PHILIPSBURG:--- As of 2026, Erik Spek has officially joined HaVen as co-owner. Since October 2025, he has already been part of HaVen as Managing Director. With the formalization of his ownership, the co-directorship with Erik van Engelen is now officially confirmed.
Erik Spek (1973) began his career at Arthur Andersen in Rotterdam and continued at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Sint Maarten and Curaçao. There, he gained extensive experience in accountancy and in supporting companies in the region and Suriname.
After gaining 11 years of experience at major accounting firms in the Netherlands, Sint Maarten, and Curaçao, Erik transitioned to the banking sector, where he held several roles at DVB Bank over 14 years in Curaçao, Singapore, and the Netherlands. He started as Team Head in the back office in Curaçao, leading an accounting team. After several years in this role, he went on to hold various positions within DVB, building expertise in credit, portfolio management, and financial analysis. He later served as Financial Controller at COUNT Energy Trading in Rotterdam.
With his broad background in accountancy, controlling, and international finance, Erik Spek now applies his knowledge and experience to further shape the growth of HaVen in Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Suriname, and the Netherlands.
“At HaVen, we are building a firm that is close to entrepreneurs while maintaining an international perspective. Returning to the islands feels like a natural step. Together with Erik van Engelen and our team, I look forward to shaping the next phase of HaVen’s growth in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.”
— Erik Spek, Co-Owner HaVen – Audit, Accounting & Consultancy

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams has issued a call for renewed national purpose in the new year, urging citizens and leadership alike to embrace responsibility, participation, and respect for Sint Maarten as the foundation for progress.

“As we enter a new year, hope and resilience remain important,” Wescot-Williams said. “But this moment also calls for realism and responsibility. Progress does not come from waiting or commentary; it comes from commitment, effort, and participation.”

She stressed that respect for Sint Maarten must begin at home.

“Respect for Sint Maarten is not something we demand of others first,” she stated. “It begins with how we govern, how we engage as citizens, how we protect our country, and how seriously we take the responsibility of nationhood.”

According to Wescot-Williams, Sint Maarten has the capacity to move forward, but only if there is a collective will and a shared sense of direction.

“We have what it takes,” she said. “The question is whether we have what it takes. And that answer lies with all of us, government and society together.”

In that context, Wescot-Williams announced the launch of a reflective call titled “Imagine This,” a separate message intended to encourage national dialogue around what Sint Maarten could become if it commits to a shared vision and acts on it collectively.

“‘Imagine This’ is about visualizing a Sint Maarten that respects itself and moves forward together,” she explained. “It is not about slogans. It is about responsibility, action, and participation.”

“I am inviting members of the community to share their own ‘Imagine This’ ideas, what they believe a respectful, forward-moving Sint Maarten should look like, and what we must do to get there. These ideas matter, and they belong in the national conversation.”

Wescot-Williams reaffirmed that she continues to serve within a political coalition consciously and responsibly, guided by the enduring values and principles of the party she represents. Her parliamentary focus for the year ahead, she said, will remain on collective forward movement, amplifying district voices, pressing for decisive parliamentary action on the course of government, and strengthening accountability so that power consistently serves the public interest.

She concluded with a call to action.

“This must be the year we stop waiting, stop excusing, and stop standing on the sidelines,” Wescot-Williams said. “Respect for Sint Maarten requires all of us to do our part.”

Always moving forward. Always progressing.

POINTE BLANCHE:--- Port St. Maarten Group (PSG) is proud to announce a historic start to the New Year as it welcomes two magnificent vessels for their maiden calls to the "Friendly Island."

On January 1, 2026, the Port will host Princess Cruises' next-generation masterpiece, the Sun Princess, alongside Oceania Cruises’ elegant new addition, the Allura.

This double inaugural visit underscores St. Maarten’s enduring appeal as a premier Caribbean destination and highlights the Port’s capacity to handle the industry’s most advanced and luxurious ships simultaneously.

The arrival of the Sun Princess, the largest ship ever constructed for Princess Cruises, represents a significant milestone in maritime engineering and guest experience.

Boasting innovative architectural designs and sustainable liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology, the vessel brings visitors to our shores to experience the best of St. Maarten.

Joining her is the Allura, the second Allura-class ship from Oceania Cruises, which defines the pinnacle of small-ship luxury and culinary excellence. The presence of both vessels on New Year's Day serves as a powerful testament to the confidence global cruise lines place in Port St. Maarten’s world-class facilities and service.

“Starting the year 2026 with two inaugural calls is an extraordinary achievement for our tourism product,” stated Port St. Maarten Group Management.

“Welcoming the Sun Princess and the Allura on the very first day of the year sends a clear signal to the world that St. Maarten remains at the forefront of the cruise industry. These visits generate immediate economic impact for local stakeholders, from taxi drivers and tour operators to retailers and restaurateurs.

“We are committed to ensuring that every passenger and crew member on these vessels experiences the unparalleled hospitality that defines our island.”

PSG Management encourages the local business community and the public to extend their signature warm welcome to the guests arriving on these ships.

As we embark on this promising new year, the Port remains dedicated to fostering excellence, enhancing our infrastructure, and ensuring St. Maarten continues to lead as the preferred gateway to the Caribbean.

PHILIPSBURG– As 2025 draws to a close, Member of Parliament Omar E.C. Ottley is reflecting on a year defined by purposeful legislative work, persistent advocacy, and unwavering dedication to the people of St. Maarten, demonstrating that meaningful impact can be made from the legislative branch, even while in opposition.

Throughout the year, MP Ottley remained focused on addressing critical challenges affecting the people through a solution-oriented approach aimed at providing the Government with the tools needed to execute change for the people.

Among his key legislative actions in 2025, MP Ottley:

• Submitted a Profit Tax Ordinance amendment to the Social Economic Council (SER), aimed at reducing profit tax in a phased approach.
• Presented a draft amendment to the National Ordinance regulating admittance to and expulsion from St. Maarten (LTU), seeking to secure rights and protections for children born in St. Maarten who are undocumented. Now in the final stages of the legislative trajectory, awaiting a follow-up meeting in Parliament.
• Co-presented amendments to the 2025 National Budget.
• Presented a motion for a fair and just early release policy at the Point Blanche House of Detention, promoting rehabilitation and human dignity, pending action by the Minister of Justice.
• Presented a motion to reduce fuel prices, recognizing the ongoing cost-of-living pressures faced by residents, with government follow-through still pending.
• Submitted a Ministerial Regulation to the Minister of TEATT proposing sustainable reductions to GEBE costs for all consumers, reinforcing the need for long-term energy affordability.
• Presented the GEBE relief petition to Parliament, giving voice to public concern over escalating utility costs, now awaiting action by Parliament’s Petition Committee.
• Advocated successfully for vulnerable families during the holiday season, writing to the Government and NV GEBE to suspend electricity disconnections—an appeal that received a positive response.
• Hosted the Third Annual Christmas Give Back, bringing joy and tangible support to hundreds of children and families across the community.

Reflecting on the year, MP Ottley shared:

“As we close one chapter and prepare for new beginnings, I remain deeply committed to doing meaningful, productive work that makes a real difference in people’s lives. Progress is not defined by position, but by purpose. Even in opposition, the legislative branch remains a powerful space to advocate, to challenge, and to build solutions for our people.”

Looking ahead to the new year, MP Ottley offered words of encouragement and reassurance to the public:

“As we welcome a new year, I extend heartfelt wishes of health, hope, and renewed strength to every resident of St. Maarten.

The passing year reminded us of both our challenges and our resilience as a people. It reinforced the importance of the need for unity, compassion, and purposeful leadership, especially in times when many families continue to face economic pressures and uncertainty. Through it all, I have remained committed to standing with you, listening to your concerns, and advocating for policies that place people first.

A new year brings new beginnings, but it also calls for reflection and responsibility. From my role in Parliament, I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure your voices are heard, your rights are protected, and your future is prioritized. Touch One, Touch ALL!

I want to assure you that my dedication to St. Maarten does not waver in the face of circumstances. Whether in government or opposition, my commitment remains the same: to serve with integrity, to lead with purpose, and to fight for solutions that make a real and lasting difference in people’s lives.

As we step into this new year, let us move forward together with optimism, determination, and faith in what we can achieve as one people. I remain honored by your trust and encouraged by your strength.

May the new year bring peace to our homes, stability to our economy, and progress to our nation.

Happy New Year, St. Maarten.”