PHILIPSBURG:---  New regulations have been established to address persistent issues of aggressive and unpermitted solicitation of tourists in St. Maarten. The measures are part of a broader public order initiative designed to safeguard the visitor experience and maintain the country's positive reputation during the 2025/2026 high season.
The government has received ongoing complaints from the tourism sector, the port, and visitors about individuals approaching tourists in an aggressive or intimidating manner to offer services without the necessary permits. This activity has been particularly prevalent at key arrival points, negatively impacting public order and visitor safety.
To combat this, it is now strictly prohibited to loiter with the intent to aggressively or insistently approach tourists to offer or sell goods or services without a permit. This prohibition is in effect from December 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026.
The specific areas targeted by this measure include:
• The entrance of the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities on Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard.
• The access point to the Captain Hodge Wharf on the Boardwalk.
• The access point to the Walter Plantz Wharf on the Boardwalk.
This restriction applies to unpermitted offers of services, such as vehicle rentals, tours, excursions, hair braiding, massages, and similar activities, when conducted in a manner that disrupts public order or pressures visitors.
In conjunction with these rules, there will be heightened visibility of law enforcement officers in the Simpson Bay and Maho areas to help manage increased nightlife and tourism activity.
Officials have clarified that these measures are not intended to penalize lawful business operations. Instead, they focus on protecting public safety and ensuring visitors feel welcome and secure from the moment they arrive in St. Maarten. The government seeks public cooperation to ensure the successful implementation of these new rules and a safe, orderly tourist season.

PHILIPSBURG – As St. Maarten enters its high tourist season, the Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the Ministry of VROMI and the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM), has enacted new public order measures to enhance safety and manage traffic in Philipsburg. Effective today, significant restrictions on two-wheeled motor vehicles will be enforced in the city's main shopping areas.
A key component of these measures is restricting scooters and motorcycles on Front Street and Back Street. This decision comes in response to a noted increase in the use of these vehicles as a fast getaway method in violent robberies targeting businesses in the Philipsburg area. The measure aims to directly address this public safety risk and support more effective law enforcement.
The restrictions will be in effect from Monday through Saturday, between 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. This ban also applies on public holidays and during any late-night shopping events for the whole duration of the extended hours.
In addition to the ban on two-wheeled vehicles, all vehicular traffic will be prohibited from entering Front Street at the Voges Street intersection in the westbound direction. This closure is intended to strengthen overall traffic control and assist officers with enforcement on the ground.
To ensure clarity and compliance, clear traffic signage has been installed at all relevant access points. All residents, visitors, and drivers are expected to follow the new rules. Residents living within the restricted zones are advised to plan their travel accordingly, as access may be limited during the specified times.
These measures are not designed to inconvenience the public but to protect public safety, support effective policing, and ensure Philipsburg remains a secure environment for residents to work and shop, and a welcoming place for visitors. The public is requested to comply with the restrictions, obey the signage, and follow all instructions from officers.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The leadership crisis at NV GEBE has reached a critical point, with Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina issuing a strong call for accountability and performance. In recent statements at the Council of Ministers press briefing, the Prime Minister made his position clear: the time for excuses is over. He has directly addressed the performance of the Supervisory Board of Directors (SBoD) and the effectiveness of the company's current management, signaling a demand for decisive action to resolve the utility's persistent operational failures.
Dr. Mercelina did not mince words when discussing the SBoD, stating unequivocally, "It is not for nothing that I have requested the board to resign." This public declaration underscores a profound dissatisfaction with the board's oversight and strategic direction. The request for resignation reflects a complete loss of confidence stemming from ongoing issues that have plagued the company and its customers for years. These problems, including the notorious and widespread failure to issue accurate, timely invoices, have left residents and businesses in prolonged uncertainty. The Prime Minister's stance implies that the Supervisory Board has failed in its fundamental duty to hold management accountable and steer the company toward stability and reliability.
Furthermore, Dr. Mercelina dismissed any notion that the company's leadership challenges should excuse its poor performance. He pointed out that GEBE currently has a temporary manager and financial officer in place. He emphasized that the presence of temporary leadership is not a valid excuse for inaction or failure to execute. "We have had this temporary manager before for a few years... and it was never an excuse to take decisions with GEBE," he stated. "There should be no excuse for execution of what really has to happen in that company, especially seeing the critical situation that we're in."
