SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) wishes to inform the general public that, with the reopening of schools on Monday, January 6, 2025, significant traffic congestion is anticipated, particularly in and around the Cul-de-Sac Basin and other key areas.

All road users are urged to exercise patience, caution, and courtesy during this period to ensure the safety and efficiency of traffic flow.

Operators of large school buses are kindly requested to avoid, as much as possible, the roads through Saunders and Betty Estate.

The narrow and sharp turns at intersections such as Gladiola Road, Lily Road, Flamboyant Road, Hibiscus Road, and Oleander Road in Saunders have historically caused challenges, particularly during peak hours. Avoiding these routes will greatly assist in reducing congestion and ensuring a smoother commute for all.

In addition, road users are advised to anticipate heavier-than-usual traffic in the St. Peters and South Reward areas due to the increased movement of students, parents, and school personnel. These areas are likely to experience significant delays, particularly during the early morning hours.

The KPSM encourages all road users to observe the following best practices to ease traffic flow:

• Leave home earlier than usual to account for potential delays.
• Pay close attention to school zones, pedestrian crossings, and students boarding or disembarking buses.
• Yield to other drivers where appropriate, and avoid aggressive driving behaviors.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Good day to my people of St. Maarten, this great nation of ours. Happy New Year to you and our visitors!

The clock has struck midnight, and we have officially welcomed 2025. I greet you with warmth and gratitude as we embark on this new journey together, full of hope and determination. Let this moment mark the start of a year filled with opportunities, progress, and the deepening of our shared bond as a country and community.

As we leave 2024 behind, we carry with us the lessons, the challenges, and the triumphs that shaped us over that 12-month period. Last year, we demonstrated resilience in the face of obstacles and celebrated milestones that will leave a lasting legacy.

From the reopening of Princess Juliana International Airport, bringing back stability to the electrical grid of the country, to hosting international events that placed St. Maarten in the global spotlight, we proved once again that our small island nation has a big voice and an even bigger heart.

But what truly stands out to me is the strength of our people. It is the quiet heroism of parents working tirelessly to provide for their families, the dedication of our teachers shaping young minds, and the compassion of neighbors looking out for one another. These everyday acts of love and care are the foundation of who we are as a country.

As we begin this new year, I urge us all to hold onto three guiding principles:

1. Cherish our island home—Let us protect its beauty, nurture its resources, and prepare it for the future. Every effort we make today will ensure our children inherit a thriving St. Maarten nation.

2. Strengthen our community—Our greatest asset is our people. Let us uplift one another, celebrate our diversity, and ensure that no one is left behind. Together, we are stronger.

3. Build our country with pride—Whether through innovation, service, or simply doing the best we can in our daily lives, every contribution matters. This country belongs to all of us, and it is up to each of us to create a legacy of hope and opportunity.

Your government is committed to working tirelessly in 2025 and beyond to address the issues that matter most—creating jobs, improving education and healthcare, building climate resilience, and ensuring that every St. Maartener can share in the benefits of progress. We will continue to raise our voice internationally, advocating for the support and recognition that our country deserves.

But let me be clear: the strength of this country is not just found in government initiatives. It is found in the hearts of its people—you! Each one of you has a role to play in making St. Maarten a place where we not only live but thrive.

As we embrace this new year, let us do so with a renewed sense of purpose and unity. Let us dream big, act boldly, and love deeply. Together, we can overcome any challenge and seize every opportunity that lies ahead.

To every family, every child, and every elder, I say this: St. Maarten is a place of hope and possibility because of you. Let us make 2025 a year we can all be proud of, because it is about you!

May this year bring you and your loved ones good health, happiness, and success. May it bring our beloved country prosperity, peace, and progress. And may God bless each and every one of you, and may God bless St. Maarten.

Happy New Year, my cherished people!

Dr. Luc Mercelina

Prime Minister of St. Maarten

Audio File: https://we.tl/t-sJ8B5Ktp4b

SINT MAARTEN (DUTCH QUARTER) - The testing of the new sewage infrastructure in Dutch Quarter was successfully conducted today, representing a major step forward in improving the area's sewage infrastructure.

Teams from the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI), and Windward Roads Infrastructure were present to oversee the operation.

The new Pump Pits are specifically designed to collect all sewage from the Lower Princess Quarter district and pump it directly to the sewage treatment plant. This vital infrastructure upgrade aims to improve sanitation, reduce environmental risks, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents.

With the Pump Pits now fully tested, the community can look forward to improved sewage management. A formal handover ceremony is planned for January 2025, symbolizing the completion of this essential project and the start of its full integration into the community's services.

The Ministry of VROMI commends all partners and contractors involved in bringing this project to fruition and thanks the Dutch Quarter residents for their patience and cooperation during the development phase.

Further details about the handover ceremony will be announced soon.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Three suspects stood trial today (Ed. Wednesday, December 18, 2024) one of them a former parliamentarian, the Prosecution Service said in a press release on Wednesday.

They are accused of vote buying and thereby undermining Sint Maarten's democratic rule of law. The Public Prosecutor’s Office in its argumentation emphasized that the buying and selling of votes shows not only a lack of integrity, but also a deep contempt for the democratic values that we as a community must protect.

Vulnerable democracy

Sint Maarten has a vulnerable democratic system. With only 15 seats in parliament and an electoral system in which a limited number of votes is sufficient to obtain a parliamentary position, the impact of voter fraud is high.

The Public Prosecutor's Office underscored that such acts damage citizens' confidence in the fairness of elections, and seriously harm the country.

Demands

The Public Prosecutor's Office has demanded stiff sentences against the defendants, including an 18-month unconditional prison sentence for the former parliamentarian. In addition, the Public Prosecutor's Office demanded that this person should be banned from holding any civil servant offices, and from the right to be elected for the maximum permitted period of 6.5 years.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office has also announced an asset forfeiture order for the former parliamentarian. The Public Prosecutor's Office emphasizes the crucial importance of honest and committed parliamentarians, especially on a small island like Sint Maarten.

With these severe sentencing demands, the Public Prosecutor's Office aims to deter the defendants, as well as others. In doing so, the Public Prosecutor's Office seeks to reinforce the norm that buying and selling votes is not permissible.

The Court in First Instance will rule on the case on January 8, 2025.