PHILIPSBURG  (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Service (CPS) says heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, but the good news is that many heart conditions are preventable.

Public health officials are encouraging residents to take proactive steps toward maintaining heart health through simple, consistent lifestyle habits and regular medical checkups.
The heart is a powerful muscle that works around the clock to circulate blood and oxygen throughout the body. However, poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, high stress, and unmanaged medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes can place significant strain on the heart over time. These risk factors can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes if not addressed early.
Here is what you can do in building a heart-healthy lifestyle. Keeping your heart healthy does not require drastic changes. Instead, it involves steady, practical habits that can be maintained over the long term.
It is recommended you take the following key steps: Eat a balanced diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Limit salt, sugar, and processed foods.
Stay physically active: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week, such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming. Maintain a healthy weight: Excess body weight increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Avoid tobacco products: Smoking damages blood vessels and significantly raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Limit alcohol intake: Excessive drinking can raise blood pressure and contribute to heart disease.
Manage stress: Chronic stress can affect heart health. Relaxation techniques, exercise, and adequate sleep can help reduce stress levels. Get regular health screenings: Monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, especially if you have a family history of heart disease.
Heart health is not only an individual responsibility but also a community priority. Preventing heart disease starts with everyday choices. By staying active, eating well, and getting regular checkups, you can reduce the risk of heart disease and build healthier communities.
Residents are encouraged to speak with their healthcare providers about their personal risk factors.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten (BTP) has announced a partnership with the Caribbean Cyber Security Center (CCSC) of Barbados to develop a comprehensive Cyber Security policy and legal framework for Sint Maarten’s critical telecommunications and utility sectors. This collaboration aims to strengthen the protection of essential infrastructure, ensuring the reliability and security of services that residents depend on every day.

The engagement will focus on proper classification of critical infrastructure, mandating controls to ensure compliance, defining oversight mechanisms, and enforcing adherence to regulatory standards. As part of the project, CCSC will conduct a situation analysis of the current telecom and utility landscape, create a tiered policy framework with mandatory and recommended measures for telecom and utility providers, perform a legislative gap analysis and draft amendments to empower BTP to enforce standards, request reports, conduct inspections, and impose penalties for non-compliance.

Stakeholder engagement sessions will be conducted to align all key parties on policy implementation, while mechanisms for capacity building, continuous reporting, and enforcement will be established. Additionally, workshops will be held to present the Cyber Security policy and legal framework to key stakeholders in the industry. These sessions will focus on steps to improve cyber security resilience and ensure regulatory compliance.

Director of BTP, Judianne Hoeve, emphasized the importance of the project:
“For Sint Maarten, securing our critical telecommunications and utility infrastructure is not just a regulatory requirement; it is vital for the daily safety, connectivity, and well-being of all our residents. This collaboration ensures that we can protect our systems against cyber threats, maintain essential services, and provide peace of mind to the entire community.”

This partnership reflects BTP’s commitment to enhancing national cyber security, supporting economic stability, and ensuring that all residents of Sint Maarten have access to reliable and secure telecommunications and utility services.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger Marten, has formally assigned the Sint Maarten Tourism Authority Foundation (STAF) to lead the process of establishing the Sint Maarten Tourism Authority (STA) as an independent ZBO. The assignment will begin on March 1st, marking a significant step toward modernizing the country’s tourism governance structure.
The announcement follows the recent Economic Stakeholder Consultation, during which businesses, workers, and community representatives called for a more coordinated, data-driven, and future-focused approach to tourism development. The Minister noted that the Government is responding directly to these concerns, particularly regarding traffic congestion, infrastructure pressures, and the risks posed by unmanaged mass tourism.
“This is the moment to reshape the future of tourism in St. Maarten,” Minister Heyliger Marten said. “We are moving toward a smarter, more sustainable model that protects our quality of life, strengthens our economy, and ensures that tourism works for our people.”
The STA will serve as an independent, professionally managed body responsible for strengthening destination competitiveness, improving visitor management, coordinating product improvement, and supporting the growth of local businesses. The Minister emphasized that the goal is not to pursue mass tourism, but to build a higher value, better managed tourism economy that benefits residents and visitors alike.
As part of this modernization effort, the Government will also undertake a review of tourism related taxes and fees. The objective is to ensure that tourism revenue is optimized and aligned with national priorities such as:
• infrastructure improvements
• tourism product improvement
• community and cultural programs
• support for small businesses and local initiatives

