PHILIPSBURG:--- On June 11, the Algemeen Pensioenfonds Sint Maarten (APS) presented its clean audit report to the Minister of Finance, further underscoring the fund’s strong financial performance and long-term stability.

APS has announced a 0.92% pension increase, marking the third consecutive year that pensioners will benefit from indexation. The increase is made possible by the fund’s healthy coverage ratio of 116.23% and is based on consumer price index data. The adjusted pension amount is expected to be paid in July 2026, with retroactive effect to January 2026.

The ability to provide consecutive pension increases reflects APS’s continued commitment to preserving the purchasing power of pensioners while maintaining the financial strength of the fund.

While APS remains in a strong position, future indexation will always depend on the fund’s financial health, economic conditions, and investment performance. APS has also reached a significant milestone, with total assets under management now exceeding Cg 1 billion. In addition, the fund recorded a positive financial result of approximately Cg 27 million for 2025, driven primarily by investment income and disciplined portfolio management.

Honorable Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs welcomed the continued positive results, noting the importance of a strong and sustainable pension system to the financial security of retirees and the overall resilience of Sint Maarten.

“These results demonstrate the importance of prudent financial management and a long-term approach to safeguarding pension benefits. A strong APS benefits not only today’s pensioners, but also the generations that will depend on the fund in the future,” said Minister Gumbs.

The Minister further noted that APS is exploring opportunities to strengthen and expand the pension system. Following a proposal by the Minister, APS is examining the possibility of increasing participation by government-related entities to further enhance the fund’s long-term sustainability and resilience.

“The ability to provide a pension increase for a third consecutive year while surpassing the milestone of Cg 1 billion in assets is a significant achievement for APS. These results reflect the confidence of our participants, the dedication of our team, and the strength of the governance and investment policies that guide the fund.

While we are proud of the progress achieved, we remain focused on the future. APS continues to identify opportunities to strengthen the pension system, expand participation, and ensure that the fund remains resilient in an evolving economic environment. Our commitment extends not only to today’s pensioners, but also to the generations of public servants who will rely on APS in the years ahead.”

APS also continues to contribute to ongoing initiatives aimed at modernizing the regulatory and investment framework for pension funds within the monetary union, ensuring that pension funds remain well-positioned to navigate changing economic conditions while continuing to deliver value to participants and retirees.

Through sound governance, responsible investing, and prudent financial management, APS remains committed to protecting the retirement security of its members and delivering sustainable benefits for the people of Sint Maarten.

~More than NAf. 164 million allocated to two critical Ministries as Questions mount over outcomes and economic vision.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Government's 2026 Budget reveals a striking reality about Sint Maarten's priorities: more than NAf. 164.9 million will be allocated to the country's Education and Tourism ministries, yet the budget provides limited evidence of how those investments will translate into measurable economic growth, workforce development, or national competitiveness.
According to the draft 2026 Budget, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport is allocated approximately NAf. 117.1 million, making it one of the largest recipients of government funding. The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications will receive approximately NAf. 47.8 million. Together, the two ministries account for nearly one-quarter of the country's ordinary expenditure budget.
The figures immediately raise an important question:
What exactly is Sint Maarten getting in return for this investment?
Education continues to absorb one of the largest portions of public spending year after year. Yet the budget provides little indication of a transformative strategy to prepare students for the realities of a rapidly evolving economy.
Across the island, employers continue to report difficulty finding qualified workers. Businesses increasingly seek employees with digital skills, technical expertise, language proficiency, and specialized vocational training. Yet there is limited evidence within the budget of a comprehensive plan to aggressively align educational outcomes with labor market demands.
The result is a growing disconnect between education and employment.
Taxpayers are entitled to ask how many students will graduate with market-ready skills, how many young people will enter high-demand professions, and how the government intends to measure success beyond simply funding the system.
The concerns become even more pronounced when examining Tourism.
Tourism remains the backbone of Sint Maarten's economy. Government revenues, business activity, employment opportunities, and consumer spending all depend heavily on the strength of the tourism sector. Yet despite receiving approximately NAf. 47.8 million, the budget offers limited detail regarding how the government intends to strengthen Sint Maarten's competitive position in an increasingly crowded regional marketplace.
Across the Caribbean, competing destinations are investing heavily in destination branding, digital tourism infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, airlift expansion, and improvements to the visitor experience.
The tourism industry is evolving rapidly.
Success can no longer be assumed.
It must be strategically earned.
Yet the most significant concern may be what appears to be missing altogether: a clear connection between education and tourism.
In a small island economy, the two sectors should be working hand in hand.
Schools should be preparing future hospitality managers, aviation professionals, entrepreneurs, information technology specialists, marketers, and tourism executives.
Training programs should be aligned with industry needs.
Students should be leaving classrooms with pathways into the country's most important economic sectors.
Instead, the budget appears to fund two separate systems without clearly demonstrating how they contribute to a unified national development strategy.
At a time when the government plans approximately NAf. 674.1 million in overall expenditures, taxpayers deserve more than spending allocations.
They deserve results.
How many new tourism jobs will be created?
How much visitor spending growth is expected?
How many students will graduate with workforce-ready skills?
How will the government measure performance?
How will these investments strengthen the economy over the next decade?
The budget allocates the money.
What remains far less clear is whether it provides the vision.
And for a country seeking sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive region, that may be the biggest concern of all.

