Recent Headlines

St. Maarten targets affluent travelers and higher visitor spending in tourism strategy

Tourism

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten will place greater emphasis on attracting higher-spending and more affluent visitors rather than focusing solely on increasing arrival numbers, with the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, STB, targeting premium travelers, families, yacht and charter clients, travel advisors and selected markets in South America and Europe.

Tribune Editorial Staff
August 17, 2026
Justice

Justice Minister rejects MP Lewis call for independent review of Police Chief Carl John Acting SG role

GREAT BAY--The Minister of Justice has rejected a call from the Nation Opportunity Wealth, NOW, faction for an independent review of Chief of Police Carl John’s temporary designation as Acting Secretary-General of the Ministry of Justice, stating that assigning the acting duties was a ministerial prerogative exercised within the applicable legal framework.
Economy

Govt favors targeted consumer protection over broad price controls as cost of living remains high

GREAT BAY--Government says it does not believe broad price controls are the best long-term answer to St. Maarten’s high cost of living, but intends to strengthen consumer protection, modernize the Maximum Price System, closely monitor essential goods and shipping costs, and act where excessive pricing or anti-competitive behavior is identified.
More News
Economy
Telem launches YourWay, brings more data, flexibility and easier prepaid service
GREAT BAY--Telem is making it easier for customers to stay connected with the launch of Telem YourWay, an improved prepaid experience designed to offer more data, more flexibility, and a simpler way to manage mobile services.
Tribune Editorial Staff
August 17, 2026
Tourism
Visitor’s Tax still a go, targeted for Council of Advice by October 1
GREAT BAY--Government is targeting October 1, 2026, to submit the long-awaited Visitor’s Tax legislation to the Council of Advice, but the Ministry of Finance cannot yet say when the collection system will become operational or when government will receive its first revenue from the measure.
Tribune Editorial Staff
August 16, 2026
Health
Government says full General Health Insurance rollout by January 2027 no longer feasible
GREAT BAY----Government has acknowledged that full implementation of General Health Insurance, GHI/SAAHA, by January 1, 2027, is no longer considered feasible, although a phased introduction of the new healthcare system could begin from that date.
Tribune Editorial Staff
August 16, 2026
Community
Cannabis symposium draws strong turnout, Heyliger-Marten outlines priorities for responsible cannabis regulation
GREAT BAY--The Cannabis Legislative Inter-Ministerial Work Group (CLIWG) has described its national cannabis symposium as a successful first step in a wider public education and consultation process, with a good turnout of citizens attending the August 14 event at the University of St. Martin.
Tribune Editorial Staff
August 16, 2026
Justice
Justice Minister outlines eight priority changes to modernize traffic laws
GREAT BAY--The Minister of Justice has identified eight priority areas for a major modernization of St. Maarten’s Road Traffic Ordinance, including tougher rules on mobile phone use while driving, speed cameras, stronger DUI laws, vehicle impoundment for reckless driving and new regulations for scooters, e-bikes and other alternative vehicles.
Tribune Editorial Staff
August 16, 2026
Infrastructure
VROMI Opens New Garbage Collection Tender Monday
GREAT BAY--The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure, VROMI, will officially open a new public tender for St. Maarten’s solid waste collection services on Monday, August 17, beginning a second attempt to award garbage collection contracts for the 2026-2029 period after the first procurement process ended without a successful bidder.
Tribune Editorial Staff
August 16, 2026
Opinion
A budget and a school year
August 16, 2026
Teen Times Back-to-School Message: Choose Focus, Respect and Responsibility
August 16, 2026
When the school bell rings, it calls all of us - A Back-to-School Message to the People of St. Maarten
August 16, 2026
Weekend Read

ICAO Warns: Aviation is growing fast, the next battle Is about capacity, workers and money

August 15, 2026

The Caribbean Is getting more cruise ships, but the game is changing

August 15, 2026

From Simpson Bay to Monaco: Two marinas, one global network, and a major opportunity

August 15, 2026

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