PHILIPSBURG:---  Former Member of Parliament and political strategist Romaine Laville has launched a blistering public attack against Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, accusing the country’s leader of political interference, intimidation, abuse of power, and targeting his family in what is rapidly becoming one of the biggest political crises facing the coalition government.

Speaking publicly for the first time since tensions erupted between VSA Minister Richinel Brug and the Prime Minister, Laville defended his consultancy work with the Ministry of VSA, rejected allegations of corruption and conflict of interest, and revealed explosive claims involving government payments, police complaints, and alleged inappropriate conduct involving his wife.

“I WILL PROTECT MY FAMILY”

Laville said he had avoided public appearances for months but felt compelled to speak after his wife and children became caught in the political crossfire.

“I am the protector first and the provider after,” Laville declared. “When my family is being wrongly dragged, I will say something.”

The former MP insisted the controversy surrounding his consultancy agreement was politically manufactured and stressed he was hired because of his specialized qualifications in World Bank and NRPB-funded projects.

Laville said he remains the only local St. Maartener with extensive technical expertise in managing complex World Bank procurement systems and donor-funded infrastructure programs.

DOUBLE PAYMENT CLAIMS EXPLODE

One of the most damaging revelations during the interview centered on accusations that Laville improperly received excess government payments.

Laville forcefully denied the allegation and revealed documents showing that a duplicate payment made by government was identified and reversed by the bank itself.

According to Laville, the government accidentally deposited two payments totaling more than NAf. 14,553 into his account on March 13, 2025. He stated that the bank later contacted him after identifying the error and requested authorization to reverse one of the duplicate transfers.

Laville said he immediately approved the correction.

“The only time I received more money was when government mistakenly double-paid me,” Laville stated. “The bank contacted me, and I authorized the money to be taken back.”

He accused the Prime Minister of misleading Parliament and the public by implying he unlawfully benefited from government funds.

“When the Prime Minister says I collected more money than I was contracted for, the guy is a damn liar,” Laville charged.

CLAIM PM GRABBED HIS WIFE’S HAND

In one of the interview’s most explosive moments, Laville revealed that his wife allegedly told him the Prime Minister once grabbed her by the hand inside government offices.

According to Laville, his wife later recounted the incident during legal consultations linked to the ongoing dispute.

“She told him, ‘Don’t you ever touch me like that again,’” Laville said during the emotional interview.

Laville said he was shocked that his wife had never previously informed him about the alleged incident, explaining that she feared how he would react as her husband.

The revelation is expected to intensify scrutiny surrounding the already deteriorating relationship between the Prime Minister and the Ministry of VSA.

OFFICIAL COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST LAVILLE — NOT HIS WIFE

Laville also disclosed that Prime Minister Mercelina allegedly misrepresented who the official police complaint was filed against.

According to Laville, the Prime Minister informed members of the government and the Council of Ministers that a complaint had been filed against Laville’s wife, resulting in restrictions on her access to government buildings.

However, Laville claimed that during consultations with legal counsel, he discovered the complaint had actually been filed against him personally — not his wife.

“The Prime Minister of St. Martin never filed a charge against my wife,” Laville said. “He filed a charge against yours truly.”

Laville further accused the Prime Minister of filing a false complaint based on social media posts that never directly mentioned Mercelina by name.

PM ACCUSED OF POLITICAL VENDETTA

Throughout the interview, Laville repeatedly accused Prime Minister Mercelina of deliberately undermining Minister Brug and interfering in ministerial affairs.

He claimed the VSA Minister had been targeted from the beginning because elements within the ruling party never wanted him in office.

Laville described what he called a systematic campaign to remove individuals who refuse to submit to political pressure.

“If you don’t go along with what they want, they will find ways to get rid of you,” he warned.

He also alleged that the Prime Minister improperly involved himself in operational matters tied to World Bank-funded projects that legally fall under line ministries.

“A SAD DAY FOR ST. MARTIN”

The emotional interview concluded with Laville saying he no longer recognizes the political culture of St. Martin and fears qualified people are being driven away from public service.

He defended Minister Brug as one of the few politicians genuinely focused on helping ordinary citizens and vulnerable families.

“You have one of the few ministers there who truly has a heart for the people,” Laville said. “And all you see is an effort to destroy him.”

Laville ended by saying the emotional pain endured by his wife ultimately pushed him to finally speak publicly.

“Those cries are the reason why I am here today,” he said.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Laughter, storytelling, childhood memories, and cultural connection filled the atmosphere this past weekend as the Play Like We Used 2 initiative successfully brought seniors, children, parents, and community members together for a heartwarming intergenerational cultural experience focused on reviving traditional Caribbean games and living heritage.

