Local News

August 22, 2026

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten is confronting two significant capacity and financial realities as Government presents its 2026 Budget to Parliament: a major personnel shortage within the Ministry of General Affairs and public debt projected to reach approximately Cg. 1.047 billio...

August 22, 2026

GREAT BAY--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Claret Connor presented a 2026 VSA budget of just under XCG 109 million, an increase of approximately 12 percent over 2025, while stressing that much of the Ministry’s funding is already committed to healt...

August 22, 2026

GREAT BAY--Youth and Sport (ECYS), with approximately Cg. 77.5 million allocated in the 2026 Budget, as Minister Melissa Gumbs outlined a wide-ranging agenda covering education reform, cultural preservation, youth development, sports, digital transformation and major exte...

August 22, 2026

GREAT BAY- - Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs used her closing remarks during the 2026 Budget debate to call for greater shared responsibility across St. Maarten, stressing that Government funding alone cannot deliver the outcomes the country...

August 22, 2026

PHILIPSBURG--Party for Progress (PFP) Member of Parliament (MP) Ludmila de Weever is calling for greater attention to special-needs support for children under the age of seven, saying a gap remains in the education and care system for young children with learning disabilities...

August 22, 2026

PHILIPSBURG--Unified Resilience St Maarten Movement (URSM) Member of Parliament (MP) Sjamira Roseburg would like tax exemptions expanded to cover more basic goods coupled with stronger price controls as measures to help residents cope with high grocery, gas and other living co...

August 22, 2026

GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Ludmila de Weever has strongly questioned government’s prioritization of cannabis regulation, warning that St. Maarten is not sufficiently prepared for the possible public health, mental health, regulatory and financial consequences while m...

August 22, 2026

PHILIPSBURG--United People’s party (UP) Member of Parliament (MP) Omar Ottley said the law governing Social and Health Insurances SZV referrals should be changed because it currently allows SZV to legally refer patients only to Curaçao. Otltey made the remarks following concer...

August 22, 2026

GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Christopher Wever used his contribution to the continuation of the 2026 Budget debate on Friday to renew his call for greater attention to special needs education, proposing that organizations serving special needs students receive greater...

August 22, 2026

GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Sjamira Roseburg is preparing a budget amendment to redirect approximately XCG 230,000 in unused personnel funds toward hiring legislative lawyers on a consultancy basis, while also moving to expand tax relief on essential goods and strengt...

August 22, 2026

GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Francisco Lacroes has issued a strong appeal for greater police visibility, removal of illegal firearms and more opportunities for young people in St. Peters, saying the district should not reach a point where violence, street activity and...

August 22, 2026

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) Ardwell Irion criticized Parliament’s decision to reduce MPs’ speaking time during the 2026 budget debate, saying the change could limit Parliament’s ability to hold government accountable. He also described the man...

August 22, 2026

PHILIPSBURG--Unified Resilient St Maarten Movement (URSM) Member of Parliament (MP) Sjamira Roseburg plans to propose a budget amendment to move approximately Cg. 230,000 in unused funds from one budget post to another so the services of legislative lawyers can be used on a co...