SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - FREEGAN proudly announces that the organization placed 16th in the national online public voting round for the Appeltjes van Oranje 2026. Just like last year, FREEGAN once again became the highest-ranking organization in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

The Appeltjes van Oranje are prestigious awards presented by the Oranje Fonds to organizations that make an exceptional contribution to society. The online voting round formed part of the selection process, allowing the public to support organizations by casting their votes online.

FREEGAN would like to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to vote. Despite the various difficulties many people experienced during the voting process, the support from St. Maarten, the wider Caribbean, and the Netherlands remained incredibly strong.

“We are deeply touched by all the people who still made the effort to cast their vote,” said DJ Jansen of FREEGAN. “The support, messages, and involvement from the community truly moved us. It shows how many people believe in a society built on dignity, choice, and caring for one another.”

As a part of this achievement, FREEGAN has been invited to travel to Curaçao in June to present a pitch to the Oranje Fonds jury. During this stage, selected organizations are given the opportunity to further present their work, impact, and vision.

FREEGAN works daily on St. Maarten to improve food security, reduce waste, and strengthen families and individuals through programs including the client-choice Food Market, coaching, education, and community support initiatives.

The organization emphasizes that this milestone does not belong to FREEGAN alone, but to the entire community that supports and helps build the organization every day.

“This feels like recognition for all of St. Maarten,” FREEGAN added. “For every volunteer, donor, partner, and family who continues to show what real community truly means.”

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Department of Statistics tracks all visitors (including post immigration transfers) at Princess Juliana International Airport as Air Passenger Arrivals. St. Maarten's hub status means some travelers connect to nearby islands, including French St. Martin.

The new digital immigration system enhances data accuracy, though limitations persist in distinguishing transfers, residents, and EU citizens, impacting detailed statistics. The term “Air Passenger Arrivals” is now used to reflect all arrivals through the airport port of entry, providing a broader and more accurate representation of air traffic and tourism movements. 

Passenger Air Arrivals results for Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025

• Total air passenger arrivals in Q1 2026 reached 314,765, reflecting an increase of 57,842 passengers, or 23%, compared to Q1 2025.
• North America (the United States and Canada) remained the primary source market, accounting for 213,595 arrivals, or 67.9% of all arrivals during quarter 1 of 2026.
• The United States continued to be the largest individual market, contributing 171,340 arrivals, which represented 54.4% of total arrivals and approximately 80% of the North American market (USA & Canada), with an average of more than 57,000 passengers per month.
• The European Union ranked as the second-largest market with 76,790 arrivals, accounting for 24.4% of total arrivals of Q1 2026. France led the region with 31,091 arrivals (40.5% of EU arrivals and 9.9% overall), followed by the Netherlands with 18,502 arrivals (24.1% of EU arrivals and 5.9% overall).
• The Caribbean region recorded 9,946 arrivals, representing 3.2% of total arrivals and averaging more than 3,300 passengers monthly.

• Central and South America contributed 8,588 arrivals, or 2.7% of total arrivals, averaging more than 2,800 passengers per month and showing an increase of approximately 1,700 passengers compared to Q1 2025.
• Arrivals from the Rest of the World totalled 5,846 passengers, accounting for 1.9% of total arrivals and averaging more than 1,900 passengers monthly.

Cruise Arrivals results for Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025

• Maarten recorded a total of 748,603 cruise visitors during Q1 2026, representing an increase of 18% compared to the 635,968 visitors recorded in Q1 2025.
• January 2026 showed a 19% increase in cruise passenger arrivals compared to January 2025.
• February 2026 experienced a 16% increase in cruise passengers and recorded approximately 30% more cruise calls than in the same month of the previous year.
• March 2026 registered an 18% increase in cruise passenger arrivals compared to March 2025, despite approaching the start of the traditional off-season.
• Total cruise ship calls during Q1 2026 reached 316, representing an increase of 40 calls compared to Q1 2025.

Table 1

Table 2

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Maarten, has expressed deep alarm and strong condemnation regarding GEBE’s recent fuel clause increase of approx. 10 cents, which has already appeared on electricity bills for April consumption period, despite GEBE’s public statement that the increase would take effect in May.

“Consumers are already under tremendous financial pressure,” the Minister stated. “To announce that a new rate will take effect in May, but then quietly apply it to April bills is unacceptable, misleading and a breach of public trust. The public deserves clarity, not confusion. This is not how a GEBE’s management should treat the people of St. Maarten.”

