“Focus Must be on National Issues, no time for distractions“. The leader of the Democratic Party MP Sarah Wescot has confirmed that coalition party leaders will meet to discuss the current political developments, particularly those involving members of the Council of Ministers. The DP leader indicated that the Democratic Party will approach these discussions with a focus on stability and continuity of governance. She noted that Sint Maarten is facing a range of pressing challenges that require the full attention of government. “This is a time for thoughtful leadership, for dialogue, and for keeping the interests of the people of…
Author: The Publisher
March 30, 2026 Sint Maarten – The accusation by Professor Dr. Arjen van Rijn that Governor Ajamu Baly significantly overstepped his authority appears to be based on one-sided and incomplete information that had been provided to him by Prime Minister Luc Mercelina. Van Rijn claimed that his striking report was based on “facts.” This according to a report published on Dossier Koninkrijksrelaties. The professor and lawyer Van Rijn had been asked by the prime minister for advice following a conflict he had with one of his ministers. The intervention by Governor Baly—made with the approval of the other ministers—did not sit well…
The ongoing discussion surrounding the governance of the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) has exposed something far more important than a disagreement over board appointments. It has exposed a fundamental reality: Sint Maarten is not in control of its own monetary destiny. And that is a problem. Economic Sovereignty Is Not a Luxury — It Is a Necessity For years, Sint Maarten has operated within a monetary union that was built on the principle of cooperation and parity between two countries. On paper, that sounds fair. In practice, it means that our financial future is tied to…
March 30, 2026 Sint Maarten – The College for Financial Supervision (Cft) is “seriously concerned” about the liquidity position of Sint Maarten. The balance is declining so rapidly that, according to the Cft, there is “a real risk of not being able to meet obligations and absorb setbacks.” This is according to a news report published on DossierKoninkrijksrelaties.nl. From the Cft’s response to the (once again submitted far too late) implementation report for the fourth quarter of 2025, it appears there is even more cause for concern. Sixteen years after 10-10-10, financial management is still described as disorganized. Budgets are structurally approved…
~The Dawn of a New Era of Care~ CAY HILL: On Thursday, March 26th, St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) celebrated the construction of the St. Maarten General Hospital (SMGH) project reaching its highest point of construction. The first section of the roof have been completed, marking a momentous milestone in the construction of the new hospital. The ceremony brought together key dignitaries, stakeholders and staff, including Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina and his wife, SMMC Gynecologist Dr. Patricia Mercelina-Roumans, Honorable Minister of VSA Richinel Brug, Honorable Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling, CEO of general contractor FINSO, Salvatore Esposito, St.…
By Hilbert Haar The initiative of the ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor to introduce a supplementary pension plan sounds like a charming idea. The lofty objective is to provide pensioners with more income and by doing so, protecting their living standards. Who would not want to do that? Unfortunately, there are obstacles on the road to the introduction of such a plan. The first question that comes to mind is: who is going to pay for it? And the second one: who is going to benefit? Supplementary pension systems do exist elsewhere in the world. In some…
PHILIPSBURG – The draft national ordinance on the Healthcare Professionals Registry is complete and ready to undergo the required procedures before it is sent to the parliament for approval and subsequent implementation. According to a press release from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) the ordinance will establish “for the first time in the country’s history a legally anchored and integrated national registration framework for medical professionals.” The groundwork for the draft legislation was laid in 2019 and “driven by the urgent need to bring clarity, structure, and legal certainty to the regulation of medical practice…
PHILIPSBURG – Joe Alcalá, a medical doctor born in Curacao and educated at Groningen University has been appointed as the interim Inspector General at the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) for a period of two years. His tenure started on February 2. The inspectorate had been without an inspector general for several years and VSA-Minister Brug is therefore happy with the Alcalá’s appointment.”This represents a significant and long-awaited step forward restoring effective oversight and enforcement,” he stated in a press release. The minister commended the staff of the inspectorate for holding down the fort while there…
PHILIPSBURG – Minister Richinel Brug (Public Health, Social Development and Labor) states in a press release that the allegations against his chef de cabinet Suëna Laville-Martis “must always be taken seriously,” but he stops short of offering his opinion on the situation. Instead, Minister Brug emphasized his commitment “to transparency while reaffirming that the work of the ministry continues without interruption. Matters concerning integrity and public accountability must always be treated with seriousness and addressed through the appropriate channels.” In the meantime, Brug has asked the Integrity Chamber to investigate “matters that have taken place within the ministry since I…
WILLEMSTAD – Curacao’s Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas wants to get out of the monetary union with St. Maarten and establish a separate Central Bank in Willemstad. Pisas sent a letter to parliament with the request to reconsider the monetary union, the Antilliaans Dagblad reports. He also wants to debate the option to set up a Central bank for Country Curacao. Pisas invited the Central Committee to take a position on the issue. With its opinion as backup, Pisas intends to begin discussions with St. Maarten about the future of their monetary arrangement. On February 13 2026, the parliament in Curacao…
