PHILIPSBURG:--- An unsettling incident at the Simpson Bay detention center has brought serious ethical questions to the forefront of the Ministry of Justice. A Chinese immigrant, detained at the facility, is reportedly the victim of theft, with $450 missing from the personal funds he surrendered upon his arrest. This case raises significant concerns about accountability and integrity within the justice system.
According to sources, senior officials at the Ministry of Justice, including the Minister, were made aware of the theft approximately two weeks ago. Despite this knowledge, no apparent action has been taken to replace the stolen money or hold anyone accountable for the missing funds. This lack of response is particularly troubling as the detainee is scheduled for departure from the island next week, leaving little time for a resolution.
The incident highlights a potential breakdown in the protocols designed to protect the property of individuals in custody. When people are detained, their personal belongings are cataloged and stored for safekeeping. The disappearance of funds under these circumstances points to a breach of trust and a failure of duty by those responsible for the facility's management.
This specific case may also be indicative of broader, systemic problems. Sources suggest that this is not an isolated event and that other unethical matters within the Justice Ministry are being kept from public view. This alleged pattern of concealing issues rather than addressing them undermines public confidence and suggests a culture that lacks transparency.
The theft of a detainee's money, while a seemingly small amount, carries significant weight. It speaks to the vulnerability of those within the justice system and the absolute necessity for officials to act with unwavering integrity. For the system to be perceived as fair and just, it must protect the rights and property of everyone, regardless of their status.
The Ministry of Justice now faces a critical test. Swiftly replacing the stolen funds and launching a transparent investigation to identify the responsible party would be a crucial first step toward restoring faith. Anything less sends a message that such misconduct is tolerated, further eroding the principles of justice and accountability that the community expects and deserves.

Santo Domingo:--- More than forty crime analysts and specialists from around twenty Caribbean jurisdictions gathered in Santo Domingo for the third Regional Network Meeting for Crime Analysts (RNA), held under the theme STRATEGIC INSIGHTS: CRIMINAL NETWORKS, FINANCIAL CRIME, DRUG FLOWS AND THE ROLE OF AI (Artificial Intelligence). The event was organized by the Board of Chiefs of Police of the Dutch Caribbean, who emphasized that no island can effectively counter cross-border crime alone and that strong regional cooperation is essential.

The RNA was opened by Leonne van Vlimmeren, Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Dominican Republic; Vice Admiral José Manuel Cabrera Ulloa, head of the Dominican Republic’s Dirección Nacional de Control de Drogas (DNCD); and Raymond Ellis, Chief of Police of Curaçao and representative of the Board of Chiefs of Police of the Dutch Caribbean. Van Vlimmeren described the RNA as ‘a unique forum where analysts build trust, recognize shared patterns and support each other across borders.’ Cabrera Ulloa underlined that organized crime moves swiftly between jurisdictions and that ‘our response must be coordinated, informed and rooted in shared intelligence.’ Ellis added: ‘Analysts turn fragments into clarity. When they connect across islands, criminal networks lose one of their biggest advantages.’

Over the course of three days, analysts from Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, France, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, Saint Lucia, Surinam, the Netherlands, Trinidad & Tobago and the United States Virgin Islands delivered their latest analyses. Together, their presentations created a broad regional crime overview, covering firearms incidents, homicide trends, drug flows, youth-involved violence, coastal vulnerabilities, inter-island group dynamics, cyber-enabled crime and the growing influence of digital platforms on criminal behaviour.

The programme also included several expert contributions that helped place these developments in a broader context. Dr. Evan Ellis outlined how geopolitical shifts are reshaping the Caribbean, noting that the region is no longer merely a transit zone but increasingly part of the logistical chain for cocaine and other illicit goods. Experts from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) showed how the Caribbean has evolved into a logistics platform for cocaine storage, repackaging and redistribution, and stressed the link between drug flows and firearms. Technology and intelligence development were addressed by John Bloebaum and Thom Snaphaan, who underlined the importance of clear operational questions and demonstrated how financial crime scripting helps expose laundering and fraud patterns.

Assistant Commissioner Leonardo Brown, head of the Technology Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) presented the development of AI in the JCF. From CARICOM IMPACS, Terrance Roopchan, head of the Crime Gun and Gang Intelligence Unit and the Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre Operations Support Unit, and Dale Joseph, Chief Analyst Cyber of the Cyber Fusion Unit, highlighted trends in firearms trafficking, gang activity and cybercrime. The head of FIU Aruba, Angelo Brete, added a financial perspective, demonstrating how unusual transaction reports reveal laundering patterns across sectors and why understanding financial flows is essential for disrupting organized crime.

