PHILIPSBURG:--- On February 19, 2026, the District Court of Overijssel delivered a significant verdict in a long-running corruption case involving the construction of the Simpson Bay Causeway Bridge in Sint Maarten. The court convicted a 60-year-old former company director of providing factual leadership in the bribery of a government minister. The ruling sheds light on the murky intersection of public infrastructure projects and political influence, underscoring corporate leaders' legal responsibilities to prevent corruption.
Background: The Bridge and the Bribe
The case centers on the tender process for the "Simpson Bay Causeway Bridge," a major infrastructure project in Sint Maarten initiated around 2009-2010. The project was overseen by the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Co. (SLAC), but the court found that the actual decision-making power lay with a high-ranking politician, referred to in the judgment. This individual served as a commissioner and later as the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI). For clarity the court is referring to former commissioner and Minister Theodore Heyliger who is currently serving time at the Pointe Blanche Prison.
Two construction companies, identified as [medeverdachte 1] B.V. and [medeverdachte 2] N.V., were vying for the contract. The defendant served as a director for these entities during the relevant period.
According to court documents, the companies entered into a consultancy agreement with an intermediary via his company. While the agreement ostensibly covered services like obtaining permits and recruiting local labor, the investigation revealed that the individual performed almost none of these tasks. Instead, the agreement served as a vehicle to channel bribe payments to the minister.
The Charges
The Public Prosecution Service accused the defendant of:
1. Primary Charge: Participating directly in official bribery as a co-perpetrator.
2. Subsidiary Charge: Giving orders to, or providing factual leadership for, the bribery committed by the construction companies.
The bribery allegations involved promising a substantial portion of the consultancy fee to the minister and paying out approximately $83,000. These payments were made to influence the minister to award the bridge construction contract to the defendant's companies, violating his official duty to act neutrally and with integrity.
Court Findings: Influence Peddling and Corporate Negligence
The court acquitted the defendant of the primary charge of direct participation but found him guilty of the subsidiary charge: providing factual leadership to the bribery committed by the companies.
The "Shadow" Decision Maker
A crucial element of the ruling was the court's determination that while SLAC formally managed the tender, the minister held the real power. Witnesses testified that the minister "called the shots" and that nothing happened without his approval. Internal emails from the construction company explicitly noted that the bridge design needed to please the minister, describing him as an "important factor."
The Sham Consultancy Agreement
The court found that the construction companies knew—or should have known—that the consultancy fees paid were being funneled to the minister.
• The intermediary company was an offshore entity.
• The defendant signed the agreement after the contract had already been awarded, rendering the listed "lobbying" services moot.
• The defendant failed to conduct any due diligence on the intermediary or verify that actual work was performed.
By signing this agreement without oversight, the court ruled that the defendant knowingly accepted the "substantial chance" that the funds would be used for corruption.
The Verdict and Sentence
The court ruled that the defendant’s actions not only distorted fair competition but also deeply damaged public trust in government administration. The bribery costs were ultimately baked into the construction price, meaning the people of Sint Maarten effectively paid for the corruption themselves.
Taking into account the defendant's clean criminal record and the fact that the legal process exceeded the reasonable term by two years (the investigation began in 2019), the court mitigated the sentence.
The Sentence:
• Fine: €30,000 (approx. $32,000 USD).
• Alternative Custody: 158 days of detention if the fine is not paid.
The court noted that this fine was higher than those given to co-defendants in related cases (€20,000), reflecting the higher level of responsibility the defendant held as a director.
Implications for Governance and Compliance
This ruling serves as a stark reminder to corporate executives operating in international markets. It highlights that "willful blindness" is not a defense. Directors cannot hide behind intermediaries or claim ignorance when they fail to vet consultants or verify services in high-risk environments.
The judgment reinforces that the Dutch legal system will hold corporate leaders personally accountable for corruption facilitated by their companies, even when the acts occur overseas. It underscores the necessity for robust internal compliance regarding anti-corruption clauses and third-party due diligence.

Click here for the verdict handed down on Thursday.

~Court Appearance Scheduled for February 24~

PHILIPSBURG:---  Prosecutors are moving ahead with a case against Member of Parliament Raeyhon Peterson of the Party for Progress (PFP) following an alleged physical altercation outside an adult entertainment venue that sparked public attention and a police investigation.

The incident reportedly occurred outside a nightclub in the Simpson Bay area, where a dispute inside the establishment escalated into a confrontation outside. Video footage of the altercation circulated widely on social media at the time, prompting public debate and calls for clarity regarding the circumstances.

Authorities subsequently launched an investigation into what was described as a public disturbance involving Peterson and other individuals. The matter is now entering the judicial phase.

According to constitutional procedures under Article 123 of the Constitution of St. Maarten, prosecution of a sitting Member of Parliament for a serious criminal offense (“misdrijf”) cannot proceed through the standard process. Instead, the Attorney-General must formally request authorization from the Common Court of Justice before prosecution can proceed.

Peterson is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, February 24, when the Court is expected to consider the request to move forward with prosecution. If authorization is granted, prosecutors would then be permitted to take formal steps such as summoning the MP, seeking pre-trial measures, or requesting a judicial investigation.

