PHILIPSBURG:--- As Autism Awareness Month is observed across the country, Member of Parliament Francisco A. Lacroes says awareness matters, but on its own it does not ease the daily reality many families are living with.

“Awareness helps people understand,” Lacroes said. “But awareness doesn’t help a parent who is trying to find therapy. It doesn’t help a teacher standing in a classroom without the right support. And it doesn’t help a child who is being left behind.”

Across Sint Maarten, families with children on the autism spectrum are doing the best they can, often quietly and without enough help. Parents are facing emotional stress and financial pressure while navigating limited or difficult-to-access services. Teachers want to do more, but many classrooms lack the tools, training, or support needed to properly support students on the spectrum.

“This is not about one family or one school,” Lacroes said. “This is happening every day, in real households and in real classrooms.”

Autism spectrum disorder affects communication, behavior, and social interaction. Supporting a child with autism requires structure, patience, and specialized care. Without early screening, proper educational support, and access to therapy, children risk falling behind, and families are left to fill gaps that should not be theirs to carry alone.

Lacroes stressed that while public campaigns and symbolic gestures are important, they must be followed by systems that people can actually rely on.

“We cannot expect parents to figure this out on their own. We cannot expect teachers to carry this responsibility without support. And we cannot expect children to thrive if we do not provide the right environment,” he said.

According to Lacroes, the country urgently needs a clear national autism support framework so families know where to turn. Early screening and intervention must be strengthened so children receive help as early as possible. Teachers need practical training and in-class support, not just expectations. Therapy and care services must be more accessible, with shorter waiting times and fewer financial barriers. At the same time, stronger coordination is needed among SZV, VSA, and ECYS so families are not sent from office to office in search of answers.

Supporting a child with autism, Lacroes emphasized, means supporting everyone around that child.

“When we get this right, we are helping a parent who is doing their best, a teacher who wants to do more, and a family that is holding everything together,” he said.

He is calling on the Ministers of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, and Education, Culture, Youth and Sport to provide a clear overview of what support currently exists, where the gaps are, and how government intends to strengthen services going forward.

“Awareness should not be where this ends,” Lacroes concluded. “If we truly care about these children and these families, then our actions have to reflect that in a real and practical way.”

WILLEMSTAD/ PHILIPSBURG:--- The CBCS has finally moved towards criminal prosecution in the Ennia case. Anyone who deliberately drains a pension and insurance institution must answer to the criminal court. But anyone who believes the matter ends there misses the essence of the governance problem of which Ennia is only the most visible expression. In a state governed by the rule of law, that rule of law applies to everyone – including the central bank.
The uncomfortable truth is this: Ennia could only derail on such a scale because supervision failed for many years. That supervision had a name and an address: the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS). The issue is therefore not only the criminal acts of the former owner and directors, but also the governance neglect of the institution that was supposed to prevent tens of thousands of policyholders and pensioners from ending up in the danger zone, and avoid that the state ends up paying the bill.
Criminal law is necessary, but not enough
Public debate now focuses on whether or not there will be prosecution. That is understandable – it speaks to justice, to the feeling that “the big players” get away too often.
But criminal law looks at individual guilt and provable criminal acts. It does not answer the broader questions: how could it be that signals about solvency, risky investments, and conflicts of interest failed for years to trigger effective interventions? What choices were made – or not made – within CBCS when it became clear that Ennia was a systemic risk? What role did the governments of Curaçao and St. Maarten play as shareholders of CBCS? And how did the internal organs, such as the executive and supervisory boards (incl audit cmt) perform ? Did Kingdom institutions knew that the situation at Ennia had been fragile for years?
Without answers to these questions, we are left with the image that we “catch the crook” but leave the gatekeeper untouched. That is disastrous for trust in the system.
Why an internal evaluation is not enough
It is being suggested that CBCS will draw lessons and conduct an internal review of what can be improved. That sounds sympathetic, but it is exactly what should not happen. An institution that failed to correct itself for years cannot credibly investigate its own neglect, behind closed doors, with a report that the public may never see in full.
Ennia is not about an accounting error; it is a systemic crisis in supervision, governance, and political responsibility. That calls for an independent, public review, comparable to what was done in the past at Aqualectra. In that case, it was evident that public ownership and public losses justified an in depth public inquiry. In the Ennia case, that public dimension is many times greater: here, not just tariffs are at stake, but life long pensions, taxpayers’ money, and trust in the financial system.
All organs in the governance chain under scrutiny
A serious evaluation therefore cannot stop at “CBCS had a difficult task.” We need a clear picture of the role of all organs in the governance chain:
Within CBCS: how were warning signals assessed, which interventions were considered, and why was the heaviest instrument – the emergency measure – applied so late?
In the governments and parliaments of Curaçao and St. Maarten: what information did they have, how did they fulfil their role as shareholder and legislator, and where did they look away?
At Kingdom level: how were repeated warnings about the vulnerability of supervision and financial stability in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom handled? Were there such warnings ?
Only when these questions are answered publicly and factually can citizens and policyholders judge whether the institutions “above them” are living up to their responsibilities.
Time for an Ennia report on CBCS
If we want to use the Ennia crisis to improve the system holistically instead of merely punishing a few perpetrators, one step is unavoidable: an independent, public inquiry into the functioning of CBCS and the wider governance chain around Ennia. Not to destroy the Bank, but to develop it as a mature public institution that can be corrected.
Criminal prosecution is necessary, but not sufficient. In a state governed by the rule of law, that rule of law applies to everyone, including the central bank: bringing full clarity about what went wrong inside CBCS and which organs played a role in that is at least as important as the criminal prosecution of those who bled Ennia dry. Precisely the consistent application of the rule of law to all holders of power is essential to maintain and strengthen trust in our democratic constitutional state.
Mike Willem, BaEcon, MBA
Former Minister of the Netherlands Antilles and former Commissioner of Curacao

