PHILIPSBURG:---  The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on February 10, 2026.

The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 11.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. Representatives of the General Audit Chamber (GAC) will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:
Annual Report 2024 - General Audit Chamber (IS/721/2024-2025 dated March 14, 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

Simpson Bay:---  Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM Airport) has reported a solid increase in passenger traffic for 2025, underscoring the airport’s continued recovery and its important role as a leading regional aviation hub.

According to official figures, total passenger traffic grew from 1.6 million passengers in 2024 to 1.8 million passengers in 2025. This increase was driven by rising demand across SXM Airport’s core markets, including North America, Europe, the Caribbean, South America, and Canada, underscoring the strength and resilience of Sint Maarten as a premier travel destination.

Passenger Movement by Region (2025):
• Regional Caribbean traffic: +9.5%
• Europe: +9%
• South America: +9%
• Canada: +8%
• North America: +7.3%

These figures highlight customer confidence in SXM Airport’s markets, where demand continues to expand. Traditional peak travel periods are operating at full capacity, further demonstrating the ongoing popularity of Sint Maarten as a key tourism and connectivity hub.
Aircraft movements rise across key markets
Aircraft movements followed a similar upward trend in 2025. Total aircraft movements increased from 59,858 movements in 2024 to 64,610 movements in 2025, representing an increase of 4,752 movements and solid growth of 8%.

“Our results clearly show that SXM Airport is moving forward,” CEO/ President of SXM Airport Mr. Cleaver noted. “We extend our sincere appreciation to our shareholders, Board of Directors, management team, and most of all our dedicated employees and valued customers. Their commitment and tireless efforts are reflected in this strong performance.”

Regional and General Aviation Strengthen SXM Airport’s Hub Role
Regional air traffic and general aviation remain strategic growth pillars for Sint Maarten. Following the reopening of the terminal, the airport has experienced renewed demand for inter-island travel, private aviation, and business connectivity throughout the Caribbean. Increased interest from private and charter operators, supported by infrastructure improvements and the planned introduction of enhanced Fixed Base Operator (FBO) services, further positions SXM Airport to strengthen its role as a dynamic regional aviation hub.

Positive Outlook for 2026
With passenger volumes rising, aircraft movements increasing, and a diversified route network showing resilience, SXM Airport enters 2026 with a positive outlook. Historically, SXM Airport has maintained direct air connectivity with Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina, markets that have contributed significantly to traffic diversification and reach. The airport is optimistic about possible renewed opportunities in Venezuela, which has long been a strong and consistent market for Sint Maarten. Recent developments present potential for re-entry, and SXM Airport looks forward to rebuilding connectivity, strengthening ties with our South American partners.
Growth in traditional markets remains a priority as SXM Airport continues to work hand-in-hand with the Sint Maarten Tourism Office, the Saint Martin Tourism Office, the Ministry of TEATT, international tourism offices, the St. Barth Tourist Office, and surrounding islands to promote Sint Maarten and its unique hub function. Convenient onward connections through Winair, our professionally operated and trusted regional carrier, further enhance SXM Airport’s position as the gateway to the Northeastern Caribbean and beyond.
As SXM Airport builds on the momentum of 2025, it remains committed to strengthening our partnerships, expanding connectivity, delivering world-class travel experience for all passengers.

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:--- The construction sectors in Curaçao and Sint Maarten are navigating a complex landscape of growth and rising costs, according to the 2025 Construction Survey Report released by the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS). While real output has surged in both nations, distinct differences in economic sentiment and operational hurdles are shaping the year ahead.

Robust Growth Amidst Operational Hurdles

According to CBCS estimates, the construction industry saw significant expansion, with real output in Curaçao growing by 9.6% and in Sint Maarten by 9.5%.

Despite this strong performance, the sector remains dominated by small players. The survey reveals that micro-enterprises account for the majority of the industry in both countries, with approximately 75% of companies employing fewer than five full-time staff members. Only a small fraction—6%—operate with more than fifty employees.

Activity is largely concentrated in general construction for residential and commercial buildings, followed by finishing work and infrastructure projects. However, the reliance on foreign resources is heavy. Nearly half of the surveyed companies (44%) reported importing construction-related products or services, leaving the sector vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions and price volatility.

The Labor Crisis

The most pressing challenge facing the industry is a severe shortage of skilled labor. Over half of the construction companies surveyed (54%) reported difficulty finding workers, and 81% rated recruiting skilled professionals as "difficult" or "very difficult."

The shortage is most acute in specialized trades. About 78% of respondents reported difficulty hiring electricians, plumbers, and carpenters. This labor gap was identified by nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) as the primary obstacle to business operations, prompting calls for initiatives to strengthen the local skilled labor pool.

