SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) has doubled its efforts to address the critical issues of illegal firearm possession and drug-related offenses within the community. In the past week, targeted operations were conducted by officers from the Uniform Division in collaboration with the Detective Department in the Philipsburg, Cole Bay, and Simpson Bay areas.

These enforcement actions resulted in the apprehension of several individuals found in possession of illegal firearms and narcotics. Notably, two firearms were confiscated during the operations. Those detained are currently in custody, with investigations ongoing to ensure accountability and adherence to the law.

KPSM has announced that these operations will continue and will be conducted in close collaboration with French law enforcement counterparts. This joint effort underscores the commitment of both jurisdictions to uphold public safety and combat cross-border criminal activity effectively.

In addition to addressing criminal activity, KPSM is raising urgent concerns regarding road safety. The Traffic Department reports an alarming number of serious accidents within the first three weeks of 2025. Tragically, these incidents have already resulted in the loss of two lives, alongside numerous cases of severe injuries and significant property damage.

The Sint Maarten Police Force appeals to all drivers to exercise vigilance and adopt responsible driving practices to mitigate the risk of accidents. Ensuring road safety remains a shared responsibility among all road users.

KPSM remains steadfast in its mission to protect and serve the community through proactive enforcement, strategic collaboration, and public engagement. Citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious activities or provide information that may assist law enforcement in maintaining safety and security across the island.

Confiscated narcotics. 

KPSM officers attending to illegal parking in Philipsburg. 

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Teen Times donated a box filled with school supplies to teacher Keisha Lacroes of the Martin Luther King Jr. High school over the weekend.

The group collected the school items during the Toy and School Supplies Drive in December. This year Teen Times chose to look for an educator in a public school to donate the items to. Teacher Lacroes was chosen.

She expressed her thanks to Teen Times and encouraged them to keep up the good work they do in the community. She told them that she follows them on social media and admires all of their efforts.

Teen Times donated the toys and other items collected to the Leaders for Change organization CIFSEF to distribute island wide to less fortunate children.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Sint-Maarten Police Force (KPSM) is investigating a traffic accident involving a motorcycle and a coaster bus that occurred on Sunday morning, January 12, 2025.

The rider of a motorcycle, license plate MF 78, was traveling along W.J.A. Nisbeth Road in the direction of the Salt Pickers Roundabout. Meanwhile, the driver of a coaster bus, license plate G 78, was exiting a parking lot near the Police Station.

The accident occurred when the driver of the coaster bus made a left turn onto the main road without yielding the right of way to the motorcycle traveling on the priority road. This resulted in a collision between the front of the motorcycle MF 78 and the left side of the coaster bus G 78.

The rider of the motorcycle sustained injuries from the collision and was treated on the scene by ambulance personnel before being transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further medical care. The extent of the injuries is currently unknown.

Both vehicles had been moved prior to the arrival of law enforcement. The Traffic Department is continuing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

SINT MAARTEN (HARBOUR VIEW) - On Friday January 10, 2025, His Excellency Governor Ajamu G. Baly held the annual New Year Reception at the Cabinet of the Governor. During the event the Governor delivered his New Year’s address followed by a toast.

The New Year’s reception of the Governor is an annual event where the Governor hosts a cross-section of the Sint Maarten community.

SPEECH

Honorable President of Parliament; Honorable Prime Minister; Honorable President of the Collectivity of Saint Martin; Honorable Members of Parliament; Members of the High Councils of State; Honorable members of the Council of Ministers; Vice-President of the Joint Court of Justice; Commander of the Marines detachment on Sint. Maarten; Representative of the Dutch Government; Distinguished guests ladies and gentlemen; Good evening.

On behalf of my wife Janique and I, Happy New Year and thank you for being here with us this evening. We really appreciate it. As we embark on this journey together through this new year 2025 and in my service to you, the people of St. Maarten as Governor of this great island paradise we all call home, I would like to take a moment to briefly as most do at this time of year, reflect on the past year and subsequently focus on the road ahead, the future.

