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PHILIPSBURG:---  A pivotal meeting took place on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at the Government Building, which concluded with overwhelming enthusiasm and support from the dedicated correctional officers of the Prison and the House of Detention in Point Blanche. This gathering hosted by the President, Sharon Cangieter, and the Board of the Windward Islands Civil Servants (WICSU-PSU) union marked a momentous turning point in the justice system.

In the presence of the Honorable Minister of Justice, Anna E Read more

~Cooperation between Police and Prison Management is essential to ensure effective execution of roles and responsibilities in maintaining a safe and secure society.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Justice wishes to clarify the distinction between Police Holding Cells and Detention Facilities, the historical context, and the recent ministerial decision to address the urgent need to return police cells to the management of the police. This decision is vital to meet the pressing needs of the Point Blanche Prison while ensuring the safety and security of our community.

Definition of Terms
Police Holding Cells:
These holding cells are secure rooms in a police station whereby suspects are detained temporarily but for no longer than ten (10) days in Sint Maarten.

Detention Facility:
This term refers to any location used for detention and can include jails or prisons, whereby inmates are forcibly confined under state authority, typically as a form of punishment following convictions for crimes, or an extended term of pre-trial detention.

Historical Background:
The issue of detention and cell capacity has been a long-standing concern in Sint Maarten Read more

Decision By Minister Of Justice Will Have Serious Consequences To CountryS Security. Possible Strike Looming, Says Napb.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Following a recent decision by the Minister of Justice, it has been ordered that the detention center, at the Police station Philipsburg, will be officially transferred to the police with effect from November 11, 2023, specifically under the executive support department. This transfer means that we as a police organization will bear full responsibility for the management and operations of the detention center. It is essential that we make this transition smooth and efficient to ensure the safety and security we provide to our community.

The board of the N.A.P.B Read more

Academy Schools Stagger Reopening.

~Academic section Aug. 15; PSVE Aug. 22~

CUL DE SAC:--- St. Maarten Academy is preparing for an exciting new school year as it gears up to welcome 80 new students in the academic section, and 50 at the PSVE campus with registration still continuing. Both schools, which fall under the Board of the Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) will also be reopening at different times, with the academic section starting instruction on August 15 and PSVE, on August 22.

FAVE schools saw major changes this year both at the Board and Management levels, with Mr Read more

St. Maarten Academy Teachers Will Not Be Paid 2022 Vacation Allowance.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Over 100 teachers of the St. Maarten Academy both sections will not be receiving their 2022 vacation allowance confirmed member of the Academy Board Roland Duncan.
Teachers of the St. Maarten Academy were paid their vacation allowance in 2020 and 2021 despite the government having a law that states that no vacation allowance should have been paid from 2020 Read more

~Academy records 100 percent school passes and 96 percent college passes~

 Cul de Sac:---  Ninety-five students of St. Maarten Academy graduated under the theme: Out of Adversity Comes Triumph, held on the schools campus on Thursday, December 16, 2021.

Of the 95, 72 were Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) graduates and 23 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams (CAPE) graduates. The graduates were praised during addresses from Principal drs. Tallulah Baly-Vanterpool, President of the school board Roland Duncan, CSEC valedictorian Khushal Punjabi and CAPE valedictorian David Beek Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---The examination class for the school year 2020-2021 for the St. Maarten Academy PSVE, attained a 97% pass rate at the end of their examination period. Guided by the theme, SOAR: The World Awaits You, of the total of 33 students who completed the examination period, 32 met the passing criteria for the 2020-2021 school year.
At the PBL level, 23 of the 24 students passed, representing a 96% pass rate, with the valedictorian for this level being ManHing Zheng Feng from class B4C Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---On February 5th, 2021 Member of Parliament (MP) Claudius Buncamper sent a letter to the minister of Justice, the honorable Anna E. Richardson regarding Anguilla Boats entering St. Maarten. In his letter to the minister, MP Buncamper pointed that it had come to his attention that boats registered in Anguilla are picking up and dropping off passengers at the pier at the Simpson Bay ferry, while boats registered in St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---On February 5th, 2021 Member of Parliament (MP) Claudius Buncamper sent a letter to the minister of Justice, the honorable Anna E. Richardson regarding Anguilla Boats entering St. Maarten. In his letter to the minister, MP Buncamper pointed that it had come to his attention that boats registered in Anguilla are picking up and dropping off passengers at the pier at the Simpson Bay ferry, while boats registered in St Read more

Residency Permits Policy Was Not Changed Or Amended.

