October 28, 2026 No comments
MP Lyndon Lewis Urges Coalition to Put Country First Amid VROMI Tender Concerns
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) Member of Parliament (MP) and Chairman of the Justice Committee Lyndon Lewis is calling on the governing coalition to place the interests of the St. Maarten people above political loyalty as concerns surrounding the garbage collection tender under Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs draw public scrutiny. Recent news reports highlight dissatisfied bidders’ questions about changes to the tender, including allowing companies to receive two collection parcels instead of one, the reasons for retendering, and the assessment of contractors’ equipment, staffing and financial capacity. Government has indicated that scoring results remain subject to verification and do not constitute final contract awards. These concerns require examination and do not, by themselves, establish wrongdoing. "The situation...
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October 28, 2026 No comments
Sint Maarten Strengthens Human Trafficking Response Through Specialized Training Amid Tier 3 Ranking
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Strengthening Sint Maarten's ability to recognize human trafficking, protect victims and bring traffickers to justice was the focus of a five-day training programme organized by the National Reporting Center (NRC), in partnership with the Prosecutor's Office (OM), from October 19 to 23, 2026. The training responds to shortcomings highlighted in the United States Department of State's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which placed Sint Maarten in Tier 3, the lowest classification for governments' efforts to combat human trafficking. Tier 3 means a country does not fully meet minimum anti-trafficking standards and is not making significant efforts to do so. The classification brings increased international scrutiny and potential restrictions on certain forms of US assistance, subject to applicable...
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October 28, 2026 No comments
TEATT Launches St. Maarten’s First Fish Aggregating Devices to Strengthen the Fisheries Industry
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - On Wednesday September 23rd, the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunication (TEATT), through the Department of Economy, Transportation and Telecommunication (ETT), launched two Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) in the waters surrounding St. Maarten. The island’s first deployment of its kind marks a milestone for the fisheries industry in improving access to offshore fishing grounds while supporting fisher livelihoods, food security, and sustainable marine resource use. Generously donated by the Government of Curaçao, the FADs will help attract pelagic fish such as tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo. This can reduce fishers’ search time and fuel costs, while easing pressure on sensitive nearshore reef ecosystems. “This deployment marks an important step for St. Maarten’s fishing community and the continued...
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October 28, 2026 No comments
Court of Appeal imposes 30-month sentence in Pandora sexual abuse case
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Court of Appeal sentenced a woman, R.S.D.M., on October 20, to 30 months in prison for sexually abusing a minor girl and for complicity in the rape of two other girls by her then-husband, B.E.M.S. The case arose from the wider Pandora investigation into sexual abuse of minors, which also resulted in convictions against B.E.M.S. and a female friend of the household, J.W. The Prosecutor’s Office and KPSM previously reported that a victim’s disclosure to a trusted adult had led to action in the case. The offences for which R.S.D.M. was convicted occurred between 2006 and 2020. The case concerned repeated sexual abuse of girls entrusted to the adults’ care, with the youngest only four years...
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October 28, 2026 No comments
T-MO’S LEGACY TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT ALEEZE ON NOVEMBER 7
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Some artists make music, while others create a legacy that becomes part of a nation's cultural identity. On Saturday, November 7, 2026, Xtratight Entertainment will pay tribute to one of Sint Maarten’s most celebrated musical icons, T-MO, with LEGACY, a special concert dedicated to honoring his extraordinary career and lasting contribution to the island's music industry. Taking place at ALEEZE Convention Center in Madame Estate, under the theme “Honoring Musical Excellence,” LEGACY promises an unforgettable evening featuring more than two hours of pulsating hits, musical memories, and a celebration of a career that has helped shape generations of Sint Maarten's musical culture. T-MO’s remarkable journey dates back to 1991, when his breakthrough hit “Push Out Your Bottom”...
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