~ Shooting Victim succumbed at the scene.~ 

ST. PETERS:---  An officer-involved shooting occurred in the St. Peters area earlier tonight after police responded to reports of an armed individual walking on the roadway.
According to preliminary information from the scene, officers encountered a man who was openly carrying a firearm in his hands while walking down the street. Authorities approached the individual to address the situation.
Reports indicate that upon contact with law enforcement, the man reacted in an unusual manner. This reaction escalated the confrontation, ultimately leading officers to discharge their weapons.
Unconfirmed sources report that the man died at the scene from his injuries. He has been identified by residents of St. Peter's as "Rudy Benjamin".

 Emergency medical services were dispatched, and ambulance personnel attended to the victim; however, there has been no official confirmation on the man's condition.
The involvement of a police officer in the shooting has sparked an internal investigation into the incident. Police have cordoned off the area as investigators process the scene.
Eyewitnesses in the area said police fired approximately six shots at the man, though this information has not been officially confirmed. Police later confirmed that the victim has passed away and that further information will be released when available.
Residents are advised to avoid the area while the investigation continues. Further updates will be provided as official statements become available.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In a historic first for cooperation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Honorable Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Dr. Luc F.E. Mercelina, participated in a virtual introductory meeting on February 10 with Dutch Formateur and prospective Prime Minister Rob Jetten. This meeting was organized on the joint initiative of Sint Maarten, Curacao, and Aruba, and brough together brought together Prime Minister Michiel G. Eman of Aruba, Vice Prime Minister Shalten Hato of Curaçao, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina of Sint Maarten, Formateur and incoming Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten and the new Director-General for Kingdom Relations Barbera Wolfensberger.
The engagement marked the first introductory meeting of its kind involving the Caribbean countries in the formation process of a new Dutch Government, underscoring the importance of early dialogue and partnership within the Kingdom.
Prime Minister Mercelina described the meeting as constructive and forward-looking.
“This historic introductory meeting represents an important step in reinforcing cooperation among the countries of the Kingdom. Meaningful dialogue and mutual understanding are essential to ensuring that the priorities of the Sint Maarten are recognized and addressed,” said Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina.
“Sint Maarten remains committed to working collaboratively on key areas such as economic resilience, sustainability, security, and education with priorities that directly affect the well-being and long-term development of our people.”
Following the meeting, another historic milestone was achieved as the Prime Ministers of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten jointly issued a formal letter—marking the first time the three leaders have collectively addressed a Dutch Formateur in this manner.
In the letter, the three leaders congratulated the Formateur on his appointment and emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and closer collaboration on shared priorities, including security, economic development, education, and sustainability. They also expressed their intention to organize a formal meeting of the four Prime Ministers of the Kingdom during a planned working visit to the Netherlands in the course of March.

Prime Minister Mercelina highlighted the significance of this unified approach.
“For the first time, the three Caribbean Prime Ministers have jointly articulated a vision for the future of cooperation within the Kingdom. This unified approach reflects both the strength of our partnership and our shared responsibility to address the challenges facing our islands,” Prime Minister Mercelina stated.

“We look forward to continued constructive engagement with the Government of the Netherlands and to building practical solutions that deliver tangible benefits for our people.”

The Government of Sint Maarten reaffirms its commitment to strengthening cooperation within the Kingdom and to advancing initiatives that promote sustainable development, economic diversification, and resilience for the people of Sint Maarten and the wider Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on February 13, 2026.

The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Friday at 13.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:
Ontwerplandsverordening houdende de intrekking van enkele landsverordeningen op het terrein van de belastingen, die in onbruik zijn geraakt (Landsverordening belastinghervorming, fase I) (Zittingsjaar 2025-2026-186) (IS/225/2025-2026 dated October 24, 2025)

Draft National Ordinance repealing certain national ordinances in the field of taxation that have fallen into disuse (National Ordinance on Tax Reform, Phase I) (Parliamentary Year 2025-2026-186) (IS/225/2025-2026 dated October 24, 2025)

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 Minister of Finance has officially launched the Transformation Tax Administration (TTA) Program, on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, calling it “a decisive and necessary step toward modernizing our systems, strengthening public trust, and safeguarding Sint Maarten’s financial future.” The program forms part of the Country Packages for Sint Maarten, with the Netherlands represented by TWO (Temporary Work Organization) as a key partner in achieving the reform objectives. The Transformation Tax Administration Program is being funded through the Country Packages framework.

“This transformation is not optional—it is essential,” the Minister stated during the internal launch session held with the full staff of the Tax Administration. “A modern, effective tax administration is the backbone of a financially healthy country. Through this program, we are investing in integrity, efficiency, and service.”

Although officially launched this week, the TTA Program has been underway since 2021. Initial efforts focused on preparatory work, operational stabilization, early improvement initiatives, and the sourcing of a new integrated IT system. In mid-2024, new program management was appointed to strengthen governance and accelerate progress. Since then, the initiative has undergone an intensive planning and structuring phase, including scope clarification, realistic timeline development, strengthened governance arrangements, and the securing of financing. “We have taken the time to build a solid foundation,” the Minister explained. “We now have a clear roadmap, approved direction, secured funding, and strengthened oversight. This gives us the confidence to formally move into full implementation.”

 The official launch was an internal event exclusively for Tax administration employees, underscoring the Government’s commitment to inclusive and transparent reform. During the session, Program Manager Candia Joseph and ICT Project Manager Judith Goudberg presented the detailed structure of the transformation program, outlining both the organizational and ICT components and the expected benefits for daily operations and taxpayer service.

The TTA Program is built around two integrated pillars. The Organizational Transformation focused on strengthening governance, culture, service delivery, workforce capacity, leadership, and operational processes. The ICT Transformation aims to replace the current fragmented IT landscape with a modern, integrated tax system and taxpayer portal, enabling real-time data sharing, streamlined workflows, improved reporting, reduced manual tasks, and enhanced taxpayer service. While progress continues toward full IT replacement, interim improvements—referred to as IST+ initiatives—are being implemented to deliver practical short-term benefits in efficiency and service.

Staff were actively engaged throughout the session, interacting digitally and providing input on key questions related to the transformation. This interactive format allowed employees to share perspectives, raise concerns, ask questions, and contribute ideas in real time.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, Roxanne Howell, also addressed staff, noting that the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC) will support the transformation program by providing specialized tax expertise and regional experience in implementing reform initiatives within tax administrations. She indicated that CARTAC’s first mission will be an assessment visit to determine how best to support the initiative.

The Minister also confirmed that strengthening leadership remains a priority. The recruitment process for a new Head of the Tax Administration is currently ongoing, reflecting the Government’s commitment to stable leadership and clear direction. Additionally, the government is examining options to consolidate the Tax Administration's departments, such as the Inspectorate and the Receiver’s Office, in a single location to improve collaboration and operational efficiency.

Both the Minister and the Secretary General closed the session by encouraging all employees to use the transformation as an opportunity to shape the future of the Tax Administration. “The engagement of our staff is critical,” the Secretary General emphasized. “This is your moment,” the Minister told staff. “Your voice matters in shaping the future of this institution. We want you to engage, to contribute, and to help build a Tax Administration that we can all be proud of.”

“This is about ensuring fair taxation, stronger public finances, and long-term sustainability for Sint Maarten,” the Minister concluded. “We are making a necessary investment in the future of our country.”