PHILIPSBURG:--- Another unlicensed firearm and a very realistic look-alike are off the community in the hands of the Police. The two weapons were turned in on the second day of the “Stop, Drop, and GO” Firearm Amnesty Programme. 

These two weapons followed the one unlicensed firearm—a .24 caliber Midnight Special— that was voluntarily surrendered to police on Monday, the first day of the campaign.

The Sint Maarten Police Force, KPSM, and the Prosecutor’s Office said the turn-in of the realistic-looking “gun” is very important to note. Such “weapons” pose significant dangers because they can easily be mistaken for real firearms by law enforcement, security personnel, or the public. This confusion can lead to tragic consequences, including unnecessary police interventions, or panic in public spaces. Removing these imitation firearms from circulation helps reduce the risk of misunderstandings and enhances public safety.

The next Amnesty Day is Wednesday, April 23, 2025, and law enforcement urges the public to make use of this opportunity to turn in illegal firearms and ammunition. Financial compensation is offered for weapons and tips leading to weapon(s) recovery.

There will be no drop off days on Good Friday, April 18 and Easter Monday, April 21. The amnesty has been extended until May 7.

KPSM and the Prosecutor's Office Sint Maarten launched the “Stop, Drop, and GO” Firearm Amnesty Programme on April 14. This initiative aims to reduce the number of illegal firearms in the community and enhance public safety through voluntary surrender.

This amnesty, supported by the Ministry of Justice, offers financial rewards of up to Cg. 895 / US $500 for surrendered weapons and qualifying tips. The designated drop-off location is the Opal Building on Union Road in Cole Bay on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the amnesty period. Drop-off time is 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Firearm Surrender: No questions will be asked when firearms are surrendered to the police.

Anonymity is guaranteed unless the firearm is found to be linked to a criminal offense. All weapons received will undergo forensic examination. The amnesty also applies to anyone wishing to turn in an unwanted firearm.

Trained personnel will be on-site to receive weapons safely.

Firearms must be delivered unloaded, in a sealed bag or box.

No questions will be asked, with some exceptions.

Proof of Surrender: Participants will receive a receipt without their identity being recorded.

Anonymous Tips: Individuals who provide information about the location of illegal firearms via the police tip line (9300) may also be eligible for financial compensation. Eligibility will depend on whether a firearm or ammunition is recovered because of the tip.

All reports and surrenders will be handled with the utmost confidentiality, ensuring the safety and privacy of participants.

KPSM Press Release.

MIAMI, Fla.:--- The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), in partnership with Triptease, has unveiled the topics for the inaugural Caribbean Edition of the Direct Booking Summit. The event will take place Thursday, May 22, in Antigua & Barbuda, immediately following the Caribbean Travel Marketplace. This new one-day summit will bring together global and regional experts to empower Caribbean hoteliers with strategies, tools, and insights to drive more direct bookings, improve profit margins, and diversify their distribution channels.

“Direct bookings are the key to long-term profitability and independence for Caribbean hoteliers,” said CHTA President Sanovnik Destang. “This summit is designed to close the loop between relationship-building at Caribbean Travel Marketplace and revenue growth through direct booking strategies. We’re equipping attendees with exactly what they need to take action—right now.”

To support regional participation, airfare discounts of 25 percent have been confirmed with LIAT and Sunrise Airways for travel to Antigua for attendees.

Topic Highlights Include:
• Direct Bookings in the Caribbean: How to diversify distribution and increase the percentage of hotel direct bookings
• CRM + Email Marketing: Personalization tactics that turn first-time guests into loyal returners
• Rate Parity & Wholesaler Strategy: How to optimize revenue without losing control of distribution
• Digital Marketing Masterclass: Paid ads, retargeting, and conversion strategies that work
• Social Media & TikTok Trends: How to use influencers and short-form content to drive bookings
• PR & SEO Synergy: Using media and content to boost organic visibility and credibility
• Crisis Planning for Resilience: Sustaining direct bookings during downturns or disruptions
• Future Trends: AI, automation, and personalization shaping the next era of hotel marketing

The summit also includes interactive workshops, expert panels, networking opportunities, and real-world takeaways tailored to the needs of Caribbean hoteliers and tourism providers.

