State Secretary for Kingdom Relations and Digitisation, Zsolt Szabó (third from left), poses with island governors and representatives of professional associations from the Netherlands.

THE HAGUE--State Secretary for Kingdom Relations and Digitisation, Zsolt Szabó, signed a series of memoranda of understanding on Tuesday aimed at strengthening governance and leadership on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (the BES islands).

PHILIPSBURG--This Thursday morning, Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling will lead an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Luc Mercelina and Préfet Vincent Berton, with attendance of leadership of the Coast Guard and St. Maarten Police Force KPSM, to discuss cross-border actions to stop the spree of crime in the Simpson Bay Lagoon. The minister was made aware of the alarming situation by the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association on Monday.

A certification ceremony was held to celebrate the program's conclusion, with trainers, inmates, and prison staff present.

POINT BLANCHE--Seven inmates from the Point Blanche Prison and House of Detention have successfully completed the first-ever Social Skills Training course under the Prison Rehabilitation and Training initiative. This groundbreaking program, which began in November 2023, is a collaboration between the Probation Department of Judicial & Institutional Services (J&IS), formerly SJIS, and the prison facility.

Discussing the rise of violence (from left): Lieutenant Colonel Hughes Loyez, Vice Recteur Harry Christophe, Prosecutor Xavier Sicot, Préfet Vincent Berton, and Collectivité Third Vice President Dominique Louisy. (Robert Luckock photo)

MARIGOT--Préfet Vincent Berton has said the escalation of violence amongst the youth since September, particularly with firearms, is extremely worrying. He called for a collective effort to get to the root of the problem before it gets worse.

Police officers leading Donny Gumbs out of the courthouse after a preliminary hearing in February. (File photo)

PHILIPSBURG--The man who shot and killed Jermain “Shabba” Emilien (21) outside Lotus Nightclub in the early morning hours of November 11, 2023, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for manslaughter.