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Minister of Finance, Honorable Ms. Marinka Gumbs Confirms Transfer of 2% Salary Indexation Funds for Subsidized Schools.

marinkagumbsPHILIPSBURG: The Minister of Finance, Marinka J. Gumbs, announces that the 2% salary indexation funds for teachers in subsidized schools were transferred to the subsidized schools on Friday, September 5, 2025.

Clarification on June Communication

The Minister acknowledges that the headline of the June press release may have led to some confusion if the full content was not read in detail. To clarify, the June press release referred only to the transfer of the vacation allowance to subsidized schools, which was completed in June as stated. It did not indicate that indexation funds had been transferred. The June release also noted that civil servants would receive their indexed salaries with the July payroll. That reference did not apply to teachers at subsidized schools, who are paid through their own school boards. While it was the Government’s intention for both groups to receive indexation in July, new information regarding subsidized school board funding delayed the transfer to the subsidized schools. The Minister regrets any misunderstanding this may have caused and reiterates her commitment to clear and factual communication.

Reason for the Delay

During the review of the established funding for the subsidized schools for 2023–2024 and 2024–2025, it was determined that some schools had received excess funding. The Ministries of Finance and ECYS explored the option of having schools use those amounts for the payment of indexation. While this was reviewed and assessed, the situation varied by school. To ensure fairness and avoid prolonged discussions and delays, the Government decided to provide the indexation to all subsidized schools. It was agreed that the matter relating to the funding overpayment will be addressed as a separate topic directly with the schools and the Ministry of ECYS. Accordingly, the necessary decrees for each subsidized school and advice were prepared, and the Council of Ministers approved the decrees and transfer in August 2025. School boards were formally informed on September 2, the decrees were signed the same day, and the transfer of funds was completed on Friday, September 5, 2025.

The Minister Ms. Marinka Gumbs acknowledges that the process took longer than originally intended and regrets the delay, but emphasized that fairness and equal treatment for all teachers remain a priority.

Payment to Subsidized School Teachers

As with the vacation allowance and the indexation transfer of the previous year, the Minister of Finance cannot determine the exact payment dates for teachers in subsidized schools. Each school board is responsible for processing its own payroll and making the necessary calculations to apply both the retroactive indexation and the new indexed salary scales. The Minister of Finance, however, strongly urges school boards to implement the new indexed salaries and pay out the retroactive indexation, effective January 1, 2025, at the earliest opportunity.

Minister Marinka Gumbs stated:

“I will continue to advocate for our teachers, ensuring that both public and subsidized school educators are treated fairly and receive the recognition they deserve. Transparency and clarity remain my commitment to the people of Sint Maarten.”


Governor’s Symposium launches Podcast series and Creative Youth contest ahead of 15-Year milestone.

HARBOUR VIEW, PHILIPSBURG:---  With just over a month to go before the 2025 Governor’s Symposium, the Organizing Committee has launched two exciting initiatives designed to broaden public engagement and amplify young voices in the lead-up to this historic event.

This year’s Symposium, themed “15 Years of Constitutional Autonomy: Achievements, Lessons, and Prospects,” will take place on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the American University of the Caribbean (AUC) in Cupecoy. The event marks a significant milestone in Sint Maarten’s modern constitutional history and is set to feature a powerful mix of voices—ranging from constitutional experts to youth contributors.

In a bid to include the broader public in the reflection process, the Organizing Committee has launched a podcast series titled “Autonomous Conversations.” Each episode (3 to 7 minutes) is designed to take listeners on a journey through Sint Maarten’s constitutional development, present-day realities, and future aspirations.

The podcast schedule is as follows:
- Episode 1 (Sept 19): From Island Territory to Country.
- Episode 2 (Sept 26): A Country Within a Kingdom.
- Episode 3 (Oct 3): Voices from the Nation (featuring community reflections and youth perspectives).
- Episode 4 (Oct 24): Post-Symposium Reflections.

The public is invited to contribute to this discussion by submitting either a short voice note (under 30 seconds) or a brief written reflection responding to the following prompt:

“How has Sint Maarten being a country within the Kingdom for 15 years affected your daily life? What do you hope for Country Sint Maarten?”. Interested parties may send their voice notes using the Whatsapp platform via +1 (721 587-0047 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for their written reflections. Selected submissions may be featured in Episode 3 of the podcast, highlighting personal perspectives and collective hopes.

As part of the Committee’s youth engagement efforts, the Youth Creative Vision Contest was initiated and invites students in the pre-exam and exam years of secondary school to share their vision for Sint Maarten’s future. Students may submit poems, short essays (max 500 words), videos, or songs—either individually or in groups. The goal is to encourage civic awareness, critical thinking, and national pride.

Each school should collect all entries from their eligible students and submit it to the Cabinet of the Governor by September 26, 2025. A judging panel—comprising Organizing Committee members and representatives from Teen Times, the contest’s youth media partner, will select the winning entry based on creativity, originality, relevance to the theme, and overall quality.