This assertion places responsibility for day-to-day operations squarely on the current management team, regardless of their temporary status. The Prime Minister's message is that a functioning board and an empowered management team, even if interim, must have the capacity and the will to run the organization effectively. The expectation is clear: the leadership must address the critical problems facing GEBE now, without waiting for permanent appointments.
These powerful statements highlight a deep-seated governance crisis. On the one hand, the Prime Minister is calling for the resignation of the supervisory body responsible for oversight. On the other, he is demanding immediate results from a management team operating without a permanent, fully appointed board. This situation raises significant questions about the path forward for GEBE. While the call for accountability is necessary, it also shines a light on the leadership vacuum that has allowed operational issues to fester.
For the people of St. Martin, who have endured years of billing chaos and uncertainty, the Prime Minister's words may offer a glimmer of hope that change is coming. However, these words must be followed by concrete actions. Restoring public trust in GEBE will require more than a change in personnel; it will demand a fundamental shift toward transparent governance, effective management, and a renewed commitment to serving the community's needs without delay or excuse.

PHILIPSBURG: --- The ongoing saga at St. Maarten's utility company, GEBE, has raised serious questions about corporate governance, transparency, and the proper role of the government as a shareholder. While Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina has publicly emphasized an "arms-length" approach, recent actions by the Council of Ministers paint a conflicting picture, suggesting direct intervention rather than principled oversight. This has created a cloud of uncertainty over the company's leadership and its ability to serve the public effectively.
At the heart of this issue lies GEBE's own Articles of Incorporation. Specifically, Article 12 outlines the responsibilities of the Supervisory Board, which is the SBOD of GEBE. Point 2 grants the SBOD the authority to provide "general directions" concerning the company's policies, while Point 11 specifies the role of "supervising" the management. These clauses are designed to ensure that the SBOD can guide the company's strategic direction and hold its leadership accountable without becoming entangled in its day-to-day operational affairs. This principle of separation is fundamental to sound corporate governance.
However, the Prime Minister's recent actions appear to challenge this very principle. Despite publicly stating that the shareholder's role is one of oversight, not direct management, Dr. Mercelina and the Council of Ministers voted to appoint Jeffreyson Paris as the new Chief Operations Officer (COO). This move directly contradicts the notion of an arms-length relationship. Instead of allowing the established corporate structure, namely the Supervisory Board of Directors (SBoD), to manage executive appointments, the government appears to have inserted its preferred candidate into a key operational role.
This decision is made more concerning by the fact that the SBoD had reportedly submitted its own list of candidates for director positions nearly a year ago. Those appointments have yet to be finalized, leaving critical leadership roles in limbo. The government's decision to bypass this process and install its own choice for COO sends a troubling message: that established corporate procedures can be sidestepped at will. This not only undermines the authority of the Supervisory Board but also introduces political considerations into what should be purely operational decisions.
The implications of this governance crisis are far-reaching. For a company as critical as GEBE, stable and independent leadership is essential. The constant delays in appointments and apparent political maneuvering create a leadership vacuum that can paralyze decision-making and hinder progress on urgent issues. For years, residents and businesses have complained about inaccurate billing and the inability to receive invoices, sometimes for periods extending over two years
A company struggling with such fundamental operational challenges requires a steady, empowered management team, not one subject to the shifting winds of politics.
When the government blurs the lines between shareholder oversight and operational meddling, it erodes trust—not just within the company, but also among the public it serves. Consumers who have patiently waited for resolutions to their billing issues are now left to wonder if the company's leadership is focused on fixing these problems or on navigating internal politics.
Moving forward, a firm commitment to the principles outlined in GEBE's own Articles of Incorporation is essential. The government must respect the role of the Supervisory Board and allow it to function as intended. Appointing qualified directors based on merit and experience, free from political influence, is the first step toward restoring stability and credibility. Transparency, accountability, and a genuine adherence to corporate governance are not optional—they are the only way to ensure GEBE can effectively and reliably serve the people of St. Martin.