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Only 11% In Group 5 Master Problem-Solving And 2% At Public Schools, Assessment Shows

Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS) Melissa Gumbs.

~0% mastery at 4 schools~

PHILIPSBURG--Findings from the National Assessment Report: Early Literacy and Numeracy for the Group 5 cohort 2024/2025 revealed that a majority of pupils are struggling to achieve proficiency in mathematics problem-solving.

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Minister Presents Medical Education Accreditation Framework To Parliament

American University of Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine Facilities.

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Melissa Gumbs on Thursday presented the framework for regulating medical education on St Maarten to Parliaments ECYS Committee.

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DATE ISSUED: Thursday 26th February 2026 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 27th February 2026WEATHER:This afternoon through Friday midday: Cloudy, breezy and slightly hazy with scattered showers.Forecast High: 30C / 86F              Forecast Low:  25C / 77FSunset Today: 6:18 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:32 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: Easterly to east southeasterly, with a gentle to moderate breeze, at 8 to 18 mph and higher gusts.SYNOPSIS: A high-pressure system will maintain occasionally breezy conditions and generate showers across the area Read more

York Calls For Sargassum Taskforce Ahead Of Expected Seaweed Season

PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance Member of Parliament Darryl York is calling for the urgent establishment of a national sargassum response taskforce and greater government accountability as St. Maarten braces for what scientists warn could Read more

77% Of Vehicle Stickers Still Not Paid, One Day Before Deadline

The 2026 motor vehicle sticker.

POND ISLAND--With just one day to go before the February 27 deadline to pay the 2026 motor vehicle tax, a whopping 77 per cent of motorists still have not paid.

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DATE ISSUED: Wednesday 25th February 2026 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) 
VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 26th February 2026

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2:00PM THURSDAY, 26TH FEBRUARY 2026

WEATHER: This afternoon through Thursday midday: Partly cloudy and breezy with light haze. Isolated showers are likely.

Forecast High: 30C / 86F               Forecast Low: 24C / 75F

Sunset Today: 6:17 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:33 A.M.

SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Thursday midday: Easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze at 10 to 18 mph and possible higher gusts.

SYNOPSIS: Stable weather conditions and gentle to moderate winds will persist Read more

Ecys Minister Calls For Cultural Shift To Break Silos In Governmen

ECYS Minister Melissa Gumbs

PHILIPSBURG--Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Minister Melissa Gumbs would like to see a cultural shift within government to break down siloe Read more

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday 24th February 2026 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 25th February 2026 WEATHER:Today: Fair to partly cloudy and hazy, with isolated showers possible.Wednesday morning through midday: Fair to partly cloudy, slightly hazy and breezy with isolated showers possible. Forecast High: 30C / 86F               Forecast Low: 25C / 77F Sunset Today: 6:17 P.M.                    Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:34 A.M. SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Wednesday midday: East southeasterly to easterly with a gentle to moderate breeze at 8 to 16 mph. SYNOPSIS: Stable weather conditions and gentle to moderate winds will persist Read more

Casinos Do Not Pay Turnover Tax, Finance Minister Wants Review, 2 More Casinos Likely

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs says casinos currently do not pay turnover tax (TOT) and she believes this must change, while indicating that she is aware of possibly one or two additional casinos in the pipeline.

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Clem Labega Parking To Be Automated, Old Post Office Site A Possibility For Paid Parking

The parking lot at the Clem Labega Square.

PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs on Monday disclosed plans to fully automate the Clem Labega parking lot and said the site of the old Post Office could be used for future parking collection.

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DATE ISSUED: Monday 23rd February 2026 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 24th February 2026WEATHER:This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Variably cloudy with isolated showers.Forecast High: 30C / 86F               Forecast Low: 25C / 77FSunset Today: 6:17 P.M.                   Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:34 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Southeasterly with a gentle to moderate breeze at 8 to 15 mph.SYNOPSIS: Increased instability will account for isolated showers particularly during the latter part of this forecast period Read more

Mp Wever To Presents Proposal To Address Traffic Issues With Phased Improvements

MP Wever discussing the plans.

PHILIPSBURG--Member of Parliament (MP) Christopher Wever, together with architect Wouter Schipper of DAM Caribbean NV, has developed a comprehensive proposal to address the countrys growing traffic challenges.