All entries will be displayed at the Symposium, and the winning student(s) will be:
- Officially recognized during the event;
- Invited to an informal meeting with the Governor;
- Featured in Teen Times, the local newspaper, and across social media platforms;
- Considered for public display in Parliament and the Government Administration Building.

The 2025 Governor’s Symposium will take place on October 10, 2025 at AUC. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed via the Governor’s official Facebook page and website from 8:30 AM.

Stay tuned for further updates, podcast teasers, and highlights from the youth contest in the coming weeks.

Royal Caribbean’s Newest and World’s Largest Cruise Ship ‘Star of the Seas’ to Call on Thursday.

starofthe seas08092025POINTE BLANCHE:---  Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest and the world’s largest cruise, the Icon Class super-sequel, will call at Port St. Maarten on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

Preparations for the visit of what is considered a ‘floating city’ have been taken by Port St. Maarten Group (PSG). The vessel is currently on its first voyage. It can host up to 5,610 guests (double occupancy) with a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers in addition to 2,350 crew members.

The mega ship started its maiden voyage on August 31 when it departed from Florida’s Port Canaveral. The ship offers four different itineraries for the Eastern Caribbean and one for the Western Caribbean.  All voyages are for a period of seven days.

“Destination St. Maarten is proud to welcome the iconic Star of the Seas to our shores on Thursday, September 11th. The arrival of this state-of-the-art vessel is a momentous occasion that reaffirms our island’s position as a premier cruise destination in the Caribbean.

“We are incredibly proud to be among the first ports of call for this highly anticipated ship, and we are confident that its passengers will enjoy the unique blend of breathtaking beaches, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality that makes St. Maarten so special.

“We look forward to a continued long and successful partnership with Royal Caribbean and the Star of the Seas, as we continue to grow and strengthen our vital cruise tourism sector,” PSG Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alexander Gumbs said on Monday.

It took two years to construct Star of the Seas at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.  

Star of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s third ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The vessel has environmental programs with applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connections.

The vessel has a gross tonnage of 248,663 and shares the title of the largest cruise ship in the world with her sister ship, Icon of the Seas. The ship was built at the cost of 1.74 billion Euros and is 1,196.9 feet long, 159.1 feet wide and a draught of 31 feet.

The iconic class vessel advances Royal Caribbean Group’s journey toward introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035. The company is also set to deliver their fourth ship powered by LNG with Legend of the Seas, the third Icon Class set to debut in 2026.

Royal Caribbean has delivered memorable vacations for more than 50 years and caters to more than 300 destinations in 80 countries on all seven continents.  The cruise line has been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 22 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards.

Temporary Nightly Road Closures- Cannegieter Street.

cannegieterstreet08092025PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of VROMI (Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment & Infrastructure) informs the public that the current partial road closures on Cannegieter Street, from the intersection of Percy Labega Street to Manzanilla Steeg, will be extended to full nightly closures.

These closures are necessary to facilitate the application of asphalt on the affected sections. Works are scheduled to last for a maximum of three (3) nights, beginning Tuesday, September 9th, 2025, and ending Friday, September 12th, 2025. During this period, road closures will take place nightly from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Motorists traveling to Philipsburg are advised to use the alternative routes via Longwall Road and Walter A. Nisbeth Road. Vehicles exiting Cannegieter Street from the heart of Philipsburg must use Manzanilla Steeg onto Walter A. Nisbeth Road to ensure smooth and uninterrupted travel during the nightly closures.

The Ministry of VROMI thanks the public for their continued patience, understanding, and cooperation as we work diligently to improve the road infrastructure for all.

Key Information Recap

Dates: Tuesday, September 9 -Friday, September 12, 2025

Location: Cannegieter Street (Percy Labega Street -Manzanilla Steeg)

Times: 8:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.

Type: Nightly Partial Road Closures

Reason: Asphalt application works

Duration: Maximum 4 nights

Alternative Routes: Motorists traveling to Philipsburg are advised to use Longwall Road and Walter A. Nisbeth Road for smooth and uninterrupted travel.

Motorists exiting Cannegieter Street from the heart of Philipsburg must use Manzanilla Steeg onto Walter A. Nisbeth Road.

UPDATE – Resumption of Operations at PJIAE.

pjiaerunnaway08092025Simpson Bay:--- With the successful reopening of the runway at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), we are pleased to announce that airport operations have officially resumed.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the emergency response teams, airport staff, aviation authorities, and all partners for their swift and professional handling of the situation. Their tireless efforts ensured the safe removal of the aircraft and the timely restoration of operations.

Passengers are kindly reminded to check directly with their airline for the latest flight information and any schedule adjustments.

We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and service, and we thank all travelers, stakeholders, and staff for their patience and cooperation during this challenging period.


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