PHILIPSBURG:---  The Committee of Justice of Parliament will meet on April 8, 2026.   

The Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 14.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.  

The Prime Minister & Minister of Justice will be in attendance.  

The agenda points are: 

1. Update on the current crime situation affecting youth and communities

2. Discussion on youth intervention options, including the re-introduction of military training in Curacao

3.Update on Justice Ministry efforts to strengthen prevention and community support (IS/350/2025-2026 dated November 17, 2025)

This meeting was requested by MP E.J. Doran. 

Members of the public are also invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.  

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.  

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament.  

PHILIPSBURG:---  Member of Parliament and former VSA Minister Omar Ottley delivered a strong and pointed address in Parliament today, directly confronting current VSA Minister Richinel Brug over the handling of the new general hospital project.

Speaking candidly, Ottley made it clear from the outset that his intention was not to assign blame, but to highlight what he described as a serious lack of transparency surrounding the project.

“This meeting… is not to blame, but about lack of transparency,” Ottley stated.

Revisiting the Roots of the Crisis

Ottley walked Parliament through a detailed timeline dating back to 2016, emphasizing that the project was troubled long before he entered politics. He pointed to early contract issues, including legal action and costly settlements, which resulted in millions being paid out before construction even began.

He stressed that these early missteps created a ripple effect that continues to impact the project today.

“Before the hospital even got the first brick laid… we had to pay millions to settle,” he said.

Defending His Tenure

Addressing criticism of his time as Minister, Ottley firmly stated that he inherited a problematic situation rather than created it.

“I was not the orchestrator of this mess, but it’s what I had to bear with,” he said.

He highlighted that when he assumed office in April 2021, there was virtually no physical progress on the site, noting that even basic construction had not yet begun.

Ottley outlined achievements during his tenure, including the establishment of the hospital’s foundation, installation of key infrastructure such as water tanks and generator systems, and progress that brought the project to a stage where vertical construction could begin.

Calls for Stronger Leadership

While acknowledging that Minister Brug also inherited challenges, Ottley expressed concern over what he sees as a lack of assertiveness in dealing with contractors and managing the project.

He urged the Minister to take a firmer stance and enforce agreements and deadlines.

“You have an agreement… get it done. Do not let them take you for a ride,” Ottley warned.

He also questioned how often the Minister meets with key stakeholders, including FINZO and the St. Maarten Medical Center, and sought clarity on the project's growing financial demands.

Transparency and Accountability in Question

A major focus of Ottley’s address was transparency, particularly regarding additional funding requests and conflicting reported figures.

He pressed for clear answers on how much contractors are requesting versus what oversight bodies deem reasonable.

Concerns Over Local Employment

Ottley also raised concerns about the number of foreign workers on the construction site, questioning whether sufficient effort has been made to hire locally.

He referenced his own policy of requiring job fairs before approving labor permits and suggested that such practices are not being enforced.

Broader Healthcare Concerns

Beyond the hospital construction, Ottley addressed wider issues within the healthcare system, including delays in legislation needed to integrate locally trained medical professionals and the need for improvements at existing facilities while the new hospital remains incomplete.

A Final Warning

In closing, Ottley delivered a firm message to Minister Brug, emphasizing the weight of responsibility that comes with the role.

“Heavy is the head that wears the crown… give us real, direct answers,” he said.

The exchange highlighted growing tension in Parliament over the hospital project, as calls intensify for stronger leadership, clearer communication, and tangible progress on one of Sint Maarten’s most critical national developments.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A new scientific paper published in Estuaries and Coasts, titled “Estimating Dutch Caribbean Salt Marsh Extent for Inclusion of Island Territories in Ecosystem Mapping,” draws attention to coastal wetlands across the Dutch Caribbean and the extent to which they are being overlooked in planning and policy. 

The paper was authored by Tadzio Bervoets of Sint Maarten, Monica M. Moritsch (Beneath The Waves), Anthony Campbell (NASA Biospheric Sciences Laboratory and University of Maryland), Austin J. Gallagher (Beneath The Waves), and Carlos M. Duarte (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology). 

The study looked at Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire and identified more than 4,500 hectares of salt marsh across the three islands. What stands out is that most of these wetlands are small and scattered, often less than one hectare in size. These are exactly the kinds of areas that tend to be left out of global maps and, as a result, left out of decision-making. 

Although the research focused on Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire, the issue applies across the Dutch Caribbean, including Sint Maarten. The paper shows that when small wetlands are not counted properly, they are easy to ignore.

These areas still play a role in how coastal systems function. They hold water, filter runoff, and support surrounding ecosystems. Losing them piece by piece adds up, even if each individual area seems small.

In Sint Maarten, wetlands have been reduced and altered over time through reclamation, drainage, pollution, and development. Many of these areas have been treated as if they were available land, rather than part of the island’s natural systems.

“We’ve been treating wetlands in Sint Maarten as if they don’t matter, and that has consequences,” said Tadzio Bervoets. “We keep filling them in, cutting them off, or ignoring them altogether, and then we deal with flooding, water quality issues, and loss of habitat. These areas are not empty land. They are part of how the island protects itself, and we are steadily removing that protection.”

One of the key points from the study is that size is not a reason to dismiss these systems. The majority of wetlands identified in the research are small, but they still contribute to the overall function of the coastline. 

The paper also highlights a practical issue. If wetlands are not properly mapped, they are unlikely to be considered in planning decisions. That makes it easier for them to be lost over time.

For Sint Maarten, this is not a future concern. It is already happening. Wetlands that once helped manage water and supported coastal ecosystems have been reduced, and what remains continues to face pressure.

“There is still time to change how we approach this,” Bervoets added. “But that starts with recognizing what is still there and treating it as something worth keeping, not something to be filled in later.”

The study provides a method that can be applied across the Dutch Caribbean, including Sint Maarten, to better understand where wetlands are located and how much remains. That information is necessary if these areas are to be managed properly.

The paper, “Estimating Dutch Caribbean Salt Marsh Extent for Inclusion of Island Territories in Ecosystem Mapping,” is published in Estuaries and Coasts and can be accessed through following: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tadzio-Bervoets

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) Richinel Brug has, for now, avoided facing a motion of no confidence after Parliament voted to postpone a highly anticipated meeting where the matter was expected to be addressed. The Parliament of St. Maarten had scheduled an agenda point to discuss two letters the Minister sent to parliament. Those letters were from the URSM party President and his reply to their letter.

The parliamentary session, which included agenda point three widely believed to be linked to the no-confidence motion, became the subject of intense procedural debate. Members of Parliament were divided on whether to proceed immediately with the discussion or delay it due to scheduling complications and logistical concerns.

The chair of Parliament indicated that the postponement was necessary to ensure the minister could deliver a full presentation and that deliberations could proceed without interruption. Travel plans for several MPs were also cited as a contributing factor in the decision to defer the meeting.

However, not all members agreed with the delay. MP Ardwell Irion argued that postponing the meeting would only prolong political uncertainty and allow ongoing tensions between government officials to continue playing out in the public sphere. The MP urged Parliament to proceed, emphasizing the importance of addressing the matter without further delay.

A proposal was subsequently put forward to continue the agenda item in the same session. This led to a formal vote among MPs on whether to proceed with the discussion immediately.

In a narrow decision, the proposal was rejected, with seven members voting against continuation and six in favor.

As a result, the meeting was adjourned, and the agenda item—along with the expected debate on the motion of no confidence—was postponed until further notice.