UP MP Francisco Lacroes

PHILIPSBURG--Parliament erupted into controversy on Thursday after United People’s party (UP) Member of Parliament (MP) Francisco Lacroes opened his visual presentation by displaying an image of TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten’s husband, former MP Theo Heyliger, who is currently incarcerated, triggering an immediate adjournment and a fierce debate over parliamentary conduct and the use of visual presentations.

Detectives from KPSM, supported by the Forensic Department, immediately cordoned off the area and commenced their investigation.

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Police Force KPSM is investigating a fatal shooting in the Fort Willem area on Thursday evening, shortly before 7:00pm.

PHILIPSBURG--Members of the Fire Department are no longer willing to engage in back-and-forth discussions regarding the signing of a commitment letter aimed at resolving their concerns about placement and retroactive payments linked to their function book.

In a letter sent on Wednesday by Windward Islands Civil Servants Union-Private Sector Union (WICSU-PSU) President Sharon Cangieter to Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, the union conveyed the Fire Department members’ frustration over unfulfilled agreements from previous meetings.

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina said on Wednesday that there is “no justification for a continuation of a go-slow” by Fire and Ambulance personnel, as he has already committed in writing to meeting all of their demands.

PHILIPSBURG--An administrative judge has suspended the recent changes to District 721’s operating permit, ruling that last month’s amendments by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten were “unsubstantiated and unreasonable.”