PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prosecutor’s Office has formally appealed the full acquittal of Fernando Clark, setting the stage for a retrial before the Joint Court of Justice on March 5.

Clark had been cleared of sexual assault allegations involving two women who separately accused him of misconduct during medical examinations. The judge in the original trial ruled that there was insufficient evidence to convict, citing doubts about aspects of the testimonies and the lack of corroborating witnesses.

Both women had told the court that the alleged assaults occurred in the upstairs examining room after they had been scanned. According to the prosecution, the women — who did not know each other and filed complaints roughly eight months apart — described a similar pattern of behavior. They testified that Clark asked them to stand up after their examinations, requested hugs, and attempted to kiss them.

“They describe almost the same thing, the same modus operandi,” the prosecutor argued during the trial, maintaining that the similarities between the accounts strengthened their credibility.

However, defense attorney Safira Ibrahim successfully challenged that position. She pointed out that one of the women had been examined while two family members were present in the room. Neither family member reported seeing anything inappropriate during the 15-minute examination.

Ibrahim also highlighted parts of the woman’s police interview in which she said she had been under significant stress at the time and was “not in all my senses.”

In his ruling, the judge said that while the testimonies bore similarities, there were also notable differences that prevented them from serving as linking evidence. Among those differences was one woman’s claim that Clark had asked invasive questions about her sexual partners and whether she would consider having a “sugar daddy” — an allegation not made by the other complainant.

The appeal hearing is scheduled for March 5.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on March 2, 2026.

The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday at 14.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance will be in attendance.

The agenda points are:
1. Approval of travel schedule for the 1stSemester of the year 2026 in connection with Committee, General Assembly (Assamblea), Board of Directors (Junta Directiva), and Eurolat meetings of Parlatino (IS/636/2025-2026 dated February 2, 2026)
2. Ontwerplandsverordening houdende regels inzake het toezicht op effectenbemiddelaars en vermogensbeheerders (Landsverordening toezicht effectenbemiddelaars en vermogensbeheerders) (IS/ 065/2023-2024 d.d. 2 oktober 2023) (ZJ 2023-2024-171)
(National Ordinance containing rules on the supervision of securities intermediaries and asset managers (National Ordinance on the Supervision of Securities Intermediaries and Asset Managers) (Parliamentary year 2023-2024-171))

3. Ontwerplandsverordening houdende regels inzake het toezicht op betaaldienstverleners (Ontwerplandsverordening toezicht betaaldienstverleners) (Zittingsjaar 2025-2026-187) (IS/526/2025-2026 dated January 7, 2026)
(National Ordinance containing rules on the supervision of payment service providers (National Ordinance on the Supervision of Payment Service Providers) (Parliamentary Year 2025 2026–187))

4. Ontwerplandsverordening houdende regels inzake het toezicht op virtuele activa dienstverleners (Ontwerplandsverordening toezicht virtuele activa dienstverleners) (Zittingsjaar 2025-2026-188) (IS/527/2025-2026 dated January 7, 2026)
(National Ordinance containing rules on the supervision of virtual asset service providers (National Ordinance on the Supervision of Virtual Asset Service Providers) (Parliamentary Year 2025 2026–188))

5. Ontwerplandsverordening houdende regels inzake oversight door de Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (Ontwerplandsverordening oversight op systemen in het betalings- of effectenverkeer) (Zittingsjaar 2025-2026-189) (IS/528/2025-2026 dated January 7, 2026)
National Ordinance containing rules concerning oversight by the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (National Ordinance on Oversight of Systems in the Payment or Securities Settlement System) (Parliamentary Year 2025 2026–189)

6. Ontwerplandsverordening houdende regels inzake de clearing- en settlementsystemen in de monetaire unie van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (Ontwerplandsverordening toezicht beheerders FMI-systemen) (Zittingsjaar 2025-2026-190) (IS/529/2025-2026 dated January 7, 2026)
(National Ordinance containing rules concerning clearing and settlement systems in the monetary union of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (National Ordinance on the Supervision of Operators of FMI Systems) (Parliamentary Year 2025 2026–190))

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament

PHILIPSBURG:--- The ongoing debate surrounding the chairmanship of the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) has once again centered on the question of “whose turn” it is to propose a candidate. While this discussion has sparked significant public interest, it is crucial to shift focus to the deeper challenges facing our monetary union—challenges that go beyond procedural disputes.

