PHILIPSBURG: ---  An escrow arrangement intended to settle outstanding payments to 22 workers on the St. Maarten General Hospital project is being finalized, according to information Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Claret Connor provided to SMN News following its reporting on the unpaid wage claims.

The response states that FINSO and its former subcontractor, Technostyle, agreed at a recent court hearing to prioritize the workers’ outstanding payments before proceeding with their broader contractual dispute. However, the information provided does not confirm that the escrow account has been funded or that workers have been paid.

Connor explained that he sought information through SMMC’s project representative. The response expressly identifies the contractor as the source of the account, noting that SMMC has neither access to the documentation between FINSO and Technostyle nor Technostyle’s perspective.

That distinction matters: the response provides the contractor’s explanation of the dispute, not an independently established account from all parties.

According to Connor, the 22 individuals are foreign workers employed by Technostyle, a Panamanian subcontractor FINSO engaged to perform structural work on the hospital project from the fourth quarter of 2025 through 2027.

The response states that all workers obtained the required labor and residence permits in coordination with the ministries of VSA and Justice.

It further explains that FINSO engaged Sint Maarten-based Global Resourcing to ensure compliance with local tax and social insurance obligations, while Technostyle was responsible for paying the workers.

Competing Accounts of Employment Responsibility

The explanation raises a central issue already identified in SMN News’s October 12 report: the distinction between the companies’ commercial arrangements and the obligations contained in the workers’ employment agreements.

That report described a petition naming Global Resourcing as the employer and defendant. The worker’s representative maintained that Global Resourcing signed the employment agreement and undertook to pay the salary, rejecting an anticipated argument that payment responsibility rested with Technostyle. Those remain claims on the worker’s behalf, not findings established by a judgment.

Connor's response does not explain how the contractor’s description of Technostyle’s payment responsibility reconciles with the employment agreement identified in earlier reporting.

FINSO Attributes Breakdown to Disputed Contract Termination

According to the contractor’s account, FINSO identified quality issues with Technostyle’s work after several months and ultimately terminated the subcontract.

Technostyle disputed the termination. Both companies, represented by legal counsel, subsequently filed claims concerning lost profits, damages, breach of contract, and related matters, the response states.

FINSO alleges quality issues as part of its account of the contractual breakdown. The material supplied does not include Technostyle’s response or a court finding establishing those allegations.

The response says it appears Technostyle did not fully pay its workers after the contract ended. Workers also filed claims with Global Resourcing under their employment agreements but were referred to Technostyle or FINSO, according to the information supplied.

FINSO reportedly offered Technostyle a settlement several months ago covering work performed and related obligations through the termination date. The response states that Technostyle declined that offer, but does not provide the proposed amount, its detailed terms, or Technostyle’s reasons for rejecting it.

Judge Reportedly Recommended Jointly Funded Account

At a recent hearing in Sint Maarten, the parties reportedly agreed to follow the judge’s recommendation to address outstanding worker payments before continuing the wider termination dispute.

According to the response, the judge proposed an escrow account funded equally by FINSO and Technostyle, with the money used to pay the workers.

Connor was informed that the parties’ lawyers are finalizing the account’s terms and conditions.

No hearing record, written order, escrow agreement, total payment amount or firm disbursement date accompanied the response. It therefore remains unclear precisely which claims the proposed arrangement will cover and when workers will receive their money.

Contractor Says Working-Hours Issue is not disputed

The response also addresses the reported difference between a 40-hour employment agreement and a 55-hour project schedule.

According to the contractor’s account, the issue is not disputed: payments before the dispute were based on actual, approved hours, and outstanding payments will be calculated on the same basis.

However, payment for recorded hours and the calculation of contractual overtime are separate questions. The response does not specify the rates to be applied or explain whether the workers and their representatives accept the proposed calculation.

SMN News’s earlier report described an individual petition seeking regular wages, overtime, vacation pay, termination-related compensation and a statutory increase for delayed payment. The US$37,660.67 stated in that petition concerned one worker, rather than the combined claims of all 22.

The minister’s response does not establish whether the escrow arrangement will address all those categories or only outstanding payments for work performed.

Payment Expected, but Completion Unconfirmed

The response states that SMMC has no contractual relationship with Technostyle and characterizes the matter as a contractual dispute between FINSO and its subcontractor being litigated in court.

Connor concluded that he understood payments to Technostyle’s workers were expected to be resolved shortly.

For the 22 workers, the proposed escrow arrangement offers a possible route to payment. The outstanding question is whether that arrangement will now produce an agreed calculation, a funded account, and an actual payment date.

PHILIPSBURG: The Voice of the Youth St. Maarten Foundation is pleased to announce that it has received separate funding contributions from Het Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied, Madurodam Kinderfonds, and Kinderpostzegels (through Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben) to support the development of the Sint Maarten Youth Brigade Drum Band and leadership training for its members.

These contributions represent a valuable investment in youth empowerment, cultural expression, and personal development, strengthening the Foundation's efforts to provide young people with meaningful opportunities to discover their talents, build confidence, and develop essential life skills.

