PHILIPSBURG:--- VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs Jr. says private developers are financing several public infrastructure projects in full, as government turns to partnerships to address financial shortfalls.

Speaking at Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press briefing, Gumbs distinguished between projects receiving government money and those fully funded by developers.

He said the government contributed funding to the Billy Folly Road partnership. However, he identified the rehabilitation of the Simpson Bay dock, repairs to the Rolandus Canal and bridge works in the Sucker Garden area as developer-funded projects.

According to Gumbs, the government’s role in those arrangements includes approving designs, providing support and exercising oversight where needed.

The minister acknowledged that some works can directly benefit a developer’s own project. However, he said the partnerships should also deliver improvements beyond the immediate development site.

“These partnerships are a company’s way of contributing to the country they operate in and benefit from,” he said.

Gumbs pointed to the Sucker Garden initiative as an effort to extend benefits to communities outside areas traditionally associated with major private investment, such as Simpson Bay and Cupecoy.

The approach reflects the ministry’s limited financial resources, he said, while efforts continue to improve revenue generation.

The briefing did not include project-by-project costs, completion schedules or the terms of the partnership agreements.

Those details would allow the public to assess the value of the contributions, the standards governing the works and the government’s responsibilities after completion.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Collective Prevention Services, St. Maarten Medical Center and Radboudumc in the Netherlands are inviting parents and expectant parents to participate in a community survey on vaccination perceptions and awareness of respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV.

VSA Minister Claret Connor highlighted the survey during Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press briefing.

He said the research seeks insight into public awareness, concerns, and perceptions about RSV vaccination, with particular attention to expectant parents and parents of young children aged zero to five.

The minister said similar surveys are being conducted in Curaçao and Aruba.

Connor encouraged eligible residents to share their views, saying community feedback is essential to strengthening public-health prevention efforts.

The survey is available in English, Spanish, Creole, and Dutch and can be accessed through the QR code on its promotional flyer.

Residents seeking further information can contact CPS at 542-1570 or St. Maarten Medical Center at 543-1111.

PHILIPSBURG:---   The Court of Appeal has sentenced Alexander Mario Ettrick Chandler, Alphonse Asa-Asher Charles and Diomedes Mendez Santeli to 12 years in prison each for their roles in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Tion D’Sean Scott outside the Gentlemen’s Club in Defiance on April 13, 2025.

In judgments delivered on October 19, 2026, the Court found all three men guilty of jointly committing manslaughter and firearm offenses. The Court will deduct time already spent in pre-trial detention from their sentences.

The rulings increased the prison terms the Court of First Instance imposed on September 11, 2025. Chandler and Charles had each received eight years, while Mendez Santeli had received three years for firearm possession after being acquitted of the charge relating to Scott’s shooting.

The Prosecutor General sought 14-year sentences for Chandler and Mendez Santeli and a 16-year sentence for Charles. The Appeal Court instead imposed 12 years on each defendant.

Dispute Escalated Outside the Club

According to the Court’s findings, the shooting followed a longstanding conflict involving allegations about a stolen chain and missing vehicle parts.

Inside the club, an argument developed between Mendez Santeli and Chandler on one side and Scott and his friend on the other. The Court found that Chandler loaded his firearm and challenged Scott to come outside.

Scott subsequently left the club, mounted his scooter, and headed toward the parking lot exit. Chandler followed him and gestured for him to stop. Scott dismounted near the exit, while Charles and Mendez Santeli moved in that direction.

The Court established that Chandler then fired once at Scott from a distance of several meters. Bystanders scattered, and Scott fled onto the public road, leaving his scooter behind.

Charles moved onto a raised area on the opposite side of the exit and took out his firearm. When Scott returned to his scooter and attempted to ride away, Charles fired several shots toward him, the Court found.

Scott fell with the scooter and continued fleeing on foot. Mendez Santeli, who had climbed onto a wall overlooking Scott’s escape route, continued shooting toward him.

The Court concluded that all three defendants fired toward Scott in succession within approximately half a minute. One of the bullets struck him and caused his death.

Court Finds Joint Responsibility

Although investigators could not establish which defendant fired the fatal bullet, the Court ruled that this did not prevent all three from being convicted of jointly committing manslaughter.

The judges found that the men had worked closely and consciously together during the armed attack. Each made a substantial contribution by personally firing toward Scott, including as he attempted to escape.

The Court found that their actions amounted to a joint and, to some extent, coordinated attack.

The forensic examination established that Scott died from blood loss and tissue damage caused by a gunshot passing through his torso.

Chandler’s Self-Defense Argument Rejected

Chandler’s defense argued that Scott had threatened him, drawn a firearm, and fired first, prompting a defensive reaction.

The Court rejected that account, finding no support in the case file for the claim that Scott had fired at Chandler. Only one shot could be heard at the first shooting moment, and the Court established that Chandler fired it.

