The Hague, NETHERLANDS:--- Historic victory: Dutch court declares climate policy inadequate in Bonaire climate case
The Hague, 28 January 2026
The District Court of The Hague ruled today that the Dutch State’s current climate policy infringes upon the human rights of the residents of the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire and results in unfair treatment compared to citizens in the European part of the Netherlands. With the current climate targets and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the State is not complying with international agreements. In doing so, the State is acting unlawfully towards the residents of Bonaire. Furthermore, the State has not taken sufficient measures to protect the inhabitants of Bonaire in the climate crisis. The court orders the State to draw up an adaptation plan and implement it by 2030 at the latest. The State must also set new binding targets for the entire Dutch economy within 18 months to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make a fair contribution to the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Marieke Vellekoop, director of Greenpeace Netherlands:
‘This is truly a historic victory. People on Bonaire are finally getting recognition that the government is discriminating against them and must protect them from extreme heat and rising sea levels. The State must also contribute its fair share to staying below 1.5 degrees of warming by implementing new climate targets. This means that the reduction of Dutch greenhouse gas emissions must be accelerated significantly. This is a huge breakthrough. The current climate policy is insufficient, and the cabinet can no longer get away with failing climate policy. With this ruling in hand, communities have a powerful new asset to hold governments to account.’
Onnie Emerenciana, plaintiff in the Bonaire Climate Case:
‘I am very happy. Today we are making history. Finally, The Hague can no longer ignore us. Today, the court is drawing a line in the sand. Our lives, our culture and our country are being taken seriously. The State can no longer look away. The next step now is to make funds and expertise available for concrete action plans to protect our island. We really have to do this together; Bonaire cannot solve this on its own.’
A detailed press release with further explanation of the ruling will follow later.
Sint Maarten’s Garbage Crisis: How Government Negligence Is Trashing Workers, Families, and Public Health.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The streets of Sint Maarten are on the brink of a filthy disaster, and for once, you can’t blame the men and women picking up the trash.
A furious coalition of local waste haulers—All Waste In Place, Garden Boyz, and WILCO N.V.—has finally drawn a line in the sand. In a blistering formal grievance sent to the Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs Jr, these companies have exposed the rot at the core of the government's new Terms of Reference (TOR) for 2026-2029. The document isn't just a contract; it’s a suicide pact for local businesses and a health hazard for the public.
The government is playing a dangerous game with public health, demanding champagne service on a tap-water budget while tightening the noose around the necks of the very people keeping our island clean.
The Budget Myth
Let’s look at the numbers, because the government clearly hasn't. The proposed budget of XCG 6.8 million is an insult to basic economics. We are living in a world of skyrocketing fuel prices, expensive parts, and rising insurance premiums. Yet, the Ministry expects haulers to do more with less.
They want 24-hour on-call service. They want night coverage. They want emergency response teams ready to jump at a moment's notice. But they refuse to pay for the standby wages and overtime required to make that happen. They are asking haulers to operate at a loss, effectively demanding that private companies subsidize a public service out of their own pockets. As the haulers rightly pointed out: "Garbage collection is not just a contract. This is public health. This is food on tables."
When the budget doesn't cover the work, the shortfall comes out of the families behind these companies. It is a direct attack on local livelihoods.
Unfair Burdens and shifting Blame
The hypocrisy in the new TOR is staggering. The government is requiring haulers to pay for repairs to government-owned bins—assets the contractors don't own and won't retain. They want contractors to install expensive GPS tracking on trucks but refuse to foot the bill for the installation or monthly fees.
Even worse is the "Split Parcel" clause. The government has reserved the right to slice up a winning bid and hand pieces of it to a third party, someone who may not have even qualified or bid fairly. This makes a mockery of the tender process. It opens the door to nepotism, incompetence, and sabotage. If this third party fails to collect the trash, guess who gets the blame? The original hauler.