“This isn’t just another conference. It’s an action-oriented, solutions-focused day built specifically for the Caribbean hospitality market,” said Vanessa Ledesma, CHTA’s CEO. “We encourage Caribbean Travel Marketplace attendees to extend their stay—and invite any accommodation providers, including those in nearby destinations with easy access to Antigua, who are looking to improve and increase direct bookings to join us for this rare opportunity to connect, learn, and elevate their strategy.”

Register Today
Attendance is open to all regional hoteliers, tourism suppliers, and marketing professionals. The full agenda and registration information is available at
www.directbookingsummit.com/home-caribbean

PHILIPSBURG:---  In a move aimed at improving accessibility and streamlining service delivery, Kadaster St. Maarten has introduced a new credit line starting from Cg. 5,000 and upwards, with a 60-day payment term for eligible clients, including legal professionals. This initiative is part of a broader effort to support fair and timely access to Kadaster’s services and was announced during a recent meeting between Kadaster Director Benjamin Ortega and the Dean of the Bar Association, Zylena Bary.

The credit line initiative enables legal professionals with regulatory engagements to:

• Formally request services and receive official invoices.

• Access a starting credit line of Cg. 5,000, with 60 days to settle from the date of invoice.

• Use a standardized submission form, which will be shared with the Bar Association to streamline engagements.

A key topic during the meeting was Kadaster’s upcoming Geographic Information System (GIS) platform, which will provide clients with online access to mapping and cadastral services, similar in functionality to Google Maps. The new digital service will:

• Allow clients to make online service requests.

• Provide subscription-based access to spatial data that previously required in-person visits.

• Improve efficiency and turnaround times for legal and administrative processes.

The GIS platform is expected to go live by Q2 2025, marking a significant step in Kadaster’s digital transformation journey.

The discussion forms part of Kadaster’s ongoing outreach to professional stakeholders, following a similar engagement earlier this year with the Notaries of St. Maarten. These stakeholder meetings aim to improve collaboration and enhance client services across the legal landscape.

To further support the legal community, Kadaster will also host an information session tailored specifically for lawyers, providing deeper insight into its services, including land registration and its evolving digital platforms.

The meeting with Bary reflects Kadaster’s commitment to fostering strong and productive relationships with key stakeholders. The purpose of the meeting was to improve collaboration and engagement between the Bar Association and the Kadaster, with the immediate impact being an improvement in services delivered to the Bar’s clients.

Bary commended the proactive approach taken by Mr. Ortega, particularly in addressing administrative bottlenecks and seeking practical solutions that benefit all legal professionals. She expressed enthusiasm for continued dialogue and looks forward to future meetings to track the progress of these initiatives.

The Bar Association represents approximately 50 members in Sint Maarten, and nearly 400 members across the Dutch Caribbean. Several members operate within the same firm, and while Kadaster does not distinguish between firm sizes, this initiative is expected to be particularly beneficial for smaller firms that may face challenges with upfront payment requirements. These measures are expected to positively impact overall business performance by improving how services are accessed and delivered.

Last Friday, 11th of April, and Monday, the 14th of April, several multidisciplinary controls were carried out on St. Eustatius. The controls were conducted in the hospitality and construction sectors and were aimed at raising awareness and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.

The controls were initiated by the Regional Information and Expertise Center Caribbean Netherlands (RIEC CN), a collaborative partnership that, among other things, works to strengthen the integrated approach to combat subversion on the BES islands. Various authorities, including the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (KPCN), the Belastingdienst CN (BCN), the Supervision & Enforcement department of the Public Entity of St. Eustatius (T&H OLE), and the Immigration and Naturalisation Service Dutch Caribbean Netherlands (IND CN), collaborated on the controls to verify compliance with laws and regulations in the hospitality and construction sectors.

During the inspections at four hospitality establishments, an employee without a work permit was found at one location. At one of the two construction sites inspected, enforcers found eight individuals without valid residence permits. The involved authorities are conducting further investigations into these situations.

The controls are part of a broader approach focused on increasing awareness and strengthening adherence to laws and regulations. The collaborating services indicate that these joint inspections will eventually become structural and will be carried out regularly. Entrepreneurs and citizens are encouraged to have their affairs in order and thereby contribute to a fair and safe society on St. Eustatius.

*In cases of undermining crime, criminals exploit legitimate businesses and (government) services for illegal activities. This erodes norms and reduces the sense of safety and quality of life. This phenomenon is known as undermining.