The first set of the containerised generators that arrived on the island in 2024 to supplement GEBE’s power grid with an additional 10 MW of electricity are no longer at the location where they were installed.

From left: Vice Prosecutor Marie-Lucie Godard, Prosecutor General Éric Maurel, Préfet Cyrille Le Vély, Commandant of the Gendarmerie Lieutenant Colonel Hugues Loyez, and Commandant of the Border Police, Police aux Frontières (PAF), David Appelghem (Robert Luckock photo)

~Armed robberies down 30%~

MARIGOT--Crime figures for Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy for 2025 were presented at a press conference Friday showing an overall decrease of 2.7% in all areas of delinquency. They included 10% fewer assaults on people, 14% fewer property offences, and 12% fewer domestic violence incidents.

PHILIPSBURG--VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs said some individuals affected by the Pond Island demolitions had approached the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) seeking compensation, but stressed that no payout applies, as the bureau is not involved and the land is not part of the EDMP landfill project.

Attorney Jairo Bloem is seen entering the courthouse in this file photo.

~After question about civil servants files~

PHILIPSBURG--“It is now appropriate for you to put down your pen,” attorney Jairo Bloem of SBA Advocaten told the judge on Wednesday at five minutes past two in the afternoon, after the court sought to continue the hearing. Moments earlier, Bloem had handed the judge and the two prosecutors a document. “This is the substantiation of my request for recusal. I will not elaborate on it orally; the document you have before you speaks for itself.”

PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina said on Wednesday that government is committed to resolving long-standing issues with the Fire Department, but stressed that all agreements must operate within the legal framework.