SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - In celebration of Nurses Week, Member of Parliament (MP) Veronica Jansen-Webster extends heartfelt congratulations and appreciation to all nurses across St. Maarten for their dedication, compassion, and commitment to caring for the people of our island.

“As someone who grew up watching my mother serve this community as a nurse for 35 years in St. Maarten, and 10 years prior to that in Curaçao, I understand firsthand the sacrifices, discipline, and compassion that the nursing profession demands,” MP Jansen-Webster stated.

She reflected on her mother’s lifelong dedication to healthcare and her determination to continue learning throughout her career. “Even nearing the end of her professional journey, my mother remained committed to improving herself and the level of care she could provide to patients. She traveled to the Netherlands for specialized training in CAT scan and MRI technology, proving that learning and growth in healthcare should never stop.”

MP Jansen-Webster encouraged nurses, especially the younger generation entering the profession, to continue investing in their development by participating in seminars, workshops, and certification programs, and by becoming active members of the St. Maarten Nurses Association.

“I encourage all nurses to join the Nurses Association, support one another, and take advantage of every opportunity for training and professional advancement. Healthcare is constantly evolving, and continuous education is essential to providing the best possible care to our people.”

The parliamentarian also emphasized the growing importance of healthcare workers within society, particularly as St. Maarten’s population continues to age.

“With an aging population, quality care becomes more and more important in our society. Nurses are at the heart of that care. They comfort, heal, advocate, and stand beside patients and families during some of the most difficult moments in life.”

As Chairlady of the Committee of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) in Parliament, MP Jansen-Webster expressed deep gratitude to nurses serving in the island’s hospitals, clinics, elderly care homes, mental health institutions, schools, the prison and other healthcare facilities.

“To every nurse working in the various care institutions on St. Maarten: thank you. We cannot function without you. Your work is invaluable, your service is appreciated, and your contribution to our community is immeasurable.”

MP Jansen-Webster concluded by wishing all nurses a meaningful and uplifting Nurses Week and reaffirmed her continued support for strengthening healthcare and supporting healthcare professionals throughout St. Maarten.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Member of Parliament (MP) Francisco A. Lacroes has formally requested Government to provide a comprehensive assessment of Sint Maarten’s pension system, raising growing concerns about whether many pensioners are still able to meet the basic cost of living after retirement.

In a letter submitted to the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, MP Lacroes requested detailed financial, actuarial, demographic, and legal information related to both the pension structure administered through Social & Health Insurances SZV and the contributory pension system managed by Algemeen Pensioenfonds Sint Maarten.

According to MP Lacroes, the request is not about attacking the current system, but about honestly assessing and aligning the reality pensioners are facing today. “We have people who worked their entire lives, contributed for decades, and now find themselves struggling with groceries, electricity, medication, and rent,” MP Lacroes stated.

“At some point, we have to ask ourselves a simple question. Is the system giving our people enough to live with dignity?”

The request seeks information on life expectancy trends, projected growth in the pensioner population, pension adequacy, actuarial sustainability, reserve levels, and the long-term feasibility of establishing a legally guaranteed minimum pension tied to the statutory minimum wage.

MP Lacroes explained that the issue becomes even more significant for lower income workers whose pension outcomes are directly tied to salary levels throughout their working lives, “Pension should not be less then our minimum wage”, he stated.

“The reality is that two people can contribute their whole lives and still retire into completely different situations because one earned less during their working years,” he said.

“This system may be functioning as designed, but we still have a responsibility to question and challenge whether the final outcome is enough for my people to survive.” The parliamentary request asks Government to assess what it would cost to ensure that pensioners do not fall below the minimum income level and whether additional Government support mechanisms may eventually be required, clarity on whether existing laws, including the Landsverordening Algemene Ouderdomsverzekering and the Landsverordening Algemeen Pensioenfonds Sint Maarten, already provide mechanisms that can support stronger pension protections, or whether legislative amendments would ultimately be required.

Importantly, MP Lacroes emphasized that this process must be based on facts, data, and proper legal analysis before any policy direction is taken. “This is not about making promises before understanding the numbers,” he stated.

“This is about doing the work properly, understanding where we stand, and deciding what kind of country we want to be for the people who helped build it,” MP Lacroes concluded by stressing that retirement should not become a period of constant financial uncertainty for the elderly.

“At the end of the day, people are not asking for luxury. They are asking to live without fear after giving their lives to this country. If we cannot answer whether that is possible today, then we have a responsibility to start addressing it now.”

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Member of Parliament (MP) Sjamira Roseburg attended the opening of Foster Care Awareness Month and commended Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling, the Judicial & Institutional Services Foundation (J&S), Foster Families Central, and all stakeholders involved for bringing attention to such an important issue affecting children and families in Sint Maarten.

