Local News

October 01, 2026

PHILIPSBURG--The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (MECYS) is facing continued funding pressures in public education as student numbers decline while schools continue to require additional resources for materials, maintenance, transportation and student support....

October 01, 2026

GREAT BAY--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs says the long-running question of formally establishing a national anthem for St. Maarten is now included in a draft National Symbols Framework prepared by the Department of Culture, with public consultat...

October 01, 2026

GREAT BAY--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs says Government has allocated Cg. 7 million in the 2027 budget toward the first phase (land purchase, drawings etc) of a new multifunctional indoor facility in Belvedere, with the funding intended for lan...

October 01, 2026

GREAT BAY -- Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling says the Dutch language requirement remains one of the biggest obstacles facing police recruitment in St. Maarten, adding another challenge to efforts to strengthen a force already dealing with a significant personnel shortage...

September 30, 2026

GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Darryl York is urging Government to examine whether the tax treatment of police overtime can be adjusted so officers working additional hours because of chronic understaffing are not left with significantly less of that compensation after taxes....

September 30, 2026

GREAT BAY--Governments looking to expand their use of artificial intelligence should focus as much on preparing their employees and strengthening their data systems as they do on acquiring new technology, with a lack of AI skills identified as one of the major barriers to effe...

September 30, 2026

GREAT BAY--The idea sounds like science fiction: artificial intelligence becomes powerful enough to deploy thousands of autonomous digital agents across the internet, operating faster than humans can respond and potentially gaining access to computer systems around the world....

September 30, 2026

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten's Justice Ministry is exploring the use of artificial intelligence-enabled drones capable of patrolling designated areas, while AI cameras, crime analysis applications and other smart policing technology are being introduced or studied as part of a broad...

September 30, 2026

GREAT BAY--The Collective Prevention Service is encouraging the St. Maarten community to recognize the contribution of older persons while placing greater focus on healthy ageing, independence, dignity and inclusion as the world marks International Day of Older Persons on Thur...

September 30, 2026

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten recorded 1,853 automobiles imported during the first eight months of 2026, slightly above the 1,810 vehicles recorded over the same period last year, according to cargo traffic figures covering January 1 through August 31. The increase amounts to 43...

September 30, 2026

GREAT BAY--Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling says St. Maarten’s planned tourist police officers will be permitted to carry batons and handcuffs, while the Ministry is also studying whether equipment such as pepper spray and stun guns could eventually form part of their ope...

September 30, 2026

CARIBBEAN REGION- - The number of people living with dementia across the Caribbean could rise by approximately 155 percent by 2050, increasing from an estimated 291,800 people in 2019 to about 744,800, according to projections highlighted in a growing regional push for st...

September 30, 2026

MEXICO--Royal Caribbean Group completed the first phase of its sargassum management program in Mahahual, Mexico, advancing the commitment the company announced in March of this year to help address one of the coastal community's priorities. Sargassum is a naturally occurring f...