~ Motion of Disapproval Demands Urgent Action on Prolonged Fire and Ambulance Go-Slow ~ PHILIPSBURG — Parliamentary deliberations on the escalating crisis involving fire and ambulance personnel ended abruptly on Thursday when Members of Parliament walked out of the House, citing frustration over the lack of progress and the continued absence of firm commitments from government. Firefighters and ambulance workers observing the meeting from the public tribune followed suit, leaving the chamber in a visible show of solidarity. The meeting was requested by National Alliance (NA) MPs Egbert Doran, Ardwell Irion and Darryl York, United People’s (UP) party MPs Omar…
Author: The Publisher
BARBUDA — Operating hours at Barbuda International Airport are set to be extended into the evening following Cabinet approval for the installation of new apron lighting, a development government officials say will significantly improve access to the sister island and support its evolving tourism strategy. Director General of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Maurice Merchant, announced during the weekly Cabinet briefing that the apron lighting project is expected to begin shortly. Once completed, the new lighting will allow aircraft to operate at the airport until approximately 9:30 p.m., replacing the current limitation that restricts flights to daylight…
PHILIPSBURG — Several Members of Parliament used the notification round at the start of a Central Committee meeting on Wednesday to sharply question a recent press release by Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Patrice Gumbs, in which he warned that a go-slow action by the Fire Department is significantly delaying the processing of building permits. The Central Committee meeting, held with Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling, was convened to address urgent unresolved matters affecting justice workers. However, MPs seized the opportunity to respond to the VROMI minister’s public statement, which said the suspension of fire…
PHILIPSBURG — Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling, representing the Soualiga Action Movement (SAM party), told Parliament on Wednesday that the Government of St. Maarten remains legally responsible for compensating justice workers injured or killed in the line of duty, regardless of the current absence of a comprehensive insurance policy. Responding to questions during a Central Committee meeting, Tackling addressed long-standing concerns from unions and Members of Parliament regarding insurance coverage, payroll delays, and communication between the Ministry of Justice and labor representatives. Legal duty of care The minister emphasized that compensation rights for police officers are grounded in law, not…
Dear Editor, Have you traveled out of SXM and returned to witness what it is like to be a tourist on our beautiful island? How about visiting some of our local hotels? How was your experience? Recently I had the opportunity to travel out of our island and because I haven’t traveled for a long time, I didn’t know what to expect. I had no standards and was just happy to be able to travel and take the much-needed break but on arriving at other airports and seeing how very friendly some of their staff were despite being an extremely…
During her interview, United Nations Resident Coordinator Joanna Kazana acknowledged that agriculture and food security are increasingly important issues for small island territories such as Sint Maarten, but clarified that the United Nations is not currently implementing an active agriculture programme on the island. Kazana described food security as closely linked to public health, economic diversification, and resilience, noting that the quality of food consumed by the population has long-term impacts on wellbeing. She also highlighted the potential benefits of local food production, including empowering farmers and reducing dependency on imports. At the same time, she cautioned that agriculture in…
For years, the Point Blanche Prison project has symbolized stalled progress in Sint Maarten’s justice sector. Repeated references to delays, feasibility studies, and unmet timelines created public skepticism, reinforced by the Progress Committee’s earlier assessment that little progress had been made. The groundbreaking ceremony does not erase those concerns, but it does mark a clear shift: the project has moved from planning to execution. A key takeaway from Kazana’s interview is role clarity. The United Nations Resident Coordinator does not manage construction, nor does the broader UN system “build” the prison. That responsibility lies with UNOPS, a specialized UN agency…
By Shola Blessing PHILIPSBURG – The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Point Blanche Prison marks a significant milestone in a project that has been years in the making, according to Joanna Kazana, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Suriname. Kazana, who was in Sint Maarten specifically to attend the groundbreaking, described the moment as a transition from an extended planning phase to tangible implementation. Her visit also included meetings with government officials as part of the United Nations’ broader engagement with the island. Kazana explained that her role as Resident Coordinator is…
From our news correspondent PHILIPSBURG — During Parliament’s question hour on December 15, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina confirmed that utilities company NV GEBE has requested government-owned land to develop its first solar energy project. In response to questions from Parliament, the Prime Minister stated that approximately 5,000 square meters of land are required to generate one megawatt (MW) of solar power. While the announcement points to growing interest in renewable energy, multiple structural, financial, and environmental factors raise serious questions about whether large-scale solar development on government land is feasible under current conditions on St. Maarten. One of the…
PHILIPSBURG — Members of Parliament from the National Alliance (NA) have raised serious concerns over the government’s updated Nature Policy Plan 2025–2030, questioning whether the plan can deliver on its promises or if it risks remaining a paper exercise. During a parliamentary review session this week, the MPs highlighted gaps in transparency, enforcement, and operational readiness. An elaborate list of questions from NA Member of Parliaments Egbert Doran and Darryl York underscored long-standing frustrations with Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Patrice Gumbs’ management of environmental and development matters. The minister, representing the Party for Progress (PFP),…
