Philipsburg, St. Maarten — Science Week 2026, held March 9 to 21, 2026, brought together students, educators, professionals, and community stakeholders in a dynamic celebration of curiosity, innovation, and discovery under the theme “Innovate for Wellbeing.” The week of activities highlighted the growing interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) across the island, while also reinforcing the importance of innovation in addressing real-world challenges and improving community wellbeing. Science Week officially launched with an inspiring opening ceremony featuring addresses by Dr. Rolinda Carter, President of the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation; Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina; and Minister…
Author: The Publisher
Philipsburg, St. Maarten — The St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation is proud to announce that SXM Tech Tides, the island’s first robotics team to compete at a regional level, has achieved an impressive 2nd place finish among teams from eight countries at the OECSRA (now ECRIA) Super Regional Robotics Challenge, held in St. Kitts, earning both the Code Mastery Award and the Digital Engagement Award. Students Jacob Boxshall of Learning Unlimited Preparatory School and Akash Pillai of St. Maarten Academy represented the 10-member team and delivered an outstanding performance on the regional stage. Their robot, the Soualiga Seaside Sweeper (SSS-37),…
Sint Maarten, March 21, 2026 Member of Parliament Francisco A. Lacroes is urgently calling on the Government of Sint Maarten to eliminate the double application of Turnover Tax (TOT) on fuel prices, an unnecessary and inflation-driving practice that is directly contributing to the record-high costs currently burdening residents at the pump. Recent price buildup data published by the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunication (TEATT) confirms once again that Turnover Tax is being charged twice: This practice results in Sint Maarten residents paying Turnover Tax on top of Turnover Tax, a multilayered burden that amplifies fuel price increases…
PHILIPSBURG — Member of Parliament Darryl T. J. York is urging the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT) to take immediate action to adjust taxi tariffs following the sharp increase in fuel prices now impacting drivers across St. Maarten. Effective March 22, gasoline prices have jumped by approximately 24.6%, while diesel, heavily used by commercial operators, has surged by 39.7%, placing significant strain on taxi drivers and the broader transport sector. York emphasized that this call is not sudden or reactionary. He has been raising concerns about taxi pricing since January, when formal inquiries were submitted to…
By Hilbert Haar To say that gambling is part of the human DNA is probably correct. People gamble for different reasons and the most important one is, according to me: gamblers expect that chances they hit the jackpot are far greater than the chance that they will die tomorrow. Archeologists discovered clay dice more than 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, located in present day Iraq. Back in those days, the dice were used for entertainment and for divination. Interesting little fact: the word gamble stems from the Latin word cambiare, which means exchange or trade. Dice games stuck around and…
THE HAGUE – The court of appeal in The Hague has confirmed a ruling issued by a lower court on January 17, 2024 against the operators of online gambling sites. These companies demanded that the court declare actions taken by the Dutch Authority on Games of Chance and the Dutch public prosecutor’s office be declared unlawful because they violate the free movement of services within the European Union. Like the lower court, the Court of Appeals acknowledged that a prohibition on offering online gambling limits that free movement, but it also ruled that the ban on offering such services are…
ORANJESTAD – While Sint Maarten considers itself a beginner in the field of being an autonomous country, Aruba marked the fortieth anniversary since it obtained status aparte back in 1986. King Willem-Alexander received the memorial book Resilient People/ 40 years of Country Aruba during his visit to the island from Prime Minister Mike Eman. The book is a bundle of observations written by local stakeholder and scientists. They write about the benefits of the status aparte but also about what can still be improved. Fifteen guest writers share their personal memories about their cooperation with the country’s first Prime Minister,…
By Hilbert Haar Sint Maarten is the undisputed counterfeiting capital of the Caribbean and the counterfeited brands hardly take any action against it because the market is so small. As long as the costs outweigh the benefits, counterfeiters can do whatever they like. Casino-owner Francesco Corallo must have thought something like this when he (allegedly) decorated his Vegas casino in Cole Bay with Louis Vuitton themed decorations. He even outfitted his staff with counterfeit Vuitton uniforms. But in this case, these decisions are already having consequences and there is potentially more to come. On behalf of Vuitton, Disosa Property Protection…
PHILIPSBURG – Casino-Owner Francesco Corallo is in trouble with the French luxury brand Louis Vuitton over alleged trademark infringements. His Vegas casino, located on Union Road in Cole Bay, is using the Louis Vuitton logo and monograms without permission. Louis Vuitton is a registered trademark with the Bureau for Intellectual Property in St. Maarten. According to a report in Antilliaans Dagblad, Vegas is even using Louis Vuitton-themed uniforms for its staff. This way the casino willingly benefits from Louis Vuitton’s global reputation and exclusivity. Wiek Herben, a Curacao-based attorney who works for Disosa Brand Protection Services says that the protected…
PHILIPSBURG-Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina on Wednesday opened the Council of Ministers press briefing by addressing growing tensions within the monetary union between St. Maarten and Curaçao, emphasizing that recent developments surrounding the Centrale Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (CBCS) have intensified public and political debate on the future of the shared financial system. The Prime Minister’s remarks come against the backdrop of an ongoing governance dispute at the CBCS, which has reignited questions about the long-term viability of the monetary union. While both countries had previously supported the transition to the Caribbean guilder, the current situation has underscored the need for renewed dialogue and careful reassessment. “The Central…
