August 22, 2026
Ministers, MPs pay nothing towards their pensions, Gumbs proposes 8% | The Daily HeraldSXM Talks — Latest News from St. Maarten / St. Martin
Latest News
August 22, 2026
ECONOMY / The street market brings the capital back to life | Faxinfo
August 22, 2026
Government faces 200-staff gap and debt projected at Cg. 1.047 Billion by end of 2026 | The Peoples Tribune
August 22, 2026
ECYS Minister Clarifies Reports on School Gym Closures | Government of Sint MaartenThe Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport, Melissa D. Gumbs, took time to address rumours that several schools were not briefed about the pending closure of their gymnasiums. In a media statement provided on Thursday evening, Gumbs provided back...
August 22, 2026
Mincing no words: Gumbs calls for shared responsibility in education, youth, culture and sports | The Peoples TribuneGREAT BAY- - Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs used her closing remarks during the 2026 Budget debate to call for greater shared responsibility across St. Maarten, stressing that Government funding alone cannot deliver the outcomes the country...
August 22, 2026
De Weever: Special-needs gap for kids under 7 must be addressed | The Daily HeraldPHILIPSBURG--Party for Progress (PFP) Member of Parliament (MP) Ludmila de Weever is calling for greater attention to special-needs support for children under the age of seven, saying a gap remains in the education and care system for young children with learning disabilities...
August 22, 2026
Roseburg wants exemptions expanded to more basic goods | The Daily HeraldPHILIPSBURG--Unified Resilience St Maarten Movement (URSM) Member of Parliament (MP) Sjamira Roseburg would like tax exemptions expanded to cover more basic goods coupled with stronger price controls as measures to help residents cope with high grocery, gas and other living co...
August 22, 2026
MP De Weever questions cannabis push, says St. Maarten is not ready for the consequences | The Peoples TribuneGREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Ludmila de Weever has strongly questioned government’s prioritization of cannabis regulation, warning that St. Maarten is not sufficiently prepared for the possible public health, mental health, regulatory and financial consequences while m...
August 22, 2026
SZV can only legally refer patients to Curaçao, Ottley says law has to change | The Daily HeraldPHILIPSBURG--United People’s party (UP) Member of Parliament (MP) Omar Ottley said the law governing Social and Health Insurances SZV referrals should be changed because it currently allows SZV to legally refer patients only to Curaçao. Otltey made the remarks following concer...
August 22, 2026
MP Wever calls for special needs education to be put at forefront, urges tax exemption | The Peoples TribuneGREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Christopher Wever used his contribution to the continuation of the 2026 Budget debate on Friday to renew his call for greater attention to special needs education, proposing that organizations serving special needs students receive greater...
Local News
August 22, 2026
Roseburg wants more basic goods tax-free and prices kept in Check | The Peoples TribuneGREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Sjamira Roseburg is preparing a budget amendment to redirect approximately XCG 230,000 in unused personnel funds toward hiring legislative lawyers on a consultancy basis, while also moving to expand tax relief on essential goods and strengt...
Read more : Roseburg wants more basic goods tax-free and prices kept in Check | The Peoples Tribune
August 22, 2026
Lacroes: residents of St. Peters cannot accept gun violence as normal, calls for more police presence | The Peoples Tribune
GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Francisco Lacroes has issued a strong appeal for greater police visibility, removal of illegal firearms and more opportunities for young people in St. Peters, saying the district should not reach a point where violence, street activity and...
August 22, 2026
Irion: Parliament chair and Presidium a ‘dictatorship,’ criticizes cut of MPs time | The Daily Herald
PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) Ardwell Irion criticized Parliament’s decision to reduce MPs’ speaking time during the 2026 budget debate, saying the change could limit Parliament’s ability to hold government accountable. He also described the man...
August 22, 2026
MP Roseburg to table amendment to move Cg. 230k for legislative lawyers | The Daily HeraldPHILIPSBURG--Unified Resilient St Maarten Movement (URSM) Member of Parliament (MP) Sjamira Roseburg plans to propose a budget amendment to move approximately Cg. 230,000 in unused funds from one budget post to another so the services of legislative lawyers can be used on a co...
August 22, 2026
MP Kotai proposes fee to fast-track VROMI permits, says 662 pending | The Daily HeraldPHILIPSBURG--With 662 of 1,111 VROMI permit applications still pending, Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Viren Kotai is proposing a fee-based fast-track system that would allow applicants to pay for faster administrative processing within a defined timeframe. Ko...
August 21, 2026
MP Darryl York questions budget accountability, tax collection and millions in spending without clear results | The Peoples TribuneGREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Darryl York used the 2026 budget debate to question whether Parliament has been given enough information to responsibly approve government spending, arguing that ministries continue to request millions of guilders while basic information on...
August 21, 2026
Minister of VSA Claret Connor Honors Seniors on World Senior Citizen Day | The Peoples TribuneGREAT BAY--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Claret Connor is honoring St. Maarten’s senior citizens on World Senior Citizen Day 2026, recognizing their contribution to the development of the country and reaffirming the Ministry’s responsibility to s...
August 21, 2026
MP Ottley: Tourism is up, costs are up, and relief is still missing | The Peoples TribuneGREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Omar Ottley used the 2026 budget debate to demand concrete relief for GEBE consumers, question decisions surrounding the authorization of a doctor to practice, and challenge government over delayed revenue measures, Justice commitments and...
August 21, 2026
MP Labega to Present Motions on Poverty Reduction, Civil Service Capacity and National Sports Development | The Peoples TribuneGREAT MAN--Member of Parliament Dimar Labega announced during the 2026 budget debate that he will bring forward motions focused on establishing a National Poverty Reduction Strategy, addressing government’s critical human-resource and salary challenges, and developing a N...
Headlines
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Court of First Instance has rendered its judgment in the criminal cases against M.R. and J.E.B., the remaining defendants in the “Jasmine” investigation. Both defendants were convicted of co-perpetrating fraud and money laundering. M.R. was also...
Read more : Court convicts two defendants in “Jasmine” investigation | Soualiganewsday
August 19, 2026
Approx. $53 million budgeted for new Pointe Blanche Prison | The Daily Herald
Artist’s impression PHILIPSBURG--Construction of the new Pointe Blanche prison began in January 2026 and is expected to be completed by July 2028, according to Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling. The project is being implemented through the United Nations Office for Project...
August 18, 2026
WIB Supports Playground Upgrade at Raoul Illidge Sports Complex | The Peoples Tribune
GREAT BAY--The Windward Islands Bank, WIB, has supported the upgrade of the playground at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex as part of its continued commitment to corporate social responsibility and investment in children, families and healthy communities across St. Maarten. Th...
August 18, 2026
TEATT shifts more tourism funding to Expedia | The Peoples TribuneGREAT BAY--The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, TEATT, is directing more of St. Maarten’s tourism promotion budget toward online travel agency campaigns after previous Expedia marketing generated more than US $38 million in tracked bookin...
August 18, 2026
Unmanned vessel from St. Barths washes up on Saba with dog aboard | BES REPORTERTHE BOTTOM, Saba – An unmanned vessel believed to belong to a resident of St. Barths was found on the rocks along Saba’s coastline on Monday, with a dog (named Archie) still aboard.
August 17, 2026
Justice Minister outlines eight priority changes to modernize traffic laws | The Peoples TribuneGREAT BAY--The Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling has identified eight priority areas for a major modernization of St. Maarten’s Road Traffic Ordinance, including tougher rules on mobile phone use while driving, speed cameras, stronger DUI laws, vehicle impoundment for reck...
