PHILIPSBURG:---  The Windward Islands Teachers’ Union (WITU) is calling for urgent clarity and renewed action regarding the health and safety conditions at the Marie Genevieve de Weever School, after troubling classroom conditions were brought to light despite a previous inspection, a Stop Work Order, and a formal Directive issued in 2025.
This matter cannot be reduced to a simple maintenance concern. It raises a broader and more uncomfortable question about how health and safety matters in schools are followed up on, verified, and communicated once official action has been taken.
In October 2025, WITU requested an urgent health and safety inspection at the Marie Genevieve de Weever School due to serious concerns about a pigeon infestation, unsanitary conditions, and potential health risks to staff and students. The Labor Inspectorate conducted an inspection on November 3, 2025. An Inspectorate Report was issued on November 5, 2025, identifying several serious concerns, including pigeon infestation, accumulation of pigeon droppings, water damage, possible mold risk, exposed or damaged electrical fixtures, damaged staircases, unstable railings, cracks in balcony walls and supporting structures, and roof deterioration.
A Stop Work Order was also issued on November 5, 2025, for affected classrooms and areas due to exposed bird droppings and suspected contamination of the air. This was followed by a Directive issued on November 7, 2025, requiring specific corrective actions with clear deadlines.
The Directive included, among other measures, the removal of pigeon droppings, the use of proper protective equipment by cleaning personnel, the installation of bird deterrents, the sealing of possible entry points to prevent rodents and pests, an indoor air quality assessment, structural repairs, safety improvements, preventive maintenance, and staff training.
During a meeting held at the Marie Genevieve de Weever School on Monday, June 8, 2026, WITU was informed that the Stop Work Order had been lifted. However, the conditions reported and observed have raised serious concern. Several classrooms, particularly on the lower levels, remain in a deplorable condition. Some classrooms are missing window panels, leaving the rooms exposed to the elements and allowing rodents, pests, and other hazards to enter.

WITU finds this difficult to understand.
If a school was inspected, placed under intensified supervision, issued a Directive, and later had a Stop Work Order lifted, the public should be able to trust that the matter was not only addressed on paper but fully resolved in practice.
When classrooms remain exposed after such a process, the issue is no longer only about broken windows or unfinished repairs. It points to a possible breakdown in the system responsible for ensuring that corrective measures are completed, verified, and sustained. WITU therefore believes that this matter requires clear coordination between the Labor Inspectorate, the Ministry of Education, DPE, and school management. While the Stop Work Order and Directive fall under the authority of the Labor Inspectorate, the responsibility for ensuring that schools are safe, properly maintained, and suitable for teaching and learning cannot rest on one office alone.
WITU is therefore seeking clarity on how the Stop Work Order could have been lifted while classrooms, particularly on the lower levels, reportedly remain exposed due to missing window panels and other unresolved conditions. The union wants to know whether all classrooms were included in the inspection and follow-up process, whether the required corrective measures were completed and verified, and whether the monthly inspections and unannounced visits referred to in the Directive were actually carried out.
WITU is careful not to cast blame without the full facts. However, the union cannot ignore the seriousness of what has now come to light. A system that allows a school to move from a Stop Work Order to continued classroom exposure must be questioned.

WITU also encourages all teachers, whether or not they are members of the union, to stand up for their right to work in a safe and healthy environment. This right is not a favor. It is a basic standard of dignity in the workplace and is in keeping with the principles reflected in ILO Convention No. 155 on Occupational Safety and Health and the Working Environment, as well as the broader recognition of a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work.
At the same time, WITU strongly urges all teachers to address these matters responsibly. Concerns should be documented clearly, supported with photographs where possible, and submitted in writing to the respective school managers in keeping with the established communication protocol.
If the concerns are not addressed within a reasonable time, or if the conditions continue to pose a risk to health and safety, the matter should then be escalated to the competent authority. Proper documentation protects workers, strengthens the process, and ensures that serious concerns cannot be dismissed as rumors, exaggeration, or hearsay.
WITU has written to the Labor Inspectorate requesting urgent clarification on the lifting of the Stop Work Order, the status of the required corrective measures, and whether follow-up inspections, including unannounced visits, have been conducted. WITU is also requesting that the Inspectorate urgently revisit the school, with specific attention to the lower-level classrooms, missing window panels, possible rodent and pest access, air quality, sanitation, structural safety, and overall compliance with the November 7, 2025 Directive.
This situation should concern every stakeholder in education. No teacher should have to work in questionable conditions. No student should have to learn in them. No parent should have to wonder whether a classroom is truly safe after official intervention has already taken place.
WITU maintains that health and safety in schools must not depend on repeated complaints, frustration, or public pressure before action is taken. There must be a reliable system of inspection, follow-up, accountability, and communication.
While WITU will continue to monitor this specific matter at the Marie Genevieve de Weever School, the union remains committed to advocating for safe, healthy, and dignified working and learning environments in every school.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Detective Department of the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) continues to actively investigate several cases related to the trafficking of illegal firearms and narcotics on Sint Maarten.

As part of one of these ongoing investigations, detectives received information regarding the involvement of a male suspect in the illegal trade of firearms. Based on the information gathered, detectives from the Special Crimes Unit arrested a suspect identified by the initials J.J.M., 35 years old, on June 8, 2026, on suspicion of dealing in illegal firearms.

Under the direction of the Investigating Judge, a search of the suspect's residence was conducted. During the search, officers confiscated a quantity of narcotics and cash. Additionally, one firearm, a quantity of ammunition, an air gun, jewelry, and other incriminating evidence were seized.

All confiscated items were transported to the Philipsburg Police Station for further examination and processing.
The suspect remains in police custody pending further investigation.

KPSM remains committed to combating illegal firearms and drug trafficking and urges the community to continue providing information that may assist law enforcement in addressing these criminal activities.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) has arrested three suspects in connection with a series of armed robberies targeting supermarkets, restaurants, and guesthouses in the Cul-de-Sac, Philipsburg, and Cay Hill areas over the past two weeks.

At approximately 8:00 PM on June 8th, 2026, Central Police Dispatch received multiple emergency calls reporting an armed robbery in progress at a Chinese restaurant in the Cay Hill area. Preliminary information indicates that two suspects, dressed in dark clothing, entered the establishment and, under threat of a firearm, robbed the restaurant before fleeing the scene.

Officers were further informed that the suspects matched the description of individuals who had allegedly committed an armed robbery at a restaurant on Bush Road the previous day.

Following the report, police units immediately initiated an area search. During the operation, officers received information that the suspects were traveling in a small blue or red vehicle. Shortly thereafter, officers observed and intercepted a small blue vehicle on Blyden’s Drive in the Cul-de-Sac area.

Upon conducting a control of the vehicle, officers encountered a female occupant inside. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a small quantity of narcotics, several items of black clothing, and a firearm. The female suspect, identified by the initials G.R.C.B., 21 years old was immediately arrested, and the firearm and clothing were confiscated.

During questioning, the suspect indicated that she had been in the company of two male family members who were located in a nearby apartment.

Officers proceeded to the apartment next door, where they encountered two male suspects matching the description of the individuals involved in the earlier armed robbery at the Chinese restaurant.

The suspects, identified by the initials H.A.S.-G. (19 years old) and N.Z.P.-P. (14 years old), were both arrested without incident and transported to the Philipsburg Police Station, where they are currently being held for questioning.

KPSM reminds parents, guardians, and the wider community of the importance of maintaining awareness of the activities and associations of minors under their care. Situational awareness and early intervention play a key role in preventing young persons from becoming involved in criminal activity and ensuring their safety and positive development within society.

The investigation remains ongoing, and detectives are actively determining the full involvement of the suspects in the recent series of armed robberies.

KPSM commends the swift and coordinated response of its officers, which led to the successful apprehension of the suspects and the recovery of key evidence.

Anyone with additional information related to these incidents is urged to contact KPSM at +1 (721) 542-2222, or call the tipline at 9300

PHILIPSBURG:---  The resignation of NV GEBE Transition Manager Thomas Roggendorf has once again thrust the government-owned utility into the spotlight, raising serious questions about corporate governance, shareholder oversight, and the prolonged failure to appoint a permanent Managing Board despite repeated assurances that the process would be completed.

In an internal notice dated June 9, 2026, Roggendorf informed staff that he had submitted his resignation as Transition Manager and that his final day in office would be June 12, 2026. In the letter, he thanked employees for their professionalism and stated that he would remain engaged in ensuring an orderly transition before his departure.

Reliable sources have indicated that Roggendorf also formally informed the Supervisory Board of his decision. According to those sources, the Board's response consisted of a single word: "Acknowledged."

While the response may have confirmed receipt of the notification, it has done little to calm growing concerns over the state of leadership at NV GEBE, a utility that has spent much of the past two years operating under temporary and consultancy arrangements rather than a fully constituted and permanently appointed management team.

A Temporary Appointment That Lasted More Than a Year

Roggendorf assumed leadership of NV GEBE in April 2025 following the sudden death of Temporary Manager and CEO candidate Troy Washington. Washington's passing shocked the utility and the wider St. Maarten community, leaving the company without a permanent chief executive at a critical stage in its recovery efforts.

