SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Court of First Instance has convicted police officer R.M.M. for threatening his former partner with a firearm and imposed an unconditional prison sentence of six months.

In its (verbal) verdict rendered in June 4, 2026, the Court found that the defendant's conduct in the context of a domestic dispute constituted a criminal threat.

In determining the sentence, the Court considered that making a threat with a firearm is a severe criminal offense, and the defendant is a police officer. His actions, behavior and his failure to take ownership of what happened – denying any wrongdoing, despite evidence to the contrary – could be disruptive for public confidence in the police as a whole.

The incident occurred on March 24, 2025, and was investigated by the National Detectives (Landsrecherche) under the direction of the Prosecutor’s Office (OM SXM).

OM SXM emphasizes that threats involving firearms are treated as serious criminal offenses. Such conduct can have a profound impact on victims and undermines the sense of safety within the community.

OM SXM remains committed to the careful investigation and prosecution of offenses involving threats, violence, and the misuse of firearms, regardless of the position or profession of the persons involved.

PORT ST. MAARTEN – Port St. Maarten is proud to announce the successful completion of the Simpson Bay Causeway Bridge Lighting Upgrade Project, a landmark infrastructure investment that modernizes and enhances the functionality, reliability, and visual appeal of one of St. Maarten's most recognizable gateways.

The project involved the complete replacement and modernization of the bridge's lighting system, upgrades to the electrical and control infrastructure, installation of newly fabricated side panels, repairs to key bridge components, and the deployment of advanced programmable LED technology throughout the structure.

The bridge now features more than 1,350 meters of programmable linear LED lighting, with approximately 675 meters of lighting installed on each side of the bridge. If placed vertically, the total length of the installed lighting would extend higher than a 400-story building, illustrating the scale and complexity of the project.

The newly installed lighting system utilizes modern, energy-efficient LED technology that significantly reduces power consumption while delivering enhanced brightness, durability, and operational performance. The system is fully programmable, allowing the bridge to display dynamic colors, animations, and themed lighting sequences in support of national celebrations, cultural events, awareness campaigns, and special commemorations throughout the year.

Following months of planning, procurement, engineering reviews, fabrication, and logistics coordination, physical works commenced in January 2026, and the works were successfully completed on schedule for June 4th, 2026.

To celebrate the successful completion of the project, Port St. Maarten will host a special 20-minute inaugural light show beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 5th, showcasing the full capabilities of the new lighting system.

Following the inaugural presentation, the Simpson Bay Causeway Bridge will be illuminated in purple in support of Vitiligo Awareness, demonstrating the Port's ongoing commitment to community engagement and support for important social causes.

Port St. Maarten extends its sincere appreciation to all project partners, contractors, government stakeholders, technical teams, and members of the public for their patience, cooperation, and support throughout the implementation of the works.

"The completion of the Simpson Bay Causeway Bridge Lighting Upgrade underscores Port St. Maarten's commitment to preserving and enhancing critical infrastructure while ensuring that one of the island's most iconic landmarks continues to serve as a source of pride for residents and visitors alike for generations to come," said Alexander Gumbs, Chief Executive Officer of Port St. Maarten Group.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Government of Sint Maarten has announced the successful completion of its Joint Tax Compliance Initiative, conducted between February and April 2026. The initiative resulted in improved taxpayer engagement, strengthened compliance administration, and positive revenue performance.

Led by Minister of Finance Ms. Marinka Gumbs in collaboration with SZV Deputy Director Mr. Elton Felisie, the initiative was carried out through a coordinated effort involving SBAB, ATS, and tax compliance specialists from Sint Maarten and Curaçao. The project focused on strengthening tax compliance, enhancing taxpayer engagement, and improving the accuracy of taxpayer information.

A total of 30 professionals were deployed across nine districts, resulting in the delivery of 2,253 compliance letters to businesses and taxpayers concerning outstanding declarations, unpaid obligations, missing filings, and record discrepancies.

Key outcomes of the initiative included:

• 392 taxpayer submissions containing supporting documentation;
• 388 company files referred for review;
• 286 files fully processed; and
• 106 files remaining under active review.

