PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday, the 22nd of February 2026, the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) responded to a report of an armed robbery in the Simpson Bay area. The victim reported that he was robbed of his chains. Following an investigation by the Armed Robbery Unit division, S.A.E. was arrested on February 25th, 2026. The suspect remains in custody as the investigation continues.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) wishes to inform the general public regarding an upcoming Gospel Parade scheduled for tomorrow evening, February 27th, 2026, starting at 6:30 PM – 9.30 PM. To ensure the safety of participants and smooth traffic flow, motorists should take note of the following details:

Parade Route:

• Start: Methodist Church (Union Road, Cole Bay)
• Path: Union Road - Causeway Bridge - Airport Road Roundabout - Airport Road - Welfare Road - Kruijthoff Roundabout.
• End: Returning via Union Road to the Methodist Church.

Motorist Advisory

Officers will be present to assist with traffic management. Motorists using these roads between 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM a…

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Egbert J. Doran has raised serious concerns about the current sanitary and operational conditions in several public schools, following reports from teachers and parents about shortages of basic supplies.

According to the MP, schools are facing a lack of essential hygiene items such as toilet paper, soap, sanitizer, paper towels, and garbage bags. In addition, some schools are reportedly dealing with shortages of printer ink and non-functioning copy machines, limiting teachers’ ability to properly prepare and distribute worksheets, tests, and other instructional materials.

Doran emphasized that teachers already carry a heavy burden, often purchasing classroom materials out of their own pockets at the start of the school year to ensure their students have what they need. The possibility that educators may now also feel pressured to cover hygiene products and printing supplies, he said, is deeply troubling.

“We cannot expect teachers to fund the system,” Doran stated. “They are hired to educate, not to supply basic operations. When essentials are missing, it affects health, dignity, and the quality of instruction.”

The MP has also pointed to Minister Gumbs’s current strict enforcement of donation policies affecting public schools. While acknowledging the importance of transparency and accountability, Doran noted that the present approach may hinder timely community support.

“In a moment where schools are short on basic, urgent items, there must be reasonable flexibility,” he said. “No one is asking to bypass rules, but there should be practical leeway to allow schools to accept desperately needed supplies quickly and responsibly.”

The NA, UP and NOW factions have formally requested an urgent public meeting of Parliament with the Minister of ECYS, the Honorable Melissa Gumbs, to seek clarity on the extent of the shortages and the measures being taken to correct them.

He stressed that swift action is necessary to prevent the situation from escalating further.

“Our children deserve safe, clean, fully functional schools,” Doran said. “Basic standards must be guaranteed, not negotiated.”

Willemstad:---  During its most recent Board visit, the Board of Financial Supervision of Curacao and Sint Maarten (Cft) stressed the importance of adequate control of the so-called government entities. Financial risks at these entities may have immediate and negative consequences for the national budget. The Cft urges Curacao to develop an integral participation policy. In doing so, the government gains a clearer insight into risks and more control of dividend income. Adequate supervision and active shareholdership enhance the Country's financial position.

 Government entities perform important tasks for society. They may also pose a financial risk to the country if financial management is inadequate or if other types of issues arise. Therefore, adequate supervision is essential.

The Cft draws attention to the fact that in the 2026 budget, only XCG 7 million in dividend from government entities has been included, whilst these entities make a joint profit of over XCG 100 million. This shows that as shareholder, the Country can steer more actively, for example by making clear agreements on profit distribution. Additional dividend income may be used for important social purposes, as the Government of Curacao also acknowledges.

Tax Authorities

A year ago, the Cft insisted that the Country had to proactively address the issues at the Tax Authorities. Since then, Curacao implemented some personnel changes, however, not enough progress was made as regards structural improvements. 

The number of collections pending is increasing again. After the clean-up action in early 2023, the balance of outstanding tax and premium debts decreased from XCG 5.6 billion to XCG 2.6 billion. Meanwhile, this balance has increased again, to approximately XCG 3.2 billion, which means the pending balance exceeds the annual tax and premium income. 

The Cft emphasizes that the reform must be addressed proactively. If implementation becomes more effective and lawful, Curacao can structurally improve its tax income. Also, a fair tax system in which everyone contributes, creates space to lower the tax burden for the population of Curaçao.

Budget surplus

The Cft is pleased to note an improvement in the quality of the budget. As a result of the current favorable economic circumstances, among others, Curacao estimates multiannual budget surpluses. It is of the utmost importance that these surpluses are actually realized, in order to enhance budgetary resilience. Concurrently, the current circumstances make for an opportune moment to implement necessary reforms, thus strengthening the structural growth potential of the economy.