PHILIPSBURG:---  The 21st Annual National Day of Prayer will take place on January 11th at the Government Administration Building in Philipsburg, with the theme “Holding fast to the Lord with hands that serve and hearts that pray”. The National Day of Prayer is held every year on the second Sunday in January, and all persons residing or visiting Sint Maarten are cordially invited to pray and worship at the National Day of Prayer.

The National Day of Prayer begins with Praise & Worship at 4:30 pm, and the official service and program begins at 5:00 pm and will feature numerous contributions of prayers, song, and dance renditions.

“The National Day of Prayer calls us to pause as a nation and remember that our true strength lies in faith, unity, and service. I invite our youth, families, and public servants to come together in prayer—seeking wisdom, renewing hope, and recommitting ourselves to building a Sint Maarten rooted in compassion, integrity, and shared responsibility. As we hold fast to the Lord, may our hands serve and our hearts remain steadfast in prayer,” said The Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina.

The National Day of Prayer was decreed in 2005 by the Executive Council of the Island Territory of Sint Maarten and serves as an ecumenical service for persons of all faiths and religions to pray for a prosperous and healthy new year for the nation. The St. Maarten Christian Council, St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation and the Seventh Day Adventist Church in collaboration with the Government of Sint Maarten hosts the annual prayer service.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on January 9, 2026.

The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Friday at 13.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda points are:
1. Approval of composition delegation and provisions for Members of Parliament to participate in IPKO and Tripartite meetings in Oranjestad, Aruba, from February 19-23, 2026
2. Approval of composition delegation and provisions for Members of Parliament to participate in a meeting of Caribbean women parliamentarians on January 21, 2026, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (IS/469/2025-2026 dated December 18, 2025)

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 Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on January 9, 2025.

This Public meeting was adjourned on December 15, 2025, and will be reconvened on Friday at 10.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The Minister of Finance will return to Parliament to provide clarifications to the Members of Parliament in the second round of deliberations on the draft National Ordinance containing rules regarding a basic payment account for consumers.

2. Ontwerplandsverordening houdende regels met betrekking tot een basisbetaalrekening voor consumenten (Landsverordening basisbetaalrekening) (Zittingsjaar 2023-2024-174) (IS/292/2023-2024 d.d. 20 december 2023)

Draft National Ordinance containing rules regarding a basic payment account for consumers (National Ordinance basic payment account) (Parliamentary year 2023-2024-174) (IS/292/2023-2024 dated 20 December 2023)

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

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 General Affairs. The project, reportedly led by Romain Laville from the cabinet of the Ministry of VSA, 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 reason for the Chief of Staff’s subsequent ban from entering government buildings was her conduct during this exchange, described by some as disrespectful.
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.