The judges also found Chandler’s conduct offensive: he provoked and pursued a confrontation while Scott was attempting to leave.

Although the Court could not establish or exclude that Scott had drawn a firearm, it ruled that Chandler’s provocative conduct and the circumstances of the confrontation prevented a successful claim of self-defense.

Funeral Expenses Awarded

The Court awarded Scott’s mother, identified in the judgments as M.B. Scott,  US$8,255 in funeral expenses. The three defendants are jointly and severally liable for that amount, meaning it is one shared obligation rather than three separate awards.

Her additional claim for psychological injury was declared inadmissible in the criminal proceedings because the available evidence did not sufficiently establish the required injury and causal connection. That portion of the claim may be pursued in civil court.

In determining the sentences, the Court emphasized that the defendants shot at a fleeing man in an area where other people were present, endangering bystanders and contributing to public insecurity.

The judges also highlighted Sint Maarten’s persistent firearm problem and the severe, lasting suffering inflicted on Scott’s surviving relatives.

THE HAGUE:--- From strengthening public accountability and economic resilience to addressing infrastructure challenges, environmental sustainability and Kingdom relations, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina continues an intensive official working visit to the Netherlands, bringing Sint Maarten’s national priorities into discussions with senior government officials, institutional leaders and strategic partners.

The extensive programme reflects the importance of maintaining direct dialogue on matters that influence Sint Maarten’s development, institutional effectiveness and quality of life. With engagements spanning several areas of national importance, the Prime Minister remains focused on strengthening relationships, exchanging expertise and identifying practical opportunities for continued cooperation.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that Sint Maarten’s challenges and opportunities are understood wherever discussions and decisions may affect our future. We must approach these engagements with a clear sense of purpose, recognizing that meaningful cooperation begins with mutual understanding and must ultimately serve the interests of our people,” Prime Minister Mercelina stated.

Among the engagements was a meeting with Drs. Pieter Duisenberg, President of the General Audit Chamber (Algemene Rekenkamer) of The Netherlands) providing an opportunity to exchange perspectives on public financial accountability, institutional oversight and responsible management of public resources.

The discussions highlighted the importance of sound governance practices and the role of strong institutions in supporting effective public administration and maintaining public confidence.

Economic development was another central topic during the Prime Minister’s meeting with the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate, Ms. Heleen Herbert.

The engagement addressed economic resilience, sustainable development, and opportunities for knowledge exchange, with particular attention to small island economies. For Sint Maarten, these considerations are closely connected to maintaining a competitive economy, supporting sustainable growth and strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to external challenges.

“Economic resilience is not an abstract concept for Sint Maarten. It affects the stability of our economy, the opportunities available to our businesses, and the future we are preparing for our children. Our discussions must therefore remain grounded in the realities of our country and the practical steps that can support its continued development, staying conscious of our vulnerable economic system and our challenges as a SIDS (small island developing state),” the Prime Minister expressed.

Environmental sustainability and infrastructure planning also featured in discussions with Dr. Zoran Vojinovic of IHE Delft Institute for Water Education. The exchange explored the role of specialized technical expertise and innovation in addressing challenges in infrastructure development, environmental management, and long-term planning.

The Prime Minister also met with Dutch Senator Jeroen Recourt to discuss Kingdom relations, institutional cooperation, and the importance of constructive dialogue among the countries of the Kingdom.

The exchange provided an opportunity to consider how mutual understanding, respect for constitutional responsibilities, and continued communication can support effective cooperation on shared challenges.

Progress on recovery and development initiatives supported through the World Bank-administered Sint Maarten Trust Fund formed another important part of the programme. Discussions with Frans Weekers and representatives of the Trust Fund Steering Committee addressed ongoing projects, including waste management and infrastructure, and the importance of effective implementation.

The engagement reinforced the need for continued coordination among the institutions responsible for these initiatives, particularly where project delivery directly affects the living environment and well-being of Sint Maarten’s population.

The programme further included an encounter with Aruba’s Prime Minister Mike Eman, providing an opportunity to maintain dialogue between the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom on matters of common interest.

These engagements form part of a broader working visit that has also addressed healthcare cooperation, including the proposed regional mental health facility serving Sint Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius, as well as foreign relations, institutional development and the future of Kingdom cooperation.

Throughout these discussions, the Prime Minister has consistently emphasized the importance of linking international engagement to national needs, while recognizing that meaningful progress requires careful coordination and sustained follow-up by the relevant institutions.

“The importance of this mission is not measured by the number of meetings on our agenda. It lies in the quality of the discussions, the relationships we strengthen and the work that continues after we return home. Our people deserve more than conversations about progress. They deserve institutions and partnerships that are committed to making progress possible. That is the responsibility we carry into every engagement,” Prime Minister Mercelina concluded.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by Secretary-General Dr. Abel Knottnerus and Chief of Staff Stuart Johnson, with the participation and support of Sint Maarten’s Minister Plenipotentiary, Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell.