St. Martin News Network - St. Maarten

Tensions Rise as Security Denied Access to VSA Chief of Staff. (UPDATED)

suenahlaville08012026 PHILIPSBURG:--- A significant escalation in internal political tensions occurred today following reports that access to government facilities was restricted for a high-ranking official. According to sources close to the situation, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina and his Chief of Staff, Stuart Johnson, issued explicit instructions to security personnel to deny entry to Sueana Laville, the Chief of Staff for the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA).
This incident comes amid growing concern over delays to the national mental health master plan. Advocacy groups have reported troubling increases in untreated mental health conditions and suicide attempts, raising alarms about the lack of policy action and funding. Minister Richinel Brug has yet to announce any concrete crisis interventions, while the community continues to call for urgent support.

Allegations have surfaced that the Prime Minister recently removed the World Bank-funded Mental Health Project from the Ministry of VSA and reassigned it to the General Affairs Ministry. The project, reportedly led by Romain Laville from the Ministry of VSA's cabinet, was seen as a critical step forward in addressing local mental health needs. Sources indicate that this reallocation led to a confrontation between Sueana Laville and the Prime Minister. It is further alleged that the Chief of Staff’s subsequent ban from entering government buildings stemmed from her conduct during this exchange, described by some as disrespectful.

SMN News understands that the incident on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026, was the second of its kind. A source revealed that eight days prior, the Chief of Staff also threatened the Prime Minister, indicating that he was on her husband's list. According to an official letter from the Prime Minister to Parliament, the Chief of Staff verbally conveyed a message to the Prime Minister, which was said to have originated from her partner and was perceived as a serious threat to the Prime Minister’s safety. In response to this incident, the Prime Minister imposed certain order measures in accordance with relevant laws and administrative procedures. These actions were taken to safeguard public order, ensure safety, and protect the integrity and proper functioning of government operations. Given the sensitive nature of the situation and the ongoing assessment, further details regarding the event and related processes have not yet been disclosed.

Witnesses indicate that the directive was strictly enforced at the main entrance of the government administration building. The specific reasoning behind the Prime Minister's instruction to bar the VSA Chief of Staff has not yet been officially disclosed to the public.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, reports suggest that law enforcement presence was heightened in anticipation of a potential standoff. Sources state that police officers were placed on standby to intervene should the Minister of VSA attempt to escort his Chief of Staff into the building against the Prime Minister's orders. This precautionary measure highlights the severity of the internal disagreement and the administration's concern regarding potential confrontations on government premises.
This development raises questions about the current operational relationship between the Prime Minister’s office and the Ministry of VSA. Such public displays of discord between ministries and cabinet leadership are rare and suggest underlying administrative or political conflicts that have now surfaced into the operational sphere.

Stakeholders and the public are now looking to the Council of Ministers for clarification on the status of the VSA Chief of Staff, the fate of the Mental Health Project, and how these tensions might impact the functioning of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor.
In response to a request from MP Ardwell Irion, Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams also informed the Parliament about the incident, ensuring legislators were made aware of the ongoing situation.

At the time of writing, neither the Prime Minister’s office nor the Ministry of VSA has released an official statement regarding the incident, the future status of Ms. Laville’s access to her office, or the implications for the mental health initiative.

MP Lyndon Lewis Demands Fiscal Responsibility Ahead of 2026 Budget Debate.

lyndonlewis17042025 PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Lyndon Lewis voiced strong reservations regarding government spending during the first parliamentary meeting of 2026, signaling that his support for the upcoming national budget is far from guaranteed. Addressing the House on Thursday, MP Lewis emphasized the need for fiscal responsibility and scrutinized what he termed irresponsible usage of public funds.
The Member of Parliament extended New Year greetings to the Chairlady, the Minister of Finance, his colleagues, and the viewing public before turning his attention to the critical financial debates scheduled for the coming weeks. With the budget presentation and debate looming, Lewis made his position clear: thorough scrutiny will be his priority.
"I will be studying this budget thoroughly because, as per right now, I cannot support a budget when the people's money is being spent irresponsibly," Lewis stated.
To illustrate his concerns regarding fiscal mismanagement, the MP highlighted a specific situation involving the Ministry of Justice. He drew attention to the recently opened police substation located on Union Road in Cole Bay. According to Lewis, despite being a new facility intended to serve the community, he observed the station closed with hurricane shutters down 2:00 PM the previous day.
Lewis raised questions about the cost-benefit of such operations, noting that he understood the facility's rent to be approximately $10,000 or more. He argued that while he does not support cutting the justice budget, funds must be allocated more effectively.
"This money can be used for the betterment of the organization and its workers," Lewis argued, suggesting that high rental costs for a facility that is not consistently accessible to the public represents a misallocation of resources that could otherwise support justice workers directly.
As the Parliament of St. Maarten prepares to debate the 2026 budget, MP Lewis’s comments set a tone of rigorous oversight. His statement suggests that the Ministry of Finance and other government bodies should expect challenging questions regarding operational costs and the efficient use of taxpayer money in the upcoming sessions.