The project also resulted in significant administrative updates, including new registrations, deregistrations, salary adjustments, and corrections to employer and taxpayer records. In addition, the initiative identified and verified more than 200 changes across over 100 employers, underscoring the importance of maintaining accurate and up-to-date compliance data.

Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs emphasized that the project successfully balanced compliance enforcement with taxpayer support.

“This initiative demonstrates that compliance is most effective when government and taxpayers work together. Many individuals and businesses responded constructively, corrected inaccuracies, and regularized their positions, contributing to a stronger and more sustainable future for Sint Maarten.”

SZV Deputy Director Elton Felisie highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in achieving these results.

“These outcomes underscore the value of cooperation between institutions and the importance of maintaining accurate taxpayer information to support the effective administration of tax and social insurance obligations.”

Preliminary indicators show positive improvements in both compliance and revenue performance compared to the same period in 2025. Revenue collections increased across several major tax categories, including Wage Tax, Turnover Tax, Profit Tax, AVBZ, AOV/AWW, and ZV/OV, reflecting stronger compliance and improved taxpayer responsiveness.

While a comprehensive analysis of the initiative’s long-term impact remains ongoing, the Government views these early results as evidence that targeted compliance efforts can strengthen revenue administration, improve data accuracy, and support a fair and sustainable tax system.

The Government of Sint Maarten remains committed to advancing compliance initiatives, enhancing taxpayer services, and promoting transparency, fairness, and fiscal responsibility throughout the country's tax administration system.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Under a canopy of stars and at the foot of a sacred tree, poet, author, and creative producer Safiyya Chance brought her debut poetry collection Native Choir to life through an immersive evening of movement, storytelling, music, and community gathering.

Held at Axum Art Café on Front Street in Philipsburg, Native Choir – The Gathering transformed poetry from the page into a living, breathing experience that invited audiences to reconnect with ancestry, identity, and self.

Created and produced by Chance, The Gathering was inspired by a selection of poems from her debut collection, Native Choir. The production fused spoken word, dance, live drumming, and theatrical interpretation into a powerful narrative journey. Through a series of interconnected performances, the audience was guided through stories of memory, loss, resilience, belonging, and return.

For Chance, Axum Art Café was more than a venue—it was home.

“Axum is where I found my voice,” Chance shared. “It felt important that this first gathering happened in the place that nurtured my growth as a writer and artist.”

Intentional in every detail, Chance chose to host the event outdoors, allowing nature itself to become part of the performance. Beneath the stars and grounded by the presence of the tree, the evening unfolded around a kontè—a traditional storytelling vessel that served as the spiritual and symbolic thread connecting each story. Through the kontè, narratives moved seamlessly between spoken word and embodied performance, interpreted by a cast of performers whom Chance affectionately refers to as “silent actors.”

These silent actors transformed poetry into movement, expressing emotion and ancestral memory through dance and physical storytelling. Their performances gave form to the unspoken, allowing audiences to witness the poems beyond language.

Throughout the evening, the steady pulse of live drumming echoed through the space, creating a rhythmic foundation that called listeners inward. The sounds of the drums intertwined with live poetry readings and contemporary movement, evoking ancestral traditions while speaking directly to the present moment. Dancers moved with intention and reverence, carrying stories across generations and embodying themes of remembrance, healing, and reclamation.

More than a performance, The Gathering was conceived as a communal experience.

Chance envisioned the event as a call home for those who feel disconnected—from their history, from their culture, from themselves. Through poetry and performance, she encouraged attendees to reflect on their roots and reclaim the parts of themselves that may have been forgotten or silenced.

“The Gathering was about remembering,” said Chance. “Remembering who we are beneath expectations, beneath survival, beneath the stories we've inherited. It was an invitation to return to our native selves.”

Audience members described the evening as moving, transformative, and deeply resonant. The fusion of artistic disciplines created an atmosphere that felt both intimate and ceremonial, weaving together personal narratives and collective memory into a tapestry of shared experience.

As the inaugural presentation of Native Choir, The Gathering marks the beginning of a larger artistic journey. Building on the themes introduced in this first event, Chance is already developing the next chapter in the series, continuing her exploration of ancestry, identity, truth, and return through immersive performance experiences.

With poetry as its foundation and community at its heart, Native Choir – The Gathering served as a powerful reminder that storytelling remains one of humanity's oldest and most sacred ways of finding one another.