WILLEMSTAD:---  Insurance provider ENNIA is reflecting positively on 2025, marking its first year of operations as a restructured legal entity under the same trusted brand. According to the company’s management, the restructuring process initiated at the start of 2025 exceeded expectations, achieving and surpassing its recovery goals.

While the final financial results are still pending audit and approval, ENNIA anticipates reporting favorable outcomes in its annual financial statements, scheduled for release in April 2026. The company views 2025 as a pivotal year in its recovery journey, emphasizing efforts to rebuild trust, enhance transparency, and solidify its market position.

Encouraging Progress

CEO Lesley Ann Brodie described the initial results as highly encouraging. She highlighted ENNIA’s ongoing commitment to investing in its workforce, fostering innovation, and strengthening customer relationships. These efforts aim to ensure the company’s sustainable growth in an ever-evolving market landscape.

THE HAGUE / PHILIPSBURG:---  In a decisive step toward concluding a major Caribbean corruption scandal, the Advocate General of the High Court has advised that the convictions of former high-ranking Sint Maarten official Claudius Buncamper and his wife, Maria Buncamper-Molanus, for bribery and forgery should be upheld. This recommendation reinforces earlier court rulings and marks a significant moment for justice and public accountability in the region.

The case, which emerged from the extensive "Ruby" investigation launched in 2018, exposed a sophisticated network of corruption centered on the manipulation of public contracts and the misuse of government funds for personal enrichment. The Advocate General’s conclusion, published on January 13, 2026, systematically dismantled the defense's appeals, paving the way for the Supreme Court's final judgment, expected on March 24.

A Sophisticated Scheme of Bribery and Deceit

At the core of the scandal was the public tender for the management of the Sint Maarten landfill, known locally as the "Dump." Claudius Buncamper, then the Head of Infrastructure Management at the Ministry of VROMI (Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure), abused his authority to ensure a specific company was awarded the lucrative contract.

Court documents reveal that Buncamper and his wife did not merely accept bribes; they orchestrated the entire scheme. They provided insider information and actively helped draft the winning bidder’s tender documents. Digital forensics proved crucial, with metadata from Word files showing Maria Buncamper-Molanus’s user account as the "creator" of key documents.

In exchange for this illegal assistance, the Buncampers demanded substantial kickbacks. These were channeled through seemingly legitimate business dealings. The winning company was coerced into hiring Maria’s administrative services firm at inflated prices and employing their son, who reportedly collected a salary despite rarely showing up for work.

Falsified Invoices and Public Funds

The corruption extended beyond the landfill tender. The "Ruby" investigation also uncovered a long-running fraud where Claudius Buncamper had private expenses paid for by the government. These costs, which included home security systems and personal renovations, were funneled through a third-party contractor managing the island’s sewage treatment plant.

To conceal the fraud, invoices were systematically altered to appear as legitimate expenses related to the sewage plant. These falsified documents were then submitted to the Ministry of VROMI and paid out from a provisional budget post, effectively causing taxpayers to unknowingly fund the Buncampers' private expenditures.

Judicial Outcome and Implications

While the Advocate General advised upholding the convictions, a minor sentence reduction was recommended due to the lengthy duration of the legal proceedings. The original sentences handed down by the Joint Court of Justice were severe:

• Claudius Buncamper: Sentenced to 32 months in prison and a seven-year ban from holding any public office.

• Maria Buncamper-Molanus: Received a 12-month suspended prison sentence and was ordered to perform 210 hours of community service for her role as a co-perpetrator.

The defense's argument that the lower courts had wrongfully reached their convictions was dismissed. The Advocate General found the evidence compelling and the court's reasoning "not incomprehensible," highlighting the strength of the prosecution's case.

This landmark case sends a powerful message about public integrity and the rule of law in the Dutch Caribbean. It demonstrates that even complex, high-level corruption can be unraveled through diligent investigation and the power of digital evidence. The convictions stand as a critical precedent, reinforcing that public officials who betray their trust for personal gain will be held accountable.

