PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Community Development, Family and Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA) is calling on local legal professionals that are willing to assist in providing basic legal support services to persons in need within the communities of Sint Maarten. The aim of the program is to lower the threshold of engagement with legal professionals and make legal services more accessible to the community.
There are various ways for legal professionals to contribute by committing to doing one or more of the following:
• Joining a database that persons can be directed to according to the type of legal assistance they require.
• Offering time slots in a rotation to provide legal assistance at Community Helpdesks, making the service accessible to the people in a nearby neighborhood.
• Supporting the community by waiving the first consultation fee.
• Facilitating information sessions on common legal challenges such as immigration procedures, labor contracts, and residential rental agreements.
Legal professionals interested in making this valuable contribution to the well-being of the Sint Maarten people are invited to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Any questions, comments, or suggestions are most welcome.

PHILIPSBURG: --- The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on October 29, 2024.

The public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 09.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Council of Ministers will be in attendance.

The agenda points are:
1. Incoming documents
2. Ontwerplandsverordening tot wijziging van de Landsverordening begroting 2024 (Landsverordening begrotingswijziging 2024) (ZJ 2024-2025-181) (IS/124/2024-2025 d.d. 4 oktober 2024)

National ordinance amending the National ordinance budget 2024 (National ordinance budget amendment 2024)(Parliamentary year 2024-2025-181) (IS/124/2024-2025 dated October 4, 2024)

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:---The collaboration among law enforcement agencies from the six islands of the Dutch Caribbean is bearing fruit, as demonstrated during the Milestone Meeting of the Development of Information Organizations Project Carib (DIOC) on October 22 and 23 in Bonaire. Increasingly, information is being exchanged, leading to a clearer picture of crime in the region. Leaders from the four police forces of the Dutch Caribbean, the Kingdom Detectives Cooperation Team, the Caribbean Coast Guard, and the Royal Netherlands Military Police gathered for two days to discuss the status of regional information exchange in the fight against crime. The Attorney General of Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba were also present, along with chief public prosecutors and information officers from various public ministries. The opening was led by the lieutenant governor of Bonaire, Mr. John Soliano, the Chief of Police of Bonaire, Mr. Alwyn Braaf, and the Information Coordination Portfolio Holder, Mr. Juri Nicolaas, appointed through the Judicial Four-Party Consultation.
This meeting was the third in a series organized by the Board of Police Chiefs from Aruba, Caribbean Netherlands, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. The Board has been investing in strengthening the information organizations of the police forces and in data-driven operations for several years. This means that law enforcement agencies utilize as much information as possible about crime and criminal networks. This information is then analyzed to reveal trends and patterns in criminal activities. Data-driven operations enable better decision-making regarding resource allocation and help predict where criminal activities are likely to occur. It also provides police with more insight into who is involved in criminal activities.
Criminal networks are now so well organized that they can collaborate globally to smuggle drugs, weapons, and people across continents. This necessitates strong cooperation among law enforcement to combat criminal activities and dismantle these networks.
The need for data-driven operations was underscored by keynote speaker Dr. Evan Ellis, a research professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute, specializing in transnational organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean. In his presentation, he extensively discussed security threats in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, including the firearm crisis fueled by a deadly combination of drugs, weapons, and gangs, resulting in high murder rates. More cocaine is being produced than ever before. Venezuela is now also cultivating cocaine. The threat from criminal networks in Venezuela persists, and many Venezuelans continue to leave the country. Other hotspots in the region and beyond contribute to undocumented migrants who are vulnerable to human smuggling and trafficking.
The Board of Police Chiefs and its partners will continue to invest in collaboration and information sharing. The chair of the College, Mr. Carl John, expressed his satisfaction with the progress made but emphasized that much work remains to be done to achieve a lasting impact.

Dutch Quarter:---  In the wake of two tragic incidents of gun violence within the Dutch Quarter community, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the families affected and to all who are grieving in the wake of these devastating events. This violence, which has taken the life of one young man and left another in critical condition, is a stark reminder of the urgent need for peace and security in our neighborhoods.

In the early hours of Monday morning, police responded to a report of gunfire in the Garden of Eden area at approximately 3:30 a.m., where they discovered a male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim, currently in critical condition, was rushed to the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) for treatment. This incident comes shortly after the tragic shooting of R. York on Sunday morning on Madrid Road, where York, a dedicated employee of the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI), lost his life in front of his home.

I recognize the pain, fear, and disruption that these acts of violence have brought upon the community. I stand with the residents of Dutch Quarter and all of St. Maarten as we work to combat the violence affecting our neighborhoods and to bring justice to those responsible. Law enforcement, including detectives and forensic teams, are actively investigating these cases to gather evidence, and we are committed to updating the public as more information becomes available.

In this time of crisis, I appeal to all citizens of St. Maarten to stand united against the violence impacting our community. We all have a role to play in building a safer St. Maarten by being vigilant, offering support to those affected, and cooperating fully with authorities to bring perpetrators to justice. If you have any information related to these incidents or others, I urge you to come forward and assist the police in their efforts. Every voice and every piece of information matters as we work together to protect our community.

As both the Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of Education, Youth, and Sport, I am deeply committed to ensuring our youth have access to safe, supportive environments that steer them away from violence. Together, we must foster a culture of respect and resilience, creating a St. Maarten where every individual feels safe and valued.

Let us all come together in this time of mourning and take steps toward a peaceful and secure future for St. Maarten.

Hon. Lyndon C.J. Lewis
Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of Education, Youth, and Sport