Local News

May 27, 2026

GREAT BAY–Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling says the St. Maarten Youth Brigade represents far more than drills, ranks and formations, describing the program as essential nation-building work that strengthens discipline, develops grit and helps prevent young people from reaching critical crossroads without guidance. Minister Tackling delivered the message during the St. Maarten Youth Brigade Promotional Ranking […]

May 27, 2026

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Patrice Gumbs has moved to clarify his role in the Simpson Bay grape tree incident, clarifying that the foundational land and permit decisio…

May 26, 2026

GREAT BAY–The motion of no confidence tabled by Member of Parliament Lyndon Lewis against Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs failed in Parliament on Wednesday, by a vote of 7 to 6, in favor of him remaining Minister. All coalition MPs present voted against the motion and all opposition MPs voted for. The Minister was warned […]

May 26, 2026

GREAT BAY–Member of Parliament Darryl York says many of the environmental and coastal protection issues now confronting St. Maarten were already raised in Parliament and addressed through a motion he tabled in October 2024, but Government has failed to act on the measures that Parliament unanimously approved. Speaking during the meeting of Parliament on Tuesday, […]

May 26, 2026

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) – The 2026 Dutch Caribbean Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Alliance (DC ALFA) Conference officially commenced this week in Sint Maarten, bringing together representatives and stakeholders from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sa…

May 26, 2026

GREAT BAY–Global oil prices are expected to remain elevated for much of the year, even if the war involving Iran ends quickly, as supply disruptions, depleted inventories, damaged confidence in shipping routes and a slow recovery of Middle East production continue to place pressure on the energy market. Recent market reports show that Brent crude […]

May 26, 2026

GREAT BAY–The 2026 Dutch Caribbean Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Alliance Conference officially opened this week in St. Maarten, bringing together representatives and stakeholders from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten for a week of dialogue, collaboration, field activities and policy-focused discussions on the future of agriculture, livestock, fisheries and food security in the […]

May 26, 2026

​VILNIUS – (May 26, 2026) A delegation from the ICT Department of Sint Maarten is visiting Vilnius, Lithuania, from 25–29 May 2026 for a focused study visit on digital government transformation, organized by the NRD consultancy team. The visit forms part of Sint Maarten’s ongoing efforts to strengthen national digital government capabilities, improve the quality […]

May 26, 2026

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten: Following a meeting with the Youth Cabinet last week, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs says St. Maarten must do more than speak about young people. The country must create real opportunities for them to speak for themselves, participate in national discussions and help shape the environment in […]

May 26, 2026

​Sint Maarten Consumer Prices Stay Stable in Q1 2026 PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Department of Statistics (STAT) reports stable consumer prices in Sint Maarten for Q1 2026. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), key measure of everyday costs, reached 115.78, a modest 0.43% increase from Q4 2025 (115.28) and 0.66% year-on-year from Q1 2025 (115.02). […]

May 26, 2026

GREAT BAY–Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs says the financial and cultural realities facing St. Maarten can no longer be dressed up as “sweet nothings,” stressing that difficult messages about budget discipline, national identity and cultural preservation must be delivered honestly if the country is to change course. Speaking during her public […]

May 26, 2026

Plaintiffs THE HAGUE–The Netherlands will continue its appeal against a landmark climate ruling involving Bonaire, despite growing pressure following the court decision earlier this year. The issue was addressed in the Jetten Cabinet’s response to the Dutch Parliament following discussions during the February 2026 Inter-Parliamentary Kingdom Consultation IPKO in Aruba. According to the Dutch government, […]

May 26, 2026

WILLEMSTAD0–Curaçao’s ”Project-team Toezicht & Handhaving” (PTH), together with the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, carried out inspections at Spanish Water on May 22, resulting in the discovery of eleven rafts operating without valid permits. The controls took place across several bays within the area, one of Curaçao’s busiest locations for recreational boating and water-sports. According to […]