SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Dutch Council of Ministers agreed on the proposal of Minister Beljaarts of Economic Affairs and State Secretary Szabó (Digitalisation and Kingdom Relations), to allocate funds from the Credit Guarantee for SMEs (BMKB) to entrepreneurs in Curaçao, Aruba, and St. Maarten. This significantly improves the access to financing for entrepreneurs in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. This makes an important contribution to economic strengthening of the region. 

Minister Beljaarts: ‘’Small and medium-sized enterprises are hugely important for the economy and for society. They provide employment and produce the goods and services we use every day. With the launch of the BMKB scheme for Curaçao, Aruba, and St. Maarten, we are offering entrepreneurs new opportunities to realise their ambitions. This is an important step to further strengthen the business climate and the economic resilience in the Caribbean part of our Kingdom.”

About the BMKB scheme

The BMKB scheme is an instrument of the Ministry of Economic Affairs that supports entrepreneurs in obtaining financing. By offering a partial guarantee, the risk for financiers is reduced, which encourages them to provide credit. This enables entrepreneurs to invest in their businesses, contribute to innovation, and promote employment.

The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. Responsible State Secretary Szabó wants to work with the governments of Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten and suitable financiers operating in these countries to improve the access to financing.

State Secretary Szabó: 'It is very difficult for the small and medium-sized enterprises in Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten to obtain capital for investments. While these very entrepreneurs are of great importance to the economic self-sufficiency of the autonomous countries. In addition to good governance and solid public finances, I want to contribute to a better future for the residents of the islands and that is where this scheme can help. I hope that all credit providers on the islands start offering the scheme to entrepreneurs when the time comes, because it is much needed.”

Impetus for economic development

The scheme is due to open after the summer of 2025. From then on, suitable financiers have the option of providing a guarantee. The financier can apply for the guarantee through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.

Follow-up process

Now that the Council of Ministers has agreed, the internet consultation for the scheme can start. In this regard, everyone is welcome to comment on the content of the scheme. Documents are available in three languages and can be found under the heading: 'Relevante documenten'. The ACS countries themselves will then be asked to agree to the scheme. The aim is to open the scheme by September 2025. This means lenders can offer the BMKB scheme from September/October.

Zsolt Szabó, Dutch Minister for Digitalisation and Kingdom Relations

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Members of NAPB- Sint Maarten are voicing increasing frustration after not receiving their national decrees. With respect to a subsequent statement, made by Honorable Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling, It was understood by the members awaiting their national decrees that Batch 13 would be completed at the end of January 2025. However, it is in the 2nd week of February 2025 and up to date there has been no distribution of national decrees since December 2024.  

The Board of NAPB- Sint Maarten is calling for urgent attention regarding this matter citing this situation is taking a toll on the morale of the justice workers still awaiting their national decrees. NAPB- Sint Maarten is also taking this time to raise concerns about the long-term impact of this delay, stressing that it leads to financial instability for those officers awaiting their National Decrees.

President of NAPB-Sint Maarten said the following:  "Our members are growing frustrated.  I am asked frequently, if not daily, what is happening with the remaining batches of the National Decrees? Our members have been more than patient as they continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe. They are not asking for anything more that is due to them. "

NAPB- Sint Maarten is committed to ensuring that the rights and needs of its members are met and in this light urges government officials to provide a clear and transparent timeline as to when this issue with respect to the National Decrees will be resolved.

SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS – Far-right PVV leader Geert Wilders has threatened to dismiss his own junior justice minister over plans to release prisoners early because of the shortage of jail cells, the AD reported on Friday.

Ingrid Coenradie said on Thursday that she planned to release inmates two weeks early because of the crisis, to which Wilders responded with “no way”, the paper said. One source told the AD the shouting was audible outside the junior minister’s office.

Since the end of last year prisoners have been sent home three days early in an effort to free up space for people convicted of serious crimes, but the situation has only worsened since then.

Wilders wants to put more convicted criminals in the same cell – currently 31% are in multiple occupancy units. But Coenradie has said this would be irresponsible from a safety point of view because each occupant would need to be properly screened.

In addition, multiple occupancy cells require more staff to supervise because there are often fights, she said. The lack of staff is one reason for the current shortage of cells.

Wilders is reported as saying that if the minister pressed ahead with cutting sentences, he would introduce a motion of no confidence against her in the lower house of parliament. “Then you will have to resign,” Wilders is quoted as saying.

The paper said Coenradie has now sealed a deal with PVV immigration minister Marjolein Faber to use 45 of the holding cells at Schiphol airport for the next three months as a temporary measure.

Asylum seekers

Faber herself is waiting to hear what the Council of State has to say about three draft laws she wants to introduce to slash the number of asylum seekers coming to the Netherlands.

Those reports are due on Monday and will include considerable criticism, various Dutch media have reported.

The odd comma

The minister said on Friday she is not prepared to make any changes, apart from the “odd comma or full stop”.

Wilders has also said he is not prepared to accept amendments to the legislation, which is part of his plan to introduce “the toughest asylum regime ever”.

However, coalition party NSC said earlier it could not support the legislation if the Council of State recommends against it.

(DutchNews)

SINT MAARTEN (DUTCH QUARTER) - The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) is currently investigating an incident in which a male was found lying in the middle of the road near the entrance of Garden of Eden in Dutch Quarter on the evening of Thursday, February 6, 2025.

Just before 9:00 PM, the Police Central Dispatch received multiple calls reporting a person down in the roadway. Upon arrival, patrol officers found an unresponsive male on the ground. Shortly thereafter, paramedics arrived at the scene and confirmed that the victim had passed away.

Detectives and forensic personnel were immediately dispatched to the location to begin their investigation. At this time, the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. Authorities are working to gather more information and determine the cause of death.

Further updates will be provided as soon as more details become available. The Sint Maarten Police Force urges anyone with information related to this incident to contact us via the emergency line 911 or the anonymous tip line 9300.