PHILIPSBURG – Member of Parliament (MP) Raeyhon Peterson was reportedly involved in a physical altercation outside the Red Diamond Exotic nightclub on Tuesday night. The incident sparked public concern and allegedly began inside the venue where Peterson and another individual, identified by some sources as "Boy Boy," clashed.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that Peterson, who was reportedly intoxicated at the time, engaged in a heated argument with "Boy Boy," which escalated into a fight. One bystander claimed that Peterson's aggressive and disrespectful behavior allegedly provoked the other individual. Others suggested his intoxicated state may have impaired his ability to defend himself during the altercation.
Following the incident, MP Peterson was notably absent from a parliamentary meeting scheduled for Wednesday at 1 p.m. Sources close to the matter indicated that his absence may have been due to injuries sustained during the altercation, although no formal statement has been made to confirm this.
Local law enforcement confirmed that no official complaint had been filed regarding the incident. However, given Peterson's status as a licensed firearm holder, the police have launched an investigation to ensure all protocols are observed. Additional details about the altercation and its aftermath remain unclear as investigations continue.
MP Peterson has not yet commented on the matter. Meanwhile, the incident has raised questions about public officials' conduct and accountability both in and outside the professional sphere. As the investigation unfolds, more updates are expected.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament and Leader of the United People's Party (UPP), Omar E.C. Ottley, has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) for their unwavering commitment to continuous development and training of their personnel. The recent successful completion of multiple specialized training programs by KPSM officers is a significant and commendable step in the ongoing mission to strengthen public safety and deepen community engagement.
MP Ottley particularly highlights the return of five KPSM officers from Miami, who became certified School Resource Officers after completing an intensive week-long program. "I am particularly impressed by this because of my deep desire to help our young people. This training is a meaningful investment in our youth's future and our educational institutions' safety. Officers trained to understand and support young people help build trust, reduce tension, and create safer school environments," Ottley noted.
MP Ottley applauds the successful execution of the BAVPOL training program (Buitengewoon Agent van Politie) in collaboration with various government departments. "The multidimensional nature of this training demonstrates exactly what we need — cross-sector collaboration to build a well-rounded, well-equipped, and community-conscious police force," he stated.
Ottley emphasized that management at KPSM deserves special recognition for its vision and leadership in prioritizing the training and development of its team. "What we are witnessing is a force that is not standing still but evolving with the demands of modern policing. This type of leadership, driven by law enforcement officers, combines to inspire public confidence and strengthen national security."
Looking ahead, MP Ottley calls on the Government of St. Maarten to support KPSM not only through training but also through strategic investments in modern policing tools and technology. "The world is evolving rapidly, and our police officers need the best tools to match their growing responsibilities," he said. "We must work together to develop a plan — in close consultation with the KPSM — to access advanced equipment and smart technology solutions that are already available in regions such as the Netherlands."
Among the resources MP Ottley encourages the government to prioritize are, Body-worn cameras for accountability and officer safety, Real-time communication systems and GPS-enabled dispatch tools, Mobile data terminals in patrol units, more Drones for surveillance in high-risk situations and to monitor traffic congestion, along with investments in modern forensic tools for evidence gathering and analysis.
"These technologies can dramatically improve officer efficiency, safety, and transparency — all essential to restoring and maintaining public trust," Ottley stressed.
"To all the men and women of the KPSM, we see your efforts, we recognize your sacrifices, and we, the UP Party, stand with you. The United People's Party faction in Parliament remains committed to ensuring you have the training, the tools, and the trust you need to continue serving and protecting our island with excellence. Let us continue on this positive path together toward a safer, stronger, and more resilient St. Maarten."

MARIGOT: --- On the afternoon of Tuesday, April 7th, the crew of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard cutter ship Poema received a Mayday distress call on VHF radio channel 16.  A vessel located in French territorial waters was in urgent need of assistance. The captain reported that the boat rapidly took on much water, causing the onboard water level to rise significantly.

The Poema immediately set course to the vessel’s location. Upon arrival, the crew observed that another boat was already on the scene and pumping water from the distressed vessel.

The Coast Guard crew quickly took control of the situation and deployed a larger pump to accelerate the process. Once enough water had been removed, the vessel and its two occupants were taken in tow and safely brought to Simpson Bay.

~Prize Sponsors Announced, Competition Launches After Carnival~

PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Melissa D. Gumbs officially announced the prize sponsors for the first annual Dame Ruby Bute National Short Story Contest. The contest, named after iconic painter, storyteller, and writer Dame Ruby Bute, is meant to inspire young St. Maarteners to embrace a love of reading, storytelling, and creative writing.

“Reading unlocks imaginations, builds vocabulary, and improves the soft skills needed in any profession,” Gumbs stated. “I have stressed its importance while in Parliament and in fact, the idea for such a national competition began to develop in my head while still in Parliament. I’m happy to be able to see it come to fruition in my term as Minister of ECYS.”

While known widely for her vivid paintings and tributes to the beauty of the island, Dame Ruby Bute also made her mark with her exceptional way with words, starting with the first One Woman Show on the island in 1983 and her first book of poetry ‘Golden Voices of S’maatin’ which was also the first book of poetry published by a woman on the island in 1989.

This initiative reinforces Minister Gumbs’ commitment to promoting literacy throughout her term, a topic that she championed fiercely while a member of Parliament.

Gumbs, an avid reader, announced that her focus when mapping out the details of the competition was finding structural prize sponsors that would allow the event to run unhindered for at least three years. This week, the Minister signed MOUs (memorandums of understanding) with four key sponsors: RBC Bank, Boolchand’s, Antek IT Solutions & Software, and Klass Electronics. All have committed to establishing a partnership with the Ministry of ECYS for the project. Gumbs says this is an example of the types of public/private partnerships she believes will carry St. Maarten’s educational ecosystem forward.

“These MOUs are more than just documents outlining prizes,” the Minister explained. “They’re a testament to these companies’ commitments to encouraging our young people to unleash their creativity, tell the stories they want to tell, and amplify their voices beyond St. Maarten. I am thankful that they have shown their support in this meaningful way and look forward to this and future collaborations.”

Minister Gumbs stated that she always intended to name the contest after the late cultural icon Dame Ruby Bute.

“I met with Dame Ruby’s immediate family earlier this year, to ask permission to name this initiative after her,” Minister Gumbs explains. “I believe that these steps are important to giving our icons their due, and I am grateful to the family for allowing me to honor her in this way. Instilling a love of art, in all its forms, and especially in our young people, is just one way that Dame Ruby’s legacy took root in St. Maarten. Having begun painting at a young age, she is the embodiment of the magic that is created when that love is nurtured and encouraged in youth.”

Minister Gumbs stated that further information on the competition, including rules, theme, details of prizes and more, will be shared following the 2025 Carnival celebrations. She expressed her deep appreciation to the management teams of RBC Bank, Boolchand’s, Antek IT Solutions & Software, and Klass Electronics for signing on as sponsors, as well as to her colleagues within the Ministry’s Department of Youth and Division Education Innovation for their support in making the project a reality for 2025 and beyond.

For future information, the public is encouraged to like and follow the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport on Facebook and @minecys on Instagram.