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) acknowledges that the current rain will continue to expose vulnerabilities in the island's road infrastructure, resulting in the formation of potholes and deteriorating road surfaces across various areas.
While efforts to improve road infrastructure remain a priority, repair works are weather-dependent and will commence as soon as conditions permit. The Ministry is actively working toward a more comprehensive, long-term road management plan to address these challenges in a sustainable manner.
The Ministry respectfully asks for the patience and cooperation of all road users during this period and assures the public that restoring safe and reliable road conditions remains a top priority.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The application process for the annual Hurricane Passes for the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which starts June 1 and runs through November 30, will start on Wednesday, April 15. This is mainly for new entities that have never applied for a pass and for those whose passes have expired.

There are two types of passes, the Disaster Pass and the Hurricane Pass. No passes will be issued to business owners, except for some exemption categories as noted below.

The pass allows the bearer to access the public road to visit the place of business to assess possible damage to the property. No company passes will be accepted during curfew hours. This can only take place during certain hours that will be stipulated and announced by the Prime Minister in a curfew situation.

Potential applicants have until Friday, May 29, 2026, to provide all relevant information for the pass request process.

Disaster Passes are issued to the following crucial disaster relief organizations and are valid for three years. The disaster relief organization consists of the following: Emergency Operations Center staff, Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) staff, Crucial governmental organizations, and entities involved in disaster management such as medical institutions, general practitioners and pharmacies, Red Cross, WIEMS, White & Yellow Cross Foundation, National Security Service VDSM, Sea Rescue, Shelter Management, Ministers, and their drivers.

The following categories qualify for a Hurricane Pass which is valid for two-years: Essential Government personnel without a disaster pass; Essential personnel of crucial companies or organizations: NV GEBE, Seven Seas Water, Telecom and Internet providers, Princess Juliana International Airport, Port St. Maarten, Hotels and Guesthouses, Marinas, Fuel distributors and gas stations, Commercial banks, Hardware stores, Security companies (supervisors only), Medium and large sized supermarkets, Restaurants (those providing food services to emergency services), Importers and Wholesale Companies for perishable goods (Only requests can be submitted for refrigeration and or generator technicians).

The crucial organizations listed above (disaster & hurricane passes) can request personal passes for their key personnel.

The Office of Disaster Management, which falls under the Ministry of General Affairs, is handling the application process for the passes on behalf of the Prime Minister.

The Hurricane Pass is valid for the 2026 hurricane season and will remain the property of the Government of Sint Maarten.

Please note that company passes will be accepted during curfew hours from the following institutions: Sint Maarten Medical Center and White & Yellow Cross Foundation.

The pass system is a mechanism to maintain public order during emergency situations. The Prime Minister assesses the damage in conjunction with Emergency Disaster Management entities of the Government after a disaster has occurred and can impose a curfew if the extent of the damage poses a threat to the safety and security of the community.

An application form can be requested by sending an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Emails should include the following: Name of business or organization; A short description of activities of the business or the organization; Request for either disaster or hurricane pass.

When submitting the application, the following documents need to be attached:
- copy business license fee paid (or receipt) for 2026 for businesses.
- proof of 2026 registration at the Chamber of Commerce, for organizations.
- copy valid Sint Maarten ID-card of applicant.
- Nafl. 50,- in leges stamps per application (to be obtained at the Receiver’s Office, this is a non-refundable handling fee; a copy of a digital payment transfer is accepted as well.
- One (1) passport picture for new applicants, to be sent in JPEG-format to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the name of the person clearly indicated.

The application form has to be completed and submitted to the offices of the Fire Department & Disaster Management – in print form, to the attention of the secretary located at Jackal Road 5 (Office hours Monday-Friday 9.00AM to 4.00PM), Cay Hill, by Friday, May 29, 2026, with all necessary documents attached.

Applicants will be informed by email or telephone when to pick up the pass at the aforementioned address.