~ Minister getting rid of foreigners thru backdoor says attorneys.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- In response to queries regarding the residency permit policy that is being executed by the IND at the Ministry of Justice, Minister of Justice Anna Richardson said on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that the policy that was established in 2012 has not changed or amended.
Minister Richardson said the policy was not properly enforced in the past and that it is her responsibility as the current Minister of Justice to ensure that the policies in place are fully enforced Read more

Young Mother Remains Terrified By Tow Truck Experience, Says She Wants Justice.

~ There is no policy and or legislation for the towing of vehicles. ~

PHILIPSBURG: --- A young mother and teacher of one of the islands high schools remain terrified from the experience she had with a tow truck driver. Humera Alam told SMN News that in February 2018 she parked her vehicle on Emma Plein across from Jump Up Casino and went to a coffee lounge with her then three-month-old baby and her mother who was visiting the island.
Alam said upon her return where her vehicle was parked, she could not find the vehicle and had to walk to the police station to see if the police ordered her vehicle towed Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Rafael Boasman made clear on Wednesday that he will stand by his statements when he said the Justice Academy was not established. The Minister said that indeed the former Minister of Justice Roland Duncan and Roland Tuitt went to notary Mingo to register the Justice Academy as a foundation and while the articles of incorporated were drafted the process was not finalized Read more

Duncan says Justice Minister should do proper research.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Rafael Boasman confirmed on Wednesday that the Justice Academy is not a registered entity within the Justice Ministry. Minister Boasman was asked by SMN News to clarify his statements on the establishment of the Justice Academy. Asked if the diplomas issued from the institution of the years are valid and are recognized the Minister said that the establishment of the institution has nothing to do with the diplomas since the curriculum that are followed are from recognized institution Read more

Former Minister Of Justice Roland Duncan To Be Heard In Laville Criminal Case. Case Referred Back To Investigating Judge

PHILIPSBURG:--- The criminal proceedings in the appeal case against former Member of Parliament R.L. have been postponed June 8, 2017. Meanwhile, the investigation has been referred back to the investigative judge to hear former minister of justice Roland Duncan as a witness.
Former Member of Parliament, R.L. was convicted by the Court of First Instance on Wednesday, August 24, 2016, to 1 month in jail fully suspended Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- We commend Prime Minster, William Marlin, for insisting that the Oyster Pond border dispute be brought to our Parliament which is indeed the direct representative of the people of Sint Maarten. After presenting the problem to Parliament his proposal should have been to request parliament to invoke article 67 of the State Regulation (Constitution) as suggested by MP Sarah Wescott-Williams Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- JCI LIVE Soualiga, a local chapter of the worldwide leadership training organization called Junior Chamber International, is continuously contributing to the development of our community through their sustainable projects. On Saturday the 10th of September 2016 JCI LIVE Soualiga hosted a fundraiser in the form of a training on parliamentary procedures. This training was given by former Prime Minister and JCI senator Mr. Marcel Gumbs and former Minister of Justice who is also a JCI senator Mr Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Questions are being raised now that the agreement the Windward Islands Civil Servants and the Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU signed with Maho Hotel Operations B.V. surfaced, a document workers of Maho Hotel Operations B.V and members of the WICSU/PSU did not see even though a representative of WICSU/PSU Juilia Solagnier signed on behalf of the workers.
Some 40 employees of the company working at Casino Royale refused to sign the agreement that is now termed as a transfer agreement Read more

Exclusive:- Shake Up In Justice Ministry ---Ruben Thompson Slated To Be Appointed Secretary General Of Justice.

