SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Honorable Caretaker Minister of Justice, Lyndon Lewis, wishes to update the public on the ongoing investigation into Mr. Philip Kennedy Clark's disappearance.

On Tuesday, August 20th, 2024, at approximately 11:00 AM, officers from the Sint Maarten Police Force responded to reports from concerned residents near Freeport Drive in the Middle Region. Residents reported a foul odor emanating from a wooded area, prompting immediate action by local authorities.

In coordination with the Marine Unit, officers meticulously searched the location. During this search, the remains of an elderly male were discovered in an advanced state of decomposition. Preliminary identification strongly indicates that the remains are those of Mr. Philip Kennedy Clark, who was reported missing on August 12th, 2024.

Forensic teams were swiftly dispatched to the scene to undertake an initial investigation. At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest foul play. The remains have been respectfully recovered and transported to a local funeral home for further examination and identification.

The Honorable Minister of Justice, Lyndon Lewis, expresses his deepest sympathies to Mr. Clark's family and friends during this tragic time. The Sint Maarten Police Force and the Ministry of Justice are committed to supporting the family as they navigate this difficult period.

Minister Lewis also extends his gratitude to the residents who promptly reported their concerns and to the officers and forensic personnel who responded with professionalism and care.

Further updates will be provided as the investigation continues. The Ministry of Justice remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all Sint Maarten citizens and residents.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - In a scathing rebuke, Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Thursday accused the former National Alliance government and the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (CBCS) of committing financial genocide by burdening the people of St. Maarten with the disastrous Ennia bailout agreement. Emmanuel's remarks followed revelations made by Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs, exposing hidden terms that would further drain St. Maarten’s financial future for decades.

"The noose was there, waiting for us—and we wouldn’t have even recognized it had Minister Gumbs not revealed the details of this horrendous agreement," Emmanuel declared. He praised Minister Gumbs for her transparency in unearthing the full scope of the agreement.

Minister Gumbs, during her update on the Ennia saga, expressed surprise by discovering the extent of the financial obligations St. Maarten was being shackled with—particularly the inclusion of BES and Suriname policyholders in the bailout package. “This is exactly why I am taking my time to understand this agreement,” she said, highlighting how the deal, signed by the former government, is not in the best interests of St. Maarten.

Emmanuel, already a fierce critic of the agreement, reacted with outrage to these new revelations, particularly the fact that St. Maarten is expected to cover not just its own policyholders but also millions for policyholders in BES and Suriname. "This is nothing short of financial betrayal. How can anyone in good conscience sign such a deal that forces St. Maarten to foot the bill for BES and Suriname? This amounts to over Naf 5 million, yet no one can explain who these policyholders are or why we are responsible for them," Emmanuel fumed.

He did not mince words, calling the National Alliance government “liars” and condemning the Central Bank as complicit in this travesty. “This is financial genocide. The Central Bank, in collusion with a puppet minister, signed away the future of our people for the next 30 to 50 years. This was not just reckless—it was malicious,” Emmanuel said, adding that at least two generations of St. Maarteners will be footing the bill.

Emmanuel reserved particular ire for the Central Bank, under whose watch the Ennia scandal unfolded, robbing the people of St. Maarten and Curaçao. Now, those same citizens are expected to bear the burden of a bailout that was engineered behind closed doors and without full disclosure. “The Central Bank let Husang Ansary rip off our people, and now we’re expected to clean up the mess they allowed to happen. This agreement isn’t just bad, it’s nasty, it’s wrong, and it’s completely unacceptable,” Emmanuel declared.

The MP also highlighted the hypocrisy of the Central Bank, which for years failed to pay St. Maarten its due dividends. “Suddenly, when Ennia collapses under their watch, they magically find Naf 4 million a year to ‘pay’ us. But here’s the catch—they keep three-quarters of it to fund their bailout and use our COVID loans as leverage to blackmail us into signing. And a typically weak National Alliance government fell right into their trap,” Emmanuel blasted.

He urged Minister Gumbs to continue her due diligence and expose the full extent of this scandal, cautioning Parliament not to approve what he labeled a "death warrant" for St. Maarten. “We need to hear better alternatives before we sign our island's future away. This deal, as it stands, is unacceptable and will only further enrich the Central Bank at the expense of the people of St. Maarten,” Emmanuel stated.

