The People, personalities and legacy Behind 33 Years of Philipsburg Broadcasting

Long before social media became the place where St. Maarten shared its news, opinions, music, and everyday experiences, radio was where much of the island's conversation happened. There were voices that woke people up every morning, personalities who accompanied them to work, DJs who introduced the latest hits, and programs that became part of the weekly routine. For an entire generation, many of those voices came from Philipsburg Broadcasting Network (PBN).

As the network celebrates its 33rd anniversary in 2026, its story is about considerably more than the growth of a broadcasting company. It is also about the personalities who helped establish its identity, the young people who received their first opportunities behind a microphone, the role its stations played during national emergencies, and the Carty family whose broadcasting venture became one of St. Maarten's enduring media institutions.

Today, PBN operates five stations: Laser 101.1, Oasis 96.3, Mix 94.7, Tropixx 105.5, and Inspire 106.3. Their programming ranges from contemporary hits and Caribbean music to classics, gospel, news, and public discussion. But behind those frequencies lies a history of broadcasters and personalities whose contributions deserve recognition alongside the network's anniversary.

And while all of the stations have their own niche and following, from Soca fetters, to Soul and R&B lovers, to classic 80's rock and even gospel, Laser 101 is undoubtably the anchor station. It carries the history and the story of PBN.

Three Brothers and a Radio Dream

An archived edition of the Amigoe newspaper dated November 1, 1993, offers a glimpse into PBN's beginnings. The newspaper featured a photograph of brothers Francis, Glen, and Kevin Carty, identifying them as the men behind the establishment of Laser 101.1 FM.

At the time, the station operated with a 250-watt transmitter positioned at Fort Willem, using the television mast of LBC-TV. Few could have predicted that the relatively modest operation would eventually develop into a five-station network, with a broadcasting identity that would become familiar across St. Maarten.

Over the following decades, Glen Carty would remain closely associated with the network's development and public-service activities, while Francis Carty became central to its management and daily operations.

Known affectionately among employees as "Uncle Francis," Francis has served as general manager for more than two decades. PBN's anniversary statement credits his leadership with helping the company expand, navigate economic challenges, develop its programming, and maintain its relationship with listeners.

Francis is also the voice behind Good Morning, Mr. Governor, a commentary segment associated with discussions about governance, accountability, and issues affecting St. Maarten. The program reflects a part of the network's identity that extends beyond entertainment into public affairs.

Glen's involvement has also reached into political discussion. In August 2014, he moderated debates on Laser 101 involving political candidates, bringing questions about tourism, economic policy, government finances, and national development directly to listeners.

The Personalities Who Made Radio Personal

For many longtime listeners, the history of Philipsburg Broadcasting is inseparable from the personalities who occupied its studios. A radio station is nothing without its on-air personalities after all.

Among them was Party Dude Jason, whose career connected radio broadcasting with St. Maarten's wider entertainment and DJ culture. Jason was associated with several PBN stations, including Laser 101, Oasis, Tropixx, and Mix 94.7. His work on Laser included The J-Zone, which goes as far back as 2011.

Another recognizable name from Laser's history was David "Bulldog" Rothner, the personality behind The Rude Awakening Show. The program had a six-year period on Laser 101 before Bulldog moved back to the U.S.

Bulldog represented a different side of radio, built around conversation, interviews, entertainment, and the personality of the host. His place in Laser's earlier years illustrates the variety of broadcasting styles the station accommodated.

As the years progressed, another generation of personalities became associated with Laser's daily schedule. The weekday lineup includes The Suppa Duppa Morning Show with Suppa and Dee, The AM/PM Workload Show with Gee Money, The Power Hour with DJ Outkast, and Sagan's Playground with Sagan.

These were more than names on a schedule. Their programs helped establish the rhythm of the broadcast day, offering different personalities, musical styles, and opportunities for listeners to engage with the station.

When Young People Found Their Voices

One of Laser 101's contributions to youth development came through Loud 'N Lovin It, the radio program developed and hosted by with Teen Times. Founded in 1996, Teen Times brought its youth-centered approach to Laser shortly afterward. The radio program became an opportunity for students and young adults to discuss issues affecting their generation, develop presentation skills, and gain broadcasting experience.

