Pointe Blanche:--- Police are investigating the death of a 37-year-old Guyanese national who was found in the Pointe Blanche area on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
Authorities were dispatched to the location at approximately 11:26 AM following a report of an unresponsive male. Upon their arrival, officers discovered the body of an adult male in a hanging position.
According to the initial report, the body showed signs of decomposition at the time it was found. Investigators at the scene noted that there were no immediate visible signs of foul play. The identity of the deceased was known to authorities at the time of the discovery.
The Police Force of Sint Maarten has extended its condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased. They wish them strength as they navigate this difficult time.

PHILLIPSBURG: --- The ongoing struggle to maintain cleanliness on St. Maarten’s streets and boardwalks has come into sharp focus, with government officials acknowledging systemic failures in waste collection and outlining plans for stricter enforcement.

On Wednesday, the Minister of VROMI responded to questions regarding the state of sanitation on the island. The Minister responsible for infrastructure and waste management highlighted a complex web of challenges ranging from unqualified contractors to public non-compliance with disposal rules.

"I think one of the biggest challenges we've had with garbage overall is that a number of the people who have been awarded garbage contracts were not qualified," the Minister stated, referencing public findings from the Ombudsman’s reports. This capacity shortage among haulers has led to inconsistent collection schedules over the past year, resulting in unsightly pile-ups in public areas.

While the island offers daily garbage collection free of charge, the Minister noted that this service is rare globally and that the system is strained. Residents often ignore the waste ordinance, particularly concerning "white material" such as refrigerators and stoves. These large items are meant for specific collection days but are frequently dumped at random, creating hazards and eyesores.

The "Ghost" Bins of the Boardwalk

Specific concerns were raised about the Phillipsburg boardwalk, where citizens have noted inconsistent cleanliness. Despite new waste bins already being on the island, they have not yet been deployed.

The delay, officials explained, stems from a bureaucratic gap: the new bins were not included in the current service tender.

"We had to wait until we could have a way to pay for the servicing of those bins," the Minister explained. "There’s a number of concrete slabs on the boardwalk which should have had bins and never did."

Discussions are now finalizing the locations and maintenance plans for these bins, which are expected to be included in the upcoming garbage tender.

Commercial Waste and the Phillipsburg Problem

Phillipsburg faces unique challenges as the only area where the government allows commercial waste collection. Shop owners are required to put out waste between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., but hauler delays often mean garbage sits out overnight, vulnerable to wind and rain.

"If they don't come before wind or rain, that garbage ends up on the boardwalk on the road," the Minister noted. The government is now reviewing the tender process to better "bridge the gap" and ensure the commercial hub remains presentable.

Smarter Enforcement and New Legislation

Perhaps the most significant hurdle is the lack of legal teeth to punish littering. Currently, the Ministry lacks the mechanism to issue fines directly. Any fine must be processed through the Public Prosecutor as a criminal offense, a route often clogged by higher-priority cases.

To combat this, a revision of the waste ordinance is underway. This update aims to introduce administrative enforcement, allowing officials to issue fines more easily without burdening the criminal justice system.

Furthermore, the government is looking to technology to solve its manpower shortage. The Department of Inspection plans to utilize drone technology to monitor illegal dumping and collection routes.

"It's about working smart and not hard," the Minister said, emphasizing that physical patrols of every street are impossible due to budget constraints. "You do a flyover every so often, and you get the data that you need."

As the current garbage tender nears its end, residents and business owners alike are looking to these new measures to restore consistency and cleanliness to the island’s streets.

PHILIPSBURG:--- For years, residents have navigated the challenges of St. Maarten’s roadways, often wondering where their road tax contributions were going. At the Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday, the Minister of VROMI, Patrice Gumbs Jr., made a significant announcement that promises to transform how the island manages its infrastructure: The Road Fund will officially take effect on January 1, 2027.

This long-awaited move marks a pivotal shift from reactive repairs to proactive planning, ensuring that the money collected from drivers goes exactly where it belongs—back into the roads they drive on every day.

