PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Mr. Richinel S.J. Brug, announces that the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Ms. Joy Arnell, has submitted the Ministry’s end-of-year report in accordance with Article 9 of the “Organisatiebesluit VSA”.
In fulfillment of this legal obligation, the heads of departments submitted written reports to the Secretary-General prior to January 15, outlining the activities carried out during the preceding year, key developments, and other matters relevant for inclusion in the Ministry’s annual report. These submissions form the foundation of the consolidated report prepared by SG Arnell and Stafbureau.
While the legal deadline for submissions by department heads has been met, the document is currently considered a draft. In accordance with the “Landsverordening inrichting en organisatie landsoverheid”, the Cabinet of the Minister forms an integral part of the Ministry and will therefore also contribute to the report. Additionally, where necessary, department heads will be afforded the opportunity to further refine, supplement, or strengthen their respective sections to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Once finalized, the annual report will be formally submitted to the House of Parliament and shared with other relevant stakeholders. This process underscores the Ministry’s continued commitment to good governance, transparency, and accountability, ensuring that the public and oversight bodies are fully informed about the Ministry’s activities, performance, and responsible use of public resources.
“The Ministry of VSA remains steadfast in its commitment to openness, transparency, and accountability to Parliament and the people of Sint Maarten. Taxpayers are entitled to clear and accurate insight into how public resources are managed and utilized. Timely and comprehensive reporting is not only a legal obligation, but a fundamental principle of good governance and responsible public administration.”
Tensions Rise in Sandy Ground Following Arrest and Allegations of Police Violence.
Sandy Ground, Saint-Martin:--- A wave of unrest swept through the Sandy Ground neighborhood on Sunday night, following the arrest of a young man suspected of involvement in a series of armed robberies in the Sandy Ground and Baie Nettle areas.
The arrest, which took place shortly after 8 PM, sparked outrage among residents and youth, who claimed the suspect was subjected to police violence during the operation. The gendarmerie, however, has firmly denied these allegations.
The situation quickly escalated as anger and frustration boiled over. Throughout the night and into the early hours of Monday morning, garbage bins and cars were set ablaze, creating scenes of chaos and disruption. Roads were blocked with debris, paralyzing traffic and leaving the community in turmoil.
In response to the unrest, Prefect Cyrille Le Vély and President of the Collectivity Louis Mussington visited Sandy Ground on Monday to address residents' concerns and restore calm.
Accompanied by the Colonel of the Gendarmerie, the Prosecutor, and representatives of the Territorial Police, the officials held a series of meetings with local leaders, including members of the district council, to discuss the situation.
During these discussions, Prefect Le Vély emphasized the importance of distinguishing between individual actions and those of the broader community. "It is not enough for something to happen in Sandy Ground for the responsibility to be automatically attributed to Sandy Ground," he stated, urging against the stigmatization of the neighborhood.
The meetings also addressed the recent spike in criminal activity, including gunfights and armed robberies, which had prompted the gendarmerie to implement heightened security measures in the area. These measures included increased patrols and checkpoints to prevent further incidents.
However, tensions reached a breaking point on Sunday night, following the arrest of the young man. While some residents alleged that the suspect was mistreated by the gendarmes, Prefect Le Vély assured the community that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the facts. "The prosecutor understood the need to conduct an investigation very quickly," he said, adding that the investigation would include a review of footage from the body cameras worn by the gendarmes during the operation.
Despite local officials' efforts to engage with the community and provide assurances, their visit did little to quell the unrest. Residents remained skeptical, demanding accountability and transparency in the investigation.
The debris and roadblocks set up during the night continued to disrupt daily life, preventing residents from returning to their routines.
Prefect Le Vély and President Mussington expressed their hope that the investigation and ongoing dialogue would help to rebuild trust and restore order in Sandy Ground. "We came to announce that there would be an investigation, and this investigation, of course, will take a little time," Prefect Le Vély stated. He also called for patience and cooperation from the community, emphasizing the need to allow the investigation to proceed without interference.
As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on restoring calm and ensuring that the voices of Sandy Ground residents are heard. Local leaders and law enforcement officials face the challenge of addressing the underlying issues that have fueled tensions in the neighborhood, while working to prevent further violence and disruption. For now, the community waits for answers and a path forward.
BTP becomes title sponsor of St. Maarten team for regional robotics challenge.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Bureau Telecommunications and Post Sint Maarten (BTP) is proud to announce its support of the St. Maarten team participating in the OECSRA Super Regional Robotics Challenge, scheduled to take place from March 16–20, 2026, in St. Kitts. As part of this commitment, BTP is funding participation costs, ensuring that local students can take part in this regional STEAM learning experience.
This initiative fully aligns with BTP’s mission to promote technology and innovation while encouraging students to pursue careers in science and technology. By supporting robotics and innovation programs, BTP continues to invest in developing future-ready skills among St. Maarten’s youth.
