PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is requesting the public's assistance in locating a missing teenager, Kyshynis Raisheena KENEPA, a 16-year-old female.

Kyshynis is described as having a light brown complexion and black hair. She was last seen in the vicinity of Robbie's Lottery on L.B. Scott Road on Sunday, May 31, 2026.

KPSM is concerned for her well-being and asks anyone with information on her whereabouts to immediately contact the Philipsburg Police Station at +1 (721) 542-2222. Information can also be provided through the police emergency number 911.

The community's cooperation is essential to locating this young lady and ensuring her safe return.

Message to Kyshynis Raisheena KENEPA:

If you are seeing this message, please contact the Police Station or your mother as soon as possible so that your family and the authorities can be assured of your safety and well-being.

KPSM thanks the public for its assistance and cooperation in this matter.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) would like to inform the public that the contractor under the Emergency Recovery Project I (ERP1) will begin taking possession of sites at school gyms, public sports facilities, and district courts across Sint Maarten from June 2026. This is in preparation for upcoming repair works which will improve spaces used by students, athletes, and the wider community.
Site possession and mobilization activities by Windward Roads are scheduled to begin in June for the following locations; Simpson Bay, Cole Bay and Cay Bay district courts, followed by Sundial School and the Milton Peter’s College (MPC) old gym site, Sister Magda School and the St. Maarten Academy school gym, Rupert Maynard Community Youth Center and St. Maarten Academy PSVE, Methodist Agogic Center, Browlia F. Milard campus and Sister Regina schools. Helmich Snijders Hillside Christian School and Seventh Day Adventist School in Cole Bay, and the MPC new gym site and South Reward sports facility. These activities will support contractor mobilization, site preparation, and planning ahead of repair works. At some locations, activities may be staggered to help maintain access and, where possible, reduce disruption to schools and facility users.
Planned repair work and its duration will vary by location, depending on site conditions and facility needs. Activities may include repairs to indoor gym floors and exterior playing surfaces, roofs, doors and windows, gym outfitting, and other structural and safety-related repairs. Some locations may also receive repainting, refreshed court markings, fencing repairs, and other works.
As contractors begin mobilization and site preparation activities, residents and facility users may notice temporary work zones, restricted access in some areas, equipment deliveries, and adjusted parking arrangements. To help manage environmental, social, health, and safety risks associated with the Works, activities will be carried out in accordance with ERP1’s Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and the Contractors’ Environmental and Social Management Plan (CESMP). These include mitigation measures for repair works, such as ensuring work areas are properly closed off, secured, and equipped with signage to support the safety of workers, students, school staff, parents, facility users, and the surrounding community. The Contractor will also implement measures to manage dust, properly collect and dispose of waste from worksites, and coordinate traffic and access arrangements where required. Worksites will be maintained in a clean and organized condition and cleared of debris at the completion of works. Community members will be informed in advance of planned activities that may result in temporary inconvenience in their neighborhood.
In the district of St. Peter’s, temporary access adjustments will be implemented along Cupper Drive to facilitate contractor mobilization and site preparation for repairs at Sister Magda School and St. Maarten Academy. Vehicles will not be permitted to park in the area behind Sister Magda School to help maintain access for residents at the lower section of Cupper Drive. Contractor work areas will be established at the rear of both Sister Magda School and the St. Maarten Academy gym. Members of the public are asked to adhere to signage and temporary restrictions.
Residents are encouraged to participate in upcoming stakeholder engagement sessions for updates and feedback and to stay informed by visiting the ERP1 project webpage at www.nrpbsxm.org/erp1, Facebook @sxmnationalrecovery or via the NRPB WhatsApp channel at tinyurl.com/23fry6mu. Feedback, questions and queries may be sent via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or directed to the project’s stakeholder engagement coordinator. Members of the public with complaints may visit www.nrpbsxm.org/complaints.
The works are implemented by the NRPB on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten under ERP1 and funded through the Sint Maarten Trust Fund, financed by the Government of the Netherlands and administered by the World Bank.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is pleased to announce that officers from the Traffic Department recently visited several primary schools to assist students in their preparation for the upcoming annual traffic examination.

