GREAT BAY--Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling has confirmed that neither she nor Acting Minister of Justice Marinka Gumbs was informed by the Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) or asked to make any decision concerning the release of a woman arrested after three firearms were discovered in her luggage at Princess Juliana International Airport.

GREAT BAY--Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Patrice Gumbs has confirmed that work on the Rolandus Canal rehabilitation project in Suckergarden began while the public-private partnership (PPP) document discussed in Parliament remained unsigned and the Ministry's broader PPP framework was still being developed.

GREAT BAY--The collective court case filed by the Association for Consumer Protection St. Maarten (ACP-SXM) against NV GEBE will formally appear on the docket of the Court of First Instance on Tuesday, November 10, marking the next procedural step in a legal challenge concerning electricity fuel charges, disputed customer balances and the disconnection of utility services.

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten Diagnostic and Medical Center (SMDC) has achieved international accreditation for its medical laboratory under ISO 15189:2022, marking a milestone for the institution and strengthening confidence in the quality, competence and reliability of its diagnostic services.

GREAT BAY--Caribbean Pages, an eight-month literary initiative supported by the Dutch Foundation for Literature (Nederlands Letterenfonds), is gaining momentum in St. Maarten, with students at Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School participating in a program that combines Caribbean literature, cultural identity, creative writing and digital storytelling.

GREAT BAY--Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger-Marten has announced plans to begin transforming Philipsburg into a more pedestrian-friendly capital featuring landscaped streets, improved building façades, upgraded lighting, revitalized alleyways, cultural entertainment and new attractions designed to bring visitors and residents back into town, including during the evening hours. The Minister said implementation of the Philipsburg Development Masterplan is targeted to begin between the second and third quarters of 2027, with construction activities scheduled in phases to minimize disruptions to businesses and tourism.