PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) informs the public that on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at approximately 1:00 p.m., officers attached to the Detective Department observed a dark-colored scooter with a lone rider traveling along Front Street in Philipsburg.

Officers became suspicious after noticing the rider repeatedly looking into various businesses as they moved through the area. His behavior raised concern, prompting officers to continue observing him. The rider was subsequently followed onto Back Street, where officers again observed him slowing down and looking into one of the stores in a manner they considered suspicious.

After relaying the information to other patrol units, officers coordinated efforts and successfully intercepted the scooter rider, identified by the initials J.M.M., on Long Wall Road.

While conducting a control of the suspect, officers discovered a revolver concealed underneath his shirt. The suspect was immediately arrested, and the firearm was confiscated. He was then transported to the Philipsburg Police Station, where he is currently being held for questioning pending further investigation.

KPSM continues to maintain a proactive approach in combating illegal firearm possession and criminal activity. The removal of illegal weapons from the streets remains a priority in ensuring the safety and security of the community.

KPSM is taking this opportunity to urge all business owners in Philipsburg, as well as throughout the island, to remain vigilant and aware of suspicious behavior around their establishments. If you see anything or anyone acting suspiciously, please contact the police immediately by calling 911 or the Police Station at +1 (721) 542-2222.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- Sunday, May 17 marked World Hypertension Day (WHD) under the theme, “Controlling Hypertension Together: check your blood pressure regularly, defeat the silent killer.”

This year’s theme highlights a simple truth: knowing your blood pressure numbers and taking early action saves lives.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and kidney disease, yet it can be detected easily and controlled through healthy living and appropriate medical care.

The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, is joining the global community to raise awareness and encourage action against high blood pressure (hypertension)—often called “the silent killer” because it may have no symptoms while quietly damaging the heart, brain, kidneys, and blood vessels.

Many people only discover they have high blood pressure after a serious complication such as a stroke or heart event. CPS urges everyone to make blood pressure checks a routine part of life—just like checking weight or temperature.

CPS encourages adults to: Check blood pressure regularly, even if you feel well. Record your readings (date/time and results) and share them with a health professional. Seek care early if readings are repeatedly elevated.

Blood pressure targets can vary depending on age and medical history. A health professional can advise what is best for you.

Eat for a healthier blood pressure; reduce salt (sodium): limit salty snacks, instant noodles, processed meats, canned foods, and salty seasonings.

Choose more fresh foods: fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, lentils, and whole grains. Pick healthier fats: nuts, seeds, fish, and plant oils; limit deep-fried and highly processed foods.

Watch sugary drinks and excess sweets which can contribute to weight gain and metabolic risk. Be active most days of the week
Regular physical activity strengthens the heart and improves circulation.

Aim for consistent movement: brisk walking, dancing, cycling, swimming, yard work—whatever is safe and sustainable. Start small if needed (even 10–15 minutes at a time) and build up gradually.
Maintain a healthy weight (or work toward it). Even modest weight loss can reduce blood pressure for people who are overweight. Focus on realistic steps—portion control, fewer sugary drinks, and more daily activity.

Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol. Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke—tobacco damages blood vessels and increases cardiovascular risk. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation (or avoid it), as excess intake can raise blood pressure.

Manage stress and prioritize sleep. Chronic stress and poor sleep can contribute to elevated blood pressure.

On this World Hypertension Day, CPS calls on communities, employers, schools, faith-based groups, and families to work together to: Promote routine blood pressure checks; Support healthy food choices and physical activity; and encourage people diagnosed with hypertension to stay in care and follow treatment.

Hypertension can be prevented, detected, treated, and controlled. The first step is simple: check your blood pressure regularly by contacting your doctor.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Richinel Brug, once again last week, continued his community outreach initiative by distributing fresh produce to vulnerable groups across Sint Maarten.

The initiative forms part of the Ministry of VSA’s broader “Health in All Policies” approach, established last year, which recognizes that public health extends beyond healthcare alone to include food security, nutrition, social support, and community wellbeing.

Following a similar initiative held in December, the Ministry collaborated with churches, senior homes, soup kitchens, community organizations, and key individuals to distribute fresh fruits and vegetables to feeding programs and people in need.

The initiative also comes at a time when many families continue to feel the effects of the rising cost of living, increasing fuel and utility costs, and global economic pressures linked to ongoing international conflicts and war, all of which continue to impact small island economies such as Sint Maarten.

Minister Brug emphasized the importance of supporting vulnerable families and strengthening partnerships with organizations that continue to assist the community daily.

“This initiative is about compassion, dignity, and ensuring that persons in need know they are not forgotten,” Minister Brug stated. “Something as simple as access to fresh produce can make a meaningful difference for families, seniors, and community feeding programs.”

