Headlines & Top Stories

July 29, 2026

GREAT BAY--The Ministries of VROMI and Justice accounted for 33 of the 48 formal complaints investigated by the Ombudsman in 2025, representing nearly seven in every ten formal cases opened during the year. VROMI recorded 21 formal investigations, more than double the nine reg...

July 28, 2026

GREAT BAY--Preliminary findings from an investigation by the Ombudsman have identified three systemic concerns in St. Maarten’s response to domestic violence: deficiencies and loopholes within the legal and policy framework, indications that cultural biases may affect governme...

July 28, 2026

GREAT BAY--A new climate report projects that St. Maarten could experience as many as 249 hot days each year (exceeding 29.5 degrees Celsius) by the end of this century under a high-emissions scenario, while annual rainfall could decline by nearly half and sea levels rise by u...

July 28, 2026

GREAT BAY--National Recovery Program Bureau Director Claret Connor is expected to be sworn in as the country’s next Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, VSA, potentially as early as next week. Information obtained by The People’s Tribune indicates that Conn...

July 28, 2026

Marco Aalbers. PHILIPSBURG--Tax expert Marco Aalbers says the recent clarification that St. Maarten residents are exempt from room tax when staying at local hotels, apartments and guest-houses does not eliminate the tax burden, but instead shifts it to turnover tax. In a lette...

July 28, 2026

GREAT BAY--Social and Health Insurances, SZV, says it is implementing a Financial Sustainability Strategy aimed at controlling healthcare costs, improving premium collection, preventing fraud and reducing dependence on costly overseas medical referrals. SZV outlined the measur...

July 27, 2026

SINT MAARTEN (GUANA BAY) - The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is investigating the circumstances surrounding a single vehicle accident that occurred in the Guana Bay area late Friday evening. At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Friday, July 24, KPSM Dispatch received a re...

July 24, 2026

SINT MAARTEN (BETTY ESTATE) - On Thursday, July 24, at approximately 7:30 a.m., KPSM Dispatch received a report of a shooting in the Betty Estate area. Patrol officers were immediately dispatched to the location. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from two...

July 23, 2026

CAY HILL--St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) had Cg. 10.1 million in uncollectible receivables and write-offs in 2025, up from Cg. 9.5 million in 2024, as the hospital continued to face challenges collecting payments from under-insured and uninsured patients. According to SMMC’...

July 23, 2026

SXM AIRPORT--Contour Airlines today announced new nonstop service connecting two of the Caribbean's most iconic destinations: St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and St. Maarten. The new route will operate between Cyril E. King Airport (STT) and Princess Juliana International Air...

July 22, 2026

Head of BTP. Judianne Labega-Hoeve during meeting with Minister of TEATT, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, TEATT Chief of Staff, Otmar Jonis and Legal Council to the Minister of TEATT, Joeri Essed. POND ISLAND--The Bureau Telecommunication and Post (BTP) has given utilities company NV...

July 21, 2026

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - On July 20th, at approximately 9:50 p.m., officers of the Korps Politie Sint Maarten (KPSM) Patrol Unit were conducting a routine patrol when they observed an individual riding a scooter. Officers attempted to stop the rider for a control;...

July 20, 2026

​Due to yet unknown reasons a large quantity of fish has been found dead in the communicating channel between Fresh Pond and Great Salt Pond, near the Illidge Road turnabout. The heat and direct sunlight are speeding up the rotting process and is producing a very unpleasant st...