HARBOUR VIEW, PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, December 4, 2025, His Excellency Governor Ajamu Baly of Sint Maarten welcomed His Excellency Governor Alfonso Boekhoudt of Aruba and His Excellency Governor Mauritsz de Kort of Curaçao to Sint Maarten.
The Governors’ visit is in connection with the scheduled activities commemorating the historic milestone of the 50th Anniversary celebration of Saba Day, taking place today, Friday, December 5, 2025. The official Saba Day ceremony will be held in The Bottom, Saba, beginning with an Ecumenical Service, followed by the Hoisting of the Saba Flag, a Cultural Parade, and the Official Ceremony, concluding with a grand toast.
Following the day’s formal program, the delegation will partake in a separate private program on the island of Saba before returning to Sint Maarten. Their joint presence underscores the close ties among the islands and highlights the spirit of unity within the Dutch Caribbean.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Egbert J. Doran has written to the Minister of VROMI, Mr. Patrice Gumbs, requesting an update on the current status of road repairs, ongoing projects, and the use of funds that were previously secured for the improvement of the country’s infrastructure. The MP highlighted that approximately 2 million guilders from the CAPEX 2023 allocation, secured during his tenure as Minister of VROMI, should still be available for both the hard-surfacing of side roads and the general upgrade and upkeep of the national road network. He stated that the public deserves clarity on how far these works have progressed and what remains outstanding.
MP Doran explained that the hard-surfacing project initiated during his time in office, which he developed together with the dedicated team at VROMI, is especially close to his heart because it focused on finally addressing long-neglected side roads in several neighborhoods across the island. These were roads that had not seen proper attention in decades. He noted that the funding secured in CAPEX 2023 was specifically intended to allow the current administration to continue this work without interruption.
Additionally, the MP has asked Minister Patrice Gumbs for information on the annual bidding process for road repair and maintenance, specifically whether the tender for the 2026 cycle has already been executed, and if not, when it will be published.
MP Doran’s inquiries further include the status of the bidding process for stormwater pumps, which are essential for managing heavy rainfall and reducing the risk of flooding in vulnerable areas. He has asked Minister Gumbs whether this tendering process has been completed, which companies participated, and what the next steps will be.
The MP also asked the Minister to provide the list of completed roads, the number of pending roads, and whether any roads had been removed from the original project plan. He further requested updated timelines for commencement and completion of each location, especially in cases where projected dates had already elapsed.
MP Doran pointed out that during his tenure as Minister of VROMI, while larger projects were being prepared, workmen were still dispatched to patch potholes in the interim. This approach helped keep certain areas safe and reasonably passable until more complete solutions could be put in place. He observed that this form of temporary maintenance appears to have slowed down since he left office, and he has asked Minister Gumbs whether there is a particular reason for the change.
Toward the end of his statement, MP Doran noted that while every ministry faces challenges, the country cannot afford extended slowdowns in basic infrastructure work without explanation. He stressed that residents are increasingly frustrated with deteriorating road conditions and should get clear answers on when improvements will be delivered. “People are tired of guessing. They want straightforward information and visible progress. As an MP, it is my responsibility to follow up and ensure that the commitments made and the funds allocated are translated into real action,” he said.
Lastly, he expressed hope that the information provided by Minister Gumbs will give residents a clearer understanding of the work already completed and what they can expect in the period ahead.

PHILIPSBURG:--- An unsettling incident at the Simpson Bay detention center has brought serious ethical questions to the forefront of the Ministry of Justice. A Chinese immigrant, detained at the facility, is reportedly the victim of theft, with $450 missing from the personal funds he surrendered upon his arrest. This case raises significant concerns about accountability and integrity within the justice system.
According to sources, senior officials at the Ministry of Justice, including the Minister, were made aware of the theft approximately two weeks ago. Despite this knowledge, no apparent action has been taken to replace the stolen money or hold anyone accountable for the missing funds. This lack of response is particularly troubling as the detainee is scheduled for departure from the island next week, leaving little time for a resolution.
The incident highlights a potential breakdown in the protocols designed to protect the property of individuals in custody. When people are detained, their personal belongings are cataloged and stored for safekeeping. The disappearance of funds under these circumstances points to a breach of trust and a failure of duty by those responsible for the facility's management.
This specific case may also be indicative of broader, systemic problems. Sources suggest that this is not an isolated event and that other unethical matters within the Justice Ministry are being kept from public view. This alleged pattern of concealing issues rather than addressing them undermines public confidence and suggests a culture that lacks transparency.
The theft of a detainee's money, while a seemingly small amount, carries significant weight. It speaks to the vulnerability of those within the justice system and the absolute necessity for officials to act with unwavering integrity. For the system to be perceived as fair and just, it must protect the rights and property of everyone, regardless of their status.
The Ministry of Justice now faces a critical test. Swiftly replacing the stolen funds and launching a transparent investigation to identify the responsible party would be a crucial first step toward restoring faith. Anything less sends a message that such misconduct is tolerated, further eroding the principles of justice and accountability that the community expects and deserves.