Among its former hosts were Romain Laville, Rolando Brison, Suppa Kid, Roosje Richardson-Rommy, Khalilah Peters, Keianna Liburd, Melissa Gumbs, Norisha Labega, and Binta Marsdin. DJ Outkast was also a regular on the program before landing his own gig on Laser 101. Several went on to careers in politics, public administration, business, broadcasting, and community leadership.

The program, which also spurned another youth spin-off radio show called "Airheads", remained on Laser for almost a decade before the departure of its presenters for studies abroad contributed to its eventual conclusion.

Its earlier years remain an example of how a commercial radio station provided opportunities for young people to develop confidence and communication skills while giving their generation a public voice.

Women Who Helped Define the Airwaves

Phyllis Meit and Mercedes "Elektra" Wyatt also belong in any reflection on the network's history.

Meit's broadcasting career predates her time at Oasis 96.3. During the early 1990s, she worked at Great Bay Broadcasting 99.9 alongside other radio personalities, including Ivy "Poison Ivy" Wyatt and Mike Jarvis.

By 2014, Meit's contribution to Oasis was recognized during St. Maarten's observance of World Radio Day, when the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports acknowledged several women working in local broadcasting.

Elektra similarly developed a following through her morning program, Wake Up with Elektra, on Laser 101. After more than a decade with Philipsburg Broadcasting and a period away from radio, she returned in January 2018 with Groovin! on Oasis 96.3, filling the space created following Meit's departure for Curaçao.

Their careers demonstrate how radio personalities developed lasting relationships with audiences through their voices, music selections, conversations, and involvement in community life.

When Radio Became a Lifeline

Perhaps the most consequential chapter in PBN's history involves its service during hurricanes.

During Hurricane Luis in September 1995, the island's broadcasting infrastructure suffered extensive damage. Glen Carty later recalled gathering equipment from Laser and joining broadcasters from other stations to establish an emergency radio operation in the government building on Back Street.

The experience helped establish the importance of coordinated emergency broadcasting and eventually led to the development of Laser's Storm Watch Team.

The station subsequently received a National Association of Broadcasters International Broadcasting Award for Exceptional Public Service following Hurricanes Luis and Marilyn. Glen Carty was also selected for recognition by the National Hurricane Center in 2018 for his work surrounding Hurricane Irma.

When Irma devastated St. Maarten in September 2017, Laser again became a critical source of information. Its hurricane team included Phyllis Meit, Sagan, Jennifer Carty, Suppa Kid, Gee Money, Glen and Francis Carty, DJ Outkast, and Nelson de Lima.

They began broadcasting storm information approximately a day and a half before Irma arrived. Although the station briefly lost power during the hurricane, broadcasting resumed within hours, with team members working extended shifts to keep residents informed.

Listeners called seeking information about relatives, food, water, electricity, and conditions across the island. The broadcasters provided weather updates, relayed information, answered questions, and offered reassurance during a period when normal communication systems had been severely disrupted.

In a September 2017 interview, Glen Carty summarized the team's motivation in four words: "This is our passion."

That commitment remains an important part of the network's legacy. During emergencies, radio was not simply entertainment or background noise. It became a direct connection between people who urgently needed information and reassurance.

The Next Chapter

Thirty-three years after its beginnings, Philipsburg Broadcasting operates in a media environment vastly different from the one the Carty brothers entered in 1993. Streaming platforms, podcasts, social media, and digital advertising have changed how audiences consume information and entertainment.

PBN has acknowledged the need to continue adapting, with plans to strengthen its operations, improve programming, and explore new opportunities while maintaining its five stations.

The network's anniversary statement also recognizes the contributions of past and present employees, advertisers, partners, and listeners who have supported its development.

But anniversaries are also opportunities to remember the people behind the history: the engineers and technicians who kept equipment operating, the announcers who became familiar voices, the DJs who shaped musical tastes, the young presenters who discovered their abilities, and the broadcasters who remained at their microphones during the island's most difficult hours.

From the founding Carty brothers to Party Dude Jason, Bulldog, the Loud 'N Lovin It team, Phyllis Meit, Elektra, Suppa, Gee Money, Sagan, DJ Outkast, and many others, each contributed a chapter to a story that continues to develop.

Philipsburg Broadcasting Network's 33rd anniversary is therefore more than the celebration of five radio frequencies or one company's longevity. It is also recognition of three decades of voices, memories, public service, and broadcasting experiences woven into the everyday history of St. Maarten.

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