PHILIPSBURG:--- While the Ministry of Justice is busy patting itself on the back for crime statistics that barely scratch the surface of public safety, the internal machinery of justice in St. Maarten is grinding to a halt. The culprit isn’t a lack of resources or unforeseen circumstances; it is a profound failure of leadership. Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling sits at the helm of a sinking ship, seemingly content to watch the water rise. At the same time, essential workers and critical investors are left to drown in bureaucracy and neglect.

The situation on the ground is nothing short of a disgrace. We are not talking about complex geopolitical maneuvering here; we are talking about the basic, fundamental responsibilities of a government ministry—responsibilities that Minister Tackling has failed to meet at every turn.

A Workforce Betrayed

Let’s start with the people who keep this island safe. The justice workers, the backbone of our legal system, are being treated with utter contempt. The saga of the Landsbesluit has dragged on long enough to become a tragic joke. Why have these crucial legal decrees still not been issued to all justice workers? We hear reports that "Batch 14" is ready, but that it is gathering dust while dedicated staff are left in administrative limbo.

This isn’t just about paperwork; it’s about respect and livelihood. Yet, the Minister seems paralyzed, unable to execute even this most basic administrative duty.

It gets worse. The conditions under which these professionals are expected to operate would be laughable if the stakes weren't so high. We are hearing reports of offices where telephones, the most basic tool of communication, are nonexistent. Break rooms are graveyards of broken appliances; fridges and microwaves that haven’t worked in ages, leaving staff without even the simple dignity of a proper meal break.

How can we expect peak performance from our justice personnel when the Ministry cannot even provide them with a working phone line or a functioning break room? It paints a picture of an administration that simply does not care.

The IND Building: A Monument to Dysfunctional Governance

The situation at the Immigration and Naturalization Department (IND) building is a perfect microcosm of this Ministry's failure. It is a "free-for-all." Staff morale has plummeted, leading to a culture of inconsistency that is actively harming the country.

Reports are surfacing of employees simply not showing up for work, yet still collecting a full-time salary with zero consequences. Worse, there are allegations that the head of immigration is not reporting these absences to the SZV (Social & Health Insurances). If true, this is not just negligence; it is a fraudulent waste of public funds happening right under the Minister’s nose.

This chaos has real-world consequences. The processing of residency documents has slowed to a crawl. In a modern economy, the ability to process legal residency efficiently is a cornerstone of stability. Under Minister Tackling, it has become a bottleneck of frustration.

Choking the Economy

Perhaps the most damaging fallout of this incompetence is the message it sends to the outside world. Developers and investors—people looking to bring significant capital and jobs to St. Maarten—are hitting a brick wall.

They are ready to invest, build, and contribute to our economy. Yet, they find themselves unable to regulate their residency statuses. They are trapped in the same bureaucratic nightmare as everyone else. When investors cannot get their papers in order, they don't just wait around forever; they take their money elsewhere. The Minister’s inability to fix these "simple matters" is costing St. Maarten millions in potential development.

Silence is Not an Answer

According to staff on the ground, these grievances have not been kept secret. They have been brought to the attention of the Minister. The problems are known. The solutions are obvious. Yet, the response has been a deafening silence and total inaction.

Leadership is about solving problems, not occupying a chair. Minister Tackling needs to step up and address the rotting infrastructure, the demoralized workforce, and the administrative paralysis crippling her Ministry. The time for excuses has passed. The public, the workers, and the investors of St. Maarten deserve a Ministry of Justice that actually works, not one that is falling apart at the seams.

 PART 2 SOON TO BE PUBLISHED.

