PHILIPSBURG:---  The National Detectives (Landsrecherche), under the direction of the Prosecutor’s Office Sint Maarten, have arrested an employee of the Civil Registry Department. The civil servant is suspected of accepting payments in exchange for improperly advancing appointment times for government services.
The Civil Registry Department provides essential public services, including the registration of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces, the issuance of official certificates, passport and identification card applications, address changes, and updates to personal records. Many of these services require appointments, which are intended to ensure fair and equal access for all citizens.
The investigation is ongoing. No further details will be released at this time.
The National Detectives specialise in investigating criminal activities within the government, with a particular focus on civil servants.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Member of Parliament Egbert Doran has formally requested a comprehensive update from the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport (ECYS), Melissa Gumbs, regarding the current operational readiness and capacity of the nation’s public education system.

The inquiry, submitted on Tuesday, focuses on ensuring that progress in school infrastructure, ICT integration, and staffing levels remains on track to meet the demands of the 2026 academic year and the upcoming hurricane season.

“Public education requires constant and vigilant oversight,” MP Doran stated. “As we move forward, it is essential that both Parliament and the public are kept informed on how our schools are evolving to meet modern standards. Transparency is not only about identifying gaps, but about safeguarding the continuity of quality education for our children.”

Infrastructure and Digital Equity

MP Doran’s letter requests a status report on school maintenance and the reliability of ICT connectivity for teaching, assessments, and school administration. He emphasized that as education becomes increasingly digital, classroom infrastructure must be reliable, resilient, and consistently maintained across all campuses. “As a former public school student, I understand firsthand the impact that the school environment has on a child's ability to succeed,” Doran added.

Staffing and Campus Access

The MP is also seeking confirmation that all public schools are meeting their full staffing requirements, including qualified educators and essential support personnel. Additionally, he requested clarification on reports concerning a ministerial decree related to campus visits.

“Our schools function best when security is balanced with transparency and engagement,” Doran noted. “Policies governing school access must be clear and must not inadvertently hinder parental involvement or broader community engagement.”

Policy Direction and Preparedness

With the 2026 hurricane season approaching, MP Doran highlighted the dual role of schools as learning institutions and emergency shelters. He requested an update on the structural integrity of school buildings and the status of emergency protocols and preparedness measures.

He further sought clarity on whether any discussions are underway regarding potential shifts toward the privatization of public education.

“Public education is a cornerstone of our society,” Doran stated. “Any significant changes to its governance or structure must be approached with extreme care and absolute transparency to ensure it remains accessible to every child.”

MP Doran indicated that his request is aimed at ensuring continuity, accountability, and proactive planning, and he looks forward to a timely and constructive response from the Minister so that these national priorities can be addressed effectively.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Last Friday, the Foresee Foundation successfully launched its first workshop of 2026 in collaboration with the Sint Maarten Sports Federation (SMSF) and
Stichting Expertise Centrum Ervaringsgericht Onderwijs (EGO). The workshop brought together professionals from sport, education and policy to explore how sport and physical activity
On St. Maarten, this can be strengthened in a sustainable and inclusive way.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Maaike Heerschop, researcher at the Mulier Instituut, who is responsible for the analysis of the Child Monitor. This large-scale health survey was recently
conducted across almost all primary schools on St. Maarten. During her presentation, Heerschop shared key insights into children’s lifestyle behaviors, including physical activity, sleep, and nutrition, and
connected these findings to sport participation and talent development.
Broad representation from the sports field
Participants included physical education teachers, coaches, trainers and sports administrators.
This broad mix of professionals led to rich discussions and meaningful exchanges between research, daily practice and policy perspectives.
Broad-based sport versus elite sport
A central theme of the workshop was the balance between a broad-based sport approach and a more selective elite sport focus. Participants emphasized the importance of creating a sports
environment that enables as many children as possible to participate in sport and physical activity, rather than concentrating primarily on a small group of young athletes with potential elite careers.
Drawing on international research, Heerschop highlighted that talent development is a long-term and non-linear process, strongly influenced by a child’s environment.
Factors such as daily movement, adequate sleep, healthy nutrition, school demands, and social safety play a decisive role. “Health and well-being are not side issues, but essential conditions for sustainable sport development,” was one of the key messages.
Call for joint follow-up actions
The workshop concluded with a joint reflection on concrete next steps for St. Maarten.
Participants discussed which improvements to the local sport and movement environment are realistic and achievable,
emphasizing the importance of collaboration between schools, sports organizations and policymakers.
The organizing partners look back on a successful start and see this workshop as a strong foundation for continued knowledge sharing and cooperation throughout 2026.

