Member of Parliament Egbert J. Doran has raised serious concerns about the current sanitary and operational conditions in several public schools, following reports from teachers and parents about shortages of basic supplies. According to the MP, schools are facing a lack of essential hygiene items such as toilet paper, soap, sanitizer, paper towels, and garbage bags. In addition, some schools are reportedly dealing with shortages of printer ink and non-functioning copy machines, limiting teachers’ ability to properly prepare and distribute worksheets, tests, and other instructional materials. Doran emphasized that teachers already carry a heavy burden, often purchasing classroom materials out…
Author: The Publisher
Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Patrice Gumbs announced Wednesday that St. Maarten’s Road Fund will officially launch on January 1, 2027, directing all motor vehicle tax revenues straight to repairing and maintaining the island’s roads. The decision follows a positive response in January 2026 from the General Audit Chamber to the Ministry’s proposal to operationalize the Road Fund. At the press briefing, Gumbs explained that current practice — in which road tax revenues flow into the general government budget — has not delivered the necessary funding or predictability needed for sustained infrastructure investment. The timing of the announcement comes against the backdrop of a…
The Collectivité de Saint-Martin has announced the opening of registrations for nursery school and first grade (CP) for the 2026–2027 academic year, beginning February 25, 2026. This year, the Collectivité is introducing a new digital system with the launch of its “Family Portal,” allowing parents to complete all registration procedures exclusively online. The platform facilitates enrolment for nursery and CP classes, as well as applications for school meals, school transportation and after-school programmes. Parents are no longer required to visit the school registration office or navigate through the administrative procedures section of the website, as access to the Family Portal is now available directly from the homepage of the…
ANSE MARCEL, SAINT MARTIN — Employee representatives of one of the French side’s largest hotel properties, St. Martin Beach Resort & Spa, formerly operated as Secrets Resort & Spa St. Martin, are raising serious concerns about the resort’s abrupt closure, mounting financial uncertainty, and the potential long-term consequences for more than 130 families and the wider tourism economy. Since the hotel’s closure in December 2025, the Comité Social et Économique (CSE), which represents 132 employees, has publicly voiced its concerns about the uncertain future of the resort and the livelihoods of staff members, many of whom have dedicated decades of…
At 31 years old, Marsha Bremer has already lived two very different careers. After spending a decade in law enforcement, she made the life-changing decision to leave the police force and pursue her passion for beauty full time. Today, she is the founder of ShaGlam Cosmetics, a growing St. Maarten-based beauty brand with international ambitions and its own dedicated website, ShaGlamCosmetics.sx. Bremer began her career in uniform at just 18 years old. “From the time I was four, I always told my mom I wanted to be a police officer,” she said. She joined the force as a teenager and…
CAY HILL: Twenty-two students have recently completed the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) Accelerated Registered Nursing Course (2023–2025) and are now officially recognized as Registered Nurses (RNs). The two-year program, which began in November 2023, was coordinated and facilitated by Nrs. Antonio Pantophlet, SMMC’s In-Patient Care and Education Manager, in collaboration with the Instituto pa Formashon Den Enfermeria (IFE) of Curaçao. The program falls under IFE’s accreditation, which is recognized in the Netherlands. This graduation marked the 6th group that has successfully advanced through SMMC’s accelerated RN program. The course was specifically designed for Certified Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) with…
The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is calling on residents, visitors, and the broader business community to cooperate fully with law enforcement as the island gears up for one of its most celebrated annual events — the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, set to take place during the first week of March 2026. The Heineken Regatta is one of Sint Maarten’s important events, drawing thousands of sailing enthusiasts and visitors from around the world each year. With that influx comes a significant increase in activity across the island, and KPSM wants to ensure the experience remains safe and enjoyable for…
The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is sending a clear message: enforcement is active, visible, and ongoing. Over the past week, the Action Team conducted a series of targeted operations across multiple districts, combining traffic controls, preventative searches, and rapid response to an armed threat — reinforcing KPSM’s commitment to keeping Sint Maarten’s roads and communities safe. On Wednesday, officers deployed to the Maho area with a focus on traffic compliance and order. In a welcome sign of progress, no vehicles were found parked in the designated “No Parking Zone” — a direct result of sustained enforcement efforts and…
St. Maarten is mentioned multiple times in a sweeping release of documents made public by the United States Department of Justice in connection with the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Department has published approximately three million pages of records through a dedicated online portal known as the “Epstein Library.” Officials have warned that parts of the archive contain graphic descriptions of sexual abuse. A review of the publicly accessible documents shows that “St. Maarten,” “Saint Martin,” “Philipsburg,” and “Orient Bay” appear mainly in email exchanges concerning travel logistics. The correspondence involves Epstein, members of his inner circle, flight crew, yacht staff and close associates. At the same time,…
By MP Darryl York Member of Parliament Darryl York says he is deeply disappointed in the direction signaled by Government following recent remarks by Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs suggesting that one or two additional casinos may enter the market. “At a time when families are struggling, when the cost of living continues to rise, and when many of our people are searching for financial stability, the idea that expanding the casino footprint is even being entertained is troubling,” MP York stated. The Minister indicated that St. Maarten already has a significant casino presence and that any expansion must be…
