Five-year ban, community service for former immigration officer in human-smuggling-related case.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Court of First Instance has convicted former immigration officer W.C.C. for violating official secrecy in connection with a human smuggling investigation. The defendant was not tried or convicted for human smuggling offenses themselves.

The Court, in its sitting, imposed a sentence of 180 hours of community service, with a conditional prison sentence of three months suspended on a probation period of three years. In addition, the Court ordered a five-year ban preventing the defendant from working as a civil servant.

The case s...

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Finance Forward: Government pushes major reforms in Q1 2026.

~Ministry of Finance launches sweeping agenda focused on stability, modernization, and public trust.~

PHILIPSBURG — The Ministry of Finance has unveiled an ambitious first-quarter reform agenda aimed at reshaping Sint Maarten’s financial future through stronger compliance, modernized systems, and citizen-focused tax relief measures. The initiatives, outlined in the government’s Finance Forward – Q1 2026 Overview, reflect what Minister of Finance Marinka J. Gumbs describes as a phased strategy to “Stabilize, Repair, Reform.”
At the center of the M...

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KPSM Continues Investigation into Breaking and Entering Cases in Belvedere, Nazareth, and Dutch Quarter Area.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is currently conducting an ongoing investigation into a series of break-and-enter incidents reported over the past several weeks in the Belvedere, Nazareth, and Dutch Quarter areas.
KPSM has received several complaints from residents concerning homes and vehicles that were broken into. During these incidents, various tools and other valuable items were stolen from vehicles and properties.
Based on information gathered during the investigation, police officers received intelligence indicating...

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CBCS publishes policy note National Adaptation Plans help translate climate change awareness into concrete actions.

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG – As climate change risks become increasingly evident, the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) highlights the importance of translating awareness into concrete and coordinated action in Curaçao and Sint Maarten. In a newly published policy note, the CBCS outlines how both countries can strengthen their climate adaptation efforts through National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), highlighting best practices for their design and implementation. The development of a National Adaptation Plan will help both countries bette...

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