February 11, 2026 No comments
Minister Gumbs Submits Draft 2026 Budget to CFT and Sets Clear Path Forward For 2027 Budget
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Minister of Finance, Marinka J. Gumbs, has taken decisive steps to ensure the orderly handling of Sint Maarten’s public finances by outlining a clear and realistic path forward for the national budgets for 2026, and 2027. Following approval by the Council of Ministers on February 10, 2026, the draft 2026 National Budget has formally been submitted to the Board of Financial Supervision Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CFT) for advice, in accordance with Article 11 of the Kingdom Act on Financial Supervision of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. This submission marks an important step in advancing the 2026 budget. With respect to the 2026 budget, the Minister acknowledged that the budget is to be submitted to Parliament by September of the preceding year. This timeline was...
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February 11, 2026 No comments
SMCU Calls for Competent Local Leadership, Financial Recovery and Protections for Employees
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – The President of the St. Maarten Communication Union (SMCU) issued an extensive statement related to developments at TelEm. The statement reads as follows: “The government’s continued silence and inaction regarding the situation at TelEm is no longer just disappointing it is unacceptable. For years, administration after administration has been warned by the union, employees, and concerned citizens about serious mismanagement, poor decision making, and the steady decline of a government owned company that once stood as a national pillar. “Those warnings were ignored. Promises were made during election seasons, and once votes were secured, those promises disappeared. What has remained constant is a pattern: employees are sent home, while those in positions of power are protected....
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February 11, 2026 No comments
Island Girl Iris Hakkens explores Caribbean Identity
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Iris Hakkens, 27, calls herself an "island girl" from Sint Maarten. For her studies and out of personal interest, she is researching Caribbean identity in the former Netherlands Antilles. She traveled to Aruba and Sint Maarten and asked herself the question: "Do we imagine ourselves as a shared community and culture? So how does that sense of community live here in the Caribbean?" Family Everywhere Iris grew up on Sint Maarten, and when someone asks where she's from, she always mentions the island. "At the same time, I'm also a child of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, because my grandparents live in Aruba, my father is Dutch, and my mother was born in Aruba but also lived in...
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February 11, 2026 No comments
Minister Heyliger-Marten Thanks Partners for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” Campaign
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Honorable Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, extends sincere appreciation to the partners who contributed to the successful execution of the “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” destination promotional campaign. Special thanks are extended to Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), The Morgan Resort, Blu Spa, Candle Drip Co., Rainforest Adventures, Big Foot Water Sports, Aquamania Adventures, We Culture, Astra Restaurant, Casino Royale, Nowhere Special, Electric Adventures SXM Buggy, Under SXM, and Inkorporated for their valued support and collaboration. The Minister also recognizes and thanks Rebecca York, Lakijsha Bloeiman, Giovanna Maietti, Alena Asas, and Shalena Sookhoo for representing St. Maarten with authenticity, confidence, and pride throughout the campaign. Through this strong public–private partnership,...
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February 10, 2026 No comments
Trust Fund’s Enterprise Support Project Signs Final Beneficiary
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Trust Fund’s Enterprise Support Project (ESP) is moving into a new chapter focused on supporting growth and sustainability of local businesses. On Tuesday, February 10, at the National Recovery Program Bureau offices in Philipsburg, the final Micro, Small and Medium Sized enterprise (MSME) approved for financing through ESP took part in a ceremonial signing. This brings them into the cohort of 323 businesses, strengthened through project support during Sint Maarten’s post-Irma recovery period. With this signing, ESP formally concludes its financing activity and now turns its focus towards delivering targeted programs centered on accelerating growth, sustainability, and long-term business success for the island’s MSMEs. The signing ceremony was attended by the Honorable Minister of TEATT, Grisha...
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