Something dangerous is taking root in St. Maarten, and it should alarm every one of us. The violent jewellery store robberies we witnessed in recent months are more than isolated incidents. They are a warning that our island’s security landscape is shifting, and if we fail to respond decisively, this shift will define our future.
On May 9, three men stormed the Little Europe jewellery store on Front Street. One of them fired a shot through a glass door at close range toward the owner, sending panic through Philipsburg’s busiest shopping district. All three from Trinidad were later sentenced to seven years for armed robbery and attempted manslaughter. They had come to St. Maarten not as visitors, but as criminals. And their deportation and trial in absentia underscore that we are faced with a challenged judicial system.
In July, masked men rammed a vehicle into Splash Jewelers at Simpson Bay Resort, assaulted the owner and fled with valuables. In September, robbers targeted a store inside Divi Little Bay Resort. And in October, Ocean Jewelers at Marriott Dawn Beach became the third resort-area jewellery store hit in just four months.
These are not desperate opportunists, their tactics of ram-raid entries, coordinated roles, even waterborne getaways mirror those used by professional robbery rings. And the conclusion is unavoidable: organised crews are targeting St. Maarten’s economy right where it’s most vulnerable in our tourism sector.
Tourism is our island’s lifeblood and when luxury resorts become crime scenes, the ripple effects reach far beyond a single business. Visitors question their safety. Tour operators field nervous enquiries. And our reputation as a “safe and welcoming” destination, the very foundation of our economic model, erodes. This is not just about stolen jewellery; it’s about jobs, livelihoods, and the future of our economy.
Across the Caribbean, organised, mobile criminal groups are moving guns, drugs, and now luxury goods with alarming efficiency. Some steps have already been taken. In August, police chiefs from St Maarten, Curaçao, and the Caribbean Netherlands signed a Letter of Intent under CARICOM IMPACS to strengthen cooperation on organised crime, firearms trafficking, maritime patrols, and data sharing. It’s a welcome move, but without decisive follow-through, it’s just paper. And paper doesn’t stop a bullet, prevent robberies, or reassure a frightened visitor.
Government must now turn promises into policy. That means funding real-time intelligence links, expanding CCTV coverage around resorts, marinas, and commercial districts, and creating a Tourism Safety Task Force that unites police, resort managers, and private security under one coordinated plan. Safety cannot rest solely with the police. It is a collective responsibility that should involve government, businesses, visitors, and residents alike. Suspicious activity must be reported and acted on swiftly.
St. Maarten’s brand is more than beaches and duty-free shopping. It’s a promise of safety, vibrancy, and welcome. Protecting that promise means treating organised crime not as a nuisance, but as an emergency.