MP Emmanuel’s relentless opposition to the Central Bank has now been vindicated. For years, he has been a consistent voice warning against the dangers of St. Maarten's financial entanglement with Curaçao.

“The proof is undeniable. The Central Bank has no regard for St. Maarten and has consistently acted against our interests. This disaster only adds credence to my long-standing call for secession from the monetary union. St. Maarten can no longer afford to be chained to an institution that sees us as nothing more than a financial backstop for their own failures. It’s time to break free and establish our own Central Bank that serves our people first and foremost,” Emmanuel concluded.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Party for Progress (PFP) member of Parliament (MP) Melissa Gumbs submitted draft legislation to the Honorable Minister of Finance, Marinka Gumbs, on Thursday, 15 August 2024. The packet of legislation contains draft amendments to the National Ordinance on Accountability and a draft national decree containing general measures (LB-HAM) that is related to the organization and execution of government tenders.

“This is a milestone for PFP, as this LB-HAM has been something we have questioned the previous government about,” Gumbs said, “and something we’ve championed within this current government.”

The Accountability Ordinance contains some regulations for the spending of public funds but has also required the establishment of a national decree to properly regulate the issuance and execution of tenders. To date, no government has taken the proactive step of addressing this requirement and it has led to confusion and a lack of transparency of tendering. Most recently this resulted in the 2022 systemic investigation report into the tendering and awarding process for the garbage and waste collection contracts. The report implied that there were unclear practices applied and that there was the possibility of nepotism and corruption involved with this process; as a result, PFP then brought a motion of no confidence against then-Minister of VROMI Jurendy Doran.

“We have said, since the party first started, that the first step towards building a better St. Maarten is regulating the way public money is managed and spent,” Gumbs said. “For any developing nation, that is the most important step. When money goes missing, is not properly accounted for or is lost due to delayed communications, it makes an impact on how we can develop. Tendering is one of the primary ways government spends money, for waste management, trenching and road cleaning, marketing, maintenance, you name it. So, it would make sense to regulate this properly.”

Gumbs stated that after further review during the research and planning stages for this legislation, it became apparent that some amendments to the Accountability Ordinance were needed. The amendments proposed by Gumbs and PFP are to modernize the ordinance and make it possible for the Government to execute the LB-HAM, once it is established, which Gumbs explained in her cover letter. Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs was also present when she presented the packet to the Minister of Finance.

“One of the ministries that will benefit most from this legislation is VROMI,” MP Gumbs explained. “As such, I found it important to have Minister Patrice Gumbs briefed on the contents. The draft decree, for example, focuses heavily on professionalizing the tendering process and including the support of local companies as frequently as possible.”

Gumbs noted in her cover letter that she was submitting the legislation packet to the Ministry of Finance to allow for the legislative trajectory to begin and for it to receive proper attention via Government’s legal resources. It will also ensure that the packet’s journey continues, regardless of mitigating factors.

“At the start of this governing term, despite how brief it has been,” Gumbs said, “Minister Marinka Gumbs inquired if there was any significant item in Finance that the PFP faction, as coalition partner, were interested in seeing come to fruition. Our response was exactly this: the LB-HAM to regulate tendering, as one of our championed points and one of our manifesto dealbreakers. I extend my deepest appreciation to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of VROMI for their willingness to receive this packet and for taking this first step on the way towards better oversight and control of public spending for St. Maarten.”

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - On Monday August 12, 2024, the Honourable Minister of Justice & acting Minister of Education, Culture, Youths, & Sports Mr. Lyndon Lewis swore in five officers from Aruba who have arrived in St. Maarten to bolster the local law enforcement team.

These officers have been brought in to strengthen personnel capacity, particularly considering the upcoming elections and to help address the recent surge in crime on the island.

The swearing-in ceremony marks a significant step in enhancing public safety and ensuring a secure environment during this critical period. Minister Lewis expressed his gratitude to the officers for their commitment and readiness to serve, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the islands in maintaining law and order.

The newly sworn-in officers will begin their duties immediately, working closely with local law enforcement to support ongoing efforts to combat crime and ensure a peaceful election process. Minister Lewis reaffirmed his dedication to safeguarding the community and stressed the critical role that these additional resources will play in achieving this goal.

This initiative reflects the continued commitment of the Ministry of Justice to protect the people of St. Maarten and maintain stability in the region.