The initiative, organized by Julia Grigg, was designed to reconnect younger generations with the simple joys, traditions, and social experiences that once shaped Caribbean childhoods through outdoor games, storytelling, clapping rhymes, riddles, and shared cultural memories. The project also created a meaningful opportunity for seniors to actively participate as knowledge bearers, sharing their lived experiences and traditions with the island’s youth.

The event was made possible through the valued support of Het Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied (CCG) and the dedicated collaboration of the St. Maarten Senior Citizens Recreational Foundation (SSCRF), whose involvement helped ensure that seniors were able to come out, participate, and truly enjoy the experience alongside the children and families in attendance.

Special appreciation is also extended to the parents and guardians who ensured that their children came out to “Play Like They Used 2,” embracing a day centered around movement, connection, laughter, and community participation.

The initiative aligns with broader efforts to preserve and safeguard intangible cultural heritage through active participation and intergenerational exchange. According to the project overview, Play Like We Used To focuses on reviving traditional Caribbean games, documenting oral traditions, and fostering meaningful interactions between elders and youth through community-centered play sessions and cultural storytelling. The project further emphasizes cultural preservation through documentation, educational tools, and public engagement activities designed to ensure these traditions remain accessible for future generations.

Organizer Julia Grigg shared that the inspiration behind the initiative came from a desire to bridge generational gaps while preserving cultural traditions that are slowly disappearing in today’s technology-driven world.

“So many of the games, songs, and traditions we grew up with created real human connection, creativity, and community interaction. I wanted our seniors to feel valued, heard, and celebrated while giving children the opportunity to experience the joy of authentic play beyond screens and devices. Watching the generations laugh, learn, and connect with each other was truly beautiful and confirmed exactly why this initiative matters,” Grigg expressed.

Throughout the day, participants engaged in traditional games, storytelling moments, and interactive activities that promoted social interaction, cultural pride, and joyful community participation. The atmosphere reflected the true essence of Caribbean togetherness — one rooted in shared experiences, oral traditions, laughter, and collective memory.

The Play Like We Used 2 initiative continues to serve as an important reminder that culture is not only preserved through archives and history books, but through active participation, storytelling, and community engagement across generations.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Youth hereby informs the public that student registration for the 2026 edition of the Business Outreach & Placement Program (BOPP) has officially closed after reaching and surpassing the program’s registration capacity within just five days of opening.
Student registration officially opened on Wednesday, May 20th, 2026 and, due to the exceptional response and growing popularity of the program amongst young people, the Department was required to close registration by Saturday after the maximum capacity had been exceeded.
The overwhelming interest shown by students once again reflects the growing demand for meaningful opportunities that provide workplace exposure, practical experience and professional development for youth on Sint Maarten.
Now entering its 28th year, BOPP continues to serve as one of Sint Maarten’s longest-running youth workforce development initiatives, connecting youth between the ages of 16 and 24 with both public and private sector host organizations for summer work experience placements.
The Department of Youth extends sincere appreciation to all students who registered and demonstrated interest in participating in this year’s program. The Department also wishes to thank the many businesses, organizations and government departments that continue to support BOPP and contribute toward the development and empowerment of the nation’s youth.
The Department remains committed to providing students with a valuable and meaningful work experience that not only strengthens their professional skills, but also allows them to build connections, expand their networks and gain exposure to potential career pathways and future employment opportunities.
Students who successfully registered will receive further communication regarding the next phases of the program, including orientation activities, interview scheduling and pre-placement training. Registered students are strongly encouraged to check their emails regularly in order to remain informed of all activities and important updates leading up to the training component of the program.
The Department of Youth is also continuing its appeal to businesses, organizations and government departments that have not yet registered as host organizations to come on board and support this important youth development initiative. By participating in BOPP, organizations play a direct role in helping to shape, mentor and prepare the future workforce of Sint Maarten.
For additional information, persons may contact the Department of Youth at telephone +1 (721) 542-2709 ext. 2754 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten South Omega Leo Club extends its deepest condolences to every family that has lost a loved one in a motorcycle or scooter accident. Our thoughts and prayers are especially with the families and friends affected by the recent tragic accident in Baie Nettle, which has once again shaken our community and reminded us how fragile life truly is.

Far too many young lives are being lost or seriously injured on our roads. As a youth organization committed to community service and youth development, we are calling on all motorists to exercise greater caution while driving, especially in school zones and around motorcycles and scooters.

We urge drivers to:
• Slow down and obey speed limits
• Avoid distracted driving and phone use behind the wheel
• Be mindful of young and inexperienced riders
• Give motorcycles and scooters enough space on the road
• Drive responsibly at all times

We also encourage our young riders to prioritize safety by wearing helmets, avoiding reckless riding, and respecting traffic laws.

Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. One careless decision can change lives forever. Together, we must work to create safer roads and protect the lives of our youth and community members.

Drive Safe. Arrive Alive.