The Peoples Tribune

May 27, 2026

GREAT BAY–The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor has launched a new cost of living study in collaboration with the Dutch organization Nibud, as part of Minister Richinel Brug’s efforts to better understand the financial pressures facing households in St. Maarten and to support future discussions on the country’s poverty line. The study […]

May 27, 2026

GREAT BAY–Member of Parliament Chris Wever has accused opposition members of political grandstanding following the Simpson Bay tree incident, saying their public reaction stands in sharp contrast to their absence from a parliamentary meeting scheduled just one day earlier to discuss the country’s nature policy. MP Wever said it was “ironic” that members who now […]

May 27, 2026

GREAT BAY–Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs pushed back on claims by former VROMI Minister and current MP Egbert Doran that he misled the public about the Simpson Bay grape tree incident, explaining in Parliament that the relevant land and permit history predates his tenure and that his 2025 signature related to the transfer of already […]

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 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

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

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

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

GREAT BAY–Members of Parliament pressed Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina for proof, documentation and consistency on Monday, after his presentation to Parliament on the dispute involving Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Richinel Brug. The meeting focused on allegations surrounding the relationship between the Prime Minister, Minister Brug, the URSM board and matters […]

May 26, 2026

THE HAGUE–St. Maarten has recorded the lowest level of food self-sufficiency among the six Dutch Caribbean islands assessed in a new baseline study by research agency PRIVA, with local production accounting for just 0.72% of the island’s measured food supply. The finding places St. Maarten behind Saba at 4.62%, Aruba at 6.57%, Bonaire at 8.25%, […]

May 26, 2026

GREAT BAY–The Joint Court of Justice’s 2025 Annual Report shows that St. Maarten recorded an increase in new cases filed at the Court of First Instance in 2025, while the island’s pending caseload at year-end decreased compared to 2024. According to the report, total first-instance case inflow for St. Maarten rose from 3,621 cases in 2024 […]