KPSM arrests two suspects in Welfare Road narcotics operation.

drughaul08012026 PHILIPSBURG:---The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) arrested two male suspects on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026, following a coordinated operation at an apartment on Welfare Road in Cole Bay.

The operation was initiated after KPSM received multiple reports from community members indicating that narcotics were being sold from the residence and that the suspects were allegedly in possession of firearms.

In response to this credible information, KPSM coordinated a plan involving several e-departments to safely address the situation in accordance with Sint Maarten's narcotics and firearms laws.

Upon arrival at the location, officers attempted to enter the apartment. The occupants refused to open the door and attempted to flee through the rear of the residence. Officers successfully breached the main entrance and entered the premises.

During the search, officers discovered a substantial quantity of narcotics and cash inside the apartment. Despite a thorough investigation, no firearms were recovered. Forensic and detective personnel were dispatched to the scene to process evidence and conduct further investigation. The narcotics and cash were confiscated.

Both male suspects were arrested and transported to the police station, where they remain in custody pending further investigation.

KPSM remains committed to conducting operations of this nature when credible information is received from the community. The police force encourages residents to continue reporting suspicious activities.

Contact Information: For tips or information, please contact:

Police station: 1721-54-22222/ 911

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tipline: 9300

KPSM Press Release.

MP Lyndon Lewis: Action is needed on Traffic Congestion in Sint Maarten.

lyndonlewis25032025 PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Lyndon Lewis is calling on the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunication and Traffic (TEATT), Grisha Heyligar-Martin, to take immediate and decisive action to address the worsening traffic congestion affecting the island, warning that continued inaction could have serious consequences for residents, businesses, and the country’s vital tourism industry.
According to MP Lewis, traffic congestion has escalated significantly in several key areas, particularly during peak commuting hours and periods of high tourist activity. Daily commuters, emergency services, public transportation users, and visitors are increasingly experiencing delays that impact productivity, safety, and overall quality of life.
“This issue has grown beyond being a simple inconvenience. It is now a national concern that requires urgent attention,” MP Lewis stated. “Persistent traffic congestion places unnecessary strain on our citizens, delays emergency response times, and negatively affects economic activity.”
To address the issue, MP Lewis is urging the Minister responsible for traffic to engage in discussions with her colleague Ministers, as the traffic issue can be remedied on an inter-ministerial level to implement practical and immediate measures. These include deploying police officers with the assistance of the VKS at key congested intersections, enforcing regulations requiring buses to use designated bus stops, and improving road design with clearer signage and lane markings. “In the past, we had the control unit regulating the traffic in key traffic-congested areas. The resurrection of this department is necessary,” MP Lewis stated.
He also emphasized the importance of promoting public transportation to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road, particularly during peak hours. “Many Taxi drivers have reached out to me regarding the traffic congestion, and some stated that when flights land, sometimes there is not enough taxi transportation available at the airport because many drivers are stuck in traffic.”
MP Lewis emphasized that addressing traffic congestion requires urgency, cooperation, and political will. “This is not about placing blame, but about taking responsibility and acting in the best interest of our people and our economy,” he stated.
MP Lewis concluded by calling for decisive government action, noting that failure to act could ultimately harm the country’s reputation and economic stability. “The time to act is now, before the consequences become far more damaging,” he stated.

Continuation Urgent Public Meeting of Parliament for deliberations on issues surrounding the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in an urgent Public meeting on January 8, 2026.

The Public meeting was adjourned on November 5, 2025, and will be reconvened on Thursday at 11.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:
Deliberations on the issues surrounding the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten
a. The recent nomination of the Chairman of the CBCS by the Council of Ministers
b. An update on the ENNIA situation
c. Developments concerning Mullet Bay (IS/092/2025-2026 dated September 22, 2025)

This meeting was requested by MP E.J. Doran, MP A.M.R. Irion, MP D.T.J. York, MP O.E.C. Ottley and MP F.A. Lacroes.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament and www.pearlfmradio.sx