PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) commends the organizers and attendees of the "Buss di Chains" / Cooler Fete event held on Saturday, July 5^th, 2025, for what was a well-organized and heavily attended event.

KPSM is pleased to report that the event was incident-free and proceeded in an orderly and safe manner. The overall cooperation between attendees, security personnel, and law enforcement contributed to the successful execution of the event.

During the evening, one individual, bearing the initials I.A.C., was arrested for possession of approximately 15 grams of marijuana. The suspect was brought to the Philipsburg Police Station, where they were issued a fine in accordance with local regulations and subsequently released.

KPSM continues to encourage the public to enjoy events responsibly and in compliance with the laws of Sint Maarten.

KPSM Press Release.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, July 5th, 2025, at approximately 22:20, police responded to a report of an assault at the Rouge ET Noir Casino. Upon arrival, officers found a male victim with deep lacerations to his face. The victim was immediately transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for medical treatment.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the victim was assaulted by a suspect known to him. The motive behind the assault is currently under investigation.

KPSM detectives are actively gathering evidence to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident. The suspect's identity is known to the police, and efforts are underway to locate and apprehend him.

The Sint Maarten Police Force strongly urges anyone who may have witnessed this incident or possesses any information to not hesitate to get in touch with 911, or provide information anonymously via the tip line 9300. Your cooperation is crucial in maintaining a safe community.

KPSM Press Release.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, July 5th, 2025, at approximately 14:00, police responded to a report of a domestic dispute at a residence in Union Farm. Initial assessment revealed that a female victim had been violently assaulted by her boyfriend. The victim sustained injuries to her head, consistent with being struck by a hammer, and a bite wound to her finger.

Upon arrival, officers learned that the suspect, identified as O.T. (41), had fled the scene. KPSM patrol immediately launched a search, focusing in the area where the suspect is known to reside.

Later, during the search, police officers observed a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s in the vicinity of Guana Bay, heading towards Sucker Garden. Officers swiftly intercepted the car and confirmed the suspect's identity, successfully apprehending him with the initials O.T. without incident.

The suspect was transported to the Philipsburg Police Station, where he is currently being held for questioning as the investigation continues. The victim received medical attention for her injuries.

The Sint Maarten Police Force emphasizes its commitment to combating domestic violence and urges anyone experiencing or witnessing such incidents to report them immediately.

KPSM Press Release.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On July 2nd, the Algemeen Pensioenfonds Sint Maarten (APS) presented its 2024 annual report with a clean (unqualified) opinion to the Minister of Finance. Mr. Emilio Kalmera (Board member) and Mr. Oscar Williams (Managing Director) met with the Minister to discuss the financial growth and strategic developments of the pension fund throughout the year. The presentation highlighted APS’s financial status, current developments within APS and the commitment to its participants.

Mr. Williams stated, “We are pleased to announce that in the month of July, the pensions will be increased retroactively from 1 January 2025 with 3,61%, which is based on the inflation over 2024. This year was a positive year for APS, whereby we realized an increase in the value of our investment portfolio due to favorable developments in the international markets. In addition, the actuarial interest rate was increased which resulted in a decrease in the pension benefit obligation. These factors combined improved the financial position of APS, resulting in an increase of the coverage ratio to 114,13% end of 2024 compared to 109.09% of last year 2023.” APS can only increase pensions if the coverage ratio is at least 105%.

A clean (unqualified) opinion by the auditor means that the financial statement is presented fairly, in all material aspects and is in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework. Mr. Williams stated further, “This is the result of continuous hard work and dedication of the organization and the constructive collaboration with the affiliated employers and relevant stakeholders”.

Regarding local investments, APS continued to devote considerable time and attention in 2024 to establishing a robust organization to objectively assess and realize local investments. An important step in this process was the finalization of the agreement (SLA) with the Sint Maarten Investment Company (SMIC) which was executed in July 2024. SMIC evaluates financing requests and proactively seeks potential investments in Sint Maarten. With this, APS aims to build a solid local investment portfolio that adheres to the pension fund’s investment guidelines and leads to successful and profitable projects in Sint Maarten.

Looking forward to 2025, APS made a considerable strategic change in their international investment portfolio by selecting BlackRock as the new fiduciary manager and Northern Trust as the custodian. In addition to the aforementioned, APS conducted and finalized their Asset Liability Management study (ALM). The purpose of the ALM study was to examine whether the current policies (actuarial and financial) of APS still match the ambition and risk appetite and explore alternative asset allocations that lead to a more optimal risk and return.

Mr. Kalmera stated “With these changes and the execution of the ALM study, the focus of APS remains on maintaining the financial stability of the pension fund while ensuring the welfare of its participants. While we can index pensions this year, there may be years when this isn't possible. Our ability to make these adjustments depends heavily on the financial markets and prevailing interest rates.”

The APS board remains committed to continuous improvement. We will keep enhancing our expertise, optimizing our governance processes, and making informed decisions to benefit our participants. Our focus will continue to be on sustainable growth, innovation, and delivering tangible benefits to our participants. We are dedicated to being a reliable and forward-thinking partner to all our stakeholders.