PHILIPSBURG:--- The Windward Islands Civil Servants Union – Private Sector Union (WICSU-PSU) has issued a final escalation notice on February 2, 2026 on behalf of firefighters, following nearly ten (10) months of an unresolved go-slow stemming from unaddressed concerns within the Fire Department.
A mediation process was entered into in good faith. Resulting in the drafting of an agreement letter which was intended to formalize commitments that were verbally agreed to by the Honourable Minister of General Affairs during meetings with firefighters and the Union. Commitments that were also publicly expressed to the Parliament of St. Maarten. To date, that agreement has not been signed and was instead met with a new proposal .
The Union emphasizes that this matter is not a negotiation. It is a mediation process aimed solely at formalizing commitments already made. These commitments form the core basis of the go-slow. Firefighters made it explicitly clear that a signed written agreement on these specific issues was required to end the go-slow. It is after this signed agreement after which negotiations on the broader covenant submitted on May 5, 2025, that was accepted by the Honorable Minister of General Affairs, could proceed as a separate process.
Despite repeated correspondence, references continue to be made to the broader covenant. Although the specific, agreed-upon points discussed directly with the Prime Minister which was later placed into writing as a commitment letter, then adopted as an agreement letter, remain unsigned and unresolved.
Firefighters have further raised concern that while the President of Parliament and others continues to indicate the need to “seek information and clarity,” no direct engagement has taken place with the firefighters and their union that represents them. Requests for meetings with the Council of Ministers on August 17, 2025, and again on January 27, 2026, were declined and met with no response. Parliamentary engagement, including several meetings with the most recent held on January 29, 2026, has likewise failed to produce a concrete way forward.
Mediation: A final version of the agreement letter was submitted via the appointed mediator on January 23, 2026. To date, no acknowledgment or substantive response has been received.
After nearly ten months, the Union and firefighters conclude that the operational reality of the Fire Department is not fully understood, as public statements do not reflect the conditions under which firefighters are required to operate. The prolonged go-slow is now having observable effects across Government operations and the wider community, with Ministers themselves experiencing the impact within their respective Ministries underscoring the urgency of decisive action.
Accordingly, WICSU-PSU has formally requested:
The signing of the agreement letter within forty-eight (48) hours, and
Within the same forty-eight (48) hours, a result-oriented meeting involving the Council of Ministers, with Parliament included, as a final effort to bring this matter to a responsible conclusion.
Should no decisive action be taken within this timeframe, the Union will honor the firefighters’ request to cease further meetings or processes that do not produce concrete outcomes. Continued dialogue without action serves no constructive purpose and only prolongs an untenable situation.
This notice is issued in good faith, and in the interest of accountability, public safety, and institutional stability.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) announces the partnership with The Gioia Group for the comprehensive rebuilding and beautification of the Simpson Bay dock. The initiative encompasses the complete restoration of the pier facilities, repairs to the adjacent police station, and investments into the community, underscoring the shared commitment to development that reaches all levels of society.

Gioia Group representatives Angel Gioia and Luis Gioia emphasized that meaningful investment must extend beyond individual developments, adding value not only for residents but also for neighbors and communities. “This pier is the first and last point of contact for many and it should reflect the beauty and hospitality that define Sint Maarten. Supporting the enhancement of the Simpson Bay area reflects our commitment to being good partners and contributing to a more welcoming environment for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.”

"This partnership represents our dedication to preserving and enhancing the critical infrastructure that supports our thriving maritime and yachting industry and the wider community and economy," said Minister Patrice Gumbs, Minister of VROMI. "The Simpson Bay dock serves as a vital gateway for our island's marine economy, and through collaboration with The Gioia Group we are ensuring its structural integrity and aesthetic appeal for continued growth.

The comprehensive restoration project will include:

• Complete dock reconstruction to meet modern maritime standards
• Full rebuilding of the parking area to improve accessibility and capacity
• Construction of a dedicated garbage room for proper waste management
• Installation of trees and comprehensive landscaping to beautify the area
• Support for enhancing and beautifying the general environment at the police/immigration station.

The restored facilities will provide enhanced services for the maritime community while creating a safer, more welcoming environment for justice workers and the public. In addition, proper parking and enforcement will be put in place, addressing complaints from residents of Simpsonbay Village related to access.

"We understand that our justice workers deserve a secure and well-maintained environment in which to carry out their critical duties," stated Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling. "This investment reflects our appreciation for their service and our commitment to providing them with the facilities they need."

Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunications (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten welcomed the initiative and the support stating “The maritime industry accounts for a significant part of our economy, with the yachting sector alone accounting for around 17% our country’s economic activity.

