PHILIPSBURG: --- Addressing crime and strengthening public safety cannot be the police's responsibility alone. Marcus Pantophlet believes Sint Maarten must focus on ensuring that the entire justice system functions efficiently, consistently and with the necessary sense of urgency.
Drawing on his years of experience within law enforcement, Pantophlet says public discussions about crime too often concentrate on what the police are doing, while policing represents only one part of a much larger justice chain.
“Our police officers can investigate, arrest and build a case, but their work must be supported by an entire system that functions,” Pantophlet stated. “The Prosecutor’s Office, courts, detention system, probation and rehabilitation services, as well as the institutions responsible for prevention, all have a role to play. If one part of that chain is weak or unnecessarily delayed, the effectiveness of the entire system suffers.”
Pantophlet highlighted the importance of the certainty and celerity of consequences. While every individual must be afforded due process and the protections guaranteed by law, a credible justice system must also demonstrate that criminal behavior is followed by timely and appropriate consequences.
“When consequences are repeatedly delayed or uncertain, we weaken the deterrent effect of the justice system,” Pantophlet said. “People must understand that when they choose to break the law, the system will respond—and respond effectively.”
From identifying problems to implementing solutions
Pantophlet believes the discussion must go beyond identifying what is wrong and focus on practical improvements throughout the justice chain.
First, he proposes strengthening structured coordination among the different justice partners. Regular justice-chain meetings should identify bottlenecks, improve information-sharing, and examine where processes are unnecessarily delayed. This must be done with full respect for the independent responsibilities established by law.
“We cannot have institutions functioning as separate islands and then expect the justice chain to produce the best possible results,” Pantophlet said. “Each institution has its own legal responsibility, but they must understand how their work affects the next part of the chain.”
Second, Pantophlet calls for a Justice Chain Capacity and Bottleneck Review to determine where shortages in personnel, infrastructure, technology, and other resources are affecting the speed and quality of justice. The objective should be to identify problems based on evidence and prioritize investments where they can have the greatest impact.
“If a case is delayed, we should understand why. Is it investigative capacity? Is it administration? Is it prosecution capacity? Is it detention capacity? We have to stop treating the justice system as separate pieces and start measuring how the entire chain performs.”
Third, Pantophlet believes Sint Maarten must strengthen the connection between prevention, enforcement, consequences, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
“For some individuals, particularly our young people, the best intervention is preventing them from entering a life of crime in the first place. For those who commit crimes, there must be consequences. And for those who have served their sentence and genuinely want to change their lives, there must be a pathway back into society.”
Pantophlet believes greater cooperation between justice authorities, education, social services, community organizations, and the private sector can help reduce repeat offending and prevent vulnerable young people from becoming further involved in crime.
He summarized the approach as:
Prevention + Effective Policing + Efficient Justice + Meaningful Consequences + Rehabilitation = Safer Communities.
“Our police cannot carry this responsibility alone,” Pantophlet concluded. “Neither can prosecutors, judges, prison officers or probation services. Every part of the justice chain has a responsibility, and government has a responsibility to ensure that these institutions have the framework and resources necessary to function.”
“The question should no longer only be, ‘What are the police doing about crime?’ We should also be asking: Is our entire justice system working as effectively as it should, and what are we doing together to make it better?”
Macron calls for French unity as rising prices fuel public anger.
PARIS, France:--- French President Emmanuel Macron has called on citizens to remain united as France confronts rising prices, pressure on public finances and the effects of ongoing international crises.
Macron said the surge in prices was not caused by decisions by the French government or national policies, but by the wider geopolitical situation.
“This fire of prices is not the consequence of government decisions or national measures, but of the geopolitical situation,” Macron said.
The French president acknowledged the financial pressure facing citizens and said the government remained committed to supporting the population despite constraints on public spending.
“We have public finance constraints, and we are mobilized to be on the side of the French,” he said, adding that he stood in solidarity with citizens who have mobilized over the rising cost of living.
However, Macron warned that division would weaken France’s ability to respond effectively to the crises confronting the country.
“I also call on them to stay united, and we must all stay united, because in this situation, division will make us less strong to face these crises,” he said.
Macron recognized that social demonstrations are legitimate but argued that protests are most effective when the government has the authority and resources to provide a solution. He suggested that demonstrations against the consequences of international developments may express genuine suffering without necessarily producing an immediate remedy.
“Social mobilizations are always legitimate, but they are effective when they have a solution that is in the hands of the government,” Macron said.
He urged the population to remain focused and assured citizens that the government understood the difficulties they were experiencing.
“You have a government that is committed, aware of what the country is going through, that will make the best possible decisions with the constraints that are ours,” he said.
Macron added that the situation would be subjected to parliamentary debate and expressed hope that political parties across France would recognize the need for unity.
The president reiterated that the economic and energy-related pressures facing France were largely the result of international crises, insisting that national unity would be essential as the country attempts to navigate the mounting challenges.
Three Books Promote Reading, Restoration and Empowerment.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Restoration can begin with something as simple as a book; a moment to pause, reflect, create, or discover a new way to understand ourselves and others.
