PARIS, France:---  The French Ministry of Health, Families, Autonomy, and Disabled Persons has officially withdrawn the authorization for a surgeon to practice in the specialty of orthopedic and trauma surgery. The decision was formalized in an official decree dated November 24, 2025, and published in the Journal Officiel de la République Française.

The decree, referenced as NOR: SFHN2535391A, targets explicitly the authorization granted to the practitioner, born December 30, 1977, in Gagnoa, Côte d’Ivoire. It is important to note that this action is a withdrawal of specialist credentials in orthopedic and trauma surgery and not a general ban on the ability to practice medicine in other capacities, should the individual be otherwise qualified.

This withdrawal comes amid heightened scrutiny following an official investigation into the surgeon's credentials. According to statements made by Senator Annick Pétrus, the suspension of the practitioner at the Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital in Saint Martin was enacted after apparent irregularities were discovered in the surgeon’s medical diploma. Senator Pétrus confirmed that the case had been referred to the Ministry of Health and the Order of Doctors of Guadeloupe, with initial findings substantiating concerns about the authenticity of the qualifications. The senator described the situation as "grave and deeply troubling," emphasizing the priority to protect patient safety and integrity in the medical profession.

A previous order from February 22, 2013, had initially listed the surgeon among those authorized to practice in this surgical field in France. The recent measure amends that order in light of the investigation and its findings.

The legal basis for the withdrawal cites several key French laws and regulations, including 

Article L. 4111-2 (I) of the Public Health Code, which governs the conditions for practicing medicine in France. The decision also references legislation relevant to the financing and organization of the healthcare system, specifically:

• Law No. 2006-1640 of December 21, 2006
• Law No. 2019-774 of July 24, 2019
• Decree No. 2020-672 of June 3, 2020

Additionally, the decree notes correspondence from Professor Mohamed Cisse, the dean of Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, dated September 16, 2025, as a factor in the decision-making process.

The order was signed by P. Touzy, Head of the Department for Practice Authorizations, Contests, and Coaching, acting on behalf of the Minister. This action underscores the French 

government's regulatory oversight of medical specializations to ensure adherence to established standards and qualifications. The withdrawal is effective upon its publication, and investigations into the legitimacy of the medical diploma are expected to continue.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Another Caribbean neighbor has lapped St. Maarten, and we are left wondering if our government was even aware the race had started. St. Kitts recently announced a landmark deal with P&O Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, to establish homeporting operations. This strategic move will transform their island from a simple stopover to a full embarkation and disembarkation hub, injecting significant revenue into multiple sectors of their economy.

Meanwhile, in St. Maarten, we have the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE), widely regarded as one of the most distinguished and capable airports in the entire Caribbean. It’s an infrastructural jewel that should be the engine of our economic prosperity. Yet it sits underutilized, a testament to our leadership's staggering lack of vision and execution. While PJIAE boasts about exceeding passenger traffic targets, what does that matter if we fail to capitalize on our most significant assets?

The success in St. Kitts is not accidental. It is the result of a deliberate "Fly Cruise" model where passengers arrive by air, stay in local hotels, dine at restaurants, and shop in stores before their cruise even begins. This is a comprehensive economic strategy that creates a ripple effect of benefits. St. Kitts is investing in a new international cruise terminal at Port Zante to support this growth. What is St. Maarten investing in?

For decades, St. Maarten has been a major player in tourism. This experience should have given us a competitive edge. Instead, we have been overtaken by smaller islands with bigger ambitions. The question is unavoidable: why has St. Maarten, with its superior airport and long history in tourism, failed to secure a single homeporting agreement?

The answer seems to lie in a familiar and frustrating pattern of government mismanagement. While our leaders are quick to travel the globe on promotional tours, the tangible results of these expensive trips remain invisible. Where is the return on investment for the taxpayer? The failure 

to secure homeporting is not just a missed opportunity; it is a direct consequence of a government that appears more interested in appearances than in delivering concrete economic wins for its people.

Now, to compound this chronic lack of vision, the government has plunged the country into outright financial paralysis. According to recent reporting from SMN News, St. Maarten is on the brink of a half-year freeze due to catastrophic delays in both the 2026 budget and the crucial 2025 budget amendment. New infrastructure projects, critical payouts for justice workers, and subsidies for those in need have all been ground to a halt. No new hires. No new contracts. No relief for the most vulnerable. The government is reduced to the “1/12th rule,” unable to legally spend on anything except ongoing commitments—and even promised perks and bonuses to civil servants are off the table.

This debacle goes beyond mere incompetence; it borders on constitutional violation. Payments for events like Carnival were reportedly made illegally, before any budget approval, raising the alarming question: what other taxpayer money has been spent without parliamentary consent? 

Unchecked, such actions not only risk negative audit opinions and damage to Sint Maarten’s already fragile credit rating but may personally endanger ministers who authorized them.

Even more alarming, the government cannot touch any new revenue until a proper budget is passed. Taxes collected and international transfers meant for urgent development or social relief simply sit, frozen and unusable. Promised Trust Fund and Temporary Work Organization (TWO) projects are at risk of expiring without ever beginning, thanks to this bureaucratic standstill.

This breakdown of financial and democratic oversight leaves Parliament in the dark, unable to hold government accountable or responsibly plan for the public good. Instead of being proactive and visionary, government is perpetually stuck in reactive mode, scrambling to put out fires of its own making.

