PHILIPSBURG:--- The Student Support Services Division of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport is once again hosting its workshop, “Applying to Schools in the Netherlands,” on September 17, 2026,  at the University of St. Martin from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

This workshop is geared toward exam-class and pre-exam-class secondary school students, as well as recent graduates, who are interested in continuing their studies in the Netherlands.

The “Applying to Schools in the Netherlands”workshop will focus on the main tertiary education systems in the Netherlands, including MBO, HBO, and WO. During the workshop, the focus will be on both academic and vocational tracks and on schools offering Dutch and English instruction in the Netherlands. SSSD officials added that they will also discuss costs, since many students and parents believe studying in the Netherlands is less expensive than in the United States or Canada.  

As far as applications are concerned, officials indicated that for some students, applying to schools is not straightforward, and it is important for them to know how their education from St. Maarten aligns with that in the Netherlands. They added that changes occur frequently in the educational field in the Netherlands and our students should be aware of such.

Parents are urged to encourage their children to participate in this workshop. Students are encouraged to register in advance by calling the Student Support Services Division at tel: 543-1235 or by visiting SSSD’s Facebook page and scanning the QR code on the flyer.  If parents or students have questions about this workshop, they can also call the number above or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for more information.

Interested persons can also visit the SSSD office, which is in the Gatsby’s Building across from the Police Station and next to WIB. 

The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) provides services to students referred by the schools, such as psychological services, counseling services, social work services, educational diagnostic services, and speech-language pathology services. SSSD also provides general services, including career services, parent sessions, and crisis response.

Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin:---  Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin are gearing up for the 2026 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), the largest annual cleanup on the island. Volunteers can register at www.volunteer.sx and will help with cleanups and data collection.

The cleanup will take place this weekend on both sides of the island:

• Saturday, September 19, 2026
  Little Bay Beach & Pond, Sint Maarten
  7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
• Sunday, September 20, 2026
  Anse de Sable, La Belle Creole area, Saint-Martin
  7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
  
  

The International Coastal Cleanup is a worldwide initiative led by Ocean Conservancy. Each September, volunteers in more than 120 countries come together to remove trash from beaches, oceans, and waterways. The cleanup coordinators Tim Roosens and Juste Manuel are calling on volunteers throughout Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin to participate on one or both days. Volunteers are asked to register via www.volunteer.sx and are reminded to wear closed shoes, apply sunscreen and download the Clean Swell app.

Students who need to complete community-service hours are encouraged to join. Businesses are also invited to participate with teams of employees wearing their company T-shirts, an excellent way to demonstrate corporate responsibility while contributing to the protection of the island’s beaches and marine environment.

Participants will work in small teams, with one team member recording the collected items on a special data card or through Ocean Conservancy’s Clean Swell app. This information helps identify the types and possible sources of debris found along coastlines. Governments, nonprofit organizations, and environmental groups can use this important data to support anti-littering legislation and education, solid-waste management, marine conservation, and recycling programs.

The 2026 International Coastal Cleanup is a collaboration by Sint Maarten Pride Foundation, Clean St. Martin Association, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), Sint Maarten Nature Foundation, St. Maarten Development Fund, Saint Martin Trails and Les Sauveteurs en Mer (SNSM).

Organizers are still looking for breakfast items for participating volunteers. Businesses interested in donating breakfast items can contact coordinator Mr. Tim Roosens via WhatsApp at +590 690 30 7999.

Come out, bring your family, friends, colleagues, clubs, etc., and help keep the coastlines of Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin clean. Every volunteer makes a difference!

PHILIPSBURG: --- Intruders broke into the Onyx Drive home of the late Robert Luckock and stole electronics and other valuables.

Luckock passed away last month, leaving the residence unoccupied at the time of the break-in. The perpetrators reportedly entered the property and removed electronic equipment and other valuable belongings.

The burglary has added further distress for Luckock’s relatives as they continue to mourn his recent passing. Instead of being allowed to grieve and manage his affairs in peace, the family must now deal with the violation of his home and the theft of his personal property.

The incident also raises concerns about criminals targeting homes they believe are vacant following the death or absence of their occupants.

The full value of the stolen items has not yet been disclosed. It is also unclear how the intruders entered the residence or whether surveillance footage captured the perpetrators.

Anyone who witnessed suspicious activity around Onyx Drive or has information about the stolen items should contact the Police Force of Sint Maarten.

Police have confirmed they are actively investigating.

ORANJESTAD, ARUBA :---  The Court in Civil Service Matters has overturned the immediate dismissal of an Aruban civil servant who altered an official pay slip before submitting it to a financial institution while applying for a loan.

The court ruled that the employee committed serious misconduct but found that the ultimate disciplinary punishment—unconditional dismissal with immediate effect—was disproportionate under the circumstances.

The civil servant had worked as an administrative employee in the Financial Affairs Department of the Directorate of Public Health since August 2017.

In October 2025, she applied to Island Finance for a loan from Afl. 2,500 to pay for repairs to her vehicle. She submitted pay slips for September and October 2025.

When Island Finance attempted to verify the documents with the Department of Human Resources, it discovered that the September pay slip had been altered. The employee had changed her net salary from Afl. 2,628.88 to Afl. 3,515.79 and removed the entry showing an Afl. 888.91 wage garnishment.

The Director of Human Resources subsequently filed a criminal complaint on June 5, 2026, citing possible document forgery and attempted fraud. On July 7, the Governor of Aruba imposed the disciplinary penalty of dismissal with immediate effect.

Employee admitted altering document

The civil servant admitted changing the pay slip but argued that the document did not accurately reflect her regular disposable income.

According to her explanation, the loan connected to the wage garnishment had already been repaid. However, the creditor failed to lift the garnishment in time, resulting in another deduction from her September salary. The creditor later reimbursed the amounts collected through the garnishment in August and September.

She maintained that she altered the document to show what her net salary would have been without that deduction—not to mislead Island Finance about her actual income.

The court nevertheless rejected her justification for modifying an official financial document. It found that the September pay slip was technically correct because the wage garnishment remained legally in effect at the time.

Instead of changing the document, the employee should have submitted the original pay slip and explained the circumstances surrounding the deduction and subsequent reimbursement.

Serious misconduct, but dismissal went too far

The court agreed with the Government that altering and using an official pay slip constitutes serious misconduct that affects the integrity, reliability, and credibility of the public service.

It emphasized that an administrative employee working in financial affairs should have known that she was not permitted to change an official financial document and present the altered version to a third party.

However, the court concluded that the Government imposed an overly severe punishment.

It found that the employee reacted improperly to a genuine error by the creditor, which failed to end the garnishment after the underlying debt was repaid. The court also accepted that she did not intend to misrepresent her normal salary.

Had the creditor lifted the garnishment on time, the court noted, the official pay slip would have reflected essentially the same net income shown on the altered document.

The employee had previously received a written reprimand for inappropriate social media statements. However, the court ruled that the earlier incident was unrelated, did not involve serious misconduct, and could not be treated as an aggravating factor supporting immediate dismissal.

The court also found no concrete evidence that the employee was likely to repeat the conduct.

It suggested that a conditional dismissal accompanied by a two-year probationary period could provide a sufficiently serious deterrent while giving the Government the opportunity to impose special conditions concerning the employee’s conduct.

Government must reconsider penalty

The court declared the July 7 dismissal decision null and void. The Governor of Aruba may now issue a new decision imposing a different disciplinary penalty.

While the employee won her objection against the immediate dismissal, the court cautioned that she appeared to have difficulty understanding and meeting the standards of conduct expected of a civil servant. It described the matter as an issue requiring attention from both the employee and her supervisors.

The Government was ordered to pay Afl. 1,400 in legal costs.

The ruling was issued on August 31, 2026, and published on September 14 under case number ECLI:NL:OGAACMB:2026:65. The parties may appeal the judgment to the Council of Appeal in Civil Service Matters.