ORANJESTAD, ARUBA:--- The Ombudsman of Aruba, Ms. Jurima Bryson, LL.M., has received an increasing number of complaints and reports from individuals experiencing difficulties obtaining an appointment to register at the Civil Registry Office (Censo).

Based on the complaints received, many citizens are unable to secure an appointment within a reasonable period to register in Aruba’s civil registry. According to the Ombudsman, there appears to be a structural imbalance between the number of registration requests and the available processing capacity.

The issue affects not only individuals who have recently obtained a residence permit, but also Arubans returning to Aruba after living abroad who need to register again. As a result, citizens are faced with long waiting periods and uncertainty regarding when they will be able to complete their registration.

The consequences are significant. Registration in the civil registry is an essential requirement for access to various services. Without registration, citizens may encounter difficulties in obtaining access to healthcare (AZV), education, social services, employment, banking services, insurance, and housing.
The Ombudsman considers it undesirable that citizens, as a result of Censo’s capacity and organizational challenges, are unable to access an essential public service within a reasonable timeframe. According to the Ombudsman, government services should be organized in such a way that citizens can effectively exercise the rights to which they are entitled.

In light of this situation, the Ombudsman sent a letter of concern to the Minister of Justice and Social Affairs, Mr. Arthur Dowers, LL.M. on June 15, 2026.

As an independent and impartial institution, the Ombudsman has issued several recommendations aimed at improving the accessibility, timeliness, and continuity of the registration process. These include reducing existing backlogs, expanding appointment opportunities, strengthening processing capacity, and improving information provided to the public.

More information on this matter can be found in the Ombudsman’s letter of concern regarding access to the registration process at the Civil Registry Office (Censo). The full letter is available on the Ombudsman’s website at www.ombudsman.aw/en/publications/.

PHILIPSBURG: --- The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) wishes to inform the public of an incident involving an unauthorized container that was placed on the Pelican Park property without the Chamber’s knowledge or approval.
COCI became aware of the matter through reports circulating on social media indicating that the container contained spoiled meat and was emitting a strong, offensive odor, posing a potential public health concern.
Upon learning of the situation, the Chamber acted promptly to address the issue. The owner of the container was contacted and requested to take responsibility for its removal and the cleanup of the affected area. While efforts were made to have the responsible party resolve the matter, the Chamber ultimately ensured that the container was removed and that the area was thoroughly cleaned and sanitized in the interest of public health, safety, and the preservation of the Pelican Park property.
COCI wishes to make it unequivocally clear that stricter measures will be enforced regarding the use of its property. Effective immediately, any containers, equipment, vehicles, materials, or other items placed on the Pelican Park property without the Chamber’s express authorization will be subject to immediate removal at the owner’s expense, where applicable.
The Chamber further reminds the public that no individual, business, organization, or third party has the authority to grant permission to place any object on Pelican Park property. Authorization for the use of Chamber property may only be granted directly by the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
COCI remains committed to maintaining a safe, clean, and orderly environment for the business community and the general public. The Chamber appreciates the cooperation of all stakeholders in respecting and adhering to these requirements.