the communication recently issued by the management of PJIAE to its staff concerning measures to be taken against French nationals employed at PJIAE. Such communication has caused significant unrest in the community, which requires clarification on my part.

I, Richinel Brug, hereby unequivocally distance myself from the content and implications of such correspondence Read more

New Head Of Ind Cn: Rusco Lamidi

BES islands — Effective 1st July 2025, Rusco Lamidi has been appointed Head of the Immigration and Naturalization Service for the Caribbean Netherlands (IND CN). His own migration background adds a personal dimension to this appointment. His own migration background lends this appointment a personal touch: as a child, he came from Suriname to Bonaire and became a Dutch citizen here.

“It feels very special to me that I can now lead the organization that, in a sense, was once my point of contact,” says Lamidi.

Further developing services

The IND CN has been committed to a customer-focused approach to service provision for years Read more

Mp Lyndon Lewis: Stop Destroying Our Economy

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW), Member of Parliament Lyndon Lewis strongly condemns the recent robberies taking place across Sint Maarten. He expressed deep concern about the growing fear and anxiety that these crimes are instilling in residents, business owners, and visitors alike Read more

Kadaster St. Maarten Now Officially Gis Ready

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten Kadaster St. Maarten is now officially GIS Ready, following the deployment of its in-house Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. This milestone reinforces Kadasters commitment to digital transformation, improved service delivery, and spatially enabled land administration.

Developed in close collaboration with GIS4C B.V., the new system includes the implementation of ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, Drone2Map, and on-premise GIS infrastructure. In addition to the technical setup, GIS4C also provided intensive training to cross-departmental staff, ensuring that the knowledge gained is embedded throughout the organization.

This is a turning point for Kadaster, said Managing Director Benjamin Ortega Read more

Commemoration Of Sint MaartenS Flag Day

PHILIPSBURG On Friday, June 13th, 2025, the people, and Government of Sint Maarten will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Flag Day at the grounds of the Leonald Conner School in Cay Bay. The annual commemoration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the Patriotic School Parade that starts in front of the Market Garden Supermarket at the entrance of the Billy Folly Road. The parade then proceeds on to the Welfare Road in the direction towards Caribbean Cinemas, it continues to the entrance at Cay Bay Road, and ends at the grounds of the Leonald Conner School parking lot.

Considering that Flag Day is not a public holiday, the annual celebration is geared towards the primary schools on the island Read more

Guyana Passport Issues Being Resolved

~ Sint Maarten Among 10 Consulates to Receive Biometric Kit ~

SAUNDERS, St. Maarten After months of delay, citizens of Guyana living outside their homeland will soon be able to receive their new passports, and the Sint Maarten Consulate is among 10 of 29 in the diaspora to receive the first set of biometric kits.

This announcement was made on Wednesday during a virtual meeting of Heads of Missions and Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper; and Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Senior Superintendent Stephen Telford.

The delay stemmed from a change of systems at the Central Passport and Immigration Office in Georgetown, which now requires all applicants to submit their biometrics before the travel document can be processed Read more

Stop Issuing Supermarket Licenses!

Opinion

STOP ISSUING SUPERMARKET LICENSES!

Well, the good citizens who use Cost Pro Supermarket as their main supermarket noticed that during the Easter weekend the supermarket was closed. To their surprise, the supermarket remained closed on Tuesday, April 22. Someone close to the daily operations confirmed that Cost Pro has closed their doors for good.

Although, the details that led to the closure have not been made public, there are several things we must consider because of this.

Government keeps issuing supermarket licenses to smaller businesses, thereby destroying business sales for the larger companies, who at a certain point were in key locations, which benefited their bottom line Read more