The central message throughout the meeting was clear: regional threats demand regional responses. Analysts noted that firearms circulate between islands, youth groups connect across borders through social media, drug routes adapt quickly under pressure and cyber-enabled crime exploits gaps in coordination. The RNA helps close those gaps by strengthening personal connections, accelerating communication, improving access to analytical methods, and enabling a shared understanding of emerging patterns.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from the Board of Chiefs of Police to continue developing the RNA as a permanent annual platform. As CARICOM IMPACS noted during their session: ‘Collaboration does not cost anything, but fragmentation does.’ The 2026 edition of the RNA is expected to be organized in close cooperation with regional partners.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A major controversy has emerged from within the Sint Maarten government, raising serious questions about the integrity of the Ministry of Justice. Evidence has surfaced that appears to show a civil servant working directly within the cabinet of the Minister of Justice, Nathalie Tackling, involved in the underground distribution and sale of potentially illegal and dangerous substances—specifically, peptides such as Retatrutide (GLP-3)
These substances are not approved by major health authorities, including the FDA and EMA, and are not authorized for human consumption, treatment, or clinical use. In fact, a straightforward search confirms that Retatrutide and similar peptides are only in the research phase and remain illegal to sell, administer, or distribute under pharmaceutical laws.
Screenshots from a private chat conversation detail a discussion about these peptides and further implicate the civil servant in direct sales. An individual identified as a cabinet staff member of the Minister of Justice admits to being "on peptides," claiming to have "every peptide," and most tellingly, stating, "I even end up selling them, because people kept asking me." Such an admission is not a matter of rumor but a clear acknowledgment of distributing substances outside the bounds of medical or legal oversight.
Alarmingly, the health risks are not theoretical. The conversation reveals acute awareness of the dangers when the individual warns, "BPC has caused several anaphylactic reactions," and advises that precautions be taken in such cases." This demonstrates willful disregard for the safety of others and knowledge of legal consequences. Worse still, recent cases in St. Maarten have already linked illegal peptide use to diagnoses of pancreatitis—further proof of the immediate real-world harm caused by such underground trafficking.
The implications for the nation's healthcare system are dire. Every adverse reaction attributed to unregulated and illegal substances like these not only puts lives at risk but also places a heavy, unnecessary financial burden on the already strained healthcare infrastructure. Emergency interventions for anaphylaxis and the treatment of pancreatitis are costly and resource-intensive, diverting personnel and funds away from other critical care needs. The unchecked distribution of hazardous research chemicals threatens public health, erodes trust in our medical systems, and taints the reputation of Sint Maarten as a nation of law and order.
While Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling has dismissed the matter as "rumors and conjecture," the evidence presented is definitive. This is not idle speculation but a documented breach of law and ethics at the very heart of our justice system. The public has every right to demand accountability and answers, not evasions or minimization.
In light of these developments, there is an urgent need for open discussion and transparent action. We call on the Prime Minister—not only as the nation’s leader but as a medical doctor—to publicly address the very real health risks and financial implications this poses to Sint Maarten. The people deserve a full accounting of how such egregious behavior was able to occur within the government and what steps will be taken to prevent it from ever happening again.
Anything less than a thorough, independent investigation and immediate corrective measures is unacceptable. The time for dismissing these issues has passed. The citizens of Sint Maarten demand accountability, transparency, and a renewed commitment to justice and public safety.

PHILIPSBURG:---The Government of Sint Maarten and the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) invite the public to a community consultation for the Sint Maarten Wastewater Management Project on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Belair Community Center. The session will explain planned upgrades to the island’s wastewater systems and allow the community to share feedback before designs are finalized.
Only about 10 percent of households in Sint Maarten are connected to the public sewer network, making wastewater management one of the island’s biggest environmental challenges. The Sint Maarten Wastewater Project is a US$25 million investment, co-funded by the Government of Sint Maarten (US$15 million) and the Sint Maarten Trust Fund (US$10 million). The work includes expanding the sewer network in Dutch Cul de Sac and improving the A. Th. Illidge Road wastewater treatment plant so it can manage more household connections and operate more efficiently. The improvements are expected to reduce reliance on aging septic tanks and lower the risk of wastewater entering yards, streets, and ponds.

The consultation will include a walkthrough of the Environmental and Social (E&S) Risk Management Instruments prepared for the project. The E&S Instruments explain how the project's construction and long-term impacts will affect people, homes, roads, and the environment, and outline measures to reduce noise, dust, traffic delays, water pollution, and other impacts. It also allows the community to understand the project, ask questions, and propose improvements before designs are finalized.
The project’s timeline, work areas, and anticipated traffic impacts will be presented at the meeting. There will also be a question-and-answer session so the public can raise any concerns directly with the Government of Sint Maarten and the NRPB.

The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Patrice Gumbs is encouraging the community to get involved. “We want to improve how wastewater is managed across Sint Maarten. This work affects neighborhoods and daily routines, so community participation is incredibly important. Your feedback will help us refine the designs and prepare for construction.”
The consultation is the first in a series of stakeholder engagement activities that are free and open to the public. Additional meetings for schools, community groups, directly affected households, and stakeholders will take place in the coming weeks. Feedback from all sessions will help guide the final design.
A livestream will be available for those who cannot attend in person, and the recording will be available online after the event. The NRPB encourages all households and businesses, especially those in the Dutch Cul de Sac area, to join the session on Wednesday, December 10, from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Belair Community Center. The community’s valuable input will help guide improvements that support cleaner communities and a healthier environment for neighborhoods.

Following this consultation, the next steps will be shared with the public to ensure the community stays informed throughout the implementation of the project.
The NRPB implements the Sint Maarten Wastewater Management Project on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten. It is funded by the Trust Fund, which is financed by the Government of the Netherlands and managed by the World Bank. The project is co-funded by the Government of Sint Maarten.