PHILIPSBURG:--- The political landscape in Sint Maarten continues to grow increasingly tense following the abrupt dismissal of a cabinet staff member within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA).

Reliable sources have confirmed that VSA Minister Richinel Brug officially terminated cabinet staffer Prince Herbert Martina on Thursday, a move that is already sending shockwaves through the governing coalition and the broader political arena.

According to insiders, the dismissal stems from what has been described as a “serious breakdown in trust.” Martina is alleged to have leaked confidential information from within the VSA Ministry to Prime Minister Luc Mercelina and his cabinet. While these claims have not been publicly substantiated, they have fueled speculation of deepening fractures within the ruling party.

Martina is a  member of the Unified Resilient Sint Maarten Movement (URSM), the political party led by Prime Minister Mercelina. His dismissal now places a spotlight on internal divisions within the party, particularly the strained relationship between Minister Brug and the party’s leadership and board.

Political observers say the firing is not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of broader discord within URSM. Tensions between Brug and the party hierarchy have reportedly been simmering for some time, with disagreements over governance, loyalty, and internal communication strategies.

“This is more than just a personnel issue,” one political analyst noted. “It reflects a deeper power struggle within the party, one that could have implications for governance stability moving forward.”

The situation raises critical questions about cohesion within the ruling party and whether these internal disputes could spill over into policy paralysis or further public confrontations.

As the fallout continues, all eyes remain on both Minister Brug and Prime Minister Mercelina, whose political alliance now appears increasingly fragile. Whether this marks the beginning of a broader political rupture or a momentary crisis will depend on how party leadership addresses the growing divide.

For now, one thing is clear: the political war within URSM is no longer behind closed doors—it is unfolding in plain sight.

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:---  Following robust growth in 2025, economic activity is expected to continue expanding in 2026. However, the recent escalation in geopolitical tensions, particularly the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its potential spillovers to commodity and financial markets, pose increasing risks to the outlook. “While the monetary union has demonstrated resilience, the external environment has become more turbulent. This calls for continued vigilance and clear policy priorities,” said Richard Doornbosch, President of the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS), in the March 2026 Economic Bulletin.
Sustained growth with an improved external position
The economies of the monetary union continued to perform strongly in 2025, with real GDP growth reaching 3.9% in Curaçao and 3.4% in Sint Maarten. Growth was driven mainly by strong tourism activity and its spillovers to sectors such as transport, trade, and construction. “The 2025 growth estimates for both countries reflect developments observed during the first three quarters of the year, driven by strong performances in tourism and construction, along with investment in tourism-related, real estate, and government infrastructure projects,” noted Doornbosch.
Looking ahead, growth is expected to remain positive but moderate in 2026, reaching 2.6% in Curaçao and 2.4% in Sint Maarten. In both countries, growth will continue to be supported primarily by tourism and related activities, while domestic demand is expected to remain positive, albeit at a more moderate pace. Inflation is projected to rise slightly in both countries, reflecting higher international oil and transportation costs. “Remarkable is the strengthening of the current account of the balance of payments with the deficit as percentage of GDP narrowing strongly to single digits for the first time since the inception of the monetary union in 2010, from 16.4% in 2024 to 9.2% in 2025, and to 7.2% of GDP in 2026,” he added.
Heightened geopolitical tensions pose risks to the outlook for the monetary union
However, the current outlook assumes that the conflict in the Middle East does not intensify further into a prolonged disruption. Such a disruption would place additional upward pressure on oil prices, insurance, and freight costs, while dampening domestic demand and tourism activity. “Scenario analyses in the Economic Bulletin indicate that an oil price shock could have substantial  