The project timeline will be announced in the coming weeks. VROMI will work closely with The Gioia Group, stakeholders in the maritime industry, law enforcement, and the local community to ensure the restoration meets the needs of all parties.

Public-Private Partnerships are a cornerstone of the Governing Program 2024-2028, and this latest initiative, following the ongoing rehabilitation of Billy Folly Road, marks the second partnership established by Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs. “While the focus of these first two partnerships was on supporting the larger economy, the next aims to address smaller, more human-focused initiatives; understanding that development must also tangibly impact the communities that drive our economy.

PHILIPSBUR:G:---  An explosive dossier responding to parliamentary questions has revealed sweeping violations and a culture of disregard for the law within the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT). The public transportation licensing process has been laid bare as plagued by lawlessness, procedural abuse, and a near-total absence of accountability.
The most damning revelations center on the issuance of taxi licenses in 2023 under the tenure of former Minister Arthur Leo Lambriex. Despite a formal moratorium in place since 2014 (extended in 2019 for T and G plates), the Ministry issued new licenses in clear violation of the law. Notably, procedures were not simply overlooked; they were often intentionally bypassed. A senior licensing officer, handpicked and assigned by the Minister, was permitted to process requests without the required oversight.

Critical management, including the Department Head of Economic Licenses, Head of Policy, and Secretary General, were away on official travel or leave, and all relevant publications (except the one lifting the moratorium) were issued without their knowledge or presence.
Explicit procedural warnings were ignored, both in writing from the Head of Policy and verbally from the Heads of Licensing and Policy. The required written advice was never prepared, and crucial management levels were bypassed. The result was a system with no checks and balances—license files were incomplete, some licenses were approved without payment confirmation, and permits were issued to people already employed elsewhere or who did not rely on taxi operation as their main means of subsistence, all contrary to ordinance requirements.

Compounding these violations, the Ministry admits the precise basis for taxi license approvals “cannot be established” for the period in question—a stunning admission that exposes administrative processes conducted in the dark, with little to no transparency or justification. The government's annual audit (SOAB) was based on files prepared by this same senior officer and department head, confirming the lack of proper review or records.
The broader problem runs deeper: the regulatory and legal framework is described as “outdated and overly simplistic,” creating loopholes ripe for abuse. For example, although the Department of Economic Licenses has about 600 taxi licenses on file, only 451 are confirmed by the Inspectorate of Economic and Transport Affairs as actively operating, revealing significant discrepancies. Illegal renting and leasing of licenses is not tracked, even though it is widely understood to occur, and business entities were improperly granted taxi and bus licenses in past years—in direct defiance of Article 6 of the National Ordinance on the Transportation of Persons.

These actions raise the specter of criminal liability under Article 363 of the Penal Code, which prohibits the unlawful granting of advantages by public officials. The document underscores that such breaches were not isolated errors, but part of a “systematic disregard for internal controls.” Key policy and legal definitions are missing or unclear, and there is little enforcement to prevent interpretation, inconsistency, and outright manipulation.
The Ministry’s promises for reform, clean-up of registries, the introduction of a digital routing system, demand analyses based on operational performance, and stricter multi-layered documentation standards—stand in sharp contrast to what has transpired. For the public, the damage is already done: what should be a transparent, fair licensing process has become a symbol of failed governance, favoritism, and lost public trust. As this scandal unfolds, calls for real accountability will only grow louder.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Former Member of Parliament F.R., who is currently serving a 20-month prison sentence for bribery and abuse of
office in the “Emerald” case, will remain in detention to also serve an additional sentence following a recent judgment of the Supreme Court (Hoge Raad).
The new verdict relates to the separate criminal investigation known as “Aquamarine”, in which F.R. was convicted for accepting bribes and abusing his
position as a Member of Parliament. The case concerned corrupt conduct during the period 2013–2019, including the acceptance of payments from private companies in
exchange for political influence over government contracts within the telecommunications sector.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court rejected all remaining grounds of appeal. This means that the conviction and sentence in the Aquamarine case have now become
final and irrevocable. As a result, F.R. was formally informed that he will continue to serve his current detention in order to also execute the sentence imposed in this
case. The prison term is 19 months.
F.R. has been incarcerated since March 2025 following his conviction in the Emerald investigation, which concerned bribery and abuse of office in connection with
harbour dredging projects, and resulted in a five-year disqualification from holding public office.
Together, the Aquamarine and Emerald cases form part of a broader series of corruption investigations into the misuse of public office for private gain. The courts
have consistently ruled that financial inability, tax payments, or former political status do not exempt individuals from criminal accountability or from repaying the
proceeds of crime.
The Prosecutor’s Office stated that the enforcement of these sentences underlines a fundamental principle: those who abuse positions of public trust will be held
accountable, and judicial decisions will be fully executed.