AIRPORT--Aircraft fueling challenges, gate allocation, passenger processing and parking arrangements are among several operational issues being reviewed at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) as the facility prepares for an anticipated increase in passenger traffic during the upcoming 2026/2027 tourism high season.

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius have formally agreed to collaborate on genealogical and scientific research into the lasting legacy of slavery, with an initiative aimed at helping descendants trace their family histories, uncover ancestral connections and preserve the shared heritage of the three islands.

GREAT BAY--Menopause and the physical, emotional and psychological changes women experience during this stage of life took center stage at the University of St. Martin (USM), where a packed audience participated in an open discussion about symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, mental health, intimacy and the importance of greater public awareness.

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten recorded a remarkable 51.2 percent increase in air travel by U.S. citizens in September 2026, adding nearly 6,000 trips compared with the same month last year and significantly outperforming the wider Caribbean, where American air travel grew by just 2.5 percent. The feat is astonishing considering that the month of September is typically the island's slowest tourist month. It also lends credence to industry reports that St. Maarten did not experience a typical "slow season" in 2026.

GREAT BAY--Stephanie Somersall, Managing Director of St. Maarten-based Steflogix, is encouraging more women to explore careers in pest management while strengthening professional standards in an industry traditionally dominated by men.

GREAT BAY--The Netherlands is preparing to introduce anti-ship missiles into its military capabilities in the Caribbean, marking a significant expansion of Dutch defence operations in the region as the government moves to strengthen security across the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.