Santo Domingo:--- More than forty crime analysts and specialists from around twenty Caribbean jurisdictions gathered in Santo Domingo for the third Regional Network Meeting for Crime Analysts (RNA), held under the theme STRATEGIC INSIGHTS: CRIMINAL NETWORKS, FINANCIAL CRIME, DRUG FLOWS AND THE ROLE OF AI (Artificial Intelligence). The event was organized by the Board of Chiefs of Police of the Dutch Caribbean, who emphasized that no island can effectively counter cross-border crime alone and that strong regional cooperation is essential.

The RNA was opened by Leonne van Vlimmeren, Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Dominican Republic; Vice Admiral José Manuel Cabrera Ulloa, head of the Dominican Republic’s Dirección Nacional de Control de Drogas (DNCD); and Raymond Ellis, Chief of Police of Curaçao and representative of the Board of Chiefs of Police of the Dutch Caribbean. Van Vlimmeren described the RNA as ‘a unique forum where analysts build trust, recognize shared patterns and support each other across borders.’ Cabrera Ulloa underlined that organized crime moves swiftly between jurisdictions and that ‘our response must be coordinated, informed and rooted in shared intelligence.’ Ellis added: ‘Analysts turn fragments into clarity. When they connect across islands, criminal networks lose one of their biggest advantages.’

Over the course of three days, analysts from Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, France, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, Saint Lucia, Surinam, the Netherlands, Trinidad & Tobago and the United States Virgin Islands delivered their latest analyses. Together, their presentations created a broad regional crime overview, covering firearms incidents, homicide trends, drug flows, youth-involved violence, coastal vulnerabilities, inter-island group dynamics, cyber-enabled crime and the growing influence of digital platforms on criminal behaviour.

The programme also included several expert contributions that helped place these developments in a broader context. Dr. Evan Ellis outlined how geopolitical shifts are reshaping the Caribbean, noting that the region is no longer merely a transit zone but increasingly part of the logistical chain for cocaine and other illicit goods. Experts from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) showed how the Caribbean has evolved into a logistics platform for cocaine storage, repackaging and redistribution, and stressed the link between drug flows and firearms. Technology and intelligence development were addressed by John Bloebaum and Thom Snaphaan, who underlined the importance of clear operational questions and demonstrated how financial crime scripting helps expose laundering and fraud patterns.

Assistant Commissioner Leonardo Brown, head of the Technology Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) presented the development of AI in the JCF. From CARICOM IMPACS, Terrance Roopchan, head of the Crime Gun and Gang Intelligence Unit and the Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre Operations Support Unit, and Dale Joseph, Chief Analyst Cyber of the Cyber Fusion Unit, highlighted trends in firearms trafficking, gang activity and cybercrime. The head of FIU Aruba, Angelo Brete, added a financial perspective, demonstrating how unusual transaction reports reveal laundering patterns across sectors and why understanding financial flows is essential for disrupting organized crime.

The central message throughout the meeting was clear: regional threats demand regional responses. Analysts noted that firearms circulate between islands, youth groups connect across borders through social media, drug routes adapt quickly under pressure and cyber-enabled crime exploits gaps in coordination. The RNA helps close those gaps by strengthening personal connections, accelerating communication, improving access to analytical methods, and enabling a shared understanding of emerging patterns.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from the Board of Chiefs of Police to continue developing the RNA as a permanent annual platform. As CARICOM IMPACS noted during their session: ‘Collaboration does not cost anything, but fragmentation does.’ The 2026 edition of the RNA is expected to be organized in close cooperation with regional partners.