As the Foundation's flagship program, the Sint Maarten Youth Brigade provides a structured environment where young people develop discipline, responsibility, teamwork, commitment, and leadership. Through the Drum Band, members can nurture their musical abilities, express themselves creatively, and participate in performances and community activities while fostering a sense of unity and belonging.

Funding for musical instruments will strengthen the Drum Band's activities and give members more opportunities to develop their musical skills. Leadership training will complement this development by strengthening young people's communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, preparing them to become responsible, confident contributors to their communities.

The Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to Het Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied, Madurodam Kinderfonds, and Kinderpostzegels, (through Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben), for their respective contributions. Their support demonstrates the importance of investing in initiatives that promote youth development, creativity, cultural participation, and leadership.

“Investing in our youth is an investment in the future of Sint Maarten. Through music, mentorship, and leadership development, we can empower young people to recognize their potential, nurture their talents, and become confident, responsible contributors to our community. We are sincerely grateful to our funding partners for helping us create these meaningful opportunities.”

The Voice of the Youth St. Maarten Foundation remains committed to empowering young people through structured programs that encourage personal growth, discipline, creativity, and community involvement. The Foundation looks forward to building on this support and continuing to create opportunities that inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of Sint Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) Member of Parliament (MP) and Chairman of the Justice Committee, Lyndon Lewis, called for stronger regional cooperation, better-equipped justice institutions, and practical legislation to address cybercrime and organized crime during his contribution to discussions on democratic security at ParlAmericas in Chile.

Drawing on his experience at the Immigration and Border Protection, Police Force of Sint Maarten, National Detective Agency, his tenure as Minister of Justice, and his current role as a Member of Parliament, MP Lewis was invited to the ParlAmericas National Congress in Chile as a Panelist on the topic of Democratic Security in Latin America and the Caribbean.

MP Lewis highlighted the growing challenges facing democracies throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. These challenges include criminal influence over public institutions, rapidly evolving digital threats, limited institutional resources, and declining public trust.

“Democratic security means that people can live safely, exercise their rights, participate freely in public life, and trust that public institutions serve them fairly,” Lewis stated.

He emphasized that organized crime threatens more than individual criminal offenses, warning that intimidation, corruption, illicit financing, and the manipulation of public systems can weaken the foundations of democratic government. He explained that addressing these threats requires independent institutions, transparent decision-making, and consistent parliamentary oversight.

MP Lewis also highlighted the particular challenges facing Sint Maarten and other small Caribbean jurisdictions, where limited budgets and specialist personnel must meet increasingly complex security demands.

“A small jurisdiction still needs a functioning justice system and credible cybersecurity arrangements. Those responsibilities do not disappear because the population is smaller,” MP Lewis said.

He advocated regional approaches that let smaller jurisdictions access shared forensic services, specialist expertise, and training, along with clear procedures for cross-border investigations and preserving electronic evidence.

On legislative design, MP Lewis stressed that stronger laws must be backed by realistic implementation plans. He urged parliaments to consult investigators, prosecutors, the judiciary, businesses, technical specialists, civil society, and victim-support organizations before introducing reforms.

“We cannot assume that passing legislation means the country is prepared,” MP Lewis stated.

MP Lewis called for legislative proposals to include clear responsibilities, adequate funding, training, equipment, and measurable reporting requirements. He also emphasized the importance of tracing criminal proceeds, protecting witnesses, improving reporting channels for victims, and reviewing laws after enactment to see whether they deliver meaningful results.

Throughout his contribution, MP Lewis underscored that public safety and democratic safeguards must advance together. He maintained that investigative powers should be clearly defined, proportionate, and subject to appropriate authorization and independent oversight, while protecting legitimate expression, journalism, and political participation.

Concluding his remarks, MP Lewis outlined three questions that should guide parliamentary consideration of security reforms:

MP Lewis' contribution placed Sint Maarten's and smaller Caribbean jurisdictions' needs within the wider regional discussion, emphasizing that effective democratic security requires capable institutions, practical cooperation, and accountability to the people those institutions serve.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Former acting head of Pointe Blanche Prison Aartwich Bell has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after the Court of First Instance found him guilty on three counts involving repeated sexual abuse of a minor.

The Court delivered the judgment on October 22, 2026. The prosecution had requested a 12-year prison sentence.

In determining the punishment, the Court emphasized the seriousness and prolonged nature of Bell’s offenses, his grave abuse of trust and his failure to take responsibility for his actions.

The Court concluded that the proven offenses warranted a substantial, unconditional prison sentence. It considered sentencing guidelines and judgments in comparable cases before imposing the 10-year term.

Although Bell had no previous criminal convictions, the Court did not consider that sufficient grounds for a reduced sentence. It explained that previous convictions for similar offenses would instead have been an aggravating factor.

The Court also imposed a Cg 50,000 compensation order, plus statutory interest. The judgment provides for 225 days of substitute detention if payment or recovery fails, while expressly maintaining Bell’s obligation to pay.

According to the accompanying press release, Bell was arrested by the National Detectives on February 2, 2026, and has remained in custody. The court will deduct time spent in pre-trial detention from his sentence.