All of this only deepens the island’s dependence on Dutch aid every time disaster strikes. What could have been an era of growth—driven by strategic investments, homeporting deals, and self-powered economic resilience—is lost to a combination of administrative gridlock, irresponsibility, and willful neglect.

The people of St. Maarten deserve more than excuses and empty promises. We demand accountability for these failures and an immediate plan for pulling the country out of this self-imposed financial limbo. We have the infrastructure. We have the experience. Yet unless voters force a change, St. Maarten’s immense potential will stay locked away—wasted by those who were trusted to lead. The time for reform and real leadership is now.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A long-simmering transport scandal has erupted in St. Maarten, exposing what appears to be decades of deep-rooted corruption, cronyism, and a blatant betrayal of public trust. An explosive combination of leaked documents and fiery parliamentary debates has blown the lid off a system where taxi, bus, and tour licenses were allegedly hoarded by political elites, used as currency for loyalty, and duplicated in a scheme that has left the public transport sector in chaos.

At the heart of the controversy is a leaked list of public transport licenses issued since St. Maarten achieved its new status in 2010 and prior. This list, combined with other official documents, paints a damning picture of a system manipulated for personal and political gain.

The Duplication Scheme: A License to Corrupt

The most shocking revelation from the leaked data is the widespread duplication of license numbers. A single license number, which by law should be tied to one operator, was repeatedly issued to multiple individuals, often for different types of vehicles.

For example, leaked documents highlight several glaring instances from 2013 alone:

• License No#034/2013 was issued to both Matthias Carlisle Williams for Taxi #392 and Edward Cleophas Richardson for Taxi #015.
• • License No#020/2013 was granted to Alejandro Alvarez for Bus #219 and also to Charles Vidal for Taxi #386.
  • In a particularly brazen case, License No#023/2013 was issued to three different people: Henry Joseph Adolphin, Timia Jones, and Rosa Alvarez e/v Richardson, effectively triplicating the license.

  In total, an analysis from 2013 showed at least 24 licenses were duplicated, and one was triplicated, impacting 49 license holders. This practice of "doubling" licenses effectively created phantom assets, allowing connected individuals to control more of the market than legally permitted while creating a nightmare for regulation and enforcement.

  Political Elites and Hoarded Power

• The scandal points directly at St. Maarten's political class. For years, politicians, their families, and their business partners have allegedly amassed vast portfolios of transport licenses, contrary to the law, which stipulates they should be issued to operators who depend on them as a primary source of income.

• Investigative reports reveal that influential figures hold as many as 8 to10 licenses each, controlling fleets of up to 30 vehicles. One of the most alarming cases involves Claude Omeus, who reportedly controls 21 bus licenses, allegedly leasing them out to drivers who can barely 

  make ends meet. This system enriches the license holder while the actual operators shoulder all the risk and cost of maintenance and insurance.

  The issue exploded in Parliament when Member of Parliament (MP) Lyndon Lewis, a former federal detective, launched a blistering attack on his colleagues. Lewis accused lawmakers of leveraging their positions for personal enrichment and turning a blind eye to the decades-old problem.

  “Taxi plates… became political currency… while regular citizens were denied,” Lewis stated, arguing that licenses were used to “cement loyalty” and reward political allies. He called out the hypocrisy of lawmakers who feigned outrage at a system they themselves benefited from.

• Systemic Failure and a Path Forward

  This crisis is not just about individual greed; it's a story of institutional collapse. An internal investigation by the Integrity Chamber and the St. Maarten Audit Bureau (SOAB) found that the Public Transportation Committee, a crucial oversight body, has not functioned since 2009. This regulatory vacuum allowed successive Ministers of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunication (TEATT) to issue licenses with little to no accountability.

  In response to the public outcry, the current Minister of TEATT, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, has promised a five-phase reform package. The plan includes:

  1. A complete audit and verification of all existing transport licenses.
  2. Mandatory certifications for all drivers.
  3. An overhaul of the transport legislation to close legal loopholes.
  4. The implementation of a digital dispatch system for better regulation.]
     5. The establishment of a dedicated Transport Authority by 2027 to manage licensing.

     The minister has also vowed to revoke non-compliant licenses, a move that could strip power from some of the island's most entrenched players.

     This scandal cuts to the core of governance in St. Maarten. It raises critical questions about accountability, transparency, and whether political power is a tool for public service or a means for personal profit. As the island grapples with these revelations, the promises of reform will be tested against a four-decade legacy of corruption. The trust of the people has been broken, and only a radical, transparent overhaul of the system can begin to mend it.

MARIGOT:--- The Gendarmerie of Saint-Barthélémy and Saint-Martin is requesting information from the public regarding a fatal traffic accident. The incident occurred on the evening of December 23, 2025, in the Saint-James neighborhood of Saint-Martin.
At approximately 9:20 PM, a pedestrian was struck and fatally injured. The Gendarmerie is investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragic event and seeking any relevant details.
Authorities are specifically requesting any information related to the accident or the truck involved. Members of the public who may have witnessed the incident or have any knowledge that could assist the investigation are urged to come forward.
If you have any information, please contact the Gendarmerie immediately by dialing 17. Your cooperation is crucial to understanding the full details of this incident.