The past year has been quite a unique one to say the least. A few noteworthy mentions in this regard are:

• The country experiencing two elections in one year in a span of just over 7 months;
• The re-opening of our airport by Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix, more than 7 years after damage incurred by hurricanes Irma and Maria; and
• An energy crisis that had the citizens, businesses and tourists alike frustrated and at their wits end trying to figure out how to cope and manage the situation.

Shifting now to the road ahead, the future.

In planning for this new year and the future in general we take stock of where we are, we look to the past to see where we came from and we then respond to our current situation with detailed planning of where we want to be, our goals and we plan accordingly taking into account what we will need to get us there and the steps we need to take to achieve these goals. So where are we St. Maarten?

In 2025 we will celebrate 15 years of our autonomous status within the Kingdom. What has this brought us? What were our goals and aspirations and what are they now? What progress have we made and where do we go from here? These are some of the questions we should ask ourselves and seek the answers to. In doing so it is my firm belief that it is imperative that one of the areas we lay emphasis on is our youth.

Like generations in the past have done for us, we must realise that in order for our future to be bright, we have to set our children on the right path today. The seed of greatness is planted way before the tree of greatness can bloom and stands firm as a pillar within the community.

We are all connected, the lives of our youth are very much dependant on the decisions and actions taken by us today and our future is dependent on them. They after all are St. Maarten’s future!

If you want to see the state of St. Maarten in 25-30 years from now. Take a look at the state of the youth today. How does it look? Well ask our Chief of Police, ask our schools, ask our head of the Court of Guardian, the ngo's, npo's and the like about the work they carry out within civil society and what they encounter there, or ask the youth themselves.

And let me be clear in stating that I am not implying that it is all bad, I am simply aiming for all of us to come to the conscious realization that if we want a better tomorrow, a better future we have to plan for it today we have to better the lives of our children today. Be an active contributor to the cultivation of their dreams and aspirations, a contributor to their positive development, a beacon of hope and provider of somewhere they can be comfortable and have that safe space and feel the warm embrace of this their community, their home, their island paradise, their village.

I am not just talking about your children I am talking about all the children of this country, because when we neglect one child, we have to realize we are then neglecting one aspect of our future, because we are all connected in one way or the other.

If it affects 1 of us within the community, it affects us all. If not today one way or another tomorrow. So what type of environment are we creating for our youth, what are we exposing them to, at what vulnerable age.

Are we taking care of our youth now, so that St. Maarten can exist and thrive way into the future. Are we preparing our leaders of tomorrow?

Are we preparing them to be leaders of this country? Or are we with the decisions we are taking now, and the dangers we are exposing them to setting them up to be but followers so others can come in and lead them in their own land? We have to prepare, cultivate and expose our youth in ways and to an atmosphere that is conducive to them and therefore St. Maarten being fit in mind, body and spirit to take on any and all challenges that lie ahead.

Just as those before us planned for the future development of our country so too do we have to plan for the further and future development of our country.

The youth are dependent on and affected by first, the family environment, the school environment and the community environment. So we all have to be their support system. We have to make sure this system/the system does not fail them. Instil in them morals, values and the value of things, the value of lives including their own.

Ensure that this country, this village is a place where they can find peace, unity strength, inspiration and most important a beautiful life. By providing them with fertile ground for their dreams to sprout, grow wings and fly into the very future they and all of us dream about for 2025 and beyond. In doing so we take care of the future of St. Maarten.

(In closing) People of SXM as your Governor I would like to encourage all of us, to be conscious of the roles every single one of us play in this interconnected island paradise we all call home, whether for now or for ever and know what affects our neighbour, our elderly, our rich, our poor, our unemployed, our economy, our mental health, and our mental health patients, the sick, the shut-in, our environment and lastly our youth, affects us all as well.

It may not do so for all of us in the same degree or at the same time, but it will do so in some shape, form or fashion someday. So let us all in this New Year and beyond, be cognizant of this fact in the roles we all play and decisions we make, no matter how minute or grand those roles and decisions may be or seem and let us all act, at all times with this interconnectedness or general well-being in mind for the greater good of SXM and all of her people.

Happy New Year to you and your families. God bless each and everyone and God bless our great and prosperous nation St. Maarten!