MP Roseburg stated that the evening served as a powerful reminder that protecting children is not solely the responsibility of government, but of the entire community.

“Foster care is one of the purest examples of people opening their hearts and homes to children in need of love, guidance, stability and protection,” MP Roseburg said.

“There are many children within our community who simply need a safe environment, support and a sense of belonging. I encourage persons to truly consider fostering or supporting foster families in any way they can, whether by becoming a mentor to a child, assisting a foster family in times of need, or simply being a positive and supportive presence in a young person’s life.”

The Member of Parliament also highlighted a meaningful aspect of the evening that stood out to her personally: the snacks served during the event were prepared by inmates of the House of Detention (HVB).

According to MP Roseburg, this reflects exactly what rehabilitation and reintegration should look like within the justice system.

“Too often society only focuses on punishment, but moments like this remind us that rehabilitation must remain a priority as well,” she stated.

“When inmates are given opportunities to learn skills, contribute positively and regain a sense of purpose, we are investing in safer communities and better futures.”

MP Roseburg stressed that rehabilitation programs should continue to be expanded and supported so that individuals leaving detention have a fair opportunity to rebuild their lives and become productive members of society.

“If we truly want safer communities, then we must believe in rehabilitation alongside accountability. We cannot expect persons to reintegrate successfully into society if we are unwilling to invest in their growth while they are still within the system,” she said.

The MP further noted that both foster care and rehabilitation share a common principle: giving people a second chance and creating environments where individuals can thrive despite difficult circumstances.

She closed by once again commending all organizations, foster families, volunteers and justice workers involved in the initiative and expressed hope that Foster Care Awareness Month would inspire more compassion, awareness and community involvement throughout Sint Maarten.

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) has finalized the 2026 Passenger Transport Confirmation Process and will now move fully into the enforcement phase aimed at strengthening compliance, accountability, and professionalism within the public transportation sector.

As previously communicated through public notices and earlier press releases, the Ministry executed a two-phase confirmation process to ensure that all public transportation operators were given a fair and adequate opportunity to regularize their status and comply with the requirements established under the Passenger Transport Ordinance.

Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger-Marten said at Wednesday’s Council of Ministers Press Briefing that the process was not simply administrative, but part of a broader effort to restore structure and accountability within the sector.

“Permit holders are not merely license holders. They form part of a regulated national transportation system and are expected to operate responsibly, professionally, and in compliance with the law,” the Minister stated.

Under the ordinance, operators are expected to operate within permit conditions, maintain valid operational documentation, ensure vehicles meet required standards, provide safe and reliable transportation services, and contribute to an organized and accountable transportation network.

The Ministry also released updated figures reflecting the current status of the sector.

Within the bus category, which includes both individual and company permits, 354 permits remain on file at the Inspectorate of Economic and Transport Affairs (IETA). Of that number, 138 operators completed the confirmation process in 2025, compared to 127 operators in 2026.

For taxi operators, 683 permits remain on file at IETA. In 2025, 455 operators completed the confirmation process, while 400 operators completed the process for 2026.

Within the touring car and unregulated category, 149 permits remain on file. Confirmation figures declined from 47 operators in 2025 to 40 operators in 2026.

The car rental category recorded 35 confirmed operators for 2026, despite only 28 permits currently reflected on file at IETA. According to the Ministry, this number may ultimately be higher due to certain operators becoming active in 2026 while not yet fully reflected within existing records.

The Ministry noted that the figures demonstrate a significant gap between permits on file and operators who completed the required annual confirmation process.

The Ministry said that payment alone does not grant authorization to operate.

Operators who may have paid fees but failed to complete the confirmation process are not considered fully compliant. The confirmation letter remains the official validation authorizing operators to legally function for the year.

“Without this process, the system becomes unregulated, unfair to compliant operators, and potentially unsafe for the public,” the Ministry stated.

Effective immediately, the Ministry will transition fully into the enforcement phase.

Operators who failed to comply within the established timeframe may now face permit review, suspension or revocation procedures, increased roadside inspections, enforcement action under applicable regulations, and referral into the upcoming Public Transportation Committee (PTC) review framework.

The Ministry described the move as a clear transition from facilitation to accountability.

As part of the broader restructuring effort, TEATT is also continuing work toward a more coordinated transportation oversight framework involving the Inspectorate of Economic and Transport Affairs (IETA), the Transport Control Unit, and the soon-to-be-established Public Transportation Committee (PTC).

According to the Ministry, the objective is to improve compliance, operational oversight, and service reliability across the transportation sector.

“This is ultimately about fairness,” Minister Heyliger-Marten stated. “Fairness to operators who follow the rules, fairness to passengers who expect safe transportation, and fairness to a country that depends on professionalism within one of its most visible service sectors.”