--

The Hague, January 26, 2026 - On Wednesday, January 28, 2 p.m., the District Court of The Hague will rule on the Bonaire Climate Case, which was brought against the Dutch State by eight residents of the Dutch-Caribbean island Bonaire, together with Greenpeace Netherlands. The court will judge whether the Netherlands is doing enough to protect its own citizens from the effects of the climate crisis. Bonaire is struggling with extreme heat due to climate change, but the Dutch government is failing to take protective measures. The plaintiffs and Greenpeace are demanding a concrete and feasible plan of action to protect Bonaire and urge the government to urgently take more measures to reduce Dutch carbon emissions to zero. “It would be a victory of historic significance, should the court ruling force the State to take concrete measures to protect people from extreme weather and other consequences of the climate crisis,” explains Marieke Vellekoop, director of Greenpeace Netherlands.
First court case on adaptation and test case following international rulings
This is the first case in Europe in which a judge could rule that a country must develop adaptation measures to protect citizens from climate change. It is also one of the first climate cases following the European Court of Human Rights' KlimaSeniorinnen ruling and the recent Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. In the latter, the Court ruled that states must keep global warming to below 1.5°C and that their climate plans must show maximum ambition, taking into account historical emissions and prosperity. This means that countries like the Netherlands have an obligation to do more. This case is therefore the first major test case following the groundbreaking rulings of international courts, and could set a precedent of global relevance.
Marieke Vellekoop, director of Greenpeace Netherlands: "This climate case is crucial. First and foremost, for the people of Bonaire, but also for all of us. Residents of Bonaire are already experiencing the effects of climate change on a daily basis, yet receive less protection than people in the European Netherlands. That is unjust and unacceptable. It shouldn’t matter where you were born: everyone has the right to protection against floods, storms, and extreme heat."
Jackie Bernabela, plaintiff in the Bonaire Climate Case: "This court case offers a glimmer of hope. We, eight citizens of Bonaire, are pursuing this case with Greenpeace Netherlands in order to give leaders a wake-up call. We challenge the slow erosion of hope. Because hope is the cornerstone of action. And we need action now. Wealth will not save you when the water rises. Power will not save you when disease spreads. Only compassion, courage, and unity will."
The government prioritizes big polluters over climate and people
Dutch politicians have significantly watered down climate policy in recent years, and the (caretaker) government is failing to meet the climate target set out in the Dutch Climate Act. Instead, the cabinet is subsidizing fossil fuels and abolishing the CO2 tax for companies. During the formation of the new cabinet, no decisions have yet been made to reduce emissions. “The cabinet is shielding major polluters at the expense of the climate, people, and the future of our planet. It’s not enough to keep the climate targets in sight; we have to achieve them and accelerate them. It's high time they stop delaying and postponing. The only way to reduce emissions quickly is by implementing robust and fair measures,” explains Vellekoop. The residents of Bonaire and Greenpeace demand that the Netherlands at least comply with the Dutch Climate Act and contribute its fair share to keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees. This means reducing carbon emissions to zero as quickly as possible. This can be achieved in the Netherlands by 2040.
The Bonaire Climate Case
Research commissioned by Greenpeace Netherlands shows that the climate crisis is already affecting daily life on Bonaire. People are experiencing health issues due to the severe heat. Rising sea levels, extreme weather, and dying coral reefs pose major risks to residents. Without action, up to a fifth of the island could disappear underwater by the end of this century. That is what motivated eight residents of Bonaire and Greenpeace to take legal action together, demanding fair climate policy from the Dutch government. They are represented by lawyers from the law firms Kennedy van der Laan and Prakken d'Oliveira. The hearings took place on October 7 and 8, 2025, attended by the eight plaintiffs.