SXM AIRPORT--Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) welcomed the first landing of an Air France Airbus A350-900, marking a milestone in the airport's aviation history and adding another wide-body aircraft type to its list of international arrivals.

GREAT BAY--Canadian airline WestJet is preparing to increase its Toronto to St. Maarten service to as many as eight weekly flights during the peak 2026-2027 winter tourism season, providing additional capacity on one of the island's established international air routes.

Members of Parliament Omar Ottley and Lyndon Lewis directed a series of questions to government ministers during Tuesday evening's debate on the draft 2027 National Budget, demanding clarity on electricity relief, the controversial garbage collection tender, overdue payments to government employees, financial assistance for vulnerable residents, infrastructure development and delays in government services.

GREAT BAY--Democratic Party Member of Parliament Dimar Labega delivered harsh criticism of Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs, a fellow member of the Democratic Party, during Tuesday evening's parliamentary debate on the draft 2027 National Budget, questioning her leadership on tax reform, the absence of concrete revenue-generating measures and what he described as a continued failure to provide clear implementation timelines for major financial policies.

GREAT BAY--The FREEGAN Foundation is calling on more supermarkets and wholesalers across St. Maarten to take responsibility for reducing food waste and supporting families in need, questioning how perfectly edible food can be discarded while hundreds of residents struggle to afford basic meals.

GREAT BAY--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten has outlined approximately Cg 22.5 million in potential capital investments for 2027, targeting government facilities, tourism infrastructure, agricultural development, digital services and regulatory modernization.