Click the links below for the advice.

https://deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id=ECLI:NL:PHR:2026:59;

https://deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id=ECLI:NL:PHR:2026:58

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- It’s a new year – 2026 - and many set out their goals, which also include achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

As we step into the second half of the decade, the landscape of personal wellness is shifting from restrictive dieting toward long-term, sustainable health integration.

Every year the Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (Ministry VSA), as part of its annual health observances calendar, highlights and creates awareness about health matters.

For the month of January, CPS is profiling healthy weight and nutrition.
CPS would like to offer some tips designed to help individuals set realistic goals that prioritize both physical vitality and mental well-being.

The beginning of a new year often brings a surge of ambitious health resolutions that can be difficult to maintain. However, 2026 is being hailed as the year of "Functional Longevity."

Experts suggest that the most successful individuals are those who move away from "all-or-nothing" mentalities and instead focus on incremental habits.

The key nutrition and wellness tips for 2026 are: prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods where you focus on "adding" rather than "subtracting." Incorporate a wider variety of leafy greens, ancient grains, and lean proteins to support gut health and steady energy levels.

Hydration with intention. Beyond simple water intake, focus on maintaining electrolyte balance, especially for those with active lifestyles.

Mindful movement. Instead of grueling, unsustainable workout schedules, aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity per week that you actually enjoy, such as brisk walking, swimming, or functional strength training.

Rest as a pillar of health. Sleep hygiene is now recognized as being just as critical as diet. Aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep to regulate metabolic hormones and cognitive function.

The role of professional guidance. While self-motivation is vital, CPS emphasizes that the foundation of any health journey must be built on professional medical advice. Individual health profiles vary wildly based on genetics, age, and pre-existing conditions.

The most important health goal anyone can set this year is to schedule an annual physical. Do It Yourself health can only take you so far.

Regular screenings and consultations with a primary care physician are essential to catch underlying issues early and to ensure that your nutritional or fitness changes are safe for your specific body chemistry.

CPS recommends that all individuals maintain a "Health Log" to share with their physicians, noting any significant changes in energy, mood, or physical performance.

Contact your family physician or CPS at 914 for more information on maintaining a healthy weight and the nutritional benefits for 2026.

On behalf of the Board and staff of the Sint Maarten Library

The passing of Marc Marshall invites us to pause — not only in sorrow, but in reflection.
Marc served as General Manager of the Sint Maarten Library for a period of two years. His time with the institution unfolded during a demanding chapter, marked by transition, pressure, and complex challenges. It was not an easy season, nor a simple role to carry.
Yet even in turbulence, Marc showed up.
He accepted responsibility at a time when the Library was navigating significant change, and he did so with commitment and resolve. He understood the weight of the position and the expectations that came with it. While circumstances were often difficult, Marc remained present, engaged, and willing to shoulder the task entrusted to him.
Beyond roles and outcomes, we remember Marc foremost as a person. A man who cared deeply, who tried, who bore responsibility in the public eye while carrying his own private battles. Those who worked with him knew his humanity — his moments of warmth, his sincerity, and his desire to do right by the institution he served.
As a Board, we believe it is important to honor Marc not by overstating his tenure, but by acknowledging his willingness to serve during a challenging period and his contribution to the ongoing story of the Sint Maarten Library. Institutions are shaped not only by their successes, but also by those who step forward when the road is uncertain.
Marc Marshall was one of those people.
We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and all who knew him beyond his professional title. May he be remembered with compassion, fairness, and grace —and may his memory remind us of the human beings behind the positions we hold.
To honor and acknowledge his life, the Sint Maarten Library will host a Celebration of Life tribute on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., in Room 202 at the University of St. Martin (USM). The tribute will include a short program reflecting on Mr. Marshall’s life, leadership, and contributions to the Sint Maarten Library and the wider community.
In observance of this tribute, the Cay Hill and Belvedere Library locations will be closed on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The Main Library will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All locations will reopen on Friday, January 23, 2026, for regular service.
Board of Directors and staff of
Sint Maarten Library