PHILIPSBURG:--- At approximately 3:00 PM on December 28, 2025, officers of the Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) responded to an armed robbery in the Kimsha Beach area. According to initial reports, two suspects in a white vehicle, identified by a specific license plate, threatened a victim at gunpoint and violently stole his scooter.
Following the incident, KPSM launched an island-wide manhunt with the assistance of a specialized team and detective personnel. Investigative efforts revealed that the stolen scooter had been transported to the French side of the island, where the second suspect had fled with the vehicle.
Simultaneously, officers pursued leads that directed them to the Dutch Quarter area. There, they located and arrested the first suspect, who had been driving the white car. During the arrest, authorities also recovered a firearm in the suspect’s possession. The individual, identified by the initials J.A.B., is a known offender currently under court-ordered monitoring with an ankle bracelet due to prior offenses. Notably, J.A.B. was previously arrested as a minor for involvement in a serious crime in the Belvedere area several years ago. He is now in custody at the police station as the investigation continues.
The Sint Maarten Police Force has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on armed violence in the community. KPSM teams remain committed to pursuing criminals and will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those involved in serious crimes that threaten public safety.
KPSM urges anyone with information about this incident or who may have witnessed the robbery to come forward. Contact the Sint Maarten Police Force at +1 (721) 554-2222 or use the anonymous tip line at 9300.

PHILIPSBURG:--- As 2025 draws to a close, a comprehensive year-end evaluation of the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) reveals an institution in severe decline. Throughout the year, the Ministry has been plagued by persistent governance failures, weak leadership, and a total absence of corrective action. These issues raise grave concerns regarding the sustainability of the nation's infrastructure and the rapid erosion of public trust.

Damning Audit Findings Ignored

The General Audit Chamber’s report, published earlier in 2025, delivered a scathing assessment of the Ministry. It highlighted deep-rooted deficiencies in governance, internal controls, compliance, and leadership. Despite the severity of these findings, no meaningful reform program or corrective action plan was implemented between the report's publication and December 2025. This prolonged inaction, occurring under the administrative leadership of Secretary General Mr. Kenson Plaisimond, has entrenched systemic weaknesses and severely damaged the Ministry's credibility.

Parliamentary Oversight Undermined

The Ministry has consistently failed to address formal inquiries, significantly undermining parliamentary oversight.

• MP Wescot-Williams: Questions regarding the General Audit Chamber’s findings remain unanswered.

• MP Darryl York: Requests for clarification on the state of drainage infrastructure and the national road network have been met with silence.

• This lack of substantive response highlights a troubling disregard for accountability under the political leadership of Minister Patrice Gumbs Jr.
• Systemic Failure in Public Service
• The handling of complaints submitted through the Bureau of the Ombudsman has fallen below acceptable standards. Citizens are frequently met with delays, incomplete responses, or total silence. This pattern suggests a systemic failure to treat grievances with the seriousness required by law, fueling the perception of maladministration.

Internally, the situation is equally dire. Reports describe extremely low staff morale and widespread dissatisfaction with senior management. Employees fear speaking openly due to concerns about retaliation or suspension. An internal article circulated by staff depicts a work environment characterized by pressure, intimidation, and threats of punitive action—allegedly linked to the management style of the Secretary General.

Infrastructure in Decay

The physical state of national infrastructure has visibly deteriorated throughout 2025:

• Road Failures: Recently executed pothole repairs have failed, with holes reopening shortly after completion.

• Safety Hazards: Guardrails island-wide are rusted, damaged, or missing.

• Poor Signage: Road markings are faded or absent, and traffic signs are unclear or obscured.

These deficiencies compromise road safety, increase traffic congestion, and negatively impact the country’s image. Furthermore, despite the urgent need to modernize the outdated road network, the Road Fund remains inactive, stalling critical investments.

Controversial Procurement and Planning

The recent public bidding process for solid waste management contracts (2026–2029) has raised alarms. The three-year contract period is viewed as insufficient for new market entrants to justify the necessary capital investments, thereby favoring existing contractors and undermining fair competition.

Additionally, plans to establish a burial ground in Belvedere exposed serious flaws in the public consultation process. Residents were not adequately informed or engaged before decision-making, leading to public opposition that underscores a failure in participatory governance.

Leadership Crisis

Serious questions persist regarding the qualifications of Secretary General Mr. Kenson Plaisimond. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in ICT, he lacks a professional background in VROMI-related technical, policy, or infrastructure domains. Since assuming office in September 2024, the Ministry’s performance has continued to decline, reinforcing perceptions of weak administrative leadership.