At the time, Roggendorf was already one of the candidates being considered for the CEO position and was subsequently appointed to lead the utility on an interim basis while the appointment process continued.

More than fourteen months later, he remained in office as Transition Manager.

That extended tenure has raised questions because NV GEBE's Articles of Incorporation clearly treat temporary management as an emergency measure rather than a long-term governance solution.

What the Articles of Incorporation Say

A review of NV GEBE's Articles of Incorporation shows that Article 8 provides for the appointment of a temporary manager when all managing directors are absent or otherwise unable to perform their duties.

The Articles state that the corporation may be temporarily managed by a person appointed by the Supervisory Board. However, that same provision requires that a shareholders' meeting be convened as soon as possible to provide for definitive management. Furthermore, the temporary manager's authority is limited to acts that cannot be delayed.

While the Articles reviewed do not explicitly state a three-month maximum term for a temporary manager, governance experts note that the language clearly indicates that temporary management was never intended to become a long-term substitute for a properly appointed Managing Board.

The fact that Roggendorf remained in the position for more than a year without a permanent appointment being finalized has therefore become a significant governance issue.

Shareholder Delays Under Increasing Scrutiny

The controversy surrounding NV GEBE's leadership did not begin with Roggendorf's resignation.

Since 2025, reports have consistently pointed to delays by the shareholder in finalizing executive appointments recommended through established recruitment processes.

One of the most notable examples involves Wilco Sienen, the utility executive selected for the position of Chief Financial Officer.

In April 2025, reports confirmed that Sienen had already begun working with NV GEBE as a consultant while awaiting formal appointment as CFO. The arrangement was presented as temporary while the shareholder completed the approval process.

Yet more than a year later, the CFO appointment remained unresolved.

The situation became so prolonged that Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina publicly acknowledged in January 2026 that NV GEBE was operating with a temporary manager and a financial consultant rather than a fully appointed Managing Board.

The Prime Minister further indicated that the CFO appointment would be addressed after the installation of a new Supervisory Board, effectively confirming that the shareholder had not yet completed the appointment process.

Supervisory Board Turmoil

The appointment delays unfolded against a backdrop of escalating conflict between Government and the Supervisory Board.

Throughout 2025 and into 2026, concerns were repeatedly raised about governance, oversight, transparency, and the handling of executive appointments at NV GEBE.

Those tensions eventually culminated in Government directing the Supervisory Board to resign amid what officials described as growing concerns over the utility's governance structure and leadership decisions.

The turmoil created additional uncertainty around the appointment of permanent executives and contributed to an atmosphere in which temporary arrangements continued far longer than originally envisioned.

Questions About the CEO Appointment Process

Adding to the controversy were reports that Roggendorf himself expected to become the permanent CEO.

According to reporting published by SMN News, Roggendorf was among the candidates nominated through the recruitment process and later assumed the role of temporary manager following Washington's death.

Sources familiar with the process have indicated that there was an expectation that the CEO appointment would eventually be finalized. However, despite the passage of more than a year, no permanent appointment was ever announced.

The absence of a final decision has fueled speculation regarding disagreements among stakeholders, shareholder intervention, and ongoing governance disputes behind the scenes.

Consultant Status Raises Additional Concerns

The continued use of consultancy arrangements has also become a point of concern.

Critics argue that allowing a selected CFO candidate to function as a consultant for more than a year without formal appointment undermines good corporate governance and creates uncertainty regarding authority, accountability, and decision-making responsibilities.

Questions are now being raised about whether the shareholder's failure to complete the appointment process contributed to instability within the utility's leadership structure.

Utility Still Waiting for Stability

Roggendorf's resignation now leaves NV GEBE facing another leadership transition at a time when customers continue to expect improvements in service reliability, infrastructure modernization, and financial recovery.

His departure also revives a broader question that has lingered for more than a year:

Why has one of the country's most important public utilities been allowed to operate for so long without a fully constituted and permanently appointed Managing Board?

The Articles of Incorporation envision temporary management as a short-term solution designed to bridge a gap until definitive leadership can be installed. Instead, temporary appointments, consultancy arrangements, shareholder delays, governance disputes, and board upheaval have combined to produce a leadership vacuum that has persisted far longer than many stakeholders believed acceptable.

With Roggendorf now leaving, the spotlight will once again fall on the shareholder, the Supervisory Board, and Government to explain why permanent appointments remain outstanding and what steps will be taken to ensure that NV GEBE finally obtains the stable and permanent leadership structure envisioned by its governing documents.

For employees, customers, and the people of St. Maarten, the issue is no longer merely who will lead NV GEBE next. The larger question is whether the long-running cycle of temporary solutions and delayed decisions will finally come to an end.