St. Martin News Network - St. Maarten

Governor’s New Year address.

ajamubaly12012025 HARBOUR VIEW, PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, January 10, 2025, His Excellency Governor Ajamu G. Baly held the annual New Year Reception at the Cabinet of the Governor. During the event, the Governor delivered his New Year’s address followed by a toast. The New Year’s reception of the Governor is an annual event where the Governor hosts a cross-section of the Sint Maarten community.

SPEECH
Honorable President of Parliament; Honorable Prime Minister; Honorable President of the Collectivity of Saint Martin; Honorable Members of Parliament; Members of the High Councils of State; Honorable members of the Council of Ministers; Vice-President of the Joint Court of Justice; Commander of the Marines detachment on Sint. Maarten, Representative of the Dutch Government; Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen; Good evening.

On behalf of my wife Janique and I, Happy New Year and thank you for being here with us this evening. We really appreciate it. As we embark on this journey together through this new year 2025 and in my service to you, the people of St. Maarten, as Governor of this great island paradise we all call home, I would like to take a moment to briefly, as most do at this time of year, reflect on the past year and subsequently focus on the road ahead, the future.

The past year has been quite a unique one to say the least. A few noteworthy mentions in this regard are:

• The country experienced two elections in one year in a span of just over 7 months;
• The re-opening of our airport by Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix, more than 7 years after damage incurred by hurricanes Irma and Maria; and
• An energy crisis that had the citizens, businesses, and tourists alike frustrated and at their wit's end trying to figure out how to cope and manage the situation.

Shifting now to the road ahead, the future.
In planning for this new year and the future in general, we take stock of where we are, we look to the past to see where we came from, and we then respond to our current situation with detailed planning of where we want to be, our goals and we plan accordingly taking into account what we will need to get us there and the steps we need to take to achieve these goals. So where are we, St. Maarten?

In 2025, we will celebrate 15 years of our autonomous status within the Kingdom. What has this brought us? What were our goals and aspirations, and what are they now? What progress have we made, and where do we go from here? These are some of the questions we should ask ourselves and seek the answers to. In doing so it is my firm belief that it is imperative that one of the areas we lay emphasis on is our youth. Like generations in the past have done for us, we must realize that in order for our future to be bright, we have to set our children on the right path today. The seed of greatness is planted way before the tree of greatness can bloom and stands firm as a pillar within the community.
We are all connected; the lives of our youth are very much dependent on the decisions and actions taken by us today, and our future is dependent on them. They after all are St. Maarten’s future!
If you want to see the state of St. Maarten in 25-30 years from now. Take a look at the state of the youth today. How does it look? Well, ask our Chief of Police, ask our schools, ask our head of the Court of Guardians, the NGOs, NPOs, and the like about the work they carry out within civil society and what they encounter there, or ask the youth themselves. And let me be clear in stating that I am not implying that it is all bad, I am simply aiming for all of us to come to the conscious realization that if we want a better tomorrow, a better future,e we have to plan for it today we have to better the lives of our children today. Be an active contributor to the cultivation of their dreams and aspirations, a contributor to their positive development, a beacon of hope, and a provider of somewhere they can be comfortable and have that safe space and feel the warm embrace of this their community, their home, their island paradise, their village.

I am not just talking about your children I am talking about all the children of this country, because when we neglect one child, we have to realize we are then neglecting one aspect of our future, because we are all connected in one way or the other.
If it affects 1 of us within the community, it affects us all. If not today, one way or another tomorrow. So what type of environment are we creating for our youth, what are we exposing them to, and at what vulnerable age?
Are we taking care of our youth now so that St. Maarten can exist and thrive way into the future? Are we preparing our leaders of tomorrow? Are we preparing them to be leaders of this country? Or are we, with the decisions we are taking now and the dangers we are exposing them to, setting them up to be but followers so others can come in and lead them in their own land? We have to prepare, cultivate, and expose our youth in ways and to an atmosphere that is conducive to them and, therefore, St. Maarten being fit in mind, body, and spirit to take on any and all challenges that lie ahead. Just as those before us planned for the future development of our country, so do we have to plan for the future development of our country.
The youth are dependent on and affected by, first, the family environment, the school environment, and the community environment. So, we all have to be their support system. We have to make sure this system/the system does not fail them. Instill in their morals, values, and the value of things, the value of lives, including their own.

