A recent article published by The People’s Tribune, “St. Maarten’s diminishing regional hub role, Minister’s presence at Routes has added significance,” highlights an urgent and growing challenge for St. Maarten’s aviation sector. The island’s long-standing dominance as a regional hub for neighboring islands like Anguilla, Nevis, Tortola, and Dominica is eroding, primarily due to the rise of direct flights from the U.S. to these destinations and their investments in airport infrastructure. A reader recently shared a compelling commentary with me on this matter, arguing that SXM’s loss of hub status was inevitable given its prolonged reconstruction period post-Hurricane Irma and…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG — The National Payment Council (NPC), a platform for payment system policy dialogue focused in its second meeting in St. Maarten on ways to reduce bank card transaction fees. The NPC is chaired by the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten (CBCS). It notes that due to the use of Master en Visa cards, payments at local stores are not always processed as local transactions. This results in higher fees. The CBCS says that it is essential to create a uniform configuration of payment equipment (like point-of-sale machines) and ATMs. Participants in the NPC are, apart from the…
By Hilbert Haar Why anybody would break the law by buying votes in an attempt to capture a coveted seat in St. Maarten’s parliament is not a great mystery. Those seats are worth a lot of money, because MPs receive roughly $10,000 per month during their tenure. If they keep their seat for a full term of four years this means that they are looking at an income of $480,000. This simple fact explains why aspiring politicians try again and again to buy their way into parliament. In the past, those who were caught for buying votes received relatively light…
PHILIPSBURG — The Court in First Instance sentenced former police officer and former member of parliament Akeem Arrindell to an 18-month prison sentence for vote buying during the January 2024 elections. The court also banned Arrindell from holding public functions and from participating in elections for 78 months – 6.5 years. This is the harshest sentence for election fraud in recent history. In February 2018 former MP Silvio Matser was also found guilty of buying votes, but the court at the time sentenced him to just 8 months of imprisonment, with 2 months suspended, while it took away Matser’s right…
The European Right to Repair: What Does This Mean for Consumers in Sint Maarten? Introduction Dear consumers of Sint Maarten, there is an important development in European consumer law that may also have consequences for you: the “right to repair.” This new regulation could be relevant for Sint Maarten through the concordance principle. What is the Right to Repair? The right to repair means that sellers are obligated to repair products when possible, instead of immediately proceeding with replacement or refund. This fits within the framework of sustainability and consumer protection. Local Legislation In Sint Maarten, consumer rights are protected…
PHILIPSBURG — The rescue plan for embattled insurance company ENNIA is underway. The Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten (CBCS) announced the launch of a new entity per January 1, 2025. The Central Bank describes it in a press release as “a solvent and independently functioning insurance group.” The new group consists of four companies that have licenses from the CBCS and the Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). The newly created entity is Ennia Holding NV, the shareholder of Ennia Leven, Ennia Caribe Schade and Ennia Caribe zorg. The new Ennia group “works under sustainable ownership and is adequately capitalized,” the…
St. Maarten’s yachting industry is evolving rapidly, driving economic benefits that extend across multiple sectors. The island’s strategic investments and unique appeal have positioned it as a premier destination for yachts, superyachts, and multihulls, ensuring its continued relevance in a competitive global market. A recent Economic Impact Study underscores the vital role of the yachting sector in St. Maarten’s economy. Visiting yachts, superyachts, and regattas collectively contribute an impressive $165,497,230 annually, representing 11.1% of the island’s GDP. This activity generates $162 million in added value to the local economy and supports 3,269 jobs. The ripple effect is profound: for every…
ST. BARTHS — Port de Gustavia in St. Barthélemy reached full capacity ahead of Christmas, forcing six of the largest mega yachts to anchor outside the harbor. Port Director Ernest Brin noted a sharp increase in maritime traffic compared to last year’s holiday season, with both more vessels and larger yachts arriving. “All our docks are full,” Brin explained. “The maximum size we can accommodate is 60 meters, or 196 feet, as mandated by our insurance. While the warehouse dock can handle yachts up to 65 meters, we limit this to two or three due to potential weather risks. Larger…
PHILIPSBURG — StMaartenNews.com is proud to announce Princess Juliana International Airport – SXM Airport – as the recipient of our Entity of the Year 2024 award in the positive. This recognition celebrates the airport’s incredible resilience, transformative reconstruction efforts, and its unwavering role as a cornerstone of St. Maarten’s tourism-based economy. A Story of Resilience and Reconstruction SXM Airport’s journey to this recognition has been nothing short of extraordinary. Following the devastating hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, the airport was left in ruins. Despite the immense challenges, SXM Airport has risen from hurricane debris to reestablish itself once…
PHILIPSBURG — The recent sentencing of two individuals in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for defamation and the distribution of explicit images has reverberated throughout the Caribbean. A senior magistrate in St. Vincent sentenced Zarrieta Zavisha Wilson, 34, and Reno Roberts, 27, to just under 10 months in prison. Additionally, they were fined EC$65,000 and ordered to pay EC$29,000 in compensation under the Cybercrime Act. This ruling has reignited discussions about the urgent need for similar legislation in St. Maarten. Roberto Achken Richardson, president of the Democratic Party (DP) board and founder and president of the Integrity Advancement Movement (IAM)…
