~More than NAf. 164 million allocated to two critical Ministries as Questions mount over outcomes and economic vision.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Government's 2026 Budget reveals a striking reality about Sint Maarten's priorities: more than NAf. 164.9 million will be allocated to the country's Education and Tourism ministries, yet the budget provides limited evidence of how those investments will translate into measurable economic growth, workforce development, or national competitiveness.
According to the draft 2026 Budget, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport is allocated approximately NAf. 117.1 million, making it one of the largest recipients of government funding. The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications will receive approximately NAf. 47.8 million. Together, the two ministries account for nearly one-quarter of the country's ordinary expenditure budget.
The figures immediately raise an important question:
What exactly is Sint Maarten getting in return for this investment?
Education continues to absorb one of the largest portions of public spending year after year. Yet the budget provides little indication of a transformative strategy to prepare students for the realities of a rapidly evolving economy.
Across the island, employers continue to report difficulty finding qualified workers. Businesses increasingly seek employees with digital skills, technical expertise, language proficiency, and specialized vocational training. Yet there is limited evidence within the budget of a comprehensive plan to aggressively align educational outcomes with labor market demands.
The result is a growing disconnect between education and employment.
Taxpayers are entitled to ask how many students will graduate with market-ready skills, how many young people will enter high-demand professions, and how the government intends to measure success beyond simply funding the system.
The concerns become even more pronounced when examining Tourism.
Tourism remains the backbone of Sint Maarten's economy. Government revenues, business activity, employment opportunities, and consumer spending all depend heavily on the strength of the tourism sector. Yet despite receiving approximately NAf. 47.8 million, the budget offers limited detail regarding how the government intends to strengthen Sint Maarten's competitive position in an increasingly crowded regional marketplace.
Across the Caribbean, competing destinations are investing heavily in destination branding, digital tourism infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, airlift expansion, and improvements to the visitor experience.
The tourism industry is evolving rapidly.
Success can no longer be assumed.
It must be strategically earned.
Yet the most significant concern may be what appears to be missing altogether: a clear connection between education and tourism.
In a small island economy, the two sectors should be working hand in hand.
Schools should be preparing future hospitality managers, aviation professionals, entrepreneurs, information technology specialists, marketers, and tourism executives.
Training programs should be aligned with industry needs.
Students should be leaving classrooms with pathways into the country's most important economic sectors.
Instead, the budget appears to fund two separate systems without clearly demonstrating how they contribute to a unified national development strategy.
At a time when the government plans approximately NAf. 674.1 million in overall expenditures, taxpayers deserve more than spending allocations.
They deserve results.
How many new tourism jobs will be created?
How much visitor spending growth is expected?
How many students will graduate with workforce-ready skills?
How will the government measure performance?
How will these investments strengthen the economy over the next decade?
The budget allocates the money.
What remains far less clear is whether it provides the vision.
And for a country seeking sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive region, that may be the biggest concern of all.

ORANJESTAD, ARUBA:--- The Ombudsman of Aruba, Ms. Jurima Bryson, LL.M., has received an increasing number of complaints and reports from individuals experiencing difficulties obtaining an appointment to register at the Civil Registry Office (Censo).

Based on the complaints received, many citizens are unable to secure an appointment within a reasonable period to register in Aruba’s civil registry. According to the Ombudsman, there appears to be a structural imbalance between the number of registration requests and the available processing capacity.

The issue affects not only individuals who have recently obtained a residence permit, but also Arubans returning to Aruba after living abroad who need to register again. As a result, citizens are faced with long waiting periods and uncertainty regarding when they will be able to complete their registration.

The consequences are significant. Registration in the civil registry is an essential requirement for access to various services. Without registration, citizens may encounter difficulties in obtaining access to healthcare (AZV), education, social services, employment, banking services, insurance, and housing.
The Ombudsman considers it undesirable that citizens, as a result of Censo’s capacity and organizational challenges, are unable to access an essential public service within a reasonable timeframe. According to the Ombudsman, government services should be organized in such a way that citizens can effectively exercise the rights to which they are entitled.

In light of this situation, the Ombudsman sent a letter of concern to the Minister of Justice and Social Affairs, Mr. Arthur Dowers, LL.M. on June 15, 2026.

As an independent and impartial institution, the Ombudsman has issued several recommendations aimed at improving the accessibility, timeliness, and continuity of the registration process. These include reducing existing backlogs, expanding appointment opportunities, strengthening processing capacity, and improving information provided to the public.

More information on this matter can be found in the Ombudsman’s letter of concern regarding access to the registration process at the Civil Registry Office (Censo). The full letter is available on the Ombudsman’s website at www.ombudsman.aw/en/publications/.

PHILIPSBURG: --- The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) wishes to inform the public of an incident involving an unauthorized container that was placed on the Pelican Park property without the Chamber’s knowledge or approval.
COCI became aware of the matter through reports circulating on social media indicating that the container contained spoiled meat and was emitting a strong, offensive odor, posing a potential public health concern.
Upon learning of the situation, the Chamber acted promptly to address the issue. The owner of the container was contacted and requested to take responsibility for its removal and the cleanup of the affected area. While efforts were made to have the responsible party resolve the matter, the Chamber ultimately ensured that the container was removed and that the area was thoroughly cleaned and sanitized in the interest of public health, safety, and the preservation of the Pelican Park property.
COCI wishes to make it unequivocally clear that stricter measures will be enforced regarding the use of its property. Effective immediately, any containers, equipment, vehicles, materials, or other items placed on the Pelican Park property without the Chamber’s express authorization will be subject to immediate removal at the owner’s expense, where applicable.
The Chamber further reminds the public that no individual, business, organization, or third party has the authority to grant permission to place any object on Pelican Park property. Authorization for the use of Chamber property may only be granted directly by the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
COCI remains committed to maintaining a safe, clean, and orderly environment for the business community and the general public. The Chamber appreciates the cooperation of all stakeholders in respecting and adhering to these requirements.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) wants to make the community aware of a serious incident that took place on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — the theft of a firearm belonging to one of KPSM officers.

According to preliminary findings, an unknown suspect broke into the officer's personal vehicle, parked in the Cole-bay area, searched through it, and made off with the officer's legally owned firearm.

Given the gravity of this situation, KPSM has launched a full-scale investigation, bringing together the Detective Department and other internal and external judicial partners. KPSM is leaving no stone unturned in our effort to recover the stolen weapon, identify those responsible, and ensure they face justice.

We want to be clear: an illegally possessed firearm in the wrong hands is a direct threat to everyone in our community. Getting this weapon off the streets is one of our highest priorities right now.

If you saw anything suspicious around the time of this incident, or if you've heard anything that might be connected, please reach out to us. No piece of information is too small. What seems minor to you could be exactly what breaks this case open.

You can contact us through the following:

Police Tip Line: 9300

Police Dispatch Center: +1 (721) 542-2222

Anonymous tips are welcome