As part of KPSM's ongoing commitment to road safety education and youth development, Traffic Department officers conducted informative sessions with Group 7 students at Oranje School and Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School. During these visits, officers provided guidance on traffic rules, road safety awareness, and essential knowledge required for the traffic examination.

The initiative forms an important part of KPSM's efforts to educate young road users and promote safe behavior among future cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. The officers engaged with the students, answered questions, and helped reinforce the lessons necessary for success in the upcoming examination.

KPSM takes this opportunity to wish all Group 7 students the very best of success as they prepare for and participate in the traffic exam. We encourage all students to apply the knowledge they have gained and continue practicing safe behavior on and around the roads.

The management of KPSM would also like to extend its sincere appreciation to the administrations and staff of Oranje School and Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School for their cooperation and commitment to this important educational program. Special thanks are also extended to the Traffic Department officers who dedicated their time and expertise to assist the students in their preparations.

PHILIPSBURG:--- It is easy to look at the current political turmoil unfolding in St. Maarten and think it has nothing to do with you. The public sees a dramatic dispute between politicians, coalition partners, and a Minister. They see headlines about clashing personalities.

But as a trade unionist, I am urging every worker in St. Maarten to look closer. What is happening right now is not just a political soap opera; it is a dangerous precedent that could directly impact your job security, your rights, and your protection in the workplace.

If procedural fairness can be completely bypassed for those occupying the highest offices in government, what protection truly exists for the rest of us?

For decades, the labor movement has fought for a simple rule: an employee is innocent until proven guilty. We have fought to ensure that allegations are thoroughly investigated, that individuals have the right to defend themselves, and that employers remain objective. Yet what we are witnessing today is the dangerous reality of conclusions being reached before investigations are completed, and of public judgment completely replacing due process.

Every worker in St. Maarten, whether you work in a government ministry, a school, a large corporation, or a small family business, needs to wake up to this reality: Employers are watching.

When political disagreements are allowed to outweigh legal safeguards at the highest level of government, it sends a green light to managers and supervisors across the island. It normalizes a culture in which perception is more powerful than proof, and in which an employee can be pushed out simply because they become "inconvenient."

This crisis has also exposed a terrifying truth about whistleblower protection in St. Maarten:

• The Illusion of Safety: Government routinely encourages people to speak up against misconduct.
• The Reality: Encouragement is not protection. True protection is measured by what happens after you speak.

Right now, ordinary workers are watching this political fallout and asking themselves: Is it worth risking my livelihood to tell the truth? If the system won't protect a Minister, will it protect me?

The true measure of integrity is not how a government or an employer treats those with whom it agrees, but how it treats those with whom it disagrees. If this political chapter closes without clear answers, without a finished investigation, and without verified evidence, the greatest casualty will not be a politician's career. The casualty will be your confidence in the legal system.

This is no longer just a political story; it is a labor crisis. We cannot let political noise distract us from the fact that our fundamental right to dignity and due process is on the line. When the foundation of fairness cracks at the top, it eventually collapses on the workers at the bottom.

WICSU-PSU strongly advises government authorities and decision-makers to exercise extreme caution. High-level political actions do not occur in a vacuum; they establish systemic benchmarks. When procedural safeguards are set aside for administrative or political convenience, it compromises the integrity of our institutional frameworks. Authorities must respect the rule of law and remain mindful of the enduring, long-term precedents their current actions are creating.

Furthermore, WICSU-PSU reminds authorities that St. Maarten is bound to international labor standards via the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Specifically, ILO Convention No. 158 (Termination of Employment) explicitly mandates that no employment may be terminated without a verified, valid reason, and strictly prohibits termination before an employee is granted a full opportunity to defend themselves against allegations. Bypassing these statutory steps places local actions in direct conflict with international frameworks established to protect human dignity in the workplace.