This message was reflected in three books generously donated by author and facilitator Amy Arrindell to the Sint Maarten Library during the Early Learners BookStart Campaign 2026.
The donated titles are Your Little Recharge: Small Steps of Self-Empowerment, Confidence, and Emotional Regulation; My Compassion Superpower: Pause. Think. Choose Kindness: An Interactive Book About Empathy and Better Choices for Children and for Adults to Restore; and Restored in Color: A Therapeutic & Manifestation Coloring Book.
Your Little Recharge will be included in the Early Learners BookStart gift for the youngest children attending the Grand Celebration on September 19, 2026, at Emilio Wilson Park. My Compassion Superpower encourages empathy, kindness, and better choices for children and the adults who guide them, while Restored in Color formed the basis of the September 17, 2026, workshop for parents and caregivers, focusing on creative expression, reflection, and restoration.
Sint Maarten Library staff and community members warmly received the donation, which adds meaningful resources to the Library’s collection. It also demonstrates how books can support children and adults alike through reading, creativity, emotional awareness, and personal growth.
The Sint Maarten Library thanks Amy Arrindell for her generous contribution and for supporting the Early Learners BookStart Campaign through both her books and the “Restored in Color” workshop.
Students Kick Off International Coastal Cleanup in Philipsburg.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) got off to an energetic start this morning as 96 students from Oranje School, Leonard Conner School, and Charlotte Brookson Academy joined Tim Roosens and EPIC to clean up the beach and boardwalk in Philipsburg.
In just an hour, the students collected an impressive yet concerning amount of trash, totaling 123 kilograms. As a treat after the cleanup, Tim, owner of Le Gelateria, provided ice cream to all participants. The student cleanup marks the start of a full weekend of ICC activities, with the community invited to get involved.
On Saturday, September 19, volunteers will gather at Little Bay Beach & Pond from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. to clean up the beach and surrounding area.
The activities continue on Sunday, September 20, with a cleanup of the Anse des Sables / Belle Creole area from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Underwater cleanup teams will also participate on Sunday.
Volunteers are reminded to bring a charged phone with the Clean Swell app downloaded and to wear closed-toe shoes. Gloves, garbage bags, and light refreshments will be provided. Interested participants can find more information and register at www.volunteer.sx.
The organizers also extend their thanks to Minister Gumbs, Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport, for facilitating the required permissions on short notice. The organizers also thank the schools and their students for participating and doing their part towards a cleaner and healthier Sint Maarten!
WYCCF Marks Alzheimer’s Awareness Month with Week of Community Activities.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The White & Yellow Cross Care Foundation (WYCCF) will mark Alzheimer’s Awareness Month with a week of activities focused on dementia awareness, education, and support for people living with dementia, their families, and caregivers.
As part of the week, WYCCF healthcare professionals will participate in specialized training on person-centered communication and dementia care. Informal caregivers from the community are also invited to attend one free workshop, offered twice: Monday, September 21, and Wednesday, September 23, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at WYCCF. This workshop will provide practical tools to communicate with confidence, understand challenging behaviors, and respond calmly and compassionately to someone living with dementia. Registration is free through the QR code provided with the workshop information, and you can sign up till 4:00 PM on Monday, September 21.
On Wednesday, September 23, WYCCF will also offer a free dementia screening from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. We encourage community members, particularly older adults and those concerned about changes in memory or thinking, to take advantage of this opportunity. The screening is intended to promote awareness and early identification; it is not a diagnosis! If you can’t make it on Wednesday, there’s another option right after the Walkathon on Sunday, at the same location.
The community is further invited to join “Memories in Melodies – Karaoke Evening” on Thursday, September 24, at the new WYCCF Daycare PG Building in St. John’s Estate. The evening starts at 6:45 pm and will include food, drinks, karaoke, presentations, and information on dementia and Alzheimer’s awareness; it is open to everyone.
The week will conclude with the Dementia Awareness Walkathon on Saturday, September 26, from 5:30 AM to 8:30 AM. The Walkathon will start and finish at WYCCF, following a route through L.B. Scott Road, Welgelegen Road, Bush Road, A.T. Illidge Road, Zagersgut Road, and Coralita Road before returning to WYCCF.
All participants will receive a T-shirt and a healthy breakfast, and proceeds from the Walkathon will support Alzheimer’s awareness initiatives. A small trolley train will accompany the walk for participants who need a break or cannot complete the full route on foot. WYCCF is grateful to We Tour BV for sponsoring the train and to Maureen of Captain’s Rib Shack for donating the healthy breakfast.
Tickets cost $15 and are still available through WYCCF Dementia Case Managers Michelline Hunte (581-4951), Minerva Maccow (588-1460), and Vaitaire Overman (585-4681).
Dementia care remains an important part of WYCCF’s ongoing work. Through Daycare PG, WYCCF provides specialized care for people living with dementia, giving informal caregivers time to work, manage their responsibilities, or simply take a much-needed break. WYCCF also organizes Alzheimer’s Support Groups every other month, providing caregivers with information, support, and an opportunity to share their experiences with others who understand.
WYCCF encourages everyone to participate in activities throughout the week and help raise awareness of dementia and its impact on individuals, families, and the wider community.