~KPSM Arrests and Extradites Suspect in Aron Jacobs Drive Fatal Shooting, International Collaboration Ensures Justice Across Borders~.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) has announced the arrest and extradition of a suspect linked to the fatal shooting that occurred on Aron Jacobs Drive in Cay Bay on January 26, 2025.
At approximately 8:00 AM on the day of the incident, Police Dispatch received multiple reports of a shooting in the area. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered a young male victim (Denzil Skeete) who had tragically succumbed to gunshot wounds.
Through a thorough investigation, detectives identified J.J. as a person of interest in the case. The suspect fled to the French side of the island, where authorities later apprehended him.
An extradition request was promptly issued to return the suspect to Dutch Sint Maarten to face trial. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the French Judicial System, INTERPOL, and the St. Kitts and Nevis Royal Police Force, the suspect was successfully extradited to Sint Maarten on January 20, 2026.
KPSM extends its heartfelt gratitude to all international partners who contributed to this operation. This case highlights the growing collaboration between KPSM and INTERPOL, as well as the importance of regional and global partnerships in ensuring that justice is not hindered by borders.
The investigation into this case remains active.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Member of Parliament Ardwell Irion has formally addressed the Minister of Finance, Marinka Gumbs, and the Minister of Justice, Nathalie Tackling, regarding a critical fiscal irregularity affecting government employees. In a letter sent on January 19, 2026, MP Irion requested the immediate correction of payroll errors that have left many workers taxed at an incorrect, elevated rate for up to two years.
"Based on complaints that came to me from concerned civil servants, the majority of whom are from the Ministry of Justice, it is clear that this administrative error is having a severe financial impact on their lives," MP Irion stated.
The issue stems from the handling of one-time lump sum payouts, for example, if someone receives a 100,000 guilders payout. While MP Irion acknowledges that such "Bijzondere Beloningen" (Special Remuneration) may trigger the top marginal tax rate of 47.5% for that specific transaction, he flagged the subsequent taxation of regular monthly salaries as "legally flawed."

Employees report that following this payout, the wage tax on their regular monthly salary was increased to 47.5% and has remained at this elevated rate for up to two years. When inquiring with the Wages and Salaries Department, they are told "it is being looked into," yet no fix has been implemented.
MP Irion, a former Minister of Finance, explained that the government’s payroll system appears to be calculating current taxes based on an inflated "Fiscaal Jaarloon" (Fiscal Annual Wage) from the previous year, a figure skewed by the one-time payout. He argues this is a direct misapplication of the ordinance, as regular monthly salaries must be taxed according to the "Periodic Wage Tax Tables" (Tijdvaktabellen), which are designed to reflect actual periodic income earned in a specific month, unrelated to past exceptional events.

"By locking these civil servants into the 47.5% bracket for their regular salary, the government is effectively over-withholding taxes and reducing their disposable income without legal justification," the MP noted.
In his correspondence, MP Irion issued two primary requests to the Ministers, specifically asking them to instruct the Wages and Salaries Department to revert all affected employees to their proper income tax brackets immediately based on their actual current earnings. Furthermore, he requested that they calculate the excess wage tax withheld during this period and issue reimbursements to these employees within a reasonable timeline.

Additionally, MP Irion commended the Government for successfully finding a mechanism to pay the recent Christmas bonus completely tax-free. He has challenged the Ministers to disclose the legal basis for this exemption and proposes applying the same methodology to the lump-sum payouts for Justice workers to ensure equal treatment.
The letter has been copied to relevant union leaders, including WICSU/PSU, NAPB, and ABVO, signaling a unified push for a speedy resolution.

Click here for the letter sent to the Minister of Finance.

PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten is set to experience a significant boost to its cultural and economic sectors with the return of the Soka Rumble competition and the announcement of a high-level Strategic Economic Stakeholders Consultation Workshop. Both initiatives, highlighted in a recent press briefing by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, signal a commitment to empowering local talent and collaboratively planning the nation's future.

After a six-year break, Soka Rumble is back, providing a vital platform for the island's artists. Now managed by a non-profit organization to ensure fairness and transparency, the competition aims to propel local music onto the global stage under the banner "St. Martin Soka to the World." Minister Heyliger-Marten described the event as more than just a competition, calling it "a launchpad for your music, your voice and your future."

The registration deadline for artists has been extended, offering more opportunities to participate. To be eligible, artists must be residents of St. Martin, be 18 years or older, and submit original tracks that have been professionally mixed and mastered for the 2026 Carnival season. Interested artists can register by contacting the organizing team via WhatsApp at 526-SOKA (526-7622) or through the official Soka Rumble Facebook page.

In parallel with efforts to steer the island's economic future, the Ministry of TEATT will host the Strategic Economic Stakeholders Consultation Workshop from February 2nd to the 6th. The five-day, invitation-only event, titled "Addressing St. Martin's Crossroads and Charting a New Way Forward," will take place at the Belair Community Center.

The workshop is designed to tackle complex, interconnected challenges through inclusive and cross-sectoral dialogue. Each day will focus on a specific theme, including tourism development, safety and security, the blue economy (maritime and yachting), and the orange economy (arts, culture, and festivals). The goal is to move from discussion to decisive action, creating a Strategic Economic Development Plan with concrete, actionable steps.

"This process is about real input, real ownership, and shared responsibility for the way forward," stated Minister Heyliger-Marten, emphasizing a shift from talk to action. "This is what governing forward by design looks like, not reacting to crisis, but deliberately planning the future of St. Martin together."

The workshop will bring together representatives from the private sector, labor unions, government-owned entities, independent bodies, and various ministries. While the event is by invitation, experts in the relevant fields who wish to contribute are encouraged to contact Secretary-General Miguel de Wever at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Head of the ETT department, Shervin Frederick, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Justice, Mr. Tackling, and the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Mr. Richinel S.J. Brug, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to ensure that persons placed under involuntary admission at the Mental Health Foundation receive the legal support and representation they deserve.

This initiative stems in part from a motion passed in Parliament, brought forward by Member of Parliament Sjamira Roseburg, which called for strengthened legal safeguards and access to legal assistance for individuals subjected to involuntary mental health admission.

The signing of this MOU addresses a gap in the current legal framework. Under existing legislation, individuals who are involuntarily admitted do not have a clearly established mechanism guaranteeing access to independent legal support. The MOU provides an interim solution to safeguard the rights of these individuals while broader legislative reforms are being pursued.

Through this agreement, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor formalize their cooperation to ensure that affected individuals are informed of their rights and have access to appropriate legal assistance throughout the involuntary admission process.

Minister Tackling emphasized that access to legal protection is a fundamental right, especially for individuals in vulnerable situations. Minister Brug underscored that involuntary admission is a serious measure that is applied only in situations of acute mental-health crisis. In such circumstances, it is essential that care interventions are accompanied by clear legal safeguards.

This MOU ensures that individuals are informed of their rights and have access to legal support, reinforcing a balanced and responsible approach to crisis mental-health care. Both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening mental health care and legal protections in Sint Maarten, noting that this MOU represents an important step toward a more humane and rights-based approach. Work will continue to modernize the legislation governing involuntary admissions.