SAM - Soualiga Action Movement

12/08/2026

The work must continue! Detention Sector Reform Program Ministry of Justice Sint Maarten

10/08/2026

SAM stands in solidarity with Colombia, the Colombian community on St. Maarten, and our fellow St. Maarteners currently in Colombia for vacation, family visits, or medical care, following today's earthquake. 🇨🇴🇸🇽

During times like these, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected. We are especially mindful of the families facing uncertainty, concern, and disruption as a result of this earthquake. We send strength, comfort, and heartfelt support to all those impacted.

To the Colombian community here at home, and to our citizens currently in Colombia, please know that you are in our hearts.
St. Maarten stands with you in solidarity, compassion, and hope.

06/08/2026

The Soualiga Action Movement extends heartfelt congratulations to the Honorable Claret Connor on his appointment as Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA).

This portfolio carries a vital responsibility to protect the well-being of our people, strengthen social development, support workers, and advance a healthier and more inclusive St. Maarten.

We wish Minister Connor wisdom, integrity, strength, and success as he begins this important chapter of public service. May his leadership remain guided by compassion, accountability, and a steadfast commitment to the people of St. Maarten.

Congratulations, Minister Connor.

03/08/2026

GREAT BAY--Acting Minister of Justice Marinka J. Gumbs has extended congratulations and appreciation to Inspector Helen Romeo, who marked 40 years of dedicated public service to the people of St. Maarten on August 1, 2026.

The milestone represents four decades of service across the Immigration Department and the Police Force of St. Maarten. During that time, Inspector Romeo built a career grounded in professionalism, discipline, leadership and a commitment to protecting the community.

Minister Gumbs said Inspector Romeo’s career should be recognized not only for its length, but also for the example she has set for public servants, law enforcement officers and women seeking to advance within the justice sector.

“Forty years represents nearly half a century of dedication, sacrifice and service to our community. Inspector Romeo’s career has left a lasting mark on the Police Force and on the people of St. Maarten,” Minister Gumbs said.

For full story: https://www.thepeoplestribunesxm.com/articles/acting-justice-minister-salutes-inspector-helen-romeos-40-years-of-service

01/08/2026

𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 - 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – August 1, 2026

Over the past several days, there has been considerable public discussion about early release, electronic monitoring, and one particular case that has received significant public attention. That discussion has raised genuine questions about how release from prison actually works in Sint Maarten. Unfortunately, it has also been accompanied by misconceptions and, in some instances, statements that simply do not reflect the law.

Much of the attention has focused on whether one particular individual should be released. The legal question, however, is whether the law makes that individual eligible for release. If the law does not, then neither public opinion nor the Minister has the authority to change that.

The law establishes an order that applies equally to every inmate. Releasing one individual before the law permits, or ahead of others entitled to be considered under that legal order, would not be equal treatment. It would replace an objective legal process with a subjective decision based on one individual case. That is precisely what the law was designed to prevent.

Answering that question requires an understanding of the legal framework that applies equally to every person serving a prison sentence in this country. The starting point is simple: the Minister of Justice cannot simply decide who leaves prison and when.

A prison sentence is imposed by a judge. My job is to see that it is carried out, the same way, in the same order, for every person serving a sentence in this country. I cannot shorten a sentence. I cannot grant time off because someone has asked well, because one case has attracted greater public attention than another, or because one set of circumstances appears more compelling than another. Those forms of ministerial discretion no longer exist. They were deliberately abolished when the current Criminal Code came into force because they were unwritten, inconsistent, and open to suspicion.

What remains is one narrow power, exercised only when the prison faces an acute shortage of capacity and then only in the order the law itself fixes. There is a reason the law is structured this way. The moment release depends on judgments about who deserves it more, it depends on somebody's opinion rather than the law. Then everyone left behind is entitled to ask whose opinion, and why. The law is deliberately structured to prevent that.

For most inmates, the position is straightforward. Conditional release becomes possible after two-thirds of a sentence has been served. That is the earliest point at which release may be considered; it is not a guarantee that release will occur. It remains conditional and subject to the requirements established by law.

Where the prison faces an acute shortage of capacity, the law provides a mechanism to relieve overcrowding. That measure does not exist for a particular inmate, nor is it something an individual can apply for. It is a general measure intended to address a capacity problem affecting the prison as a whole.

Even then, the order of release is not determined by the seriousness of an offense, by who has the least time remaining on a sentence, or by who receives the greatest public attention. It is determined by one objective standard: how much of each person's own sentence has been completed as a proportion of that sentence.

This often surprises people because it is not how we naturally compare cases. Yet it is precisely what makes the system fair. A person serving four years and a person serving twelve years cannot sensibly be compared by the number of years remaining. They can be compared by the proportion of the sentence each has completed. That is the one standard capable of being applied equally to every inmate without requiring subjective judgments about who deserves release first.