She emphasized that under the Electricity Concession and the Electricity Concession Ordinance, no tariff component, including fuel clause, may be adjusted without proper justification, supporting data and Government review and approval. “These safeguards exist to protect consumers,” she said. “They were not respected, and that failure lies squarely with GEBE’s management.”

She noted that this latest development follows a series of challenges at GEBE over the past years, including prolonged billing disruptions, governance instability and repeated public concerns about transparency and service reliability. These issues were further highlighted in the 2025 evaluation conducted by the Regulatory Authority of Curaçao (RAC) in collaboration with BTP, which identified gaps in data reporting, maintenance planning and tariff methodology.

“Taken together, these events show why independent oversight is not an option, it is urgently necessary,” the Minister said. “GEBE has to be transparent, accountable and stable, because that is what the people deserve. The current pattern of decision making is simply not acceptable.”

To address longstanding gaps in transparency and accountability, the Minister of TEATT has finalized a joint Ministerial Decree designating the Bureau of Telecommunication and Post (BTP as the legally mandated Supervisor under the Electricity Concession Ordinance.

The decree has been signed by the Minister of TEATT and transmitted for co-signature of the Minister of VROMI, after which it will be published and take immediate effect.

“This Decree activates a supervisory mechanism that has existed in law since its establishment but was never implemented,” Minister Heyliger-Marten explained. “It is a critical step toward protecting consumers both residents and businesses.

Once in force, the decree empowers BTP to:

• Request and verify all operational and financial data from GEBE.
• Review tariff structures, methodologies and fuel clause calculations.
• Conduct inspections, audits and technical assessments.
• Monitor compliance with all concession obligations.
• Oversee renewable-energy obligations under Article 14 of the Concession.

The Minister confirmed that BTP has already been instructed once the Decree takes effect to immediately investigate the basis, timing and legality of the recent fuel clause increase.

The Minster also noted that GEBE has not complied with the Government’s formal request to submit a complete tariff structure proposal, despite repeated reminders.

“The most responsible way to set tariffs is through verified, cost-based information,” she said. “Only GEBE has full insight into its operational costs. Government cannot lawfully approve or adjust tariffs without receiving and validating that information.”

Because GEBE has failed to submit the required tariff structure, BTP will now begin the process of independently reviewing and reconstructing the tariff methodology to ensure fairness, legality and consumer protection.

The Minister also acknowledged the ongoing efforts of the Prime Minister to stabilize GEBE’s governance and strengthen corporate oversight.

“The Prime Minister has taken important steps to stabilize the company and reinforce internal controls,” she said. “This decree complements those efforts by ensuring that the regulatory side is equally strengthened.”

The Minister emphasized “this is done to protect the people of St. Maarten, ensuring that no tariff adjustment, fuel clause or otherwise is ever implemented again without transparency and proper justification. The days of unilateral decisions by GEBE’s management without oversight are coming to an end.”

Once the decree takes effect, BTP will have full legal authority to intervene, verify data, review tariff calculations and ensure that future decisions are fair, transparent and based on verified information. “I ask the public for patience as we move swiftly to correct these issues and protect consumers of GEBE.”

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - In recognition of International Nurses Day and the conclusion of Nurses Week activities, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Richinel Brug, took a moment to personally thank the nurses within the Ministry of VSA for their continued dedication and service to the people of Sint Maarten.

As part of the observance, Minister Brug presented the nurses with a small token of appreciation as a gesture of gratitude for the tireless work they continue to perform every day on the frontlines of healthcare.

“Nurses play an essential role within our healthcare system and our society,” Minister Brug stated. “Their commitment, compassion, professionalism, and sacrifice often go beyond what many people see on a daily basis. This simple gesture is only a small way of saying thank you for the tremendous work they continue to do for our people.”

Minister Brug emphasized that healthcare workers, particularly nurses, remain one of the pillars of the country’s healthcare system and deserve continued recognition and support for the demanding responsibilities they carry.

“Whether in clinics, institutions, community care, inspections, elderly care, or public health services, our nurses continue to show up every single day to care for others. Their work does not go unnoticed, and they deserve to feel appreciated not only during Nurses Week, but throughout the entire year,” the Minister added.

The Minister concluded by extending his sincere appreciation to all nurses across Sint Maarten for their dedication, resilience, and continued service to the community.