PHILIPSBURG:--- From neglect to nuisance, Member of Parliament, the Honourable Omar E.C. Ottley, says the Minister of VROMI’s failure to perform has turned St. Maarten’s garbage crisis into a national humiliation. He said the present administration has allowed a basic public service to decay into a public embarrassment.
“For months, the people of St. Maarten have been told about plans, visions, consultations, and reforms,” Ottley said. “But what they are seeing in real time is a country being buried beneath indecision, disorder, and neglect. A government that once found endless words to condemn its predecessors is now producing even fewer answers while presiding over even greater disorder.”

The MP was describing developments at the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI), with reports reaching the public suggesting that a “messy explosion of garbage” is imminent. Ottley said the situation at VROMI and the landfill on Pond Island shows a government that has lost its grip on one of its most basic duties: keeping the country clean, orderly, and safe. The Member of Parliament noted that VROMI launched a new tender in late December for garbage collection services for 2026 to 2029, with bids due by January 28. By early February, the Minister reported that 17 companies had submitted bids and that the process would be handled transparently. Yet with the current contracts due to expire on March 31, the public has been left watching confusion grow rather than clarity emerge. Ottley pointed to growing public unease over conditions at the landfill itself. Concerns remain about operational management, machinery servicing, environmental oversight, and the overall lack of urgency at the site. He argued that while the government speaks about long-term transformation and future landfill closure, the current condition of waste management remains alarming. “You cannot drape failure in the language of policy and expect the public not to notice the smell,” Ottley said.

“The country is being asked to admire blueprints while living inside the mess.” He said the administration’s conduct is especially striking because many of the same political figures now in office were among the loudest critics of the former UP/ NA coalition when they were in opposition. “Oh, how quickly they forget,” Ottley said. “When they were on the outside, every delay was incompetence, every misstep was a scandal, and every excuse was unacceptable. Now that they are in the kitchen
facing the heat, they suddenly want patience, understanding, and room to learn.” Ottley stressed that St. Maarten has experienced civil servants who remain in place regardless of which administration is in office and who carry much of the continuity of government on their backs.“You do not have to rely only on your own experience,” he said. “There are hundreds of civil servants with the knowledge, memory, and practical understanding to help steer these processes properly. They are there whether governments rise or fall. They do the real work.

What must be managed more carefully is the role they are allowed to play, and whether competent advice is being heard or ignored.”According to Ottley, reports that the contracts may now have to be re-tendered have only deepened public concern that routine planning has turned into yet another scramble. “This is not merely a tender gone off course,” Ottley said. “It is a portrait of a government arriving late to its own obligations and then behaving as though the public should be sympathetic to the
delay.” He added that garbage collection in the districts has become too visible a measure of failure for the government to spin its way out of. “The districts are speaking for themselves.”
Ottley said. “The overflowing bins, the disorder in our communities, the condition of the landfill, and the uncertainty hanging over contractors all tell the same story: this government is falling behind on the basics.” MP Ottley is calling for a clear plan to guarantee uninterrupted collection services beyond March 31, and a frank accounting of what has gone wrong. “At some point, a government must choose between governing and explaining why it has not governed,” Ottley said. “The country
cannot be expected to live indefinitely on press releases, presentations, and promises, while the streets and the landfill tell a harsher truth.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, March 13, 2026, Native Nations SXM presented a landmark Cannabis Regulation Framework to the Parliament of Sint Maarten. The comprehensive proposal outlines a specialized approach to legalizing and managing cannabis on the island, promising substantial economic growth, targeted community development, and rigorous health safeguards.
The framework aligns with global best practices while remaining deeply rooted in Sint Maarten's unique economic, social, and cultural environment. Central to the proposal is the establishment of an independent Cannabis Oversight Commission. This governing body will ensure strict compliance and enforce licensing integrity across the industry. Representatives emphasized that the model strongly prioritizes public health and youth protection while guaranteeing product safety and quality control.
Economic projections presented to Parliament indicate a highly profitable future for the island. The framework expects to create more than 400 direct jobs and generate $149 million in tax revenue over its first five years. By capturing a projected market that will boost local commerce, the plan offers a clear path toward addressing and ultimately closing the national deficit.
Beyond the financial benefits, Native Nations SXM detailed significant health and social advantages. The framework establishes community support initiatives focused on cultural preservation, youth empowerment, and overall community well-being. On the medical front, a regulated cannabis market offers patients secure access to alternative treatments for chronic pain, stress, anxiety, and PTSD, significantly improving the quality of life for many residents.
The proposal is the direct result of extensive local consultation. Organizers collaborated with more than 50 stakeholders across the public, private, and community sectors. This extensive outreach included discussions with banking authorities, health foundations, and agricultural groups. Furthermore, the group connected with over 600 community members to ensure the framework reflects the actual needs and realities of the people.
If approved and implemented, the Native Nations SXM framework has the potential to contribute an estimated $1.05 billion to the local economy over a five-year period. By establishing a safe, well-regulated market, Sint Maarten can protect its citizens, shut down illicit markets, and generate the vital revenue needed to balance the national budget.

PHILIPSBURG:---The Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation & Museum has received funding from the Mondriaan Fund to support the digitization of its historical collections.

With this support, the museum has been able to purchase specialized equipment, such as a special scanner, to carefully scan and preserve fragile archival materials. This also includes new computers, audiovisual playback and conversion equipment for cassettes, VHS tapes, and photo film rolls, as well as hard drives for backups. Together, these tools strengthen the museum’s ability to safeguard and manage its collections effectively.

Pictured here is one of our new scanners in use, digitizing an original ledger from the Salt Company on Sint Maarten. The records date back to 1859, and the open page documents the transportation of salt in 1867, an original historical record that directly documents the island’s salt trade and economic activity during that period.

Historical researcher Jean-Marc Augusty, with the help of volunteers, has begun scanning the materials at the museum. While this process will take time, it is important to work towards long-term preservation of these records. Digitizing these materials not only protects them from further wear and tear but also ensures that documents and other historical materials remain accessible to the people of Sint Maarten and beyond.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) continues its efforts to combat violent crime and remove illegal firearms from the streets. As part of these ongoing efforts, officers arrested a suspect on the evening of Thursday, March 12, 2026, who was believed to be involved in a series of armed robberies that had taken place across the island.

At approximately 8:30 PM, during a routine traffic control operation on A.Th. Illidge Road, officers stopped a vehicle for further control. While verifying the occupant's identity, officers discovered that the individual was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant. The suspect, identified by the initials M.M.M.S., was immediately taken into custody.

The individual is suspected of being involved in several armed robberies, including a robbery that occurred at a hotel in the Oyster Pond area on January 16, 2026.

Following the arrest, officers searched the vehicle the suspect had been traveling in. During this search, officers discovered a firearm along with hollow-point ammunition inside the vehicle. Both the weapon and the ammunition were confiscated and will form part of the ongoing investigation.

The suspect remains in police custody, pending further investigation.

KPSM takes this opportunity to once again warn the public about the serious dangers posed by illegal firearms within the community. The presence and use of such weapons continue to contribute to acts of violence and place innocent lives at risk.

KPSM also reminds the public that the Inter-Insular Gun Amnesty Program, commonly referred to as the Gun Buyback Project, is currently taking place across the Dutch Caribbean islands. Persons who are in possession of illegal firearms are strongly encouraged to voluntarily surrender these weapons. Turning in a firearm can help prevent violence and may save lives.

Anyone with information regarding illegal firearms or criminal activity is encouraged to contact the KPSM Tip Line at 9300. Information can be shared anonymously and may help police keep the community safe.