The Peoples Tribune

May 29, 2026

MARIGOT, Saint Martin–The Collectivité of Saint-Martin hosted an official commemoration of the abolition of slavery at The Old House in the Orléans district on Thursday, honoring the victims of slavery and paying tribute to the ancestors who endured the loss of freedom under the slave system. The ceremony was followed by a cultural program organized […]

May 29, 2026

GREAT BAY–Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams adjourned Wednesday’s public meeting with Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Richinel Brug after statements concerning the qualifications of medical professionals in St. Maarten raised serious public concern and, in her view, required immediate clarification between government and Parliament. The meeting was originally convened to continue discussions […]

May 28, 2026

SOUTH REWARD–St. Dominic High School hosted its annual Foreign Language Village on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, providing Form 3 students with the opportunity to apply the language skills developed throughout the 2025–2026 academic year. The Foreign Language Department transformed Mathias Voges Hall into a village setting, creating an immersive linguistic and cultural experience that reflected the […]

May 28, 2026

PARAMARIBO, Suriname–Chief of Police Carl John of St. Maarten has been elected Chairman of the ACCP. The election took place during the 40th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), held from 11 to 15 May 2026 at the Royal Torarica Hotel in Paramaribo, Suriname. Chief of Police […]

May 28, 2026

GREAT BAY–The General Audit Chamber says the recent protest in Simpson Bay over the felling of a grape tree reflects broader concerns raised in its 2025 audit of St. Maarten’s building permit process, particularly the need for transparency, written justification and stronger safeguards in development decisions. In comments shared publicly via its Facebook page, the […]

May 28, 2026

THE  HAGUE–A review of the Dutch royal family’s colonial-era collection has found that dozens of artefacts were wrongfully acquired during colonial wars and military campaigns, raising new questions about ownership, restitution and how the royal collection should be handled going forward. The findings come from an independent investigation launched in 2022 by SHVON, the foundation […]

May 28, 2026

GREAT BAY–Representatives of NV GEBE appeared on Laser 101 on Thursday morning to explain several issues currently affecting customers, including the fuel clause, billing cycles, water leaks, online payments, payment plans, customer service challenges and upcoming improvements to GEBE’s digital services. During the interview, GEBE representatives Paula Gordon and Iris Arrindell acknowledged the frustration many customers […]

May 28, 2026

THE HAGUE–The Dutch government will establish a new policy framework for handling colonial-era archives, including the possible return of archival material, improved digital access and a formal inventory of state archives connected to the colonial past. The decision is outlined in a May 27, 2026 policy response by Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science […]

May 28, 2026

GREAT BAY– Member of Parliament Omar Ottley says the final vote on the motion to dismiss Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs sent a clear and troubling message to the people of St. Maarten: that the coalition of DP, URSM and PFP chose political survival over public accountability. The motion, which sought the dismissal of Minister Gumbs […]

May 28, 2026

GREAT BAY–Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Grisha Heyliger-Marten, together with the St. Maarten Entrepreneurship Development Center (SEDC), the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Department of Economy, Transportation and Telecommunication (ETT), has highlighted the continued rollout of the Advanced Education Program, an initiative within the E6 Country Package designed to help local […]

May 28, 2026

GREAT BAY–Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs told Parliament that the results of the Early Grade Reading Assessment and Early Grade Mathematics Assessment must be treated as more than a set of test scores, describing them as a guide for targeted reform across St. Maarten’s education system. Responding to questions from Members […]

May 28, 2026

GREAT BAY–Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs told Parliament that the Ministry is working on reforms aimed at strengthening teacher development, reviewing career advancement opportunities and addressing long-standing questions around remuneration, while also clarifying the rules that apply to foreign teachers employed in public education. The Minister provided the update during her […]

May 27, 2026

GREAT BAY–Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs told Parliament on Wednesday that the Ministry is developing a national language policy to address language-related disparities in education, after assessment results showed that student performance is influenced by both the language used at home and the language of instruction in school. The Minister made the […]