Recent Headlines

Audit Chamber: Simpson Bay tree protest shows why building permit decisions need more transparency

Infrastructure

GREAT BAY--The General Audit Chamber says the recent protest in Simpson Bay over the felling of a grape tree reflects broader concerns raised in its 2025 audit of St. Maarten’s building permit process, particularly the need for transparency, written justification and stronger safeguards in development decisions.

May 28, 2026
Dutch Kingdom

Dutch Royal collection review finds colonial artefacts taken by force

THE HAGUE--A review of the Dutch royal family’s colonial-era collection has found that dozens of artefacts were wrongfully acquired during colonial wars and military campaigns, raising new questions about ownership, restitution and how the royal collection should be handled going forward.
Community

GEBE explains fuel clause, billing and payment options for customers

GREAT BAY--Representatives of NV GEBE appeared on Laser 101 on Thursday morning to explain several issues currently affecting customers, including the fuel clause, billing cycles, water leaks, online payments, payment plans, customer service challenges and upcoming improvements to GEBE’s digital services.
More News
Dutch Kingdom
Netherlands plans to return and digitize some Colonial-era archives
THE HAGUE--The Dutch government will establish a new policy framework for handling colonial-era archives, including the possible return of archival material, improved digital access and a formal inventory of state archives connected to the colonial past.
Tribune Editorial Staff
May 28, 2026
Government
MP Ottley: Coalition chose survival over accountability in VROMI vote
GREAT BAY-- Member of Parliament Omar Ottley says the final vote on the motion to dismiss Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs sent a clear and troubling message to the people of St. Maarten: that the coalition of DP, URSM and PFP chose political survival over public accountability.
Tribune Editorial Staff
May 28, 2026
Economy
SEDC, TEATT and RVO push MSME growth through Advanced Education Program
GREAT BAY--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Grisha Heyliger-Marten, together with the St. Maarten Entrepreneurship Development Center (SEDC), the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Department of Economy, Transportation and Telecommunication (ETT), has highlighted the continued rollout of the Advanced Education Program, an initiative within the E6 Country Package designed to help local micro, small and medium enterprises grow, modernize and compete.
Tribune Editorial Staff
May 27, 2026
Education
EGMA, EGRA results give St. Maarten a roadmap for education reform
GREAT BAY--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs told Parliament that the results of the Early Grade Reading Assessment and Early Grade Mathematics Assessment must be treated as more than a set of test scores, describing them as a guide for targeted reform across St. Maarten’s education system.
Tribune Editorial Staff
May 27, 2026
Education
Gumbs: Teacher career path, remuneration and foreign teacher rules under review
GREAT BAY--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs told Parliament that the Ministry is working on reforms aimed at strengthening teacher development, reviewing career advancement opportunities and addressing long-standing questions around remuneration, while also clarifying the rules that apply to foreign teachers employed in public education.
Tribune Editorial Staff
May 27, 2026
Education
Gumbs: St. Maarten’s Language Reality Must Be Addressed in Education Reform
GREAT BAY--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs told Parliament on Wednesday that the Ministry is developing a national language policy to address language-related disparities in education, after assessment results showed that student performance is influenced by both the language used at home and the language of instruction in school.
May 27, 2026
Opinion
The Bigger Picture
May 27, 2026
Salt Upon Injury The Dutch “Apology” and its Refusal to debate Abstention from UN Vote
May 27, 2026
reality: In St. Maarten, Blowing the Whistle Is Not That Simple
May 26, 2026
Weekend Read

Will citizen legal pressure on GEBE succeed where protests have failed? A look at the possible legal options

May 22, 2026

Valérie Damaseau on St. Martin’s Flag Initiative : Identity, Visibility and “Finally Standing Fully in Who We Are”

May 22, 2026

AFKA: A Festival Built to Remember, Reclaim and Reframe

May 22, 2026

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