St. Martin News Network - St. Maarten

Chief of Police of the Netherlands Visits Sint Maarten.

kpsmvisits06112025 PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) was honored to welcome the Chief of Police of the Netherlands, Ms. J. Knol, who arrived on the island for a working visit on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
During her visit, Ms. Knol served as one of the keynote speakers at the inaugural “Women of Justice Conference”, organized by KPSM and held on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the Simpson Bay Resort. The conference celebrated and empowered women working across the justice chain in Sint Maarten, focusing on leadership, collaboration, and professional development within the justice sector.

Other keynote speakers included the Minister of Justice, Ms. N. Tackling, and the Chief Prosecutor, Ms. M. Ridderbeks. The event was well attended by female professionals from various justice institutions, creating a meaningful platform for dialogue and inspiration.
Following the conference, Ms. Knol and her delegation paid a courtesy visit to Minister Tackling and her cabinet. Later in the afternoon, the Dutch Police Chief visited the Philipsburg Police Station, where she met with Chief of Police of Sint Maarten, Mr. C. John, and the KPSM Management Team.

During the visit, Ms. Knol and her delegation toured several departments of the police station, gaining valuable insight into KPSM’s daily operations and specialized units.
At the conclusion of the visit, an agreement was signed between Chief of Police Ms. J. Knol and Chief of Police Mr. C. John, solidifying continued cooperation between the Police Force of Sint Maarten and the Dutch National Police. As part of this agreement, several highly specialized vehicles will be shipped to Sint Maarten to bolster the operational capacity of KPSM’s special units and enhance their ability to respond effectively to complex situations.
This working visit highlighted the ongoing partnership and shared commitment between the police organizations to strengthen law enforcement collaboration within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

KPSM Press Release.

MP Ottley Submits Proposed Regulation to Place Electricity Costs and Fuel Pricing Under Government Control.

ottleygrisha05112025 PHILIPSBURG:--- In a major step to protect consumers and restore fairness in electricity pricing, Member of Parliament Omar Ottley has formally submitted a draft Ministerial Regulation (MR) that will bring the price of electricity and the fuel used to generate it under direct Government economic supervision.
The draft MR introduces oversight of the fuel costs that drive electricity prices — including Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), Light Fuel Oil (LFO), diesel, and industrial lubricants, which until now have been left completely unregulated, allowing unpredictable fluctuations to hit households and businesses without warning.

“We cannot continue allowing families and business owners to be blindsided by soaring power bills. This regulation will put transparency, accountability, and fairness back into the system. Despite motions to request the Government to draft the needed MR over a year ago, the Government has not presented a draft MR to date and therefore, I decided to do the work for the Government as the people deserve affordable electricity”, stated MP Ottley.

Key measures introduced in the draft ministerial regulation include a transparent, data-based formula to calculate the fuel clause ending unchecked cost pass throughs, a reduction of the fixed service charge, easing the monthly burden on consumers, tiered base rate billing, protecting lower usage customers, strict efficiency standards for GEBE operations inefficiencies can no longer be passed on to consumers, and monthly oversight and reporting through the Bureau Telecommunications and Post (BTP).
These measures directly stop the unchecked practice of transferring plant self-consumption, excessive technical losses, or unverified fuel expenses onto the people of St. Maarten. Under the proposed regulation, if GEBE does not meet industry efficiency standards, the company absorbs the cost, not the consumer.

Following the submission of the draft MR, MP Ottley also formally submitted the GEBE Petition to the Committee of Petitions, on behalf of the residents and business owners who signed it. The petition clearly demonstrates overwhelming public demand for relief and stronger Government oversight. “The people have spoken. I am standing with them. This is the beginning of real, structural reform, not talk, not promises, but action.” MP Ottley publicly acknowledges the cries of the 800+ signatories to the GEBE Petition, and encourages all to stay tuned for the calling of the Committee of Petitions Public Meeting, and to remain confident that the Minister of TEATT, Mrs. Grisha Heyliger-Marten, will implement the draft ministerial regulation at the soonest.

The Minister of TEATT will review the draft MR, marking a major turning point in how electricity pricing is governed and supervised in St. Maarten.
“I applaud the Minister for accepting the meeting with an open mind. The fact that she has now promised an internal review and will conduct it with urgency. “

Continuation Public meeting of Parliament handling the draft National Ordinance containing rules regarding a basic payment account for consumers.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on November 6, 2025.

This Public meeting was adjourned on October 30, 2025, and will be reconvened on Thursday at 15.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The Minister of Finance will return to Parliament to provide answers to the questions posed by the Members of Parliament in the second round of deliberations on the draft National Ordinance containing rules regarding a basic payment account for consumers.

The agenda point is:
2. Ontwerplandsverordening houdende regels met betrekking tot een basisbetaalrekening voor consumenten (Landsverordening basisbetaalrekening) (Zittingsjaar 2023-2024-174) (IS/292/2023-2024 d.d. 20 december 2023)

Draft National Ordinance containing rules regarding a basic payment account for consumers (National Ordinance basic payment account) (Parliamentary year 2023-2024-174) (IS/292/2023-2024 dated 20 December 2023)

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.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament and www.pearlfmradio.sx

The Committee of Justice of Parliament to meet with the CLIMB Foundation for a presentation on research studies conducted at the Point Blanche Prison and the Miss Lalie Center.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Committee of Justice of Parliament will meet on November 6, 2025.

The Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 14.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.
Representatives of the CLIMB Foundation will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:
Presentation by the CLIMB Foundation on research studies conducted at the Point Blanche Prison and the Miss Lalie Center (IS/1217/24-25 dated June 27, 2025)

Members of the public are also 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.

Central Committee meeting of Parliament regarding the presentation of the 2024 Ombudsman Annual Report.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on November 6, 2025.

The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 10.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Ombudsman will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:
Presentation Annual Report 2024 - Ombudsman (IS/1267/2024-2025 dated July 29, 2025)

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 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

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