“This sponsorship reflects our strong belief in empowering young minds through technology and innovation,” said Ms. Judianne Hoeve, Director of BTP. “Both the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation and the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, who has endorsed this program, have our full support. We are truly looking forward to this collaboration as we create opportunities for students to explore robotics, engineering, and emerging technologies. It is essential that we intentionally develop a strong pool of technology-focused students from which our local technology sector can later draw talent.”
The St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation supports the continued growth of STEAM education on St. Maarten—an integrated learning approach that combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics to foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Dr. Rolinda Carter, President of the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation and OECSRA representative for St. Maarten, welcomed the partnership with BTP, stating: “We are grateful to BTP for its support of St. Maarten’s participation in the inaugural OECSRA Super Regional Robotics Challenge. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating meaningful learning opportunities that prepare our students for a rapidly advancing digital world. As this first regional challenge emphasizes skill development, collaboration, and friendly competition, BTP’s support ensures our students gain valuable hands-on experience in robotics, innovation, and problem-solving. We look forward to continuing this collaboration as we expand access to STEAM initiatives for St. Maarten’s youth.
A kickoff meeting was recently held between BTP and the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation to coordinate logistics for the upcoming competition and explore opportunities for future collaboration. Discussions also included emerging areas of mutual interest, such as cybersecurity, particularly as artificial intelligence and modern technologies become increasingly prominent in education and industry.
BTP applauds the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport for their continued efforts to actively promote technology, robotics, and innovation, and for its dedication to engaging and inspiring students across the island.
Where Culture Lives Team Thanks the Public for Survey Participation and Announces Upcoming ‘Where Culture Lives Prize’.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Where Culture Lives project has successfully completed its survey phase across Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten. The project team extends sincere appreciation to the public who participated, and in particular to the island coordinators and surveyors whose dedication ensured strong community engagement across all six islands.
Titled “Your Voice, Where Culture Lives,” the survey explored how arts, culture, and heritage shape everyday life on the ABCSSS islands. It invited the public to share insights on how they engage with culture in their communities; where culture takes place, what supports it, and what barriers still exist.
The survey phase was conducted within a focused timeframe, from the end of November 2025 through early January 2026, following the focus groups held in August and September last year. Despite the busy end-of-year period, all islands completed their data collection on time. Participation ranged from 40 to 150 respondents per island, reflecting island size, representation, and the effectiveness of local outreach.
Overall, participants responded positively and shared clear priorities. Many pointed to the need for more funding and training opportunities for creative entrepreneurs, alongside more accessible spaces to practice, develop, and showcase art and heritage. Others highlighted the importance of improving cultural education in schools.
With the survey phase now complete, the project team has begun interpreting and analysing the results. They will come together at the end of January, and this collaborative interpretation phase aims to move beyond numbers alone, giving meaning to the findings
within their cultural, social, and island-specific contexts. The outcomes will feed directly into island-based validation sessions scheduled for early April, where draft findings will be discussed with artists, cultural and heritage organisations, government representatives, knowledge partners, and other key stakeholders.
Participants will then offer feedback, which will help to strengthen community ownership of the results and also support the development of recommendations for future cultural policy and investments across all islands.
“As a lead team and as researchers, we are committed to ensuring that the findings form a shared foundation,” says Jorien Wuite, project lead. “This exploration gives us some great insights on cultural mapping across the Dutch Caribbean, and we want the results to meaningfully support future action as well as island-specific policy priorities for government officials and other stakeholders. That is why we are happy and proud to have received support for this additional phase with validation sessions, more co-creative discussions, and broad representation.”
“The insights gathered through this research will help us understand what makes each island’s culture and heritage distinct, while also allowing for careful comparisons that honour differences and illuminate shared patterns,” said Ludmila Duncan, one of the lead researchers. “That balance is essential if cultural research is to be both reliable and impactful.”
The Where Culture Lives team is also proud to announce the development of the Where Culture Lives Prize, a supportive competition on each island that will invite artists and cultural practitioners to submit work celebrating cultural life and creatively expressing ‘where culture lives’. This competition is set to be like no other; grounded in communities, inspired by everyday life, and centred on what culture looks and feels like across the islands. Further details about this prize will be shared by the end of January 2026.
The Where Culture Lives project was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) in The Hague and on Bonaire (OCW and OCW-CG), and is managed by St. Maarten-based consultancy Lemonade B.V.
U.S. Consular Services Visit set for January 27 by Appointment Only.
PHILIPSBURG:--- (DCOMM) – The United States Consulate General in Curacao will be sending a consular officer to Sint Maarten to provide services to American Citizens.
The consular officer will be providing services on Tuesday, January 27.
U.S. citizens who need any of the following services: U.S. passport applications; Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) applications; and Document notarizations, need to make an appointment by emailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Services are by appointment only. After requesting an appointment, the person will receive instructions on how to prepare for your requested service.
People are asked to read the instructions carefully in order to avoid delays.
On Tuesday, January 27, the U.S. consular officer will be providing the services by appointment out of the following venue: Government Administration Building, Soualiga Road #1, Conference Room #1 (on the ground floor) from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Those who have secured an appointment, once they reach the entrance of the Government Administration Building, they should inform security that they have come for U.S. consular services and will then be instructed where to go.