SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) -The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on August 14, 2026.

The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Friday at 10.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.  

The agenda points are:

1. Verslag Voorstel van rijkswet houdende regels met betrekking tot de uitlevering voor Aruba, Curaçao en Sint Maarten (Rijkswet uitlevering voor Aruba, Curaçao en Sint Maarten) (IS/1032/2025-2026 d.d. 6 mei 2026)

Report on the Proposal for a Kingdom Law containing rules regarding extradition for Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten (Kingdom Law on Extradition for Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten) (IS/1032/2025-2026 dated May 6, 2026)

2. Verslag Voorstel van rijkswet houdende goedkeuring van het op 26 mei 2023 te Belle Plaine/Belvedere tot stand gekomen Verdrag tussen het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden en de Franse Republiek inzake de afbakening van de grens tussen het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden (Sint Maarten) en de Franse Republiek (Saint-Martin) (Trb. 2023, 66 en Trb. 2026, 33) (IS/1198/2025-2026 d.d. 22 juni 2026)

Report on the Proposal for a Kingdom Law approving the Treaty concluded on May 26, 2023, in Belle Plaine/Belvedere between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the French Republic regarding the delimitation of the border between the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Sint Maarten) and the French Republic (Saint-Martin) (Trb. 2023, 66 and Trb. 2026, 33) (IS/1198/2025-2026 dated June 22, 2026)

3. Approval composition delegations and provisions for Members of Parliament to attend official parliamentary invited events and parliamentary work visits:

1. Travel schedule for the 2^nd Semester of the year 2026 in connection with Committee, General Assembly (Assamblea), Board of Directors (Junta Directiva) and Eurolat meetings of Parlatino (IS/1250/2025-2026 dated July 7, 2026)
2. Approval composition delegation and provisions for Members of Parliament to attend the Opening of the Island Council Year and Bonaire Day from September 5-6, 2026 (IS/1334/2024-2025 dated August 12, 2026)
3. Approval of composition delegation and provisions for the President of Parliament to attend the 28th Inter-American Conference of Mayors and Local Authorities in Miami, Florida from September 29–30, 2026 (IS/1231/2025-2026 dated July 2, 2026)
4. Approval of composition delegation and provisions for Members of Parliament to participate in the 2^nd Gathering of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network on Security, Valparaiso, Chile from October 21-23, 2026 (IS/1294/2025-2026 dated July 28, 2026)

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. 

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament 

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), Department of Infrastructure, on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten, hereby informs the public of a temporary partial road closure and traffic redirection due to necessary road works.

ROAD CLOSURE AND WORK PERIOD

A section of A. T. Illidge Road, between Cuba Drive and Bonaire Drive, will be completely closed to all vehicular traffic on Thursday, August 13^th, 2026, starting at 8:00 a.m.

The closure will remain in effect until the required test drills are completed.

The road closure is necessary to facilitate the installation of a new culvert at the AKI Supermarket drainage area. During the works, the roadway will be inaccessible to through traffic to allow construction activities to be carried out safely.

Where possible, limited access will be provided to residents of:

• Cuba Drive
• Curaçao Drive
• Bonaire Drive
• Barbuda Drive

Access will also be provided to emergency responders when possible or required.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

Motorists traveling from Philipsburg, Cay Bay, and Simpson Bay toward Belvedere, the French Quarter border, and surrounding areas are advised to use the following route:

Cottage Roundabout → A. Th. Illidge Road → Walter Nisbeth Road → Soualiga Road → Arch Road/Madame Estate → French Quarter border

Motorists traveling toward Philipsburg, Cay Hill, and the over-the-hill areas are advised to use: A.Th. Illidge Road → Arch Road → Soualiga Road → Walter Nisbeth Road → Bush Road

Alternatively:

Octavius Richardson Road → Reindeer Road → Cole Bay and surrounding areas.

The Ministry of VROMI urges all motorists to take note of the temporary closure, plan their routes accordingly, and allow additional travel time where necessary.

Motorists are also encouraged to exercise caution, follow all traffic instructions, and pay close attention to road signage and traffic personnel throughout the duration of the works.

The Ministry of VROMI appreciates the public's cooperation and understanding while these necessary infrastructure works are being carried out.

CARIBBEAN/SINT MAARTEN - Satellite imagery and weather data indicates that there is a healthy looking tropical disturbance that’s located over the eastern Tropical Atlantic to the southwest of the Cape Verde Islands, Crown Weather reported on Monday morning, August 10, 2026.

“This disturbance is located near 10 North Latitude, 30 West Longitude. This disturbance is producing a small area of deep thunderstorm activity & analysis reveals that it is located within a pocket of moisture. Additionally, it seems that the low-level and mid-level spin associated with the disturbance has increased a bit as well.

“Analysis of wind shear values reveals that this disturbance seems to be traveling within a zone of favorable environmental conditions with wind shear values averaging between 10 and 20 knots.

“Based on my current analysis of this disturbance, I do think that there is a decent shot of this system becoming a tropical depression and probably a tropical storm towards the later parts of this week as it moves into the central Tropical Atlantic,” Crown Weather said.

Crown Weather: “Taking A Look At The Model Guidance – The model guidance have trended towards the idea that this disturbance will likely develop later this week. Additionally, the model guidance seem to suggest that this system might get close to the northeastern Caribbean & because of this, those of you in the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico should keep close tabs on the progress of this disturbance.

