PHILIPSBURG — The letter sent by Member of Parliament Ludmilla De Weever to the Minister of Finance is more than a request for clarification. It is a public indictment of government inconsistency, and a challenge to political will. De Weever’s question cuts to the core: if government could bail out a private company like ENNIA under opaque terms that tie the country into decades of obligations, why is TelEm, our own national telecom provider, left to wither? This is not an abstract debate. TelEm is not just another struggling company. It is part of St. Maarten’s backbone infrastructure. Its collapse…
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PHILIPSBURG — Member of Parliament Ludmilla De Weever is escalating pressure on the Government of St. Maarten to formally reveal its intentions regarding financial support for the national telecom operator TELEM. In a letter addressed to Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs, De Weever demands clarity, accountability, and transparency on a government guarantee of XCg 5 million reportedly needed to stabilize TELEM’s operations. According to the text of the letter obtained by this newsroom, De Weever raises tough questions about whether government will inject funds, the precise structure and oversight of any support, and the risks of non-action. “The people of…
PHILIPSBURG — The Progress Committee published its fiftieth progress report since St. Maarten became an autonomous country on October 10, 2010, in September. The committee monitors the progress with plans of approach for the police force and the Pointe Blanche prison. Sad conclusion: there is no progress. Chairperson Jurenne Hooi nevertheless states in the introduction of the report that she presents the results of its latest report “with pleasure,” even though the committee did not manage to speak with the governor, the prime minister and the office for rehabilitation during its visit to the island in March. The general impression,…
Islandpreneur and ACU Credit Union Equipping St. Maarten with AI Skills to Thrive Great Bay, St. Maarten – Islandpreneur International is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with ACU Credit Union to deliver a three-part AI Workshop Series from September to November 2025. This strategic partnership reflects both organizations’ commitment to staying relevant amid rapid technological advancements. By prioritizing AI training, Islandpreneur and ACU aim to equip members with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in a digital-first world, ensuring they remain at the forefront of innovation and industry trends. The workshop series will be led by Ife Badejo,…
by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert The Caribbean is being stuck with economies that are over-proportionally depending on revenue from tourism and related activities. No, this is not just about hurricanes. If it wasn’t the weather, then it was the Covid virus or a recession. It is an economy that was directed in an unsafe direction. What was in the past is history and what evolved over the years shall not be judged. There is no time for blame games and this is not around politics or politicians from the past until today. It is not about one particular territory but rather…
PHILIPSBURG — The Ministry of VROMI was fully within it rights when it ended a contract for garbage collection with Avyanna Cleanup and Construction, the court ruled in summary procedures. Aryanna, whose owner is Mhalik Ottley, the younger brother of former Minister of VSA Omar Ottley – demanded in summary procedures the continuation of the contract. To no avail: the court ruled that the ministry had acted correctly. According to a report in the Daily Herald Mhalik Ottley has a criminal record and he is still waiting for a space in the Pointe Blanche prison to serve a 5-month sentence…
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The Kingdom Chair on Democratic Representation, in partnership with the University of St. Martin (USM), will host a seminar titled “Democracy in Focus: 15 Years of Autonomy in St. Maarten” on Friday, September 19, 2025, at USM’s Lecture Hall, opening at 8:30am. This marks the first event in St. Maarten organized by the Kingdom Chair, established in 2024 at Leiden University under Professor Wouter Veenendaal. The Chair’s mission is to strengthen academic research and education on Kingdom Relations, with particular attention to democratic representation in the Dutch Caribbean . Moderated by local research assistant Leandra Leslie,…
Welcome to the weekly column nobody asked for and everybody secretly needed: Time for a Reyality Check—a public service announcement disguised as journalism, brought to you by the Satirical Publisher & Editor who can find a raincloud in a rainbow: Terrance Rey. You know me. The guy who studies glowing press releases like they are crime scenes and then mutters, “Hmmm.” Some call that being a negative sourpuss. I call it community cardio—keeping everyone’s expectations in shape. Around the newsroom, my aliases have multiplied like iguanas after a rainy season. I’m your Reyality Check — your brand of “facts with…
~ Discontent Grows Despite Double-Digit Arrival Growth ~ The Department of Statistics (STAT) has released new figures showing strong growth in St. Maarten’s tourism sector for the second quarter of 2025. According to the report, air arrivals rose 16.9% year-on-year, totaling 209,876 visitors, while cruise passenger arrivals jumped 14% to 236,391 passengers between April and June. On paper, this is good news. The official narrative describes a “healthy and growing industry” that reaffirms St. Maarten’s position as both a Caribbean air hub and a premier cruise port. But step onto Front Street, talk to taxi drivers at the cruise terminal,…
Philipsburg — The Department of Statistics (STAT) reports continued positive developments in the tourism sector for the second quarter of 2025. Airport Passenger Arrivals Because of the change in methodology, direct comparisons with data from previous years cannot be made. To maintain some level of continuity during this transition and following the advice of PJIAE, STAT used the January to December 2024 airport arrival figures as a baseline, adjusted by deducting 10% to account for resident travelers. This adjustment is consistent with historical Immigration Office data collected over the past decade. It should be noted that PJIAE has not traditionally…
