BELVEDERE, Sint Maarten:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) made two arrests and confiscated a firearm following a response to a domestic violence incident in Belvedere on the evening of Monday, January 19, 2026.
Police patrols were dispatched to a residence after receiving reports of a physical altercation between a couple. Upon arrival, officers found an active dispute between a male and a female suspect, both of whom resided at the address.
Following established domestic violence protocols, officers arrested both individuals and transported them to the Philipsburg Police Station.
During the subsequent investigation, detectives received credible information that the male suspect, identified as G.I., was in possession of a firearm and had allegedly used it to threaten others. Acting on this information, officers obtained authorization to search the suspect's residence. The search resulted in the discovery and confiscation of a weapon appearing to be a rifle.
After questioning, the female suspect, R.M., was released from custody. The male suspect, G.I., remains in detention as the investigation continues into charges of domestic violence and illegal firearm possession.
The KPSM emphasizes its commitment to addressing domestic violence and illegal weapons with the utmost seriousness. The safety of the community is our highest priority, and we will continue to act decisively in response to reports of violence and unlawful activities.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information about this case to contact the Police Force of Sint Maarten at +1 721-542-2222 or leave an anonymous tip on the 9300 tip line.
SG Arnell submits VSA end-of-year report in line with principles of Good Governance and Transparency.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Mr. Richinel S.J. Brug, announces that the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Ms. Joy Arnell, has submitted the Ministry’s end-of-year report in accordance with Article 9 of the “Organisatiebesluit VSA”.
In fulfillment of this legal obligation, the heads of departments submitted written reports to the Secretary-General prior to January 15, outlining the activities carried out during the preceding year, key developments, and other matters relevant for inclusion in the Ministry’s annual report. These submissions form the foundation of the consolidated report prepared by SG Arnell and Stafbureau.
While the legal deadline for submissions by department heads has been met, the document is currently considered a draft. In accordance with the “Landsverordening inrichting en organisatie landsoverheid”, the Cabinet of the Minister forms an integral part of the Ministry and will therefore also contribute to the report. Additionally, where necessary, department heads will be afforded the opportunity to further refine, supplement, or strengthen their respective sections to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Once finalized, the annual report will be formally submitted to the House of Parliament and shared with other relevant stakeholders. This process underscores the Ministry’s continued commitment to good governance, transparency, and accountability, ensuring that the public and oversight bodies are fully informed about the Ministry’s activities, performance, and responsible use of public resources.
“The Ministry of VSA remains steadfast in its commitment to openness, transparency, and accountability to Parliament and the people of Sint Maarten. Taxpayers are entitled to clear and accurate insight into how public resources are managed and utilized. Timely and comprehensive reporting is not only a legal obligation, but a fundamental principle of good governance and responsible public administration.”
Tensions Rise in Sandy Ground Following Arrest and Allegations of Police Violence.
Sandy Ground, Saint-Martin:--- A wave of unrest swept through the Sandy Ground neighborhood on Sunday night, following the arrest of a young man suspected of involvement in a series of armed robberies in the Sandy Ground and Baie Nettle areas.
The arrest, which took place shortly after 8 PM, sparked outrage among residents and youth, who claimed the suspect was subjected to police violence during the operation. The gendarmerie, however, has firmly denied these allegations.
The situation quickly escalated as anger and frustration boiled over. Throughout the night and into the early hours of Monday morning, garbage bins and cars were set ablaze, creating scenes of chaos and disruption. Roads were blocked with debris, paralyzing traffic and leaving the community in turmoil.
In response to the unrest, Prefect Cyrille Le Vély and President of the Collectivity Louis Mussington visited Sandy Ground on Monday to address residents' concerns and restore calm.
Accompanied by the Colonel of the Gendarmerie, the Prosecutor, and representatives of the Territorial Police, the officials held a series of meetings with local leaders, including members of the district council, to discuss the situation.
During these discussions, Prefect Le Vély emphasized the importance of distinguishing between individual actions and those of the broader community. "It is not enough for something to happen in Sandy Ground for the responsibility to be automatically attributed to Sandy Ground," he stated, urging against the stigmatization of the neighborhood.
The meetings also addressed the recent spike in criminal activity, including gunfights and armed robberies, which had prompted the gendarmerie to implement heightened security measures in the area. These measures included increased patrols and checkpoints to prevent further incidents.
However, tensions reached a breaking point on Sunday night, following the arrest of the young man. While some residents alleged that the suspect was mistreated by the gendarmes, Prefect Le Vély assured the community that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the facts. "The prosecutor understood the need to conduct an investigation very quickly," he said, adding that the investigation would include a review of footage from the body cameras worn by the gendarmes during the operation.
Despite local officials' efforts to engage with the community and provide assurances, their visit did little to quell the unrest. Residents remained skeptical, demanding accountability and transparency in the investigation.
The debris and roadblocks set up during the night continued to disrupt daily life, preventing residents from returning to their routines.