Historical Context

In 2017, Etienne Ys was appointed Chairman of the CBCS, following a recommendation by the Supervisory Board of Directors (SBD). Screening for the position was conducted through Curaçao’s agencies, and his appointment was widely regarded as Curaçao’s candidate under the informal rotational understanding between the two countries.

When Mr. Ys’s term ended in 2021, the SBD, led by Vice-Chair Denis Richardson, recommended his reappointment. However, Mr. Ys withdrew, and the SBD retracted its recommendation. During this period, internal conflicts within the CBCS Board escalated, prompting the Ministers of Finance of Curaçao and Sint Maarten to jointly propose a chairmanship candidate, bypassing the SBD’s recommendation. This approach was endorsed by the Court, with the expectation that board members would either resign or be dismissed.

In December 2021, the SBD (Supervisory Board of Directors) proposed Denis Richardson for the chairmanship. Both Ministers of Finance agreed to this recommendation, and no disputes arose regarding which country had made the proposal. However, Sint Maarten had not yet amended its National Decree (LBHAM) governing the screening of CBCS officers. While screenings were conducted by each country’s agencies in 2017, the procedural steps for Mr. Richardson’s screening were not completed, despite communication between Sint Maarten’s Finance Minister and the SBD.

Faced with a stalemate, Sint Maarten’s Finance Minister initiated a new nomination process, resulting in the proposal of Jairo Bloem.

Key Takeaways from Documentation

1. The 2017 appointment of Mr. Ys was recommended by the SBD and regarded as Curaçao’s candidate.
2. The attempt to reappoint Mr. Ys was treated as Sint Maarten’s candidate but did not materialize.
3. The SBD later recommended Mr. Richardson as the next candidate, with both Ministers agreeing to the proposal, pending procedural screening, which was never completed.
4. Sint Maarten subsequently initiated a new nomination process.

It is important to note that the so-called “rotation” of the chairmanship is not legally codified. It is a matter of practice and political understanding, not a statutory requirement. Framing the current debate solely as a matter of “whose turn it is” oversimplifies a complex institutional process.

The Bigger Picture

While institutional clarity is essential, the real issue lies in the health and effectiveness of the monetary union. Curaçao and Sint Maarten face significant economic and financial challenges that require coordinated policy, regulatory stability, and strong governance at the CBCS.

Public energy would be better directed toward addressing these pressing priorities:

• Resolving structural bottlenecks within the monetary union;
• Strengthening regulatory oversight and financial sector resilience;
• Ensuring transparency, credibility, and institutional stability within the CBCS;
• Safeguarding the shared currency and protecting economic confidence in both countries.

Conclusion

The stability of our monetary union must transcend individual appointments. While leadership is important, institutional coherence, economic resilience, and public trust are paramount. Now is the time to move beyond procedural disputes and focus on fortifying the foundation of our financial systems.

Philipsburg/Marigot:--- On February 26, the Department of Communication of the Government of Sint Maarten paid a working visit to their French side counterparts of the Collectivité of Saint-Martin, Communication Department, which includes the protocol section.

The working visit was to get a deeper understanding of how the French side Department of Communication functions within the Collectivité, to exchange mutual operational information and ideas, and to continue fostering the working relationship.

In their Marigot offices, the head/director of the French side Department of Communication Nathalie Longato gave a short presentation and shared an overview of the work and responsibilities. After doing so, the two departments made informative exchanges of ideas, policies, and procedures.

Following the discussions, the staff of DCOMM was given a tour of the operational section, where demonstrations of what and how takes place with respect to equipment, photo and video tapings, programs, and further discussions about their graphic designs, internet, social media products and operations.

Head of the Communication Department Maurice Lake said, "Our visit to the communications department of the Collectivité of Saint-Martin was an invaluable exercise in synergy and professional exchange.

“It provided a unique platform to align our operational protocols and compare logistical setups, ensuring that both departments are working toward a unified standard of excellence. Beyond the technical discussions on infrastructure and communication workflows, the meeting allowed us to build the interpersonal rapport necessary for seamless cross-border collaboration.

“We left with a deeper understanding of our shared challenges and a strengthened commitment to streamlining our information-sharing processes for the benefit of all our communities."

Both departments exchanged tokens of appreciation.

DCOMM head has extended an invitation to the French side Communication Department for a visit in the near future.