BES ISLANDS:--- In recent weeks, several organisations in the Caribbean have been targeted by serious cyberattacks, including ransomware, viruses, and major computer failures. The impact has been significant: prolonged downtime, loss of critical business data, damage to customer relations, reputational harm, and, in some cases, substantial financial losses reaching tens of thousands of dollars.

The Cybercrime Team of the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (KPCN), in cooperation with various partners, is mapping these attacks and issuing a clear warning about the increased threat. “Cybercrime is no longer a distant danger, it is a reality in our region,” the Cybercrime Team stated. “We urge organisations to review and strengthen their digital security without delay.”

Advice: Four steps to protect your organisation

1. Keep systems up to date

• Ensure firewalls, operating systems, and other equipment always have the latest updates.
• Segment networks with firewalls to limit the spread of malware.
• Close unnecessary external ports.
• Implement effective detection and monitoring systems.

2. Protect accounts with strong access methods

• Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all business accounts.
• Set unique passwords of at least 20 characters, including uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Prevent password reuse by using a password manager, especially for system administrators.

3. Train employees

• Make cybersecurity a topic of discussion and organise regular training sessions.
• Teach employees to recognise and report phishing and suspicious emails.
• Conduct awareness exercises, such as phishing simulations.

4. Have an Incident Response Plan

• Prepare a written plan detailing the actions to take during a cyber incident.
• Maintain a physical contact list with essential phone numbers.
• Secure log files and evidence before starting recovery work.
• Define decision-making roles in times of crisis and rehearse these scenarios.

Reporting cyber incidents
If you become the victim of a cyberattack, do not be discouraged. Your report can help other organisations remain alert. Incidents can be reported at the Police Station in Playa or by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  KPCN can assist and connect you with specialised partners.

More information and practical tips:

• Digital Trust Center (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy) – tips for self-employed professionals and SMEs: digitaltrustcenter.nl/starten
• National Cyber Security Centre (Ministry of Justice and Security) – basic principles for large organisations and government bodies: ncsc.nl/basisprincipes

Have you seen anything suspicious? Call 911 or 717-8000 or the anonymous tip line 9310.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Tax Administration announces that business license distribution begins today, Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at the Receiver's Office on Pond Island. Upon arrival, business owners should proceed directly to the balie/reception window to collect their licenses.

Licenses can be picked up Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM, and business owners are encouraged to bring proof of payment when collecting.

For more information or assistance, please contact the Tax Administration at 542-2143, 542-3782, 542-3839, or 542-3840, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  Fire Chief and National Disaster Coordinator of the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) Clive Richardson, is calling on residents and the business community to continue to remain vigilant and monitor local weather reports from the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/ as the country moves through the peak period of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season which runs from mid-August to mid-October.

ODM is calling on the public and business community to pay attention to the next weather system, a tropical wave now located in the eastern tropical Atlantic which has the potential to develop over the next few days and could affect the Lesser Antilles during the latter part of the week.

Hurricane Erin's explosive intensification from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane within 24 hours, north of Anguilla, serves as a stark reminder that we are living in a climate-changing world. This climate change influences weather systems, making them stronger and more powerful within a shorter period, as exemplified by Erin.

“Therefore, it is critical to be storm and hurricane ready from the beginning of the hurricane season. Your disaster supply kit should be in place from the beginning of the hurricane season; your yard should be clear of items that could become flying debris, and you should be able to close your storm/hurricane shutters on your home or at your business within an hour or two.

“Hurricane Erin’s rapid intensification is a clear reminder once again that you can’t wait for the last moment to be storm/hurricane ready.

ODM, with the assistance of the Department of Communication (Emergency Support Function ESF-8), in its annual hurricane season public awareness campaign, brings this messaging forward early and consistently every season, as everybody has a role to play in protecting their life and property.

“Sint Maarten and the other islands in the Leeward Islands were very lucky that Erin remained out at sea. The emphasis and core messaging have been personal preparedness, individual, family, and business.

“Preparation is key. Do not take this lightly, because not being prepared can be the difference between life and death. The government and its stakeholders continue to build a more resilient and prepared nation in the face of increasingly severe weather events,” NDC Fire Chief Clive Richardson said.

The remaining 2025 storm names are: Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, and Wendy.

For more information on hurricane preparedness and to find a list of official resources, please visit the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane, where you will be able to download your “Hurricane Season Readiness Guide’ and “Hurricane Tracking Chart,” or you can use the following link: https://shorturl.at/VbaxC

Listen to the Government Radio station – SXMGOV 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane. You can also follow weather-related news and information, as well as national addresses by the Prime Minister, chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), by going to @SXMGOV Facebook Page.

The hurricane season runs through November 30.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Member of Parliament Lyndon Lewis is urgently calling on the Government of Sint Maarten—specifically the Honorable Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), Mrs. Grisha Heyliger-Martin—to take swift and decisive action regarding the deteriorating conditions at the temporary marketplace in Philipsburg.

Vendors stationed at the site have repeatedly voiced their frustration about the poor and worsening environment in which they are forced to operate. The tents currently in use provide little relief from the high temperatures, and the lack of proper ventilation is causing significant discomfort for those trying to run their businesses under these conditions. Many vendors have described the space as unsafe, especially as temperatures continue to rise and working conditions become increasingly unbearable. “We have no electricity, no running water and the portable toilets are in a terrible state, the place is very hot and we are in need of proper ventilation” stated some of the vendors interviewed by MP Lewis.

What was initially announced as a temporary relocation project, scheduled to be completed within three months, has now been delayed for more than a year without any substantial progress. Vendors remain in limbo, with no confirmed date for their return to the newly constructed permanent facility. This continued uncertainty has only deepened their frustration and raised concerns about their ability to maintain stable livelihoods.

With the island entering the peak of hurricane season, MP Lewis stressed that it is unacceptable for these hardworking individuals to remain in such vulnerable conditions.

He also highlighted the need for immediate communication from the Ministry of TEATT, not only to provide clarity on when the vendors will be able to move into the new marketplace, but also to outline what short-term solutions will be implemented to address their current concerns. Proper ventilation, electricity, and water must be installed as a matter of urgency to ease current conditions. Additionally, MP Lewis called for practical support to help vendors continue operating and generating income during this prolonged and challenging period. “When I visited the vendors, there were absolutely no tourists or shoppers present,” MP Lewis stated.

MP Lewis emphasized that the vendors are not responsible for the delays they are experiencing and should not be made to suffer as a result of government inaction. Their ability to serve both residents and tourists should be supported, not hindered. It is the government’s responsibility to provide them with a safe, functional, and dignified environment to operate in.

Ensuring the stability and well-being of vendors in the Philipsburg marketplace is not only a matter of economic importance, it is a matter of public safety and respect for our entrepreneurs.