Court orders release of undocumented person in landmark decision

PHILIPSBURG — In a significant ruling on February 1, 2024, the Court of First Instance of Sint Maarten ordered the immediate release of Mr. R.J., a Haitian national residing in St. Maarten, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s legal history regarding alien detention and removal orders. R.J. who had been residing unlawfully in St. Maarten More...

Arrest team is underfunded but its members are dedicated
PHILIPSBURG — The police force does not have the necessary financial and material resources to adequately set up, manage and guarantee the deployment of the arrest team. This appears from an inspection by More...

Justice Bob Wit passed away
PHILIPSBURG — Justice Bob Wit passed away aged 71, the Caribbean Court of Justice stated in a press release dated January 6. Wit served at the court since its establishment in 2005 until he retired in December More...

Dutch prison system also struggles with staff shortages
PHILIPSBURG — The Pointe Blanche prison is not the only facility in the Kingdom’s justice chain that struggles with staff shortages it appears from a letter Minister Franc Weerwind (Legal Protection) sent More...

Minister Richardson: “Decision is vital to meet the pressing needs of the Pointe Blanche prison”
PHILIPSBURG — Minister of Justice Anna Richardson has reacted in a hurry to criticism from the police union NAPB about her decision to make the police force responsible for the detention center at police More...

Detention center becomes responsibility of the police force – union threatens with strike
PHILIPSBURG — The NAPB – the National General Police Union – has reacted with dismay to the decision by Justice Minister Anna Richardson to transfer the responsibility for the detention center More...

Advance Passenger Information System and Passenger Name Record Legislation Draft Presented to Minister of Justice, Ms. Anna E. Richardson
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten (November 1, 2023) – In a significant step towards enhancing border monitoring and management, the Honorable Minister of Justice, Ms. Anna E. Richardson, and the Director of Immigration More...

Retroactive payments to justice personnel amount to almost $25 million
PHILIPSBURG — Retroactive payments to personnel of the justice ministry are going to cost the government 44,588,500 guilders ($24.9 million) it appears from a press release issued by the ministry. Making More...

Counterfeiting
By Hilbert Haar Tee shirts, watches, booze, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics. There is hardly a product for which consumers cannot find cheaper (and therefore counterfeited) alternatives. Stores in St. Maarten are stuffed More...

Anti-counterfeit conference at Simpson Bay Resort
PHILIPSBURG — The second annual anti-counterfeit and intellectual property protection conference will take place on October 19 and 20 at the Simpson Bay Resort the Ministry of Justice announced in a press More...