Questions have also been raised about electronic monitoring. Electronic monitoring is not an alternative to imprisonment, nor is it a separate pathway to release. It is a supervisory measure that may be attached to a special condition of a lawful conditional release. It cannot replace a prison sentence or create eligibility where the law does not.

This is also why comparisons between individual cases can be misleading. Different sentence lengths, different periods of pre-trial detention, and different legal circumstances all affect where an individual stands under the law. Looking at one percentage, one release date, or one individual in isolation rarely tells the full story.

Finally, these decisions are not beyond review. Where someone believes the law has been applied incorrectly, the courts provide the proper avenue to challenge that decision. That safeguard exists because decisions affecting liberty should ultimately be tested before an independent judge.

I know that imprisonment is difficult for families, and that wanting someone home sooner is entirely human. I do not dismiss that. But the law asks me to apply the same rules to every person serving a sentence in Sint Maarten, in the same order, whatever the name attached to the file.

Public confidence in our justice system cannot depend on whether every decision is popular. It must depend on the assurance that the same law is applied equally, consistently, and without preference. That is the responsibility entrusted to me, and it is one I will continue to uphold.

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞
𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐌. 𝐓𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠

Ministry of Justice Sint Maarten Frankie Meyers Nathalie Tackling Frankie Meyers

30/07/2026

Listen to this very important message: gun violence is beyond the action itself!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1HYHRWXTjT/

30/07/2026

It takes a collective effort to drive and support changes!

From Lived Experience to Lasting Change
On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Judicial & Institutional Services (J&IS) had the honour of presenting the Phoenix Transitional Home Project to the Honorable Minister of Justice, Ms. Nathalie Tackling. The project was presented by James Brooks, a fourth-year International Social Work student at the HAN University of Applied Sciences and an expert by experience whose own journey through the foster care system inspired a vision to better support young people transitioning into adulthood.

James first joined J&IS in 2025 as an intern within our Family Guardianship Department and returned in 2026 to complete his graduation project. Drawing on his lived experience and research with former foster youth, professionals, and stakeholders, he developed the Phoenix Transitional Home Project to address one of the greatest gaps in child protection: ensuring young people do not lose their support system when they turn 18. The project will provide safe transitional housing for young adults transitioning out of foster care and a six-month life-skills programme for 20 participants between the ages of 16-25 each year, combining mentorship, psychosocial support, education, employment guidance, and independent living skills. The proposal has now been submitted to the Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben for review.

The Honourable Minister, Ms. Nathalie Tackling, responded positively to the presentation and expressed her appreciation for the initiative. She emphasized that preparing young people for independent adulthood should not begin when they turn 18, but much earlier. The Minister noted that she considers it a shared responsibility of the Youth Residential Home and J&IS to ensure that young people develop the social, practical, and life skills needed to successfully transition into adulthood. Her remarks reinforced the importance of strengthening the continuum of care and ensuring that vulnerable youth are given every opportunity to thrive.

The strength of the project lies in collaboration. J&IS will work alongside the RISE Foundation, psychologists, educational institutions, employers, businesses, community organisations, mentors and volunteers to build a sustainable support network around every participant. The project is also intended to serve as a model for a future transitional programme for young adults leaving the Miss Lalie Center and will be shared with similar care organisations across Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius, contributing to stronger aftercare services across the Dutch Caribbean.

The Phoenix Transitional Home Project is more than a housing initiative. It is an investment in crime prevention, education, employment, and stronger communities. By helping vulnerable young adults build stable and independent lives, we reduce the risk of homelessness, unemployment, and involvement with the justice system.
We invite the business community, organisations, and the public to join us in making this vision a reality. Whether through financial support, in-kind donations, employment opportunities, or by becoming a mentor, your contribution can help a young person build a brighter future.

Together, we can ensure that leaving care is not the end of a journey, but the beginning of a future filled with hope, opportunity, and independence. If you or your organisation would like to support the Phoenix Transitional Home Project through financial contributions, in-kind donations, employment opportunities, or mentorship, we would love to hear from you.

Contact J&IS at +1 (721) 542-3449, +1 (721) 522-3822 or email [email protected].
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at , or visit our website at www.jis-sxm.org to learn more and join us in making a lasting difference.

27/07/2026

Wishing our athletes an amazing journey! Do your best but enjoy the moment! You are already winners for the simple fact that you can raise our flag and show the world the greatness of our country!

24/07/2026

𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞: 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐌𝐄𝐂𝐘𝐒, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧

Point Blanche Prison, Sint Maarten – 24 July 2026

Access to books, knowledge and lifelong learning took an important step forward with the signing of a Declaration of Cooperation between the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport (MECYS), and the Sint Maarten Library, with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to establish a Satellite Library at Point Blanche Prison.

