POINTE BLANCHE:--- The Director of the Pointe Blanche Prison and House of Detention, Mr. S. Carty, has officially issued a decision to temporarily suspend certain detainee rights and privileges, effective Sunday, May 18, 2025. This decision follows the serious incident that took place on May 14, 2025, involving a riot and a subsequent fire that caused considerable damage to prison infrastructure and disrupted operations at the facility. Acting in accordance with Articles 31 and 32 of the Prison Regulation (Gevangenismaatregel), the Director has determined that the current conditions within the prison require urgent and decisive action to restore safety, order, and the normal functioning of operations. As such, all detainee rights and privileges related to visitation, recreation, group activities, and external communications (except where essential to legal proceedings) will be suspended until further notice. This measure applies to all detainees, regardless of their classification or location within the facility. This temporary suspension is not disciplinary in nature but is a precautionary and operational measure aimed at stabilizing the situation and facilitating the safe recovery of essential services and infrastructure. Detainees will be informed immediately when conditions allow for a phased or complete reinstatement of these privileges. Under the Prison Regulation, the Director is empowered to take such measures when serious disturbances occur or are imminent within the institution. Article 31 authorizes the Director to deviate from rights granted to individual detainees if it is deemed strictly necessary for institutional safety or order. Article 32 extends this authority further in cases of widespread or serious incidents, allowing the Director to suspend or restrict rights of all persons within the institution for a maximum of three consecutive 24-hour periods. The Director is required to notify the Minister of Justice and the prison service management of such decisions without delay. Should the emergency situation continue beyond the initial 72-hour period, only the Minister of Justice holds the authority to extend the suspension, in increments of up to an additional 72 hours each time. The Ministry of Justice and relevant supervisory bodies have been duly informed of this action. The Director has emphasized that the decision is driven solely by the need to safeguard both detainees and staff during this emergency and restore a safe and functional correctional environment as swiftly as possible. The events of May 14 had a great impact on the safety and stability of the prison. The Director’s decision, though difficult, is necessary to restore order and safety. It underscores a clear commitment to lawful, proportionate action in the interest of all detainees, staff, and public safety. Further updates will be provided by the prison administration as the situation evolves. The cooperation and understanding of all involved are requested as the facility works toward full stabilization.
Ministry of VROMI to Remove Illegal Billboards and Enforce Permitting Regulations.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of VROMI (Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment & Infrastructure) Department of Infrastructure Management hereby announces that during the week of May 19th, 2025, it will be undertaking a targeted operation to remove illegally placed advertising billboards across the region of Simpson bay and Maho.
Through routine inspections of public roads, the department has identified numerous billboards that have been placed without proper approval. Due to their unauthorized placement, these billboards pose safety hazards or mar the landscape.
These actions are supported under the authority of the ministerial decree, article 4 of the Ministry of Justice regarding the removal of illegal billboards, any existing illegal billboards that continue to operate in violation of established regulations will be deemed unlawful. The decree emphasizes that legal action will be pursued against the responsible parties to ensure compliance and uphold the integrity of our public spaces.
Please be reminded that billboard placements are only authorized when they have an Approved Billboard Permit, which the VROMI Infrastructure Management Department and the KPSM Traffic Department must jointly advise. Additionally, a permit must be issued by the Ministry of Justice prior to installation.
The Ministry urges all advertisers and billboard owners to comply with the regulations and remove any non-compliant structures immediately to avoid legal consequences. The removal process will be carried out efficiently and with minimal disruption.
For more information, please email the Infrastructure Department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us at 542-4292 ext 2387.
Sint Maarten Library Partners with Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset for Community Book Drive.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Library is proud to announce its partnership with the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset in support of their Community Book Drive, an initiative aimed at restocking six Free Little Libraries throughout the community. This effort is part of the broader SXM DOET volunteer campaign scheduled for May 16–17, 2025.
In alignment with its mission to foster literacy, lifelong learning, and community engagement, the Sint Maarten Library will donate a selection of used books, including children’s, adult, and multilingual titles. These contributions will support the Sint Maarten Library and Rotary Club’s ongoing commitment to accessible reading materials and the development of a reading culture on the island.
A symbolic book handover and photo opportunity took place at the Sint Maarten Library on Friday, May 16, 2025, with representatives from both organizations present to cover this collaborative milestone.
General Manager of the Sint Maarten Library, Mr. Marc Marshall, expressed his appreciation for the initiative: "The library is honored to support this meaningful effort by the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset. Encouraging reading and ensuring access to books in all neighborhoods is vital for the growth and development of our community."
In addition, representatives of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset, President Franklyn Salomons and Mr. Billy Jean-Baptiste, shared their thoughts on the partnership: ‘This collaboration exemplifies the power of community engagement. We are deeply grateful to the Sint Maarten Library for supporting our mission to expand access to books and promote literacy across our island.’’
This partnership reflects a united commitment to advancing literacy and education across Sint Maarten, underscoring a shared vision of building a stronger, more informed, and empowered community. At the heart of this initiative is the Sint Maarten Library, whose longstanding dedication to promoting literacy, education, and cultural awareness continues to shape and support the intellectual growth of the island. Through a wide range of inclusive programs and resources for all age groups, the library remains a cornerstone in fostering lifelong learning and enriching the lives of community members.
NRPB Supports MECYS with Second Round of Student Assessments to Strengthen Education Resilience.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, is supporting the implementation of the Group 3 Learning Assessment scheduled for June. The assessment, which will involve 24 student groups from all public and subsidized primary schools, will measure students’ reading and mathematics levels. It is part of the Trust Fund’s Fostering Resilient Learning Project (FRLP), which supports both school reconstruction and broader improvements in Sint Maarten’s education system.
