August 23, 2026 No comments
More visitors in the first half of 2026. Air and Cruise Arrivals both rise
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Department of Statistics (STAT) reports that air and cruise arrivals were higher in the first half of 2026 than in the same period of 2025 — across both the first quarter (January–March) and the second quarter (April–June). 566,722 Air arrivals Jan–Jun 2026 ▲ 21.4% vs 2025 993,649 Cruise passengers Jan–Jun 2026 ▲ 13.9% vs 2025 1.56M Total visitor arrivals Jan–Jun 2026 ▲ 16.5% vs 2025 Together, the two sources brought an estimated 1.56 million visitor arrivals to the island in the first six months of 2026 — around 16.5 per cent more than the 1.34 million recorded over the same period in 2025. Air travel was the faster-growing of the two, while cruise remained the larger source by sheer volume. Air arrivals Air arrivals — every...
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August 23, 2026 No comments
Suspect Arrested Friday Night by SWAT Team in Connection with 2025 Robbery and Fatal Shooting
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) announces the arrest of a suspect in connection with a robbery that occurred at Royal Caribbean Jewelers on September 5, 2025, and a shooting incident that occurred on November 13, 2025, in the Fort Willem area, which resulted in the death of a young man. On the evening of August 21, 2026, members of the (SWAT) team of KPSM arrested the suspect, identified by the initials S.J.F., in the Philipsburg area. During the arrest, a firearm was found in the suspect’s possession. The firearm was confiscated and will be subjected to further investigation as part of the ongoing case. Following his arrest, the suspect was brought to the police station and arraigned by...
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August 22, 2026 No comments
Registration is open: Freegan Food Market Welcomes a New Cycle
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Freegan Food Foundation is opening registration for a new cycle of the Freegan Food Market, the foundation said on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in a press statement. “Our program that helps families and individuals in St. Maarten who are struggling to make ends meet. “The Freegan Food Market works like a real grocery store, not a food bank. Once a household is accepted into the program, they come in every week and pick out their own groceries, fresh produce and household essentials, based on what their family actually needs, for a small personal contribution of 4 dollars per person per week that helps keep the market running. Nobody hands you a pre-packed box here. You choose what...
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August 22, 2026 No comments
PROSECUTOR/POLICE COMMUNITY APPEAL: Armed and dangerous suspect remains wanted in “Alligator” double-murder investigation
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) and the Prosecutor’s Office are renewing their appeal for information concerning the suspected shooter in the ongoing “Alligator” investigation. The suspect remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. The investigation concerns the fatal shooting of D S, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, and D.D of the United States on 2 March 2026 in Sint Maarten. Investigators believe Sylvester was the intended target of the shooting. D.D is not believed to have been a target and appears to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. One suspect is currently in pre-trial detention on suspicion of complicity in the two murders. However, the suspected shooter has not yet...
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August 21, 2026 No comments
FINANCE MINISTER GUMBS CONGRATULATES WINAIR ON ITS 65th ANNIVERSARY. PRAISES AIRLINE’S PERFORMANCE
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - On the occasion of Windward Islands Airways International N.V.’s (WINAIR) 65th anniversary, the Minister of Finance, the Honorable Marinka Gumbs, extends her heartfelt congratulations to the board, management, staff, and passengers of Sint Maarten’s national carrier. Founded in 1961 by pioneers Georges Greaux, Hippolyte Ledee, and Chester Wathey, WINAIR has grown from a humble local flight operation into an indispensable regional airline. Over six and a half decades, the airline has served as an essential lifeline, bridging the islands of the North Eastern Caribbean, (particularly our Windward Islands- Saba and St. Eustatius), boosting commerce, supporting tourism, facilitating healthcare access, and keeping families connected across our waters. Reflecting on the airline’s storied journey, Minister...
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