PHILIPSBURG:---  The Where Culture Lives project has successfully completed its survey phase across Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten. The project team extends sincere appreciation to the public who participated, and in particular to the island coordinators and surveyors whose dedication ensured strong community engagement across all six islands.
Titled “Your Voice, Where Culture Lives,” the survey explored how arts, culture, and heritage shape everyday life on the ABCSSS islands. It invited the public to share insights on how they engage with culture in their communities; where culture takes place, what supports it, and what barriers still exist.
The survey phase was conducted within a focused timeframe, from the end of November 2025 through early January 2026, following the focus groups held in August and September last year. Despite the busy end-of-year period, all islands completed their data collection on time. Participation ranged from 40 to 150 respondents per island, reflecting island size, representation, and the effectiveness of local outreach.
Overall, participants responded positively and shared clear priorities. Many pointed to the need for more funding and training opportunities for creative entrepreneurs, alongside more accessible spaces to practice, develop, and showcase art and heritage. Others highlighted the importance of improving cultural education in schools.
With the survey phase now complete, the project team has begun interpreting and analysing the results. They will come together at the end of January, and this collaborative interpretation phase aims to move beyond numbers alone, giving meaning to the findings
within their cultural, social, and island-specific contexts. The outcomes will feed directly into island-based validation sessions scheduled for early April, where draft findings will be discussed with artists, cultural and heritage organisations, government representatives, knowledge partners, and other key stakeholders.
Participants will then offer feedback, which will help to strengthen community ownership of the results and also support the development of recommendations for future cultural policy and investments across all islands.
“As a lead team and as researchers, we are committed to ensuring that the findings form a shared foundation,” says Jorien Wuite, project lead. “This exploration gives us some great insights on cultural mapping across the Dutch Caribbean, and we want the results to meaningfully support future action as well as island-specific policy priorities for government officials and other stakeholders. That is why we are happy and proud to have received support for this additional phase with validation sessions, more co-creative discussions, and broad representation.”
“The insights gathered through this research will help us understand what makes each island’s culture and heritage distinct, while also allowing for careful comparisons that honour differences and illuminate shared patterns,” said Ludmila Duncan, one of the lead researchers. “That balance is essential if cultural research is to be both reliable and impactful.”
The Where Culture Lives team is also proud to announce the development of the Where Culture Lives Prize, a supportive competition on each island that will invite artists and cultural practitioners to submit work celebrating cultural life and creatively expressing ‘where culture lives’. This competition is set to be like no other; grounded in communities, inspired by everyday life, and centred on what culture looks and feels like across the islands. Further details about this prize will be shared by the end of January 2026.
The Where Culture Lives project was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) in The Hague and on Bonaire (OCW and OCW-CG), and is managed by St. Maarten-based consultancy Lemonade B.V.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Mr. Richinel S.J. Brug, wishes to inform the public—particularly residents of Sucker Garden and surrounding neighborhoods—that as of Wednesday, January 21, 2026, he and his Cabinet will be situated in Hope Estate, and fully functioning at the VSA Community Helpdesk.

This initiative is part of Minister Brug’s commitment to the people of Sint Maarten to make 2026 an even more community-oriented year, bringing him and the Ministry closer to the people it serves and strengthening direct engagement at the neighborhood level.

The Minister and his Cabinet will be working their regular hours at the VSA Helpdesk. Members of the public will be able to meet directly with Minister Brug and his Cabinet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Residents are encouraged to visit the Helpdesk, schedule appointments, and share their concerns, questions, and experiences. These engagements will assist the Ministry in better understanding community grievances and ensuring that policies and services are more closely aligned with the real needs of the population.

It is the intention that Minister Brug and his Cabinet will be stationed at the various VSA Community Helpdesks on a rotating basis, enabling broader outreach across different districts. A rotating schedule will be communicated to the public in due course.

In addition, senior citizens who wish to be considered for the GEBE relief program and require assistance with completing the registration form are encouraged to visit the Community Helpdesk. The Cabinet will be available to provide hands-on support, similar to the assistance offered to seniors last year.

Minister Brug emphasized that listening to the community and being present are essential to effective governance. “We cannot serve the people properly if we are not accessible to them. This is about being visible, approachable, responsive, and about shaping policies together with the community,” the Minister stated.

PHILIPSBURG: ---  The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is issuing an urgent appeal to the community for assistance in stopping a persistent wave of jewelry store robberies. Over the past year, these crimes have plagued Sint Maarten, particularly in Philipsburg, with similar incidents occurring in the Maho and Oyster Pond areas.

These robberies are more than just crimes against businesses; they endanger employees, threaten public safety, and damage the economic stability and reputation of our island.

The KPSM has been working tirelessly to combat this criminal activity. Through intensive investigations, surveillance, and intelligence gathering, we have successfully arrested several suspects directly involved in these robberies. Our officers continue to dedicate long hours, often at great personal risk, to protect the people and businesses of Sint Maarten.

Despite these efforts, the robberies continue. This pattern strongly suggests that these are not random acts, but organized crimes. We believe they are planned and financed by individuals who recruit others to carry out the robberies while they remain in the shadows.

