October 23, 2026 No comments
Former acting Prison Head sentenced to 10 years for sexual abuse of minor
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Court of First Instance has sentenced A.B., a former acting head of Pointe Blanche Prison, to 10 years in prison after finding him guilty on all three counts of repeated sexual abuse of a minor. The offenses took place over a period of years, beginning when the victim was only nine years old up until her adulthood. In its judgment, the Court considered the victim’s account credible and supported by other evidence, including witness statements and recorded conversations. The Court found that A.B. had gravely abused the trust placed in him as a caregiver, and that he had failed to take any accountability for his actions. The Court concluded that the seriousness and duration of the...
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October 22, 2026 No comments
St. Maarten Welcomes Approximately 400 Colombian Visitors
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The secret is finally out! St. Maarten has officially been revealed as the mystery Caribbean destination for the third edition of Destino Oculto, an innovative travel experience organized by Colombian low-cost airline Wingo. Approximately 400 visitors from Bogotá and Medellín, Colombia, arrived at Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on Thursday, October 22, marking the beginning of an exciting four-day destination experience that will run through October 25, 2026. The initiative is made possible through a strategic collaboration between the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB), Office de Tourisme de Saint-Martin (ODT), and the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE), working alongside Wingo Airlines and its organizing partner Okana Group to introduce the island to a new audience of South...
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October 22, 2026 No comments
VROMI MINISTER GUMBS ADDS TO THE DISCUSSION ON THE ROAD FUND
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure(VROMI), Patrice Gumbs issued a statement regarding the discussion around the road fund. Minister Patrice Gumbs acknowledged that additional work on the legal structure (Road Fund) was still needed, as confirmed during Wednesday's Council of Ministers Press Briefing, and the aim is to have this finalized and fully implemented in 2028. This will allow the total amount collected in road tax to finally be allocated towards the islands' infrastructure. This comes following the response of August 2026 from the Council of Advice, the final legal review authority before a budget goes to Parliament, on the proposed implementation plan submitted by the Ministry earlier this year. Gumbs stated that...
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October 22, 2026 No comments
Minister of Finance Clarifies Road Fund Implementation & Commends Historic Investment in Road Infrastructure
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Minister of Finance has taken note of the press briefing delivered by the Minister of VROMI on October 21, 2026, during which the public was informed that the proposed road and infrastructure program for 2027 is approaching a historic investment of Cg 9 million. The Minister of Finance applauds this achievement, which is the result of a collective effort by the Ministry of VROMI and the Ministry of Finance. This significant investment is welcome news for the people, businesses, and tourism sector of Sint Maarten, as improvements to the road network and infrastructure are essential to the country’s continued development and economic growth. However, certain remarks made during the press briefing may have created misunderstandings, particularly...
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October 22, 2026 No comments
Voice of the Youth St. Maarten Foundation Receives Funding for Youth Brigade Drum Band
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Voice of the Youth St. Maarten Foundation is pleased to announce that it has received separate funding contributions from Het Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied, Madurodam Kinderfonds, and Kinderpostzegels, (through Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben), to support the development of the Sint Maarten Youth Brigade Drum Band and leadership training for its members. These contributions represent a valuable investment in youth empowerment, cultural expression, and personal development, strengthening the Foundation's efforts to provide young people with meaningful opportunities to discover their talents, build confidence, and develop essential life skills. As a flagship program of the Foundation, the Sint Maarten Youth Brigade provides a structured environment where young people develop discipline, responsibility, teamwork, commitment, and leadership. Through the Drum Band, members...
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