~Landsrecherche Probes Parliamentarian While KPSM Handles Investigation into Brother.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Omar Ottley and his brother, Mhalik Ottley, were both arrested Friday in connection with separate investigations stemming from an alleged assault incident during Carnival festivities at Carnival Village in April this year.
According to an official press release issued on May 15, 2026, the National Criminal Investigation Department, Landsrecherche Sint Maarten, arrested MP Omar Ottley as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into public assault. Authorities said the alleged incident took place in April during Carnival celebrations.
The Landsrecherche investigation is being carried out under the direction of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and specifically concerns the actions of the sitting member of parliament. Officials have so far declined to release further details regarding the allegations against Ottley, citing the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, police spokesman Joe Josepha confirmed that Mhalik Ottley was also arrested in relation to the same Carnival altercation. His case, however, is being investigated separately by the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM).
The dual investigations have drawn considerable public attention, given the involvement of a sitting parliamentarian and the high-profile nature of the Carnival incident, which reportedly occurred at Carnival Village during one of the festival season's busiest periods.
Authorities have not disclosed whether additional arrests are expected or when the suspects are scheduled to appear before a judge.
Both investigations remain active.

SIMPSON BAY:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) has issued a clarification regarding a disturbance that took place on Thursday at a restaurant in Simpson Bay involving a Member of Parliament, Francisco Lacroes, the owner of the establishment, and another male individual.
According to police, officers responded to the incident after reports of disagreement and disruptive behavior at the restaurant. Preliminary findings indicate that the individual had been asked to leave the premises by both the business owner and the Member of Parliament.
Police stated that the man allegedly refused to comply with repeated requests to leave and was eventually escorted from the establishment.
Following the incident, the individual reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with how he was treated and informed authorities that he intended to file an official complaint.
Due to the circumstances of the case, the Acting Prosecutor was consulted and intervened after discussions with all parties involved. Authorities reviewed the available information before resolving the matter.
KPSM confirmed that, by the end of the intervention, all parties agreed to separate peacefully, and no further disturbances were reported.
In its statement, police emphasized their commitment to handling all complaints in a professional, impartial, and fact-based manner.
The matter remains under review.

CAY HILL:---  St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) marked International Nurses Day on Tuesday, May 12th, 2026, under the theme “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives” with a short ceremony dedicated to its nurses who make quality patient-centered care possible every day.
The celebration kicked off with a flag hoisting at the main entrance, bringing staff and guests together before the program moved inside. Nrs. Candida Williams, Hygiene and Infection Control (HIC) Practitioner, served as MC, welcoming guests and staff to the celebration. The program opened with a prayer by Nrs. Alisha Dottin of the Outpatient Department and a poem by Nrs. Toran Romain of OB/GYN, two moments that set a tone of reflection and gratitude that carried through the entire ceremony.
Nrs. Jacqueline Berkel, President of Windward Island Healthcare Union Association (WIHUA), addressed the audience on the value of nursing and what it means to show up for patients every day. Remarks on behalf of SMMC Management and Board of Directors were delivered by SMMC CEO Dr. Felix Holiday.
“As we transition to your new hospital, I want to encourage you to continue showing up with the same commitment to your patients. The work you do is powerful. It is meaningful. And it saves lives in ways that cannot be measured,” said Dr. Felix Holiday.
Nrs. Abigail Athanase of the Outpatient Department performed a musical rendition before Nrs. Travin Joseph of the SXM Nurses Association led the audience in the Nurses' Pledge.
Words of encouragement were shared by Nrs. Sherryl Carty, Supervisor of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Pediatrics Wards. Closing remarks on behalf of the staff were delivered by the Outpatient Care Manager, Mrs. Christina Jacobs, before Nrs. Cecilia Jankie of Pediatrics closed the ceremony with a prayer.
“Together we build a better SMMC, one compassionate care moment at a time, keep leading the way.” Said Nrs Sherryl Carty of OB/GYN and Pediatrics.
International Nurses Day is observed every year on May 12th, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, to recognize the contributions of nurses around the world. SMMC thanks its nurses for ensuring that friendly, high-quality, patient-centered care close to home is a reality for the people of St. Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In light of the recent reaction by Kingdom Minister of Foreign Affairs Berendsen in defense of the Kingdom’s abstention during the UN vote on a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity, Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams says the explanation offered thus far falls short of what is required.

MP Wescot-Williams confirmed that she also has formally requested clarity from the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten through parliamentary questions, seeking answers on the Kingdom’s position, the role and involvement of the countries within the Kingdom, and the implications of the abstention for ongoing conversations about reparations, acknowledgment, and reconciliation.

According to Wescot-Williams, “A simple promise to do better in the future is not sufficient. This vote by the Kingdom will live on and will inevitably make future attempts at reparations and reconciliation appear disingenuous.”

She emphasized that statements of regret, apologies, and commitments to confront the legacy of slavery lose credibility when they are contradicted by actions on the international stage.

“The abstention sends the wrong signal, particularly to Caribbean people whose ancestors endured centuries of exploitation and whose societies continue to experience the structural consequences of that history,” the MP stated.

Wescot-Williams further argued that the Kingdom now has an obligation to repair the political and moral damage caused by the abstention and to demonstrate, through clear and principled action, that its commitment to reparatory justice is sincere.

“This abstention by the Kingdom needs to be repaired,” she concluded.

The MP noted that the responses from the Sint Maarten Prime Minister will help clarify whether Sint Maarten was consulted or informed beforehand and whether the interests and sensitivities of the Caribbean countries within the Kingdom were adequately represented in the Kingdom’s final position.