This is the second round of learning assessments under the FRLP. The first, conducted between 2023 and 2024, focused on Early Grade Reading and Mathematics (EGRA/EGMA) and revealed performance gaps that led to improvements in teaching support, curriculum planning, and school-based interventions. The 2025 assessment builds on that foundation by offering updated data to guide educational decisions and contribute to more robust learning environments.
The new assessment cycle also contributes to the launch of the Ministry Management Information System (MMIS); a digital platform designed to collect, organize, and analyze education data. Assessment results will be uploaded to MMIS, enabling the Ministry to track student progress, identify learning gaps, and support long-term planning with reliable evidence. Strengthening education information systems is a central feature of the FRLP’s approach to resilience, it ensures that learning can continue, and systems can recover quickly in the event of any disaster or disruption.
To prepare for this year’s assessments, 20 assessors, most of whom are retired local educators, received training in April. The training was led by an international expert and focused on administering the assessments and using a dedicated online platform to upload and manage data. During the training week, MECYS also reviewed and updated the 2023 assessment formats and uploaded new versions for 2025. Group 5 assessments were also finalized for use later in the year.
With schools already informed of upcoming introductory visits by assessors, preparations remain on schedule for testing in the first half of June. In the weeks ahead, MECYS and schools will hold information sessions to help parents and guardians understand the purpose of the assessment and how they can support their children.
The Honorable Melissa Gumbs, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, expressed her support for the upcoming assessment.
"The Group 3 Learning Assessment will help us make better evidence-based decisions. To make sure all children in Sint Maarten have a fair chance to do well in school, we’re investing in tools that show where students are and what kind of support they need. We’re optimistic that these tools will help us improve our education strategies."
MECYS continues to build the knowledge and capacity of their personnel to manage future learning assessments and the recommendations that will come from the derived data.
The FRLP is implemented by NRPB on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten. It is funded by the Sint Maarten Trust Fund, financed by the Government of the Netherlands and managed by the World Bank.
Roseburg, Lewis Commend Minister of Justice for Prompt Response to Prison Incident.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Chair and Vice Chair of the Justice Committee in parliament, Honorable Members of Parliament Sjamira Roseburg and Lyndon Lewis, extend their sincere appreciation and commendation to the Honorable Minister of Justice, Nathalie Tackling, for her swift response and decisive actions following the recent incident at the Point Blanche Prison and House of Detention involving a riot and fire outbreak.
MP Roseburg and MP Lewis expressed satisfaction with the decisions made and the efforts undertaken by Minister Tackling and the Crisis Management Team, who worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of all inmates and restore order within the prison facility.
Both MP Roseburg and MP Lewis contacted Minister Tackling, respectively, to discuss solutions from a justice point of view in the interest of the inmates and prison employees alike.
The Minister and Crisis Management collaborated to ensure that each inmate was provided with shelter and that stability was promptly reestablished.
MP Roseburg and MP Lewis also voiced their support for the Ministry’s ongoing initiative to finalize short-term rehabilitation programs, which are also expected to be implemented in the new prison facility. These programs are seen as critical steps toward meaningful correctional reform.
Furthermore, the Justice Committee in parliament extends heartfelt thanks to the key stakeholders and our sister islands for their assistance and contributions in any form during this challenging time.
MP Roseburg and MP Lewis emphasized the urgency of scheduling the Justice Committee’s round table meeting regarding the prison. The objective will be to discuss further and propose actionable measures and solutions to improve prison conditions and strengthen security protocols.
Both the Chair and Vice Chair reaffirm their commitment to supporting the Ministry of Justice in implementing sustainable reforms to create a safer, more secure, and more effective correctional environment in Sint Maarten.
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten – Friday, May 16, 2025 – The Chair and Vice Chair of the Justice Committee in parliament, Honorable Members of Parliament Sjamira Roseburg and Lyndon Lewis, extend their sincere appreciation and commendation to the Honorable Minister of Justice, Nathalie Tackling, for her swift response and decisive actions following the recent incident at the Point Blanche Prison and House of Detention involving a riot and fire outbreak.
MP Roseburg and MP Lewis expressed satisfaction with the decisions made and the efforts undertaken by Minister Tackling and the Crisis Management Team, who worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of all inmates and restore order within the prison facility.
Both MP Roseburg and MP Lewis contacted Minister Tackling, respectively, to discuss solutions from a justice point of view in the interest of the inmates and prison employees alike.
The Minister and Crisis Management collaborative efforts ensured that each inmate was provided with shelter, and that stability was promptly reestablished.
MP Roseburg and MP Lewis also voiced their support for the Ministry’s ongoing initiative to finalize short-term rehabilitation programs, which are also expected to be implemented in the new prison facility. These programs are seen as critical steps toward meaningful correctional reform.
Furthermore, the Justice Committee in parliament extends heartfelt thanks to the key stakeholders and our sister islands for their assistance and contributions in any form during this challenging time.
MP Roseburg and MP Lewis emphasized the urgency of scheduling the Justice Committee’s round table meeting in regards to the prison. The objective will be to discuss further and propose actionable measures and solutions to improve prison conditions and strengthen security protocols.
Both Chair and Vice Chair reaffirm their commitment to supporting the Ministry of Justice in the implementation of sustainable reforms to create a safer, more secure, and effective correctional environment in Sint Maarten.