Caribbean Islands weekly roundup: double murder in Sint Maarten, weapon surrender operation and FBI arrest
A busy week on the Caribbean islands: a double murder in Sint Maarten, a joint weapon surrender operation and new appointed ministers.
Busy week on the islands: murder, weapons and new ministers
Caribischnetwerk.ntr.nl reported this week on a series of notable events across the six Caribbean islands, from a five-year-old trapped for hours in a van on Aruba to a double murder in Sint Maarten and an unprecedented joint weapon surrender operation.
Five-year-old resuscitated after being left in van on Aruba
On Aruba, late last week a five-year-old boy, Alexander Florez, became trapped for hours in a commercial van after the driver forgot him. When the child was discovered, he showed no signs of life. Medical personnel resuscitated him on the spot. After his heart started beating again, he was rushed to hospital and subsequently transferred to Colombia for further treatment. The father, who had come to pick up his son, was told that the child