The Minister stressed that this review is about responsible revenue management and long-term planning.
The assignment will be guided by two Interim Directors whose combined expertise ensures a balanced and effective approach.
Mr. James Hepple, an internationally recognized tourism strategist, brings decades of experience advising Caribbean destinations, including Aruba, Curaçao, and others. His background in tourism analytics, policy development, and long-term visioning provides the technical depth required for this national undertaking.
Ms. Cherinah Franken, a respected local tourism professional and current Head of Product Development at the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, brings essential local insight, institutional knowledge, and strong stakeholder relationships.
Together, they represent a strategic blend of international expertise and local leadership, ensuring that the process is grounded in global best practices while remaining firmly rooted in the realities of St. Maarten’s tourism economy.
A major component of the assignment is the development of a new Tourism Masterplan, the first update since the 2005 plan. The new Masterplan will be data driven, inclusive, and aligned with sustainability principles. It will serve as the blueprint for the next generation of tourism development on the island.
Minister Heyliger Marten emphasized that broad participation is essential. In the coming months, STAF will conduct a series of stakeholder engagement sessions involving:
• large hotels and resorts
• small properties, guesthouses, and boutique accommodations
• restaurants, tour operators, and activity providers
• transportation and port partners
• timeshare associations
• community groups and civil society
• tourism workers and unions

“The future of tourism cannot be written by government alone,” the Minister said. “Small properties, large hotels, tour operators, workers, and community voices all play a vital role. This process belongs to the people of St. Maarten.”
The Government has committed to transparency throughout the process and will provide updates as key milestones are achieved.
“We are building a tourism economy that opens doors for our people, empowers small businesses, and protects the systems our island depends on,” Minister Heyliger‑Marten said. “Progress will come from government, industry, and community working side by side.”
The establishment of the STA will mark the beginning of a new era for St. Maarten, one defined by smarter planning, stronger governance, and a sustainable vision for the future.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The National Detectives (Landsrecherche) are investigating the police-involved shooting that occurred on St. Peters Road on the evening of February 13, 2026.

As previously reported by the Police Force of Sint Maarten, officers responded at approximately 9:00 pm to multiple reports of a man walking along the road while carrying a firearm. Upon arrival, officers encountered a man who was in possession of a weapon. During the interaction that followed, shots were fired by police. The suspect was struck and later succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The Prosecutor’s Office is aware of the public reaction and concerns expressed in the community following this incident. The loss of life in any circumstance has a profound impact on families, on officers involved, and on the wider community.

In Sint Maarten, any incident involving the use of a police firearm is automatically subject to an investigation. The National Detectives are responsible for establishing the facts, gathering forensic evidence, hearing witnesses, and reviewing all available material. The Prosecutor oversees this process to ensure the investigation is objective, transparent, and compliant with the law.

At this stage, the investigation remains ongoing, and no further details can be shared at this time.

The Prosecutor’s Office requests the community to allow the investigative process to take its course.

KPSM Cooperating Fully in Investigation of St. Peter's Shooting Incident

Following the tragic shooting incident that occurred in St. Peter's on the evening of February 13, 2026, the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) confirms that its management team and the officers involved are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
The investigation is being conducted under the direction of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Sint Maarten, in collaboration with the national detectives. All necessary procedures are being followed to ensure a thorough and objective review of this regrettable incident.
KPSM extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time.
Further information will be shared as the investigation progresses.