Conclusion

Taken together, these developments present a clear picture of a Ministry in free fall. Without urgent leadership changes, institutional reform, and a renewed commitment to transparency, VROMI risks further deterioration. The consequences will be borne not only by public servants and residents but also by the country’s tourism product, economic stability, and long-term development.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In politics, it’s easy to criticize others, but true leadership requires action, accountability, and results. Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports (ECYS) Melissa Gumbs has spent her career excelling at the former while failing miserably at the latter. Elected in 2020, Gumbs spent four years in Parliament as a vocal critic of the then Executive branch, yet she failed to produce a single piece of draft legislation. Now, as Minister of ECYS for over a year, her tenure has been defined by hypocrisy, inaction, and a complete disregard for the people she was elected to serve.

A History of Hypocrisy

Melissa Gumbs has never shied away from criticizing others, often with a sharp tongue and a penchant for public humiliation. In her commentary on Theo Heyliger, she accused him of engaging in "revisionist history" and lambasted his leadership for failing to address the island’s systemic issues. Yet, her own record reveals a glaring lack of action and accountability. While she was quick to point out Heyliger’s shortcomings, she had done little to address the very issues she claimed to care about.

In her own words, Gumbs once stated, “If everything is a priority, nothing is a priority.” Ironically, this statement perfectly encapsulates her own leadership. Under her watch, critical projects like the Ruby Labega School’s roof repairs, the completion of the Prins Willem Alexander School, and the construction of the Library and Charles Leopold Bell School have all stalled. Her inability to prioritize and execute has left these projects in limbo, much as her political career has.

A Minister Missing in Action

Gumbs’ commentary on Heyliger also criticized his lack of focus on Sint Maarten's people, accusing him of prioritizing physical structures over human development. Yet, her own tenure as Minister of ECYS has been marked by a similar neglect of the people she serves. Teachers at the Ruby Labega School have repeatedly raised concerns about the leaking roof, which is in dire need of repair or replacement. Instead of addressing these urgent issues, Gumbs has been conspicuously absent, avoiding media engagements and failing to communicate with the public.

Her commentary on Heyliger’s alleged “megalomania” and “delusions of grandeur” rings hollow when one considers her own actions. Gumbs has spent more time dictating how students should wear their hair than addressing the systemic issues plaguing Sint Maarten’s education system. Her attempt to impose her will on privatized schools, particularly Catholic institutions, has been met with fierce resistance, further alienating the very stakeholders she is supposed to collaborate with.

Misplaced Priorities and Stalled Projects

Gumbs’ tenure has been a masterclass in doing nothing while pretending to do everything. The Prins Willem Alexander School project, which was already underway before she took office, has made no progress under her leadership. The Library and Charles Leopold Bell School projects remain stuck in the pre-construction phase, with no clear timeline for progress. The Marie Laurence School project is similarly delayed, awaiting financing and the outcomes of public bidding. Even the promised upgrades to sports facilities, such as the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex (RISC) and the John Larmonie Center for Basketball and Physical Education (JLCBP), have not materialized.

In her commentary on Heyliger, Gumbs criticized his focus on physical structures, yet she has failed to deliver on this front as well. Her inability to advance these critical projects is a testament to her lack of leadership and vision.

A Legacy of Excuses

Gumbs’ response to criticism has been to deflect and distract. In her commentary on Heyliger, she accused him of creating a “Revised Version of History” to explain away his failures. Yet, she has done the same, blaming bureaucratic hurdles and external factors for her own inaction. Her commentary on the Kingdom’s dysfunction and the challenges of governance rings hollow when one considers her own failure to navigate these challenges effectively.

The Bigger Picture: A Minister Who Doesn’t Care

Gumbs’ tenure as Minister of ECYS has been a colossal failure. Her inability to advance critical projects, coupled with her lack of accountability, has left Sint Maarten’s education and sports sectors in crisis. Her focus on trivial matters, like school hair policies, while ignoring pressing issues, is a clear indication of her misplaced priorities.

Her commentary on Heyliger accused him of being “out of touch” with the people of Sint Maarten. Yet, her own actions reveal a similar disconnect. By avoiding media engagements and failing to address the concerns of teachers, students, and the broader community, Gumbs has shown complete disregard for the people she was elected to serve.

Time for Change

The people of Sint Maarten deserve better. They deserve a leader who listens, acts, and delivers. Minister Gumbs has had her chance, and she has failed spectacularly. It is time for a change. Sint Maarten cannot afford another year of inaction, excuses, and neglect. The clock is ticking, and the people are watching.