PHILIPSBURG:---  The Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation & Museum successfully hosted a Historical Train Trolley Tour through Philipsburg on Saturday, December 13, 2025, bringing over a hundred attendees, including seniors, families, and children, together for an engaging journey through the island’s past.
The event formed part of the ongoing Tours of Culture project, supported under the Let’s ACT Program, which aims to connect communities to Sint Maarten’s heritage through accessible, interactive cultural experiences. The holiday-season tour offered residents and visitors the opportunity to explore the history of Philipsburg in a relaxed and safe setting, with free participation for seniors and children under 12.
Due to strong interest, all available tour slots filled quickly. “The registrations were full in no time, which really showed us how much people value these kinds of experiences,” said Shanica Romney, coordinator of the event. “We were especially happy to see so many families attending together, with children and seniors sharing the experience side by side.”
The guided tour was led by historian Jean-Marc Augusty, who shared historical facts and stories as the train trolley made its way through the heart of Philipsburg. A highlight of the afternoon was the active participation of several seniors, many of whom chimed in with their own memories and historical knowledge at times even outpacing the historian himself. The lively exchanges sparked laughter and prompted jokes that they could easily lead the tour next time.
The Foundation expressed appreciation for the support of Raphael Dorra, train captain and owner of We Tour, whose company provided the trolley service for the event. More information about We Tour can be found at we-tour.net
The Historical Train Trolley Tour follows the official launch of the Tours of Culture project in October 2025 and is one of several planned activities running through 2026. The project is part of the Let’s ACT Program, a collaboration between CEDE Aruba, the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF), and the Foresee Foundation, funded by the Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie.
For updates on upcoming Tours of Culture activities, including future storytelling events and heritage tours, the public is encouraged to follow the Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation & Museum on Facebook or visit www.sintmaartenmuseum.org. Enquiries can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  Disaster Coordinator and Fire Commander Clive Richardson said that fire safety is important during the holiday season as families come together to celebrate.

There are a number of simple precautionary measures that households can put in place to prevent home fires in order to avoid injury to persons or damage to homes while members of the family and friends remain safe, enjoying the holiday season.

Typical holiday season fires result from the Christmas trees, candles, and unattended cooking.

Take the following precautionary measures into consideration:
• Test your smoke alarms if you have one in your home.
• Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Place Christmas trees at least 3 ft. from any heat source.
• Water live Christmas trees on a regular basis (trees should have fresh green needles) and dispose of them safely within four weeks of setting them up.
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.
• Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
• Replace any string lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
• Connect no more than three strands of mini light sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.
• Blow out lit candles when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Turn off all string lights before leaving home or going to bed.
Do not burn Christmas tree branches or wrapping paper.
• Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
• Stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop.

The Fire Department management and staff wish everyone a happy, safe, and fire-free holiday season.

In the event of an emergency, call 919.

POINTE BLANCHE:---  The Port St. Maarten Group (PSG) and Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) convened a high-level think tank session on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, aimed at strengthening collaboration between St. Maarten’s two primary gateways.
The session, led by PSG Chief Executive Officer Alexander Gumbs and PJIA Chief Executive Officer Michael Cleaver, focused on identifying joint opportunities to enhance the island’s long-term competitiveness, elevate the visitor experience, and maximize positive community impact.
During the meeting, both organizations reaffirmed their commitment to operating as aligned partners, positioning the port and airport as a unified entry system and a powerful driver of national development. This collaborative approach reflects a shared vision of ensuring that St. Maarten’s gateway infrastructure evolves in a coordinated and forward-looking manner to support sustainable growth.
Discussions resulted in agreement on four key areas of collaboration. The first is strategy alignment and long-term planning, with an emphasis on synchronizing future development plans to ensure complementarity. This includes aligning upcoming infrastructure concepts, coordinating design initiatives that influence passenger movement across the island, and taking future ventures such as homeporting into account. A shared strategic framework will help ensure that decisions made at either gateway support St. Maarten’s broader national vision.
The second focus area is commercial and promotional initiatives, aimed at strengthening the island’s commercial footprint through co-branded representation and future promotional concepts that enhance destination visibility. These efforts will also extend to community-driven initiatives that reinforce St. Maarten’s brand and economic vitality.
Additionally, events and community engagement emerged as a key pillar, with both entities committing to expanding community-centered programs for groups such as youth and seniors, supporting cultural events, and exploring innovative concepts that highlight St. Maarten as a premier destination.
The further development of mentorship programs was also discussed, recognizing the importance of nurturing local talent as a foundation for long-term growth, continuity, and national development.
The fourth area of collaboration centers on development and guest experience enhancements, with a focus on improving the overall visitor journey. Collaborative approaches to infrastructure planning, public-facing spaces, and future commercial zones were explored as means to elevate both customer satisfaction and community experience.
In conclusion, PSG and PJIA underscored that joining forces is a necessary step to move both their businesses and the destination forward. Beyond commercial objectives, both organizations emphasized that their combined efforts must also deliver meaningful benefits to the community, reinforcing their shared responsibility as stewards of St. Maarten’s growth and future.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Urgent Public meeting no. 05 of the Parliament of Sint Maarten, which was scheduled to be held today, Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 11.00hrs. with agenda point:
Deliberations on the issues surrounding the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten
a) The recent nomination of the Chairman of the CBCS by the Council of Ministers
b) An update on the ENNIA situation
c) Developments concerning Mullet Bay (IS/092/2025-2026 dated September 22, 2025)

This meeting was requested by MP E.J. Doran, MP A.M.R. Irion, MP D.T.J. York, MP O.E.C. Ottley and MP F.A. Lacroes.
Has been postponed until further notice.