Ensure that this country, this village, is a place where they can find peace, unity, strength, inspiration, and, most importantly, a beautiful life. By providing them with fertile ground for their dreams to sprout, grow wings, and fly into the very future, they and all of us dream about for 2025 and beyond. In doing so we take care of the future of St. Maarten.

(In closing) People of SXM, as your Governor, I would like to encourage all of us to be conscious of the roles every single one of us play in this interconnected island paradise we all call home, whether for now or forever, and know what affects our neighbor, our elderly, our rich, our poor, our unemployed, our economy, our mental health, and our mental health patients, the sick, the shut-in, our environment and lastly our youth affects us all as well. It may not do so for all of us in the same degree or at the same time, but it will do so in some shape, form or fashion someday. So let us all ,in this New Year and beyond, be cognizant of this fact in the roles we all play and decisions we make, no matter how minute or grand those roles and decisions may be or seem, and let us all act, at all times with this interconnectedness or general well-being in mind for the greater good of SXM and all of her people.
Happy New Year to you and your families. God bless each and everyone, and God bless our great and prosperous nation, St. Maarten!

Corendon to start with cruises embarking from Curaçao.

renassance09012025 WILLEMSTAD:--- Curaçao will become the homeport for cruises in the Caribbean region, thanks to a collaboration between the British shipping company Ambassador Cruise Line and Corendon. Today, Corendon CEO Atilay Uslu announced this in Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao.

Corendon's cruises will be 10 in total and begin in November 2025, with departures on Wednesdays and Saturdays from Willemstad and continuing along the itinerary to destinations including Guadeloupe, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Aruba, and Bonaire. The first departure is on November 19th, 2025. The last departure during this cruise season is on February 21st, 2026.

The cruises will be executed with the Renaissance from the British Ambassador Cruise Line, which will operate cruises in the Caribbean region together with Corendon. The Renaissance is no stranger to Curaçao and the Caribbean region. It previously served as the Maasdam of Holland America Line (HAL).

With these cruises, it will be possible for residents of Curaçao and countries such as the United States, Canada, South America, and nearby regions like Aruba, Bonaire, and Suriname to board in Curaçao. Corendon primarily targets European visitors, including the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Travelers board Curaçao for a journey of 10 to 11 nights, optionally extended with a beach holiday, staying in a three-, four-, or five-star hotel on the island.

The expectation is that a cruise from Curaçao will start at 999 euros for an inside cabin on the ship. Rooms with a terrace, balcony, or ocean view will cost more. The cruise duration will vary from 10 to 11 nights (11 or 12 days), as announced by Uslu during a press conference in The Rif Resort Curaçao.

The Renaissance is a Statendam-class cruise ship with a total of 629 cabins. In October 2022, the ship was completely refurbished and renovated by Damen Shipyards in the French port city of Brest. The ship is exceptionally well-maintained and offers top-notch service on board.

Cruises are particularly popular in the Caribbean, and in this context, Curaçao is seen by the cruise industry as an ideal starting point for visiting islands in the region. Cruise passengers aboard Corendon Cruises can enjoy idyllic destinations and rich cultural offerings on various islands during the 10 or 11-day voyage. The Caribbean region offers a wide range of activities, from relaxing on board to exploring historic sites and nature reserves.

Booking for a trip aboard the Renaissance can be made thru the website www.corendon.nl/cruise or personally at the Corendon Travel Agency counter on Scharlooweg 27 in Curaçao. The Travel Agency can be reached by mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Whastsapp +59996668612 or telephone +59994650515.

Breaking News: Two known persons shot to death in French Quarter. (UPDATED)

shootingfrenchquarter09012025 French Quarter: --- Unknown persons in a car drove by on the Pondside in the French Quarter and shot a well-known man from the area.
Bystanders told SMN News that the young man, identified as Kemoy Gumbs, had been shot to death. Bystanders have identified a second victim as Ashton.
Gendarmes were at the scene conducting their investigation.
It should be noted that this is not the first time unknown persons have attempted to shoot Gumbs. However, each time an attempt was made, he escaped unharmed.

