PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) conducted several traffic controls across the Dutch side of Sint Maarten on Saturday July 12^th  2025. These proactive controls aimed to enhance road safety and ensure compliance with traffic regulations.

During the operations, KPSM officers stopped and inspected numerous vehicles. As a result of these inspections, multiple motorists were issued fines for a variety of infractions. Common offenses identified included: Operating a vehicle without valid insurance, failure to wear a seatbelt, driving with an expired driver's license/ foreign driver’s license, driving with an expired vehicle inspection sticker, and failure to produce valid vehicle documents upon request.  A total of 40 fines were issued.

The KPSM emphasizes the importance of adhering to all traffic laws to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of all road users. These controls are part of the KPSM's ongoing commitment to maintain order and security on Sint Maarten's roadways.

The Sint Maarten Police Force reminds all motorists to regularly check the validity of their vehicle documents, ensure proper vehicle maintenance, and always adhere to traffic regulations. Further controls will be conducted periodically.

KPSM Press Release.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, July 11th, 2025, the Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) welcomed students from the Love 2 Learn Foundation for an educational visitation to the Philipsburg Police Station. This visit reflects KPSM’s continued commitment to building positive community relationships and inspiring the youth of Sint Maarten.

The purpose of the visit was to expose young participants to the vital role the police force plays in building and sustaining our beloved country, Sint Maarten. A total of 36 enthusiastic students from the Love 2 Learn Foundation participated in the engaging and informative tour.

The primary objectives of the day were to provide students with an inside look at law enforcement. Participants experienced a guided tour of the police station, providing them with a firsthand understanding of daily police operations.

As a gesture of encouragement for their academic development, each young participant received a chance to win. One fortunate student, holding the lucky number, was awarded a brand-new Samsung tablet. This prize aims further to support the student's school development and homework assistance, reinforcing the importance of education.

KPSM, Press Release.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, July 11th, parents, teachers, and representatives of the Division of Educational Innovations (DEI) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (MECYS) witnessed what 43 young participants of the first Summercamp Dutch at Milton Peters College had learnt.

With a lot of flair and some nerves, the former Group 8 students, who will be starting at either the TKL or HAVO/VWO programs at MPC in August, showcased the various language skills they had practiced in a fun way over the past nine days of summer camp. In Dutch, they explained eloquently the wide variety of activities they had done:

Making a Bookbox depicting a text they had read together, painting and pasting a “who am I Poster”, a debate about media wisdom, a Vlog advertising our beautiful island to tourists, a nature island tour and kayak adventure, making poetry, and preparing a fruit smoothie.  The students expressed that the camp had been fun and that they felt freer to express themselves in the Dutch language. One student said his main takeaway was that “making mistakes is okay”, which is great, since language learning works best by trial and error.

The show finished with all students shaking their self-made instruments and singing “Wij zijn klaar voor de start”, identifying that they feel ready to start high school in August.  MPC will assess during the upcoming school year whether the camp has indeed positively impacted students' preparedness and proficiency in the Dutch language.  Representatives of DEI, Ms. Oralie Boirard and Ms. Kimberly Meyers declared they were impressed by the achievements so far.

SVOBE acknowledges the efforts of teachers and coordinators—Laticia Brown, Shanella Petrona, Sonielle Petres, Jessica Boldewijn, Karl Amatdjais, Taryn Hassell, and Tefari Prevoo—who dedicated part of their vacation to organizing this creative camp.  Furthermore, SVOBE wholeheartedly thanks MECYS for their financial support of this unique first Summercamp Dutch and hopes for their continued support next summer.

Willemstad:--- The Social and Economic Council (SER) of Curaçao issued an advisory opinion on Friday, July 11, concerning a draft legislative proposal to amend the National Ordinance on the Taxation of Immovable Property (Landsverordening onroerendezaakbelasting 2014). The advisory was issued at the request of the Parliament of Curaçao.

The proposal, introduced by the MAN parliamentary faction, invokes the right of legislative initiative as provided under Article 77 of the Constitution of Curaçao (A.B. 2010, no. 86). This provision grants Members of Parliament the authority to submit draft legislation directly to the government for consideration.

The initiative seeks to reform the current property tax (OZB) regime, with proposed changes to the rate structure, an increase in the exemption threshold, and a streamlining of administrative procedures for the assessment and collection of the tax.

The Parliament is expected to consider the SER’s opinion as part of its ongoing deliberations on the draft legislation.