Udo Aaron position in Limbo.

PHILIPSBURG: --- A major shake-up is expected to take place in the Ministry of Justice as early as next week. SMN News have been reliably informed that former head of Central Government information service Stanley Kwidama will be appointed Chef of the Cabinet of the Ministry of Justice In 2018 Kwidama was appointed temporarily at the disposal of the Antillean Prime Minister as quarter master to assist St. Maarten in receiving the Justice entity prior to St. Maarten achieving its country status.
While Irene Simmons will be appointed Human Resources manager and Ruben Thompson will be appointed Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice Read more

Director Of Immigration Udo Aaron Refuses To Meet With Minister Of Justice To Update Him On The Controls Done At Maho.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Council of Ministers and the Members of Parliament that formed the current coalition is at loss regarding the controls done at Maho on Thursday. According to information reaching SMN News Maho group of companies dispatched a number of letters on Friday to the Council of Ministers including various politicians expressing outrage, and frustration due to raids that was conducted at around 6:30pm on Thursday. Based on information SMN News gathered the inspectors from the labor department, immigration and police closed down the casino in order to control all the workers that were working at the time Read more

Gumbs cabinet expected to submit their resignation on Wednesday next week.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Reliable information reaching SMN News states that the ousted Prime Minister of St. Maarten Marcel Gumbs will be taking in the resignation of his cabinet latest Wednesday next week.
It is not yet known why the Prime Minister and the other Ministers making up his cabinet choose to stay a few more days in office after being notified of the Governor’s final decision on Wednesday.
SMN News could not reach Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs on Friday for a confirmation on whether or not he will submit the resignation of his cabinet or if he will wait for the police to knock on the doors of the Ministers to remove them from office forcefully.
Former Minister of Constitutional Affairs and also former Minister of Justice Roland Duncan told SMN News that the Gumbs cabinet has committed a criminal act and they can be held accountable for their actions Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---- The new coalition in parliament or the governor of St. Maarten should seriously consider filing a criminal complaint against the ministers based on the "ley Suzy" law says former Minister of Constitutional Affairs and former Minister of Justice Roland Duncan.
Duncan said this is an article of the Criminal Code that states if a Minister deliberately acts or omits against better knowledge he/she is acting criminally Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Today our young island nation is in a constitutional crisis because of the different interpretations of articles #33 and #59 of our constitution. The Council of Ministers has requested the opinions of various Dutch constitutional experts from the Hague. Our governor has taken the high road and requested three judges to provide an advice on this political impasse in five working days. We don’t know if the eight majority in the parliament of St. Maarten has acquired advice from any legal minds locally or from the Hague.
What bothers me is that time after time our elected officials especially those supporting the Council of Ministers have ridiculed the same Dutch for meddling in our internal affairs Read more

>ST. PETERS:---- “With all the political situation on the island, we can't lose focus on some of the issues affecting our economy and neighbourhoods especially with the spate of crime on the island.
“Education is key to fighting crime by starting with the young generation by teaching them morals and values within the school system. We have a lot of houses but few homes in the community, and we need to get back to basics where it concerns fighting crime, but also preventing crime on this island by improving our rehabilitation center where young prisoners when released early from jail, work them slowly back into the community so they can be productive citizens within society again.
“Prison is becoming like a merry go around for a lot of youngsters where they come out and go right back to crime and the back to prison Read more

style="text-align: center;">International Justice Day

PHILIPSBURG:---- Acting governor for country St. Maarten his excellency Reynold Groeneveld called for a law faculty for the island during his address at the ceremony for comemorate justice day on Friday July 17. St. Maarten should work with the University of St. Martin to establish this as soon as possible said the acting governor.
The uniform division of the Justice chain marched from the Police station
in Philipsburg to the Festival village for the ceremony Read more