“Food security remains an important priority for the Ministry of VSA. Once the 2026 budget is approved, we intend to further expand and strengthen initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable groups and improving access to nutritious food within our communities,” the Minister added.

“We understand that no single initiative can solve every social or economic challenge our people are facing,” the Minister stated. “But every effort matters. When government, NGOs, churches, community groups, and volunteers all continue doing their part, together we can make a difference in people’s lives. As a community, we must continue to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.”

Minister Brug stressed that improving public health also means investing in preventative measures, healthier lifestyles, and stronger social support systems throughout the country.

The Ministry of VSA remains committed to initiatives that promote community wellbeing, strengthen social support networks, and improve the quality of life for the people of St. Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- For many business owners in the Dutch Caribbean, losing a final tax case can feel like reaching a financial breaking point. Once objections, appeals, and court procedures are exhausted, the Tax Office may proceed with enforcement measures such as bank liens, account freezes, asset seizures, and public auctions. Within a short period, a functioning business can face operational paralysis.
At this critical stage, many traditional advisors step away. Accountants often focus primarily on compliance and reporting, while litigation attorneys may conclude their involvement once court proceedings have ended. Business owners are frequently left facing severe financial pressure with few structured recovery options available.
According to Terence Jandroep, however, the end of litigation does not necessarily have to mean the end of the business operation. As a Certified Risk Auditor (CRA) with decades of experience in tax and audit matters across the Dutch Caribbean, Jandroep is pioneering a specialized post-assessment mediation methodology known as “Compliance by Acceptance” a forensic tax recovery approach focused on preserving viable businesses while creating structured pathways toward repayment.
From Enforcement to Structured Recovery
Traditional tax enforcement methods are designed to secure immediate collection through legal execution measures. In practice, however, aggressive enforcement can sometimes produce unintended consequences:
• operational shutdown,
• employee displacement,
• destruction of future tax revenue,
• and limited recovery through liquidation sales.
Public auctions frequently generate only a fraction of the outstanding liability, while permanently removing a functioning taxpayer from the economy. Jandroep’s “Compliance by Acceptance” methodology approaches the situation differently.
“The liability may already be determined,” Jandroep explains, “but the method of recovery can still be structured in a way that protects both the Treasury and the continuity of the business.”
Rather than treating the company solely as an asset for liquidation, the process focuses on forensic financial reconstruction, compliance diagnostics, and evidence-based mediation designed to demonstrate that a viable operating business can generate stronger long-term recovery than forced closure.
The Financial Locksmith Approach
Jandroep describes his new role as that of a “Financial Locksmith.”
“When enforcement freezes a business,” he says, “the objective is not to reopen legal disputes. The objective is to create a technically credible recovery framework that allows the business to continue operating while meeting its obligations.”
Using forensic financial analysis and risk auditing methodologies, Jandroep develops a structured “Forensic Recovery Blueprint” that may support negotiated Stay of Execution arrangements and realistic repayment structures.
The focus is on:
• restoring controlled cash flow,
• preserving employment,
• stabilizing operations,
• and improving sustainable government recovery.
Why the Model Benefits Tax Authorities
One of the central principles behind “Compliance by Acceptance” is that governments generally benefit more from sustainable repayment than from business destruction.
Instead of relying on one-time liquidation proceeds, structured mediation may provide:
• reliable monthly repayment streams,
• continuation of payroll and turnover taxes,
• preservation of economic activity,
• and reduced enforcement costs.
A functioning company can continue contributing to the economy and the Treasury. A liquidated company cannot.
An Evidence-Based over Trust based Process
This methodology is not based on emotional appeals or informal negotiations.
As a Certified Risk Auditor, Terence Jandroep relies on:
• forensic accounting analysis,
• risk auditing standards,
• compliance reconstruction,
• financial diagnostics,
• technical evidence reporting,
• and structured mediation protocols.
The result is a professional evidence framework designed to provide tax authorities with technically supportable grounds to evaluate recovery-based solutions.
Specialized Support During High-Risk Enforcement
Businesses facing severe tax enforcement often experience:
• frozen corporate bank accounts,
• immediate cash flow instability,
• incoming auction procedures,
• operational disruption,
• and exhaustion of traditional legal remedies.
These are precisely the high-pressure situations in which risk auditors specialize.
Jandroep is among the first professionals in the Dutch Caribbean to focus specifically on post-litigation forensic tax mediation and compliance recovery restructuring.
His philosophy is direct:
“The assessment determines the liability, but forensic mediation determines the recovery. The goal is not to avoid responsibility, the goal is to create a sustainable path toward compliance while protecting economic continuity.”