SIMPSON BAY:---  Representatives of Princess Juliana International Airport (IATA: SXM) are participating in Routes Americas 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, presenting a renewed strategy focused on strengthening the airport’s global position, with particular interest of expanding into the South American market.

“This year’s participation is a targeted effort by Princess Juliana International Airport to rebuild and deepen relationships with South American airlines and airport partners. The objective is to develop routes that complement our existing network, enhance regional connectivity, and strategically stimulate traffic during the airport’s off-peak travel periods, driven by the 118% increase in South American visitor numbers compared to 2017, primarily from Colombia and Brazil,” stated Suzy Kartokromo, Aeronautical Business Manager at PJIAE.

Chief Operating Officer Emile Levons, who is leading the delegation emphasized the importance of strengthening regional relationships. “Routes Americas provides an important platform for us to engage directly with airline partners and industry stakeholders. We are committed to expanding our network and identifying opportunities that will further strengthen Princess Juliana International Airport’s role and as a key gateway to the northeastern Caribbean.”, he stated.

The airport’s strategy at Routes Americas highlights the unique characteristics that position Sint Maarten as an attractive destination and regional gateway. In addition to the island’s natural beauty and vibrant culture, Princess Juliana International Airport emphasized its role as a hub for multi-island travel, allowing visitors to easily explore surrounding destinations including St. Barths, Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius.

Sint Maarten’s multicultural and multilingual environment was also highlighted as a key advantage. While English, French, and Dutch are widely spoken on the island, the presence of a large Spanish-speaking community makes Sint Maarten an accessible and welcoming destination for travelers from South America.

To bring the destination experience directly to industry partners, Princess Juliana International Airport introduced an interactive booth concept designed to showcase the island in an engaging and memorable way. Visitors were invited to experience Sint Maarten through a Virtual Reality presentation, allowing them to explore the island’s landscapes, arrival experience, and aviation highlights. The VR experience was designed to give partners a realistic impression of the destination and its unique appeal.

The booth also featured local artwork by renowned Sint Maarten artist Roland Richardson, providing a cultural element that reflected the island’s artistic heritage. In addition, visitors were able to capture a memorable moment through a photo activation, allowing them to take home a visual reminder of Sint Maarten and the airport’s presence at the event. Together, these elements were designed to give visitors a small but meaningful glimpse of what Sint Maarten has to offer, reinforcing the airport’s role as both a destination gateway and a regional hub.

“Routes is not just about meetings, it is about creating a lasting impression,” said Cassie Schoutens, Corporate Communications Officer at PJIA. “Through our interactive booth, we wanted to bring Sint Maarten to life in a way that reflects who we are: warm, vibrant, and unique. By combining innovation, culture, and connectivity, we are showing our partners why SXM is not only a destination worth flying to, but a strategic hub within the Caribbean.”

Princess Juliana International Airport continues to focus on strategic growth and innovative marketing initiatives that strengthen its international presence while promoting Sint Maarten as a dynamic Caribbean destination.

POINTE BLANCHE:---  Port St. Maarten Group (PSG) advise motorists that in connection with the 46th edition of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, scheduled for March 5–8, an adjusted Simpson Bay Bridge opening schedule will be in effect in addition to the regular daily openings.
The temporary schedule is intended to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of regatta participants and marine traffic during the event period.
From Thursday, March 5, through Sunday, March 8, the following morning bridge openings will apply: 9:00 AM — Outbound Extra Opening for Regatta participants.
During the afternoon hours, the schedule will be as follows: 15:00 PM — Inbound Extra Opening Regatta Participants.
Motorists are strongly urged to pay close attention to the bridge stop lights and booms and to fully respect all signals once activated, as these indicate that the bridge will be opening.
Compliance is essential in the interest of public safety and the smooth flow of vehicular and marine traffic.
The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation (SLAC) further advises tour operators to take the additional bridge openings into account when planning tour routes during the regatta period to avoid unnecessary delays.
The regular scheduled daily Simpson Bay bridge openings remain in effect: 8:30 AM Outbound; 9:30 AM Inbound; 10:30 AM Outbound; 11:30 AM Inbound; 14:00 Inbound; 16:00 Outbound; and 17:00 Inbound.
The Port St. Maarten Group (PSG) family extends best wishes to all participants, residents, and visitors for a safe and serious fun 46th edition of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Youth has spearheaded another youth-led research initiative aimed at strengthening youth participation and advancing Sint Maarten’s commitment to becoming a more child-friendly and youth-responsive community.

As part of the initiative, ten young people between the ages of 16 and 19 from several secondary schools on the Dutch side of the island were selected and trained in data collection and research methods. The training sessions, facilitated in February, equipped the participants with foundational skills in developing clear research questions, recognizing bias, and collecting representative information in a respectful and responsible manner.

Following the workshop phase, the youth researchers are now actively gathering responses from their peers at elementary and secondary schools across the island. The team is using the Child Friendly City Checklist, a UNICEF-based measurement tool adapted by the young participants to reflect the Sint Maarten context.

The initiative places young people at the center of exploring how youth experience participation within their communities—specifically, whether they feel heard and how they are engaged in decisions that affect their lives. The data collected will support evidence-based discussions and help inform future policies, programs, and actions focused on youth development and participation.

The Department of Youth expresses sincere appreciation to the participating schools, students, and partners for their continued cooperation and support.
Further updates will be shared as the project progresses into the analysis and the reporting phase.

DUTCH CARIBBEAN:--- The police forces of the Dutch Caribbean, in cooperation with the Council of Chiefs of Police, announce the launch of an inter-island firearm surrender initiative targeting illegal firearms.

This joint initiative is a collaboration between the police organizations of the Dutch Caribbean, in close coordination with the Public Prosecutor’s Offices of Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Aruba, and the Caribbean Netherlands, including Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius.

For the first time, all of these islands are working simultaneously on an initiative focused on the surrender of illegal firearms. The primary objective of this coordinated action is to provide individuals who are in possession of an illegal firearm with the opportunity to voluntarily surrender it during a designated period, without facing criminal prosecution for violations of firearm legislation.

Through this collective action, the islands are sending a strong message: illegal firearms and gun violence will not be tolerated in our communities.

The project reflects the shared responsibility of all islands to strengthen public safety. The synchronized implementation of this action demonstrates a regional strategy of unity, aimed at reducing the number of illegal firearms in circulation and, consequently, preventing firearm-related violence.

Based on the results of this initiative, the police forces, together with the Public Prosecutor’s Offices, will intensify their efforts. This will include conducting controls and judicial searches across various locations on the islands, aimed at detecting illegal firearms.

The police forces of all islands call upon every citizen to take responsibility and contribute to safer communities by making use of this opportunity. By surrendering your illegal firearm now, you avoid criminal prosecution and help save lives.

Further details regarding the timeframe, locations, and procedures for surrendering firearms will be communicated individually by each police force in the coming days.