St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands | June 2026 The Statia Roots Festival Foundation and the St. Eustatius Basketball Federation proudly co-hosted The Alliance – Hoops & Heritage FIBA 3×3 Lite Quest 2026 on June 13–14, 2026, in St. Eustatius. Held as part of Statia Roots Festival 2026, under the theme “The Story Must Be Told,” the event successfully brought together sport, culture, heritage, and regional unity in a truly memorable Caribbean experience. Teams from across the Caribbean traveled to St. Eustatius to compete in the official FIBA 3×3 Lite Quest, with participating teams representing: Over two exciting days of competition, athletes…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Member of Parliament Francisco Lacroes has sharply criticized the Prime Minister’s recent statement claiming that no formal complaints exist within the Ministry of VSA, calling it a serious misrepresentation of how whistleblower protections, integrity investigations, and good governance are required to function under both national and internationally recognized standards. According to MP Lacroes, the statement does not resolve concerns surrounding the matter. Instead, it reinforces the very reasons why Parliament unanimously called for an independent investigation. “The Prime Minister’s statement raises more questions than answers,” Lacroes stated. “It is unacceptable by any standard that a sitting…
Monopolies are never a guarantee of quality. This is very clear to citizens of our country who depend on one company, NV GEBE, for the delivery of water and electricity. Their inevitable dissatisfaction with the way they are treated spilled onto the streets recently when hundreds of disgruntled — and rightly so — GEBE clients marched in protest to the main office of the utilities company. A letter given to GEBE management on behalf of consumer protection agency ACP describes in great detail everything that is wrong with the current situation. Consumers receive bills that are incorrect. Disputing them does…
PHILIPSBURG — Utilities company NV GEBE may have overcharged its clients approximately $6.9 million, or 12.45 million Caribbean guilders, between 2022 and 2024 due to the contested application of fuel clause charges. This estimate is mentioned in a letter dated June 15, which attorney Valya Pantophlet of DEJONG Legala handed to Temporary Manager Iris Arrindell at NV GEBE on the day of the march on Monday, June 15, 2026. Copies were also directed to the GEBE managing board and its interim directors on behalf of the Association for Consumer Protection (ACP-SXM). The ACP demands immediate action and a meeting to…
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten – June 15, 2026 The Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied (CCG) recently concluded a working visit to Saba, St. Eustatius and Sint Maarten, strengthening relationships with cultural stakeholders, supporting project development and exploring new opportunities for cultural investment across the region. The visit culminated in two key highlights on Sint Maarten: the introduction of the Fonds op Naam (FoN) concept to the business community and the presentation of the 2026 CCG Culture Prize to EPIC (Environmental Protection in Sint Maarten). Throughout the week, the CCG team met with artists, cultural organizations, heritage practitioners, educators and community leaders through a…
MARIGOT — A 21-year-old woman was rescued from a burning apartment in the Les Marines residence in Nettle Bay on Monday afternoon after becoming trapped inside her smoke-filled duplex unit. Emergency services from the La Savane fire station were dispatched to the scene at approximately 1:56 p.m. following reports of an apartment fire with a person in need of rescue. Upon arrival, firefighters found the woman trapped on the third floor of the residential complex. The lower level of the duplex was engulfed in flames in the living room area and heavily filled with smoke, while smoke had also spread to…
MARIGOT — The Collectivité of Saint Martin has opened registration for businesses, associations, cultural groups and performers wishing to participate in this year’s patronal celebrations scheduled for July and August. The annual festivities will take place on July 14 in Marigot, July 21 in Grand Case, and August 15 in Sandy Ground, featuring parades, cultural activities, entertainment and community events. Associations and carnival troupes interested in participating in the French National Day parade in Marigot on July 14 and/or the Schoelcher Day parade in Grand Case on July 21 are invited to register with the Collectivité’s Events Department by June 30, 2026. Vendors wishing to…
MARIGOT — The Executive Council of St. Martin has approved revised financing plans for two major school construction projects, increasing the budgets for both the new 900-student secondary school in La Savane and the reconstruction of the 600-student college in Quartier d’Orléans. The construction of the new 900-student school in La Savane is one of the Collectivité’s flagship education projects and is intended to replace the former Soualiga College in Cul-de-Sac, which was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017. The project also forms part of a broader reorganization of secondary education on the island by consolidating the Soualiga and Robert Weinum…
PHILIPSBURG — Several hundred residents took to the streets on Monday in what organizers described as a peaceful demonstration against rising electricity costs, the controversial fuel clause, and ongoing concerns about transparency at NV GEBE. According to estimates reported by St. Maarten News Online, approximately 300 people participated in the march itself, while another 200 residents gathered at NV GEBE’s headquarters to witness the presentation of a petition to the utility company’s management. The demonstration was organized by the Association for Consumer Protection St. Maarten (ACP-SXM), led by President Peggy-Ann Dros, who has become one of the most visible public…
ANSE MARCEL — Four months after employees of St. Martin Beach Resort & Spa warned of growing uncertainty surrounding the future of the property, workers are now facing the prospect of mass layoffs, with management proposing to eliminate 122 of the hotel’s 130 positions. The proposal, revealed during ongoing restructuring proceedings, would reduce the workforce by approximately 94 percent and leave only eight employees remaining at the resort, formerly operated as Secrets Resort & Spa St. Martin. The hotel’s Works Council (Comité Social et Économique, CSE), which represents employees, has overwhelmingly rejected the plan and is calling for its immediate withdrawal…
