PHILIPSBURG: --- As the sun sets on 2025, the residents of St. Maarten are not celebrating a year of progress. Instead, they are left picking up the pieces of a year defined by brazen criminality and a government that appears largely indifferent to the safety of its people. The "Friendly Island" has spent the last twelve months under siege, marred by a disturbing surge in violent crime that has shattered the community’s sense of security.
While the island’s political elite busied themselves with international photo-ops, the streets of Philipsburg became a playground for armed robbers. This was not a year of ordinary crime; 2025 will be remembered as the era of the "high day" robbery. Criminals no longer felt the need to hide under the cover of darkness. Instead, they struck Front Street and Back Street in broad daylight, terrorizing tourists and locals alike.
Paralysis at the Top: Budget Chaos and Financial Lawlessness
As the crime wave crested, another disaster was brewing in government offices: a total collapse of financial governance. St. Maarten is now lurching toward a paralyzing fiscal crisis, with the 2026 budget and 2025 budget amendment both delayed so catastrophically that Parliament will see no new funds or policies for the first half of the new year. This bureaucratic gridlock freezes justice payouts, stalls desperately needed infrastructure, and leaves essential subsidies in limbo.
Behind closed doors, thousands of guilders were disbursed for Carnival subsidies and Soul Beach without a single shred of parliamentary approval. This was not an innocent oversight but a direct violation of the Constitution and the law, setting a precedent that public funds can be spent first and legalized later. If Carnival can be subsidized illegally, how many millions more have slipped away to consultants, travel, and pet projects with no legal backing? With the government operating under the “1/12th rule,” no new hires can be made, no new contracts issued, and no police or justice bonuses paid—promises from the Minister of Justice ring hollow in the absence of a ratified budget.
Revenue collection, meanwhile, becomes a cruel joke: taxes are collected, but not a cent can be used for public good until mid-year. Internationally funded projects from the Trust Fund and TWO risk collapsing if the government cannot even sign its own contracts. Civil servants and frontline responders are left waiting yet again, watching as the months slip away with no relief in sight.
The Great Betrayal: Police Left Defenseless
The Korps Politie Sint Maarten (KPSM) has fought valiantly against this rising tide. Despite 115 reported armed robberies, including ten specifically targeting jewelry stores, and a relentless pace of investigations, officers have been forced to fight a war without ammunition.
The most damning evidence of government neglect came recently from the Ministry of Finance. While announcing the receipt of a 30.3-million-guilder loan for Capital Expenditures (CAPEX), the government revealed its true priorities. In the midst of a raging crime wave, not a single guilder was allocated to the police force for crime-fighting tools or manpower.
The breakdown of this spending is a slap in the face to every officer risking their life on the line:
- 18 million for land purchase in Belvedere.
- 10.4 million for a prison project that remains a blueprint.
- 525,000 for weather system upgrades.
- 450,000 for an automated parking system.
- 120,000 for a generator for Parliament.
- 0 for immediate police resources.
For over 15 years, justice workers have waited for their Landsbesluit to regulate their salaries. They have watched colleagues retire and pass away without ever seeing the money owed to them. Yet, the coalition government continues to take them for granted.
First-Class Flights While the Island Burns
While the police force begs for scraps and the justice system buckles under the weight of overcrowding, the country's leadership has been notably absent. 2025 saw high-ranking officials, including the Prime Minister and the Minister of TEATT, engaging in a lavish traveling spree.
Critics have rightfully slammed the optics of these trips. While the Minister of TEATT circles the globe to "promote" the destination, the product being sold is rapidly deteriorating due to domestic safety concerns. The Prime Minister’s frequent trips to Suriname and the Netherlands have drawn particular ire.
The public is now asking the hard questions: What is the cost of these excursions? Between first-class airfare, luxury hotel accommodations, and hefty per diems for the Prime Minister and his Chief of Staff, a fortune is being spent abroad while the home front is neglected. It is a shameful display of misplaced priorities to see leaders living in luxury while the citizens they serve live in fear.
The Business Community Pays the Price
The government's inability to secure the streets has forced the private sector to fill the void. This holiday season, the business community was forced to fork out half a million US dollars out of their own pockets to cover the cost of beefed-up security.
These businesses are the lifeblood of St. Maarten’s economy. Yet, they are effectively being taxed twice: once by the government that fails to protect them, and again by aiding the Justice Ministry with much-needed funds. There has been no talk of tax relief or compensation for these expenses, just silence from an administration that seems content to let business owners fend for themselves.
A System at Breaking Point
The rot extends beyond the police force. The prison system is so overcrowded that it has become a revolving door. Detectives, led by dedicated officers like Deputy Chief Commissioner Delano Baptist, work tirelessly to solve high-profile cases. Yet, their victories are short-lived. Perpetrators are frequently given a "slap on the wrist" and return to the streets simply because there is no space to house them.
The crisis has also engulfed emergency services. Firefighters and ambulance workers have been on a "go-slow" since April 2025. These essential workers, who risk their health daily, have been met with empty promises and lip service from a Prime Minister who, despite being a medical doctor, has failed to address their grievances.
The financial gridlock ensures further decay: no new hires for police or emergency staff, no contracts for vital public works, and no relief for GEBE ratepayers struggling with spiraling utility costs. International aid sits frozen, and even basic government accountability falls apart as Parliament must wait for months to see how public money is actually spent.
A Stark Warning
The comparison to our neighbors is sobering. Just last year, Anguilla was riddled with heinous crimes and murders. St. Maarten is now staring down that same dark path.
As we look toward 2026, the patience of the people has worn thin. The government can no longer hide behind excuses or distract the public with future promises of a new prison. The reality is clear: the police are underfunded, front-line workers are abandoned, public money is spent without oversight, and the business community is bleeding cash to stay safe.
If the leadership of St. Maarten continues to prioritize first-class travel and shadowy spending over public safety and sound governance, the "Friendly Island" risks losing not just its reputation, but its very soul.
This year, SMN News has chosen the ongoing crime wave—particularly the surge in armed robberies—as the story of the year. No single figure stood out or captured headlines as powerfully as the violence and uncertainty plaguing our streets. In light of this, we must directly call out the four key members of St. Maarten’s executive branch: Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling, Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger Marten, and the Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs. These Ministers jointly owe an answer to the people, to the residents, and to the very visitors they invite to our shores. It is their duty to assume responsibility, protect our businesses, and ensure the safety and support of the frontline workers who risk their lives for us every day.
Despite the turmoil, SMN News extends deep gratitude to the dedicated officers of KPSM for their continued service through challenging times. As 2025 ends, we wish everyone hope and strength, and look forward to a 2026 where St. Maarten’s leaders rise to meet their obligations and restore safety and trust for all.