and persistent medium-term effects, leading to lower growth, higher inflation and a decline in gross official reserves,” warned Doornbosch.
Spillovers from other geopolitical developments, including the war in Ukraine and tensions involving the U.S. and Venezuela, continue to pose risks to the outlook. Trade policy uncertainty and the possibility of new tariff measures may weigh on global trade and investment, while slower-than-expected easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) could keep global financing conditions tight and dampen capital inflows.
Policy priorities in the face of a turbulent external environment
In response to rising external risks, Doornbosch emphasizes the need for a focused and forward-looking policy agenda to strengthen resilience and support sustainable growth. Especially considering that as small, open, and highly import-dependent economies, both countries are vulnerable to disruptions in global trade, commodity prices, and external financing conditions.
According to Doornbosch, a key priority is to reduce the monetary union’s structural dependence on imported energy and external transport costs. Over the medium term, continued investment in renewable energy and critical logistics infrastructure, including storage and port capacity, would strengthen the monetary union’s resilience to external commodity and transport shocks. “At the same time, given that a renewed rise in inflation would affect vulnerable households most severely, governments should consider well-targeted temporary support measures for those relying solely on social benefits to cushion the impact on the cost of living, such as the food program introduced in Curaçao during the COVID-19 pandemic, while safeguarding fiscal discipline to preserve macroeconomic stability,” he explained. In this context, maintaining sound fiscal policies becomes increasingly important to ensure that these structural and social objectives remain sustainable over time.
Additionally, a public debt sustainability analysis for Curaçao and Sint Maarten included in the March Economic Bulletin highlights that, while debt remains manageable, current trajectories are vulnerable to external shocks. The analysis reinforces the need to maintain fiscal buffers through sustained current budget surpluses, where feasible, and to advance reforms in health care and social insurance systems to contain longer-term fiscal pressures. “Maintaining the credibility of the exchange rate peg to the U.S. dollar remains a key anchor for stability, requiring our continued monitoring of exchange-rate-related effects on inflation, competitiveness, capital flows, and financial vulnerabilities, while preserving sufficient official reserves. Sustained implementation of these policy measures will be essential to safeguard stability and support durable, sustainable growth in the monetary union,” concluded Doornbosch.
The complete text of the March 2026 Economic Bulletin is available on the CBCS website at
https://www.centralbank.cw/publications/economic-bulletins/2026

Willemstad March 27, 2026
CENTRALE BANK VAN CURACAO EN SINT MAARTEN

PHILIPSBURG:--- Nation, Opportunity, Wealth (NOW), faction leader, Member of Parliament (MP), Lyndon Lewis, has taken note of the recent verdict in the so-called Jasmine criminal case, which the main suspect in the case is the former Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI) and NOW party leader, Christophe Emmanuel, who was found guilty on multiple counts and sentenced to 29 months of imprisonment.
In light of the recent court verdict, MP Lewis has reached out to his party leader, board and fellow candidates to discuss the future direction of the political party. “While I wish the NOW party leader much strength during his legal battle, my focus, as faction leader in parliament under the NOW umbrella, is to safeguard the best interests of the people of country Sint Maarten,” MP stated.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) conducted targeted control operations on Thursday, March 26, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance public safety and maintain order in the community.

During these operations, a total of seven (7) vehicles were stopped and controlled, while approximately forty (40) individuals were subjected to stop-and-search procedures. As a result of these actions, one individual was arrested after it was discovered that he was wanted in connection with a case involving threats made against another person with a firearm.

Later in the evening, police attempted to stop two male suspects riding a scooter. During the attempted stop, the riders collided with another vehicle and fled the scene. After a brief search, both suspects and the scooter were located. The two individuals were arrested and transported to the police station, where they remain in custody for questioning.

During the arrest operation in the Dutch Quarter Middle Region, a third male attempted to interfere with police duties. Despite being instructed multiple times to leave the area, the individual refused to comply. He was subsequently arrested for hindering police operations and resisting arrest.

KPSM emphasizes that these types of control operations will continue, particularly during the Carnival season, to ensure the safety and security of all residents and visitors. The public is urged to cooperate with law enforcement officers at all times and to respect ongoing police activities.