The agreement formalizes a long-term partnership to restore and modernize library services within prison, expanding equitable access to books, information and educational resources for people deprived of liberty. It is an important milestone in strengthening literacy, education, and lifelong learning as part of Sint Maarten's ongoing Detention Sector Reform Program (DSRP).

The launch ceremony brought together representatives of partner institutions, prison staff, invited guests, and prisoners to mark the beginning of an initiative that places learning and personal development at the center of prison reform.

" What makes this moment even more special is that it reflects the very best of partnership. The Ministry of Justice could not do this alone. Nor should we. I am deeply grateful to my colleague, Minister Melissa Gumbs, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, for embracing the principle that education belongs everywhere, including within our correctional institutions.” Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling.

For many years, the designated library space at Point Blanche Prison has remained largely unused. Through this partnership, it will be transformed into a professionally managed satellite branch of the Sint Maarten Public Library System, providing access to a multilingual collection of books and, over time, digital resources, audiobooks and other educational materials.

A particularly meaningful moment during the ceremony came with remarks from a prisoner representative, who reflected on the value of reading and access to knowledge while in detention.

“You can be incarcerated, but your mind doesn't have to be. Reading gives you freedom that nobody can take away. I was disappointed when I saw all those books and we couldn’t just walk in to read them, but when I saw that you were all trying to bring the library back, I said this is a great initiative. Just the feeling of being free mentally is a great feeling." Mr. O.C, a prisoner resident.

During the launch, UNODC highlighted Rule 64 of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), which recognizes prison libraries as an essential component of humane prison management by calling for every prison to maintain an adequately stocked library and encourage prisoners to make full use of it. The presentation also drew on the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Guidelines for Library Services to Prisoners, emphasizing the role of professionally managed libraries in promoting literacy, lifelong learning, and successful reintegration.

Coordinator for UNODC in Sint Maarten, Rafael Barreto, pointed out that “today's initiative shows how international standards can translate into meaningful action, creating opportunities for people in detention to read, learn and invest in themselves."

The Declaration of Cooperation brings together the complementary expertise of each partner to ensure the initiative's long-term sustainability. The Ministry of Justice will provide space and institutional support for the library. MECYS will strengthen links with national education and literacy initiatives. The Sint Maarten Library will manage the satellite library, provide professional support, and train staff. UNODC will continue to provide technical assistance including reading programs, staff training, and some reading materials.

Speaking during the ceremony, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport Melissa Gumbs said “Access to reading is a privilege that can change lives. Reading opened doors for me throughout my life. Every person deserves the same opportunity to discover what a book can unlock. When you grow up surrounded by books, it is easy to forget that not everyone has that opportunity.”

Chair of the Sint Maarten Library Foundation Joseanne Peterson added that “Libraries are places where everyone should feel welcome. We are proud to extend that welcome to Point Blanche Prison."

The signing of today's Declaration marks the beginning of implementation. Beginning next week, professional librarians from the Sint Maarten Library will train designated prison staff and selected prisoner library assistants in cataloging, collection management, circulation procedures and day-to-day library operations before the library progressively commences services.

In his remarks, Prison Director Steven Carty noted, “Books create a connection with the outside world. They help people continue learning, continue thinking, and prepare for life beyond these walls. I remember receiving my very first library card. It opened a world of possibilities. I hope this library does the same for every person here”.

The Satellite Library Initiative forms part of the Ministry of Justice's broader Detention Sector Reform Programe, implemented with technical assistance from UNODC and supported by various partners. Alongside initiatives in education, sports, creative arts and religious services, the library shows how partnerships between justice, education and community institutions can create meaningful opportunities for learning, personal development and successful reintegration. By embedding the prison library within the Sint Maarten Public Library System, the initiative will also strengthen continuity of access to library services and lifelong learning beyond release.

“It is my hope that years from now, this library will not be remembered simply because it was opened, but because of the lives it quietly helped to shape.” Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling.

Source: Ministry of Justice Sint Maarten Frankie Meyers Frankie Meyers

24/07/2026

Today, we pause to recognize a man whose influence is deeply woven into the story of St. Maarten.

Claude Wathey’s 100th birthday is not only a moment to reflect on his life, but also on the courage, determination, and belief required to imagine a stronger future for an island still finding its place in the world.

His leadership was rooted in confidence in the people of St. Maarten—their ability to work, grow, lead, and contribute to the development of their country. His journey reminds us that progress begins when leaders see potential in their people and create opportunities for that potential to flourish.

As we commemorate this centennial milestone, the Soualiga Action Movement honors his contribution to St. Maarten’s development and the enduring mark he left on our political and national history.

May this occasion also inspire today’s leaders to serve with purpose, think beyond the present, and remain committed to building opportunities for generations yet to come.

Honoring 100 years of Claude Wathey—a legacy that remains part of the St. Maarten story. Frankie Meyers Frankie Meyers