While prosecution steps require court approval, investigative work has reportedly continued in the meantime.

The case has drawn significant public interest given Peterson’s role as a sitting parliamentarian. As of now, no final determination of guilt has been made, and the court hearing will focus on whether the prosecution may formally proceed.

Further updates are expected following the February 24 hearing.

CCF invites individuals, organizations, and institutions to submit their cultural and creative projects. Selection will be based on respect for CCF’s values, alignment with the themes of each call, the quality and feasibility of proposals, and the proven abilities of project leaders. We invite applicants to write their projects simply and clearly, paying particular attention to the relationship between objectives and budget, and to consider implementation constraints.
For more information on the Caribbean Culture Fund and each call, visit our website: caribbeanculturefund.org
Call 4.1: Art for Change – Deadline March 1, 2026
CCF will award 10 grants of USD 10,000 for projects that demonstrate the use of arts and culture to catalyze change.
The Art for Change theme invites creatives and cultural organizations to explore the transformative power of art in shaping the Caribbean. We seek projects that give voice to the region’s aspirations, challenges, and triumphs, and that address the changes artists wish to see in their communities, nations, and the broader Caribbean. This theme encourages artists to imagine, critique, and reimagine the Caribbean, using their work as a catalyst for social commentary, engagement, education, reflection, positive change, and new developments. We welcome proposals that showcase innovative and impactful art practices, from visual arts to performance, literature, and beyond, that contribute to a vibrant and inclusive Caribbean narrative.
Call 4.2: Caribbean Collaboration – Deadline March 1, 2026
CCF will award 4 grants of USD 25,000 for projects that reflect or catalyze intra-regional cooperation and promote the arts across linguistic and geographic boundaries within the Caribbean and its diasporas.
This theme invites projects that reflect connections within the Caribbean community. Applicants must work with a collaborator based in another Caribbean country or territory, and this partner or partners must be meaningfully included in the design and implementation of the project. The project must be multi-country or multi-territory in scope and execution; for example, bringing the work of creatives from different countries to one or more countries. Projects that reflect connections to the larger African diaspora and the legacy of African and Indigenous cultures in the Caribbean will also be considered.
Call 5: Residencies and Fellowships – Deadline March 15, 2026
CCF will award 10 grants of USD 5,000 to support short-term, intra-Caribbean residencies and fellowships.
CCF invites cultural institutions and organizations with residential capacity to submit proposals for artist residencies and fellowships. The CCF grant must cover all costs, including visa, travel, accommodation, meals, and interpretation, for up to a maximum of two artists from any Caribbean country or territory other than that of the applicant. The residencies should foster creative exchange, collaboration, and innovation across diverse artistic disciplines and cultural contexts.
Through this call, CCF seeks to create meaningful opportunities for artistic growth, facilitate connections among artists, institutions, and communities, and strengthen the cultural and social ecosystem of the Caribbean region. Priority will be given to organizations that have hosted residencies in the past three years and that have preselected the artist(s) at the time of application. The residencies and fellowships may be open to practitioners from any artistic discipline. Selected artists must be willing to participate in at least one public activity during the residency period and at least one virtual event hosted by CCF.
Upcoming Sessions:
Call 4: Grant Writing with Marielle Barrow – February 23, 10:00–11:30 AM (EST)
Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1jK4LlWWTUuD8O14ngmKEg
Call 4: Q&A Session – February 26, 10:00–11:00 AM (EST)
Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nJdV-uj2TtCfmZEccGbJOg
Call 4: Submittable Support – February 27, 10:00–11:00 AM (EST)
Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/WNbiwcFMR5-xGumQxyD72A
Call 5: Orientation – February 24, 10:00–11:00 AM (EST)
Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/IUf438ivSkyAe8KqG4ooIA
Call 5: Q&A Session – March 3, 10:00–11:00 AM (EST)
Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/xtkiQRJvS8CieXburPsV9w
Call 5: Residencies Call Submittable Support – March 10, 10:00–11:00 AM (EST)
Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/YefznCELQ6C_583sR2pWhg

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) hereby informs the public that Minister Brug has joined forces with local artist King Vers to launch a new awareness initiative focused on men’s mental health on Sint Maarten.
Mental health has been, and continues to be, a priority of Minister Brug and the Ministry of VSA. Since taking office, the Minister has consistently emphasized the importance of breaking stigma, expanding awareness, and encouraging open conversations surrounding mental well-being. This collaboration forms part of the Ministry’s broader and ongoing mental health strategy, with additional initiatives to be announced in the near future.

The campaign with King Vers specifically highlights the unique pressures men face in society. It addresses the expectations often placed on men to always appear strong, to suppress emotion, and to avoid speaking openly about personal struggles. By confronting the longstanding taboo surrounding men’s mental health, the initiative aims to create safe spaces for dialogue, understanding, and support.

Minister Brug stated that acknowledging mental health challenges does not diminish strength, but rather reflects courage and responsibility. Through this partnership, the Ministry hopes to encourage men across Sint Maarten to speak up, seek support when needed, and support one another.
Further details regarding upcoming activities and community engagements under this campaign will be shared shortly.
The Ministry of VSA remains committed to promoting mental wellness for all segments of society and will continue working with community partners to advance this important cause.