Government in Transit, A Country Left Behind.

PHILIPSBURG:--- While St. Maarten stands on the edge of another hurricane season, its leadership appears permanently airborne.

Since taking office, the URSM–PFP–DP–SAM coalition has cultivated a reputation not for governance, but for movement—constant, costly, and questionably productive movement.  Almost weekly travel has become the norm for members of the executive branch, with delegations shuttling overseas under the banner of “meetings” that yield little visible return for the people they serve. Meanwhile, the business of running the co...

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Democratic Party Leader: Stability Must Guide Coalition Discussions.

~“Focus must be on National Issues, no time for distractions“.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The leader of the Democratic Party, MP Sarah Wescot, has confirmed that coalition party leaders will meet to discuss the current political developments, particularly those involving members of the Council of Ministers.

The DP leader indicated that the Democratic Party will approach these discussions with a focus on stability and continuity of governance.

She noted that Sint Maarten is facing a range of pressing challenges that require the government's full attention. “...

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SIPPS: Secondary school students taking on cultural heritage exploration.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Sint Maarten Institute for Public Policy Studies (SIPP), where ‘Knowledge is Power’, announces another education development program/ project. Cultivating a more informed population culture or society across Sint Maarten. Through public dialogue, the project aims to increase public knowledge and awareness of Sint Maarten's colonial slavery past. Sponsored by the Slavery Memorial Committee.

To achieve this aim, on Saturday, March 28th, we took a group of secondary school students on an exploration field trip to various historical ...

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Inactive civil servants risk dismissal, Court signals in landmark Aruba ruling.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A recent court ruling in Aruba is sending a clear signal to civil servants across Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten: prolonged inactivity and refusal to accept suitable work can ultimately lead to dismissal from government service.

The judgment, issued on March 9, 2026, and published on March 26, underscores that reintegration obligations are not optional and that authorities are entitled to terminate employment when officials fail to cooperate. The case is widely seen as a benchmark for how ...

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