Rising Costs and Price Pressures

Financial pressures are intensifying for 2025. A majority of firms (58%) anticipate higher price levels compared to the previous year. This is driven by a combination of factors:

• Material Costs: A clear majority of firms expect material prices to rise, with over two-thirds predicting an increase of 5% or more.
• Transportation: Over half of respondents anticipate hikes in international shipping costs, while nearly two-thirds expect local transportation expenses to climb.
• Financing: One-third of companies expect an increase in annual financing costs.

Consequently, consumers can expect these costs to be passed down. More than half of respondents anticipate price increases in residential construction, with nearly one-third expecting hikes exceeding 15%.

A Tale of Two Outlooks

While both islands face similar operational challenges, their 2025 economic outlooks diverge significantly.

In Curaçao, optimism prevails. Nearly two-thirds of construction companies (65%) expect overall economic conditions to improve, and 60% anticipate strengthening their local market position. Investment sentiment is also positive, with 57% of firms expecting some growth in investment levels.

In contrast, sentiment in Sint Maarten is markedly more cautious. Firms there expressed concerns about worsening economic conditions and reduced investment activity. Beyond labor and cost issues, respondents in Sint Maarten cited infrastructure constraints and limited access to finance as specific hurdles dampening their outlook.

Industry Priorities

To sustain growth and mitigate these challenges, construction firms across both nations have outlined clear priorities. The most frequently cited need (36%) is to expand and strengthen the skilled labor pool. Other top priorities include reducing the cost of doing business (27%), cutting red tape, and improving access to credit.

As 2025 progresses, the ability of the sector to bridge the skills gap and manage soaring input costs will likely determine whether the current growth trajectory can be sustain

-PHILIPSBURG:--- Once the pride of St. Maarten, TELEM Group is now the poster child for corporate incompetence, leadership treachery, and government abandonment. The national carrier’s tailspin is not the result of “market forces” or misfortune—it is a disgrace scripted by self-serving executives, a negligent board, and complacent politicians, with the brunt of the suffering forced onto the people of St. Maarten.
The epic decline of TELEM is pinned to two devastating chapters: 2016 and 2023. In 2016, then-CFO Helma Etnel presided over the first calamitous downsizing, hailed as “efficiency.” Instead, it sowed the seeds for the disaster that followed, leaving core issues unresolved and worker morale in tatters.
By 2023, things went from bad to catastrophic. Under the nose of former CEO Kendall Dupersoy and current CFO (and interim CEO) Randel Hato, TELEM unleashed a second round of reckless downsizing. In a gut-wrenching betrayal of loyalty and experience, 90 seasoned staff members were sent packing in the first wave, followed by 84 more in the next. These were not faceless numbers—these were the very St. Maarteners who carried TELEM for years, discarded without regard. In their place? A skeleton workforce hollowed out and utterly incapable of upholding even the most basic customer services.
The consequences of this carnage are everywhere. Calling TELEM today is a lesson in futility—there’s nobody left to answer the phones. Customers who dutifully pay their bills online are routinely disconnected because payments cannot be processed—a direct result of a billing system now in utter shambles. Emails go unread, complaints are ignored, and the “customer experience” is a cruel joke. Meanwhile, critical leadership roles vacated by locals are being quietly filled by individuals from Curaçao, handpicked by Hato himself. This blatant cronyism has locked St. Maarten’s own out of jobs and hope, even as the Board and government look the other way.
Government oversight, meanwhile, exists in name only. As TELEM bled out, desperate for financial rescue, St. Maarten’s government sat on its hands, ignoring pleas for support and blocking cash infusions that could have spurred modernization or even a lifeline for survival. Instead, the gates were thrown wide for outsiders like Starlink, all but guaranteeing TELEM’s irrelevance. This is not just carelessness, it is betrayal at the most basic level, showing utter disdain for the economic security and digital sovereignty of the island.
And what is left for St. Maarten? An economic anchor turned deadweight. Service quality has crashed through the floor, the workforce is devastated, and instead of a proud national telecom, the island is left with a mismanaged, hollowed-out embarrassment. Customers are punished, employees are abandoned, and faith in local leadership is destroyed.
This cannot—and must not—continue. Those responsible for the wholesale dismantling of TELEM’s legacy must be held to account. The government can no longer hide behind excuses or indifference. The cleanup of this catastrophe requires nothing short of a total overhaul—rooting out incompetence, restoring local leadership, rebuilding with integrity, and demanding performance over patronage.
St. Maarten deserves a telecom provider that delivers for its people and stands as a beacon of national pride—not a symbol of everything that has gone so wrong. The time for half measures is over. Real accountability, real reform, and real leadership are the only path forward. Anything less is permission for this disaster to repeat, and St. Maarten cannot bear another round of betrayal.