Prefect Le Vély and President Mussington expressed their hope that the investigation and ongoing dialogue would help to rebuild trust and restore order in Sandy Ground. "We came to announce that there would be an investigation, and this investigation, of course, will take a little time," Prefect Le Vély stated. He also called for patience and cooperation from the community, emphasizing the need to allow the investigation to proceed without interference.
As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on restoring calm and ensuring that the voices of Sandy Ground residents are heard. Local leaders and law enforcement officials face the challenge of addressing the underlying issues that have fueled tensions in the neighborhood, while working to prevent further violence and disruption. For now, the community waits for answers and a path forward.
BTP becomes title sponsor of St. Maarten team for regional robotics challenge.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Bureau Telecommunications and Post Sint Maarten (BTP) is proud to announce its support of the St. Maarten team participating in the OECSRA Super Regional Robotics Challenge, scheduled to take place from March 16–20, 2026, in St. Kitts. As part of this commitment, BTP is funding participation costs, ensuring that local students can take part in this regional STEAM learning experience.
This initiative fully aligns with BTP’s mission to promote technology and innovation while encouraging students to pursue careers in science and technology. By supporting robotics and innovation programs, BTP continues to invest in developing future-ready skills among St. Maarten’s youth.
“This sponsorship reflects our strong belief in empowering young minds through technology and innovation,” said Ms. Judianne Hoeve, Director of BTP. “Both the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation and the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, who has endorsed this program, have our full support. We are truly looking forward to this collaboration as we create opportunities for students to explore robotics, engineering, and emerging technologies. It is essential that we intentionally develop a strong pool of technology-focused students from which our local technology sector can later draw talent.”
The St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation supports the continued growth of STEAM education on St. Maarten—an integrated learning approach that combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics to foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Dr. Rolinda Carter, President of the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation and OECSRA representative for St. Maarten, welcomed the partnership with BTP, stating: “We are grateful to BTP for its support of St. Maarten’s participation in the inaugural OECSRA Super Regional Robotics Challenge. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating meaningful learning opportunities that prepare our students for a rapidly advancing digital world. As this first regional challenge emphasizes skill development, collaboration, and friendly competition, BTP’s support ensures our students gain valuable hands-on experience in robotics, innovation, and problem-solving. We look forward to continuing this collaboration as we expand access to STEAM initiatives for St. Maarten’s youth.
A kickoff meeting was recently held between BTP and the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation to coordinate logistics for the upcoming competition and explore opportunities for future collaboration. Discussions also included emerging areas of mutual interest, such as cybersecurity, particularly as artificial intelligence and modern technologies become increasingly prominent in education and industry.
BTP applauds the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport for their continued efforts to actively promote technology, robotics, and innovation, and for its dedication to engaging and inspiring students across the island.
Strengthening the transparency of monetary data and the external sector.
CBCS launches interactive dashboards to enhance accessibility to statistics
Willemstad/Philipsburg:--- The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) is pleased to announce the launch of two new interactive statistical dashboards: the Monetary & Financial Statistics Dashboard and the External Sector Statistics Dashboard.1 These tools form an important part of the CBCS’s broader strategy to strengthen data visualization and improve the accessibility, transparency, and clarity of official statistics for a wide range of users.
The Monetary & Financial Statistics Dashboard provides a visual overview of credit developments, monetary data, financial system trends, and other key indicators within the monetary union. This dynamic tool enables users to better interpret monetary and financial developments through intuitive, easy‑to‑navigate visual formats.
Meanwhile, the External Sector Statistics Dashboard provides insights into balance of payments developments, trade flows of goods and services, investment patterns, and other external sector indicators, helping users better understand the monetary union’s external vulnerabilities and economic linkages with global markets.
These dashboards are central to the CBCS’s ongoing efforts to modernize the dissemination of statistical information. By transitioning from static publications to dynamic, interactive tools, the CBCS aims to:
• Improve access to complex economic data
• Enhance transparency and public understanding
• Support evidence-based decision making
• Encourage wider use of official statistics in research, planning, and policy discussions.
Both dashboards allow users to analyze trends interactively, export data, and incorporate insights into their own analyses and decision-making processes. Most data are available at the monetary union level as well as separately for Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
As a result, policymakers, researchers, financial institutions, journalists, students and the general public now have access to user friendly visualizations of key macroeconomic indicators.
Looking ahead, the CBCS plans to further expand its dashboard with real sector and public sector statistics dashboards. These additions will create a more complete suite of interactive tools, enabling users to explore economic developments across all major sectors through a unified platform. The CBCS also plans to introduce medium-term forecasts of key economic indicators, further strengthening the dashboards’ value for forward-looking analysis and policy assessment.
With these initiatives, the CBCS reaffirms its commitment to delivering timely, reliable, and high‑quality economic data in a format that is easy to explore, visualize, and interpret.
Willemstad, January 19, 2026
CENTRALE BANK VAN CURACAO EN SINT MAARTEN