Unlocking the Road Fund Law

The implementation of the Road Fund isn't just a new policy; it is the enactment of a law that has been on the books but never fully utilized. As Minister Gumbs Jr. explained during the press briefing, the Road Fund law explicitly stipulates that all road tax revenue must be dedicated to the fund. However, this legal requirement has never been put into practice until now.

The disparity between revenue collected and infrastructure spending has been stark. Minister Gumbs Jr. revealed that last year alone, the government collected over 9 million guilders in road taxes. Despite this substantial income, only about 600,000 guiders were allocated specifically to road infrastructure (excluding CAPEX).

Starting in 2027, this dynamic changes completely. "The ministry will take the full nine to ten million every year," it was noted during the briefing. This ensures that the dedicated millions collected from vehicle owners will finally be reinvested directly into the road network.

Green Light from the General Audit Chamber

The path to this implementation was cleared significantly earlier this year. On January 23, 2026, the General Audit Chamber responded favorably to the Ministry's proposal to implement the Road Fund. With this crucial approval in place, the Ministry is now moving full speed ahead to prepare for the 2027 launch.

More Than Just Potholes: A Comprehensive Approach

This initiative is more than just filling potholes. The Road Fund is designed to support holistic improvements to the island's transport infrastructure. According to officials Ema Lee and the Minister of Romy, the fund covers "everything related to the road." This includes:

• Road surfaces

• Sidewalks for pedestrian safety

• Street lighting

• Speed bumps and traffic calming measures

Minister Gumbs Jr. also highlighted that the Ministry will be establishing strict road quality standards. They are currently looking into introducing regular road maintenance contracts. This shift is critical. Instead of scrambling to fix problems after they appear, the government will have the resources readily available to make necessary investments much more quickly than before. It allows for "better planning, moving from reactive to proactive in handling road infrastructure."

Funding the Future

While the primary source of the Road Fund is the annual road tax, the legislation allows for a more robust financial structure. The fund can also source financing from specific fees and dedicated donations from the budget itself.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The tragic police shooting of Rudy Benjamin has left the St. Peter's community in mourning and demanding answers. During Wednesday’s council of ministers0 press briefing, the Minister of Justice addressed questions surrounding the incident, offering condolences to the family and community while emphasizing the ongoing investigation.

The Minister began by expressing sympathy for the family of Mr. Benjamin and the St. Peter's community, acknowledging the trauma caused by the incident. However, the Minister clarified that no updates on the case could be provided at this time, as the investigation is being conducted under the direction of the public prosecutor's office and the National Detectives (Landsrecherche). "As Minister, we are not privy to individual cases," the Minister stated, reiterating that the facts of the case are still being determined.

Questions on De-escalation and Police Response

When asked about the de-escalation measures used during the incident, the Minister admitted to having no knowledge of the specific actions taken by the officers involved. "I wasn’t there. I haven’t seen anything. I don’t know," the Minister said, emphasizing that these details would emerge as part of the investigation.

The discussion also touched on the role of the Arrest Team (ATE) and their involvement in responding to 911 calls. The Minister explained that members of the ATE are also police officers who participate in regular patrols due to the police force's limited manpower. "They don’t just sit in an office and wait until there’s something exciting or somebody has to get arrested out of their house," the Minister clarified, adding that the operational realities of the police force require flexibility in roles.

Community Policing and Trust

Concerns were also raised about the status of Community Police Officers (CPOs) and their role in fostering trust and de-escalation within neighborhoods. The Minister confirmed that CPOs are still functioning in various districts, but did not provide specific details about their involvement in the St. Peter's area.

Calls for Transparency

The Minister’s responses come amid growing public outrage and calls for transparency. Residents and Members of Parliament have demanded the release of camera footage from the incident, questioning the necessity of lethal force and the circumstances leading to the shooting. The community has described Mr. Benjamin as a "jolly" and "hardworking" individual, with many expressing disbelief over the police's actions.

As the investigation continues, the Minister urged the public to remain patient and allow the process to unfold. However, for a community grappling with grief and mistrust, the demand for accountability and justice remains urgent.