“Models such as the Google Deep Mind model and European AIFS model shows a scenario that has this disturbance tracking very near, if not right over the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico late this weekend as a tropical storm.

“As for other model guidance, the GFS model forecasts this disturbance to stay well east of the Caribbean and Bermuda with no threat to anyone. The European model guidance forecasts this system to stay to the east of the Caribbean, but forecasts it to get very close to Bermuda around the middle part of next week. Finally, the Canadian model seems to be the most threatening & shows this system impacting the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico late this weekend as a tropical storm. Beyond this, the Canadian model shows this system threatening the southeastern Bahamas early next week as a tropical storm.”

Crown Weather: “Here Are My Thoughts: First of all, I think that it is very likely that the tropical disturbance located to the southwest of the Cape Verde Islands will not only become a tropical depression, but probably will become a tropical storm late this week as it heads westward reaching the central Tropical Atlantic.

“Even though I think it’s likely that this disturbance will become a tropical storm (name will be Cristobal) later this week, the environmental conditions are expected to be marginally favorable for strengthening. Because of this, I don’t expect this system to become significantly strong & probably will top out at a tropical storm.

“The next question is how close will this system get to the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend – I do think that this disturbance definitely needs to be watched closely if you are in the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. That said, the most I could see this system becoming is a tropical storm that mainly brings some very much needed rainfall to the northeastern Caribbean.

“Beyond this, it appears that the most likely track, after this disturbance moves near or over the northeastern Caribbean, is for it to curve northward well east of the United States. The reason for this is that it appears that there will be a break in the high pressure system over the central and western Atlantic & this should allow this system to curve to the north and to the northeast. Because of this, this system poses no threat to the United States and probably the Bahamas. It is possible, however, that this system could track near Bermuda by the middle part of next week.”

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Immigration and Border Protection Services (IBPS) of Sint Maarten wishes to inform all persons planning to travel from Sint Maarten to Anguilla for the upcoming Anguilla Summer Festival 2026 to ensure that they are in possession of the correct and valid travel documentation before making their journey.

Due to the anticipated increase in travel during the festivities, travelers are strongly encouraged to verify their documentation and applicable immigration requirements before arriving at the departure point.

VALID PASSPORT REQUIRED

According to the Immigration Department of Anguilla, all visitors must be in possession of a valid passport. Travelers are therefore advised to check the validity of their passport before purchasing a ticket or arriving for boarding. A Sint Maarten-issued residence permit, identification document, or other local immigration document does not replace the requirement for a valid passport for travel to Anguilla.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Travelers whose nationality requires a visa to enter Anguilla and who intend to stay overnight must apply for the required visa at least two (2) weeks before their intended arrival. Travelers are strongly advised to determine whether a visa is required for their specific nationality well in advance of their planned travel date.

TRAVELLING TO ANGUILLA BY SEA

The Anguilla Immigration Department has specifically advised that: • All vessels must enter Anguilla through an official Port of Entry. • Passengers and their travel documents must be presented to Immigration at Blowing Point Ferry Terminal or Marine Base, Sandy Ground. • Vessel owners are encouraged to use an agent where necessary to assist with clearance. • The use of Sail Clear is strongly encouraged to facilitate and speed up processing. • Vessel owners and captains must also bring printed copies of their documentation and passenger list in duplicate, in addition to using Sail Clear. • Passenger lists must be fully completed and submitted to Immigration.

IMMIGRATION & BORDER PROTECTION SERVICES OF SINT.MAARTEN IMPORTANT NOTICE TO TRAVELERS FROM SINT MAARTEN

Travelers are reminded that having purchased a ticket or having made a reservation on a vessel does not guarantee that they will be permitted to travel or enter Anguilla. Border/Immigration Officers may verify travel documentation before a passenger is permitted to board a vessel departing from Sint Maarten.

Passengers who are unable to demonstrate that they possess the required travel documentation and applicable visa/entry authorization may be denied boarding and prevented from travelling to Anguilla. Furthermore, people who arrive in Anguilla without satisfying the entry requirements may be denied entry by the Anguilla Immigration Department.

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF TRAVEL

To avoid unnecessary delays, denied boarding, or possible refusal of entry, IBPS strongly encourages all travelers to: ✔ CHECK YOUR PASSPORT ✔ CHECK WHETHER YOU REQUIRE A VISA ✔ APPLY FOR YOUR VISA IN TIME, IF REQUIRED ✔ ENSURE ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ✔ VERIFY YOUR DOCUMENTS BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE DEPARTURE POINT Travelers should also ensure that any accompanying children and other members of their travelling party have the required travel documentation.

TRAVELLER'S RESPONSIBILITY

It is the responsibility of each traveler to ensure that he or she meets the entry requirements of Anguilla before commencing travel. The Immigration and Border Protection Services of Sint Maarten is issuing this notice as a precautionary measure to help travelers avoid situations in which they may arrive at a departure point without the necessary documentation and subsequently be denied boarding, or travel to Anguilla and be denied entry by the Anguilla Immigration Authorities.

Please do not assume that because you have previously travelled to Anguilla, or because you hold a valid Sint Maarten residence permit, that you will automatically be permitted to travel or enter.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For further information concerning Anguilla's entry requirements, travelers may contact the: Immigration Department of Anguilla, +1-264-497-3994, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. eVisa: evisa.gov.ai, Sail Clear: www.sailclear.com