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DATE ISSUED: Friday 20th February 2026 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 21st February 2026 THE HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS DISCONTINUED WEATHER:This afternoon through Tonight: Fair to partly cloudy. Isolated showers are possible.Saturday morning: Fair to partly cloudy with isolated showers.Forecast High: 30C / 86F              Forecast Low:  25C / 77FSunset Today: 6:16 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:36 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: East-northeasterly to east-southeasterly, with a gentle to moderate breeze, at 8 to 16 mph.SYNOPSIS: A high-pressure system will support stable weather conditions and generate gentle to moderate winds Read more

Volkerwessels Subsidiaries Fined 480,000 Euros For Bribing Heyliger

ZWOLLE / PHILIPSBURG--Two subsidiaries of the Dutch construction group VolkerWessels have been fined a combined 480,000 euros for bribing former Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Theo Heyliger in connection with the awarding of the contract for the Simpson Bay Causeway Bridge.

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Sarah Wants Ipko To Deliver Tangible Results For Citizens

MP Sarah Wescot-Williams delivering her remarks at IPKO.

ARUBA--President of Parliament, Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams on Wednesday urged the fou Read more

DATE IS0SUED: Thursday, 19 February 2026 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Friday midday (12:00 LST) 20 February 2026A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICEWEATHER:This afternoon through Friday midday: Partly cloudy with brief showers possible.Forecast High: 30C / 86F              Forecast Low: 25C / 77FSunset Today: 6:15 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:37 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Friday midday: Easterly with a light to gentle breeze at 5 to 12 mph.SYNOPSIS: A rather stable atmosphere will maintain mostly fair-weather conditions with a light to gentle breeze Read more

Women Mps Back Victim Support Services Efforts To Close Legal Gaps For Abuse Survivors

From left: MPs Ludmilla de Weever, Veronica Jansen-Webster, Director of Victims Support Services, Cassandra Richardson, MP Sjamira Roseburg and Chairlady of Parliament, MP Read more

DATE ISSUED: Wednesday, 18 February 2026 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Thursday midday (12:00 LST) 19 February 2026WEATHER:This afternoon through Thursday midday: Partly cloudy with brief showers possible.Forecast High: 30C / 86F              Forecast Low: 25C / 77FSunset Today: 6:15 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:37 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Thursday midday: East-northeasterly with a light to gentle breeze at 5 to 10 mph.SYNOPSIS: A somewhat stable atmosphere will maintain mostly fair-weather conditions with a mostly gentle breeze Read more

DATE ISSUED: Tuesday 17th February 2026 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC)VALID UNTIL: Wednesday midday (12:00 LST) 18th February 2026WEATHER:This afternoon: Variably cloudy. Isolated showers are likely.Tonight through Wednesday midday: Fair to partly cloudy. Isolated showers are possible.Forecast High: 29C / 84F          Forecast Low:  25C / 77FSunset Today: 6:14 P.M.              Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:38 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Wednesday midday: Southeasterly to easterly with a light to gentle breeze at 5 to 12 mph.SYNOPSIS: The atmosphere remains relatively stable across the region Read more

St. Maarten Tourist Bureau Launches First Official Salt & Soul Magazine

St. Maarten Tourism Bureau Director May-Ling Chun (left) and Minister of TEATT, Grisha Heyliger-Marten (right) unveil the Salt and Soul Magazine cover, as Editor-in-Chief Luis Hurtault (far left) looks on Read more

DATE ISSUED: Monday, 16th February 2026 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Tuesday midday (12:00 LST) 17th February 2026WEATHER:This afternoon through Tuesday midday: Fair to partly cloudy with a few brief showers possible.Forecast High: 29C / 84F               Forecast Low: 25C / 77FSunset Today: 6:14 P.M.                Read more

Grisha Assigns Staf To Establish Independent Tourism Authority

From left: Cherinah Franken (STAF director), TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger Marten, and James Jim Hepple (STAF director)

PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication Grisha Heyliger-Marten has assigned the Sint Maarten Tourism Authority Foundation (STAF) to lead the process of establishin Read more

Finance Minister Delivers On Promise: Expands Income Tax Payment Arrangements To 24 Mths

Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs.

PHILIPSBURG--Individual taxpayers will now be allowed up to 24 months to pay outstanding income taxes instead of the current maximum of nine months, under a temporary measure announced by Minister of Finance Read more

DATE ISSUED: Friday, 13 February 2026 @ 12:00 LST (16:00 UTC) VALID UNTIL: Saturday midday (12:00 LST) 14 February 2026WEATHER:This afternoon through Saturday midday: Partly cloudy with light haze and brief showers possible.Forecast High: 29C / 84F              Forecast Low: 25C / 77FSunset Today: 6:13 P.M.                  Sunrise Tomorrow: 6:40 A.M.SURFACE WINDS: This afternoon through Saturday midday: Southeasterly with a light to moderate breeze at 4 to 12 mph.SYNOPSIS: A relatively stable atmosphere will restrict precipitation Read more