A second shooting also took place on the road to Oyster Pond, where another person also lost his life. Details on these recent shootings are not readily available.

Information from Basse-Terre public prosecutor Xavier SICOT:

shooting09012025 French Prosecutor Xavier Sicot said in a statement that two men were shot dead this morning in QUARTIER D'ORLÉANS. Both men are over 18 years of age. The investigation has been entrusted to the research section of the SAINT-MARTIN gendarmerie brigade.
A flagrant investigation for
- organized murder,
- criminal conspiracy to commit a crime, and
- possession of category A and category B weapons.
The Basse-Terre public prosecutor's office has relinquished responsibility for the case to the specialized inter-regional court in Fort-de-France, Martinique.

Former Sint Maarten MP Akeem Arrindell sentenced to 18 months.

~ Banned from holding public office for 6.5 years.~

akeemarrindell24012022 PHILIPSBURG:--- A former St. Maarten Member of Parliament (MP) has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and banned from serving as a civil servant or standing for elections for six and a half years in a vote-buying case. The ban period is the maximum as set out in the country’s criminal laws. The Court of First Instance delivered its verdict on Wednesday morning in the case brought by the Prosecutor’s Office (OM SXM) against former MP A.A. and two co-suspects. The sentences reflect the gravity of the offense and its significant impact on public trust in democracy.
M, a co-suspect, received a 12-month sentence with four months conditional and a three-year probation period.
F, another co-suspect, was ordered to complete 180 hours of community service, with 90 hours conditional and a three-year probation period.
OM SXM believes the court’s ruling sends a stern warning against attempts to undermine democracy in Sint Maarten. The verdict reaffirms the community's commitment to safeguarding democratic principles and ensuring free and fair elections. Integrity and trust must remain the cornerstones of public service, and these sentences underscore the severe consequences of betraying that trust.
On December 18, 2024, the prosecutor presented its arguments, emphasizing the serious implications of vote buying on Sint Maarten's democratic system. Prosecutors highlighted how voter fraud erodes citizens’ confidence in the fairness of elections, undermines governance, and displays blatant disregard for democratic values.
With Sint Maarten’s vulnerable democratic system—comprising just 15 parliamentary seats and a low threshold of votes needed to secure a position—the consequences of voter fraud are particularly severe. The Prosecutor’s Office had demanded stiff penalties, including imprisonment and bans on public office, to deter such offenses and reinforce the principle that vote buying is unacceptable.

KPSM Hosts second Stakeholder Meeting to Address Maritime Security Challenges.

marinetime08012025 PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) held a crucial stakeholder meeting on January 7, 2025, at the Philipsburg Police Station to address ongoing maritime security concerns. This meeting brought together representatives from the Coast Guard, maritime personnel, local marinas, and the Tourist Bureau to tackle the recent criminal activities targeting the maritime community.

This marks the second meeting of its kind, following incidents of break-ins on boats docked at marinas, anchored in the lagoon, or off the island’s beaches. During the discussions, participants explored strategies to curb these incidents and improve security measures for all maritime stakeholders.

Key points from the meeting include:
1. Enhanced Patrols:
o Collaboration between the Coast Guard and marina personnel to establish effective patrolling measures in the lagoon and other vulnerable areas.
2. Community Awareness:
o Reinforcement of the "See Something, Say Something" program to encourage public involvement in reporting suspicious activities.
3. Dedicated Maritime Liaison Officer:
Appointment of a Community Police Officer to serve as a direct point of contact for maritime stakeholders, ensuring consistent communication and targeted action.

The discussions also emphasized a unified approach to deter criminal actors from targeting maritime personnel and their assets, including dinghies and other valuables.
KPSM and its partners remain committed to protecting Sint Maarten’s maritime sector by implementing these strategies and fostering cooperation among all involved parties.

KPSM Press Release.