PHILIPSBURG:---  NOW Member of Parliament Lyndon Lewis is calling on the Honorable Minister of Finance, Ms. Marinka Gumbs, to urgently provide clarity regarding the payment of funds to subsidized schools, particularly in relation to the 2% indexation for the year 2025.

MP Lewis has been approached by numerous education professionals who are eligible for the indexation, yet report that they have not received the remuneration that was promised. This has raised serious concerns and frustrations among the affected parties, who are now questioning the reliability of the Minister’s assurances.

In reference to Minister Gumbs’s published statement on June 16, 2025, the Minister indicated that confirmation had been received that all additional funds related to the 2025 vacation allowance and indexation were successfully transferred to subsidized schools, ensuring that teachers would receive the same treatment as those in public schools, and that these payments would be reflected in the July 2025 payroll. 

“If confirmation was given that these funds were transferred, then why are the very individuals who are entitled to the indexation not receiving their due payments? This is not only a matter of transparency, but also of trust. The people deserve clarity and accountability,” MP Lewis stated.

MP Lewis emphasized that delays or discrepancies in delivering these promised payments have real consequences for the livelihoods of teachers and staff in subsidized schools, who rely on these funds to support themselves and their families.

“I therefore call on the Minister of Finance to urgently clarify this matter to the people. Were the funds truly disbursed as stated, and if so, what has caused the delay in reaching those entitled to receive them? The lack of answers only deepens the frustration and undermines public confidence,” Lewis continued.

“Our teachers and school employees must not be made to carry the weight of the government’s inconsistencies. I expect the Minister to address this matter without delay and provide a transparent explanation that restores confidence and delivers the payments owed,” he concluded.

PHILIPSBURG:--- NOW Member of Parliament (MP) Lyndon Lewis has issued a stern condemnation of Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V. (PJIAE) and the Ministry of VSA for their role in an unpopular and discriminatory decision that sought to prohibit French St. Martin–born nationals without Dutch-side work permits from receiving airport access passes.

The controversial decision came to light through an official letter issued by PJIAE announcing that the measure would take effect immediately. MP Lewis described this move as reckless, divisive, and unacceptable.

Such a poor decision threatens to create unnecessary division and separation within our small 37-square-mile island. Despite having two administrations and two economies, we share one island, one culture, and one identity. "We are not France and we are not the Netherlands, we are St. Martin, we are on people" MP Lewis stated. 

To exclude French-side nationals in this way is nothing short of modern segregation at its finest, and I will not stand by or accept even the slightest attempt at such discrimination.”

MP Lewis further warned that decisions of this magnitude should never be taken without proper consultation with the Government and relevant stakeholders. He emphasized that unilateral actions of this kind not only damage the working relationship between North and South but also risk harming St. Martin's reputation as a hub of cooperation in the region.

Although PJIAE has since updated and reversed its decision following significant public backlash and urgent intervention by the Government of Sint Maarten, MP Lewis said the damage to public trust has already been done.

“This incident should serve as a wake-up call,” MP Lewis continued. “Institutions like PJIA must act with sensitivity, fairness, and accountability. We cannot allow policies that divide our people or create second-class citizens on either side of the border. Unity must always come first.”

MP Lewis concluded by calling for preventive safeguards to ensure that similar decisions are never repeated and pledged to continue monitoring the matter closely.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On behalf of the Government and people of Sint Maarten, the Prime Minister, Dr. Luc Mercelina, extends heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali on his projected re-election to a second term as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Prime Minister Mercelina commended President Ali and the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) for the confidence placed in them by the electorate, noting that the outcome reflects the strength of Guyana’s democratic traditions. “The Guyanese people have once again affirmed their trust in President Ali’s vision for national development, prosperity, and unity. We recognize this moment as a new chapter not only for Guyana but for the wider Caribbean family,” the Prime Minister stated.

Prime Minister Mercelina reaffirmed the deep ties between Sint Maarten and Guyana, emphasizing the many Guyanese who proudly call Sint Maarten home. “The Guyanese community has contributed tremendously to the social fabric, economy, and cultural diversity of Sint Maarten. Today, we share in your pride as your homeland prepares to enter this new phase of leadership,” he said.

The Prime Minister further expressed optimism that under President Ali’s renewed mandate, cooperation within the Caribbean will be strengthened, particularly in areas such as climate resilience, sustainable energy, and economic diversification. “As sister nations within the Caribbean, we know that our strength lies in unity. Guyana’s progress uplifts the entire region, and Sint Maarten stands ready to deepen our collaboration for the benefit of our peoples,” PM Dr. Mercelina affirmed.

In closing, Prime Minister Mercelina conveyed best wishes to President Ali, his government, and the people of Guyana for continued peace, stability, and prosperity in the years ahead.

PHILIPSBURG: ---A devastating security failure at the Simpson Bay Immigration Detention Center has left authorities scrambling for answers after an undocumented immigrant walked out of custody undetected, raising serious questions about the competence of our immigration system and the safety of our community.

The escaped detainee, who was apprehended during routine immigration control and housed at the facility, managed to breach security sometime Monday without a single guard noticing. The shocking truth only came to light the following day during a shift change headcount – nearly 24 hours after the fact.

This isn't just negligence; it's a complete abdication of responsibility that puts every citizen at risk.

Guards Asleep at the Wheel

How does someone simply walk out of an immigration detention facility? The answer points to a culture of complacency and incompetence that should alarm every taxpayer funding this broken system.

The guards on duty were so oblivious to their most basic responsibility – keeping detainees secure – that they failed to notice a missing person for an entire day. This level of negligence would be laughable if it weren't so dangerous.

We're talking about a facility designed to detain individuals who have violated immigration laws. If guards can't even maintain a proper headcount, what other security protocols are they ignoring?

A Wall of Silence

Perhaps even more disturbing than the escape itself is the deafening silence of those responsible for protecting our borders and maintaining order.

Neither immigration authorities nor the Minister of Justice have offered any disclosure about this embarrassing incident. No explanations. No accountability. No transparency whatsoever.

This stone wall of silence raises troubling questions:

• How many other security breaches have occurred without public knowledge?

• What measures are being taken to prevent future escapes?

• Who will be held accountable for this failure?

Public Safety Abandoned

An undocumented immigrant who was properly detained through immigration control is now roaming free because of institutional incompetence. We don't know this person's background, criminal history, or potential threat level – and apparently, neither do the authorities charged with our protection.

This escape represents a fundamental breach of trust between the government and the citizens it's supposed to protect. When detention centers become revolving doors, the entire immigration enforcement system becomes meaningless.

Demanding Answers

The people deserve immediate answers about how this happened and what's being done to fix it. We need:

• Full disclosure of the circumstances surrounding the escape

• Immediate termination of any guards responsible for this negligence

• A comprehensive review of security protocols at all detention facilities

• Regular public reporting on detention center operations

A Pattern of Failure

This incident likely isn't isolated. When guards are this negligent and officials this secretive, it suggests systemic problems that go far beyond one escaped detainee.

Our immigration system is supposed to maintain order and protect public safety. Instead, we're witnessing a comedy of errors that would be amusing if the stakes weren't so high.

The time for excuses and cover-ups has passed. We demand accountability, transparency, and immediate reform of a system that's clearly broken beyond repair.

Until we get answers and see real change, how can any citizen trust that our immigration authorities are capable of doing their most basic job – keeping dangerous individuals off our streets?

The escape at Simpson Bay isn't just a security breach; it's a betrayal of public trust that demands swift and decisive action. Our safety depends on it.