GREAT BAY--The Netherlands has earmarked nearly €20 million in its 2027 Kingdom Relations budget for investigative capacity aimed at serious, organized and cross-border crime in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, with St. Maarten, Curaçao and Aruba specifically included in the continuing effort.

AMSTERDAM--Dutch Caribbean young people and members of the diaspora used a major climate march in Amsterdam to demand stronger and more equal protection for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, according to reporting by Caribisch Netwerk/NTR.

GREAT BAY--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Grisha Heyliger-Marten on Wednesday outlined a series of measures aimed at strengthening St. Maarten’s fisheries sector, including the completion of the first fisheries training cohort, the arrival and planned deployment of Fish Aggregating Devices and the procurement of a dedicated ice-making machine for the Simpson Bay Fish Market.

STATIA--With accommodation demand rising sharply ahead of the island’s historic First Salute 250 commemorations, the Statia Government has secured the 95-stateroom Victory I to serve as a floating hotel, creating accommodation for up to 190 additional guests during Statia Week.

GREAT BAY--Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling on Wednesday said recent incidents involving minors have heightened public concern and underscoring that enforcement alone will not solve the problem. She said Government is continuing work toward implementation of the Halt program while urging parents and guardians to intervene before poor decisions by young people develop into criminal behavior.

GREAT BAY--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Grisha Heyliger-Marten announced Wednesday that Government is formally reestablishing the Public Transportation Committee after years of inactivity, as TEATT enters the final phase of a nine-month cleanup of St. Maarten’s transportation permit database.