Let us be clear: without a buyer, there is no robber. Without a fence for stolen goods, there is no thief.

Someone in our community knows who is behind these crimes. Someone sees unexplained wealth, hears the conversations, or recognizes the suspicious behavior. We believe someone is aware of who is profiting from this stolen jewelry.

The KPSM cannot win this fight alone. Organized crime thrives on silence. These thefts continue because individuals who could help are being protected by those who refuse to speak. When criminals profit from the shadows while others risk their lives, the entire community pays the price.

This is no longer just a police matter—it is a community responsibility. We urgently appeal to the people of Sint Maarten:

• If you know who may be involved, please come forward.
• If you suspect someone is buying or selling stolen jewelry, report it.
• If you have any information, no matter how small it seems, share it with the KPSM.

All information will be handled with strict confidentiality. Our goal is to stop those who exploit and endanger our island for personal gain.

We also call on families, friends, and associates to reflect on their role. Too often, criminal behavior is enabled by the silence or denial of those closest to the perpetrators. Shielding a loved one involved in crime does not protect them; it enables further harm to innocent people and contributes to the breakdown of our community. Turning a blind eye is not loyalty—it is complicity.

A responsible citizen stands for what is right, even when it is difficult. True care means guiding others away from a life of crime, not allowing them to be used by those who profit from theft and violence.

Sint Maarten is a close-knit society, and these crimes affect us all. Businesses suffer, employees live in fear, and our island's reputation is threatened by the actions of a few who are supported by the silence of others.

The KPSM urges every citizen to choose courage over fear and responsibility over misplaced protection. Help us stop the masterminds behind these crimes. Help us protect Sint Maarten. Help us break the cycle. When the community stands together, crime has nowhere to hide.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the KPSM at +1 721-542-2222 or the anonymous tip line at 9300. Remember: See Something, Say Something.

PHILIPSBURG:--- (DCOMM) – The Inspectorate of Economic and Transport Affairs (IETA) announces the launch of the 2026 Passenger Transport Confirmation Letter Process.

In a strategic shift from previous years, the 2026 process introduces two distinct application forms: one designated for individual bus and taxi permit holders, and a separate application for legal entities holding permits for bus companies, touring cars, unregulated transport, and car rental services.

This revised structure is designed to centralize data collection and documentation uploads, thereby improving processing efficiency and reducing administrative bottlenecks in the issuance of confirmation letters.

A key change introduced this year is the mandatory submission of the CRIB number for both individuals and companies.

Submission of the 2026 road tax payment receipt is also required to obtain the confirmation letter prior to issuance. In addition, IETA has adjusted how the Transport Control Unit engages with legal entities to improve regulatory oversight and operational efficiency.

Legal entities holding passenger transport permits are required to submit documentation for all vehicles registered under their permits through a single consolidated application. This requirement applies to all bus companies, touring cars (T plates), unregulated transport (G plates), and car rental operations.

Companies must ensure that all operating arrangements, including driver employment relationships and vehicle assignments, comply with the requirements of the Landsverordening personenvervoer.

The consolidated application process enables IETA to maintain comprehensive oversight of company fleet operations while reducing administrative fragmentation. Permit holders or their authorized representatives must submit complete documentation covering all vehicles operating under their permit authority.

Under the 2026 process, individual bus and taxi permit holders must submit their personal and contact information, CRIB number, and permit details, along with copies of their 2026 road tax receipt, valid transport permit, Sint Maarten driver’s license, and national ID.

Where an assistant driver is engaged, the assistant’s personal and permit details must be provided together with a signed declaration letter from the permit holder confirming the working relationship for 2026. Applicants are also required to upload vehicle photographs and select an appointment for inspection.

Legal entity permit holders are required to submit permit details, Chamber of Commerce registration, and tax administration data, as well as comprehensive fleet information through a consolidated spreadsheet.

Supporting documentation must include copies of all 2026 road tax receipts, motor vehicle inspection cards, and valid insurance policies. Passenger transport companies are reminded that separate applications must not be submitted for individual vehicle plates under the same category attached to the same permit. All vehicles within the same plate category must be consolidated into one application per company.

All passenger transport vehicles are required to be equipped with a functional fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit suitable for minor injuries. Vehicles suspected of having significant defects, including but not limited to broken brake lights, damaged windshields, or faulty horns, may be referred to the Motor Vehicle Inspection Center for reinspection, even if a valid inspection card is presented.

The confirmation letter serves as formal validation of permit, vehicle, and road tax compliance for passenger transport operations for the year 2026.

Permit holders who fail to complete the confirmation process by the submission deadline of Friday, February 27, 2026, may experience operational delays or be classified as inactive in the transport registry.

Following this deadline, the Transport Control Unit cannot guarantee availability to accommodate operators seeking to complete the process for the purpose of plate collection.

Permit holders are therefore strongly advised to complete the confirmation process well in advance of the deadline to mitigate service disruptions and avoid last-minute processing constraints.

• Individual Bus & Taxi: Individual Bus and Taxi Application
• Passenger Transport Companies: Passenger Transport Company Application

For assistance or questions, transport operators can contact the Transport Control Unit via:

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

WhatsApp Only: +1 (721) 559-7685