The Tipping Fee Trap
Perhaps the most delusional proposal is the introduction of tipping fees without a plan to control illegal dumping. The government wants to charge for dumping, which anyone with common sense knows will lead to the public dumping their trash at collection points instead of the dump.
The haulers will then be fined for not keeping those collection points clean, while the government sits back and collects fees. It is a rigged system designed to punish the hauler for the public's bad behavior and the government's lack of enforcement.
A Recipe for Disaster
The haulers have issued a 24-hour deadline for a response, and they are right to do so. This situation has gone too far. We are looking at a system that forces local operators to invest in new equipment they can't afford, denies them reasonable contract extensions to recuperate costs, and treats them like the enemy rather than essential partners in public health.
If the streets of Sint Maarten pile up with garbage in the coming weeks, do not look at the trucks. Look at the Ministry that tried to starve them out. The haulers have carried this country on their backs long enough. It is time the government stopped treating them like trash.
Central Committee meeting of Parliament regarding discussion on urgent unresolved matters impacting justice workers and the relationship between the ministry and representative unions.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on January 28, 2025.
The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 11.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Justice will be in attendance.
The agenda point is:
Discussion with the Minister of Justice on urgent unresolved matters impacting justice workers and the relationship between the ministry and representative unions (IS/091/2025-2026 dated September 22, 2025)
This meeting was requested by MP F.A. Lacroes, MP O.E.C. Ottley, and MP L.C.J. Lewis
Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.
All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.
The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.
The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament
Ministry of VROMI Announces Partial Road Closure on Cannegieter Drive as Part of Concrete Hard Resurfacing Project.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Monday, January 26th, 2026- The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) informs the general public of a partial road closure on Cannegieter Drive in Cay Bay as part of the Concrete Hard Road Resurfacing Project 2023–2024.
The affected section covers approximately 170 meters, extending to the intersection with Cay Bay Road. Road works commenced on Monday, January 26th, 2026, and will take place daily from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The works are expected to last approximately two (2) weeks, weather permitting.
Residents in the area have been informed accordingly. A detour route has been established, and traffic guidance will be provided on-site, with workers assisting road users as needed to ensure safety and accessibility.
Key Information Recap:
Project: Concrete Hard Resurfacing Project 2023–2024
Location: Cannegieter Road, Cay Bay
Closure Type: Partial road closure
Affected Length: 170 meters (up to the intersection with Cay Bay Road)
Start Date: Monday, January 26, 2026
Working Hours: Daily, 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Duration: Approximately 2 weeks
Traffic Measures: Detour in place; traffic guided by workers on site
The Ministry of VROMI kindly asks motorists and residents to exercise caution, follow all posted signage, and adhere to instructions from traffic personnel while traversing the area. The Ministry thanks the public for their continued patience and cooperation as efforts to improve road infrastructure continue.
For further information on the Concrete Hard Road Resurfacing Project 2023-2024, please contact the Department of New Works at 542-4292 ext 2402.
KPSM Participates in Language Village ( Taaldorp 2026 bij Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School 2026) at Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) participated with several police officers in Language Village 2026 on Friday, January 23, 2026, held at the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School. Through this participation, KPSM contributed to strengthening the students’ language skills and communicative development.
KPSM extends its sincere appreciation to the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School for the invitation and the excellent organization of this valuable educational initiative. KPSM also expresses its gratitude to all police officers who voluntarily participated and actively contributed to the success of this important event.
To properly prepare the students, sample dialogues were developed for each profession. These served as guidelines for the conversations, while allowing room for additional interaction and student initiative. This resulted in educational and dynamic exchanges.
During each conversation, volunteers completed an evaluation form. Each student had a personal passport listing the various booths. Students were assessed based on the following criteria:
• Correct language use (pronunciation)
• Content (clarity and comprehension)
• Interaction (response to questions)
KPSM emphasizes the importance of cooperation between the education sector and community partners and remains committed to supporting initiatives that contribute to the development of youth within the community.