The Peoples Tribune

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 […]

May 27, 2026

GREAT BAY–Minister of Finance Marinka J. Gumbs has presented the Ministry of Finance’s first quarter 2026 overview, outlining a series of legislative, administrative and policy initiatives aimed at strengthening financial management, modernizing the tax system, improving compliance and restoring public confidence in St. Maarten’s financial framework. The quarterly update, titled “Finance Forward,” is built around the […]

May 27, 2026

BONAIRE–The population of the Caribbean Netherlands increased by more than 1,200 people in 2025, with Bonaire accounting for most of the growth, according to newly released figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). As of January 1, 2026, the combined population of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba stood at more than 33,000 residents. This represents an increase […]

May 27, 2026

GREAT BAY-–Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs told Parliament that St. Maarten is not simply following Curaçao in the handling of several Central Bank-related draft national ordinances, but is acting within the reality of a shared monetary union that requires both countries to maintain alignment in key areas of financial and monetary supervision. Gumbs made the statement […]

May 27, 2026

GREAT BAY/MARIGOT, St. Martin–Preparations are in high gear for the 23rd annual St. Martin Book Fair, which will be held June 5 and 6, 2026, under the theme “Soualiga Flambo.” This year’s edition will place special focus on St. Martin authors and the growth of local writing, publishing, book sales, and literary readings across the […]

May 27, 2026

COLE BAY–Youth leadership, community service and long-standing commitment to young people took center stage when the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset held its General Meeting on Monday, May 25, 2026, recognizing local organizations, student leaders and community builders who continue to create opportunities for St. Maarten’s youth. The evening highlighted the work of Interact […]

May 27, 2026

GREAT BAY–Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs told Parliament that St. Maarten’s ability to attract international digital payment platforms such as PayPal, Revolut and other fintech providers depends heavily on the country first putting a proper licensing and supervisory framework in place. The Minister made the statement while responding to questions from Members of Parliament during […]

May 27, 2026

GREAT BAY–Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs told Parliament that St. Maarten is not currently on the FATF grey list, but warned that the country remains at risk if it does not make sufficient progress in strengthening its financial supervision, anti-money laundering, payment systems and virtual asset regulatory framework. The Minister made the statement while responding […]

May 27, 2026

MARIGOT–The Collectivité de Saint-Martin is moving forward with plans to install floating sea barriers as part of its effort to reduce the accumulation of sargassum along the coastline. Two areas have been identified for the project: Cul de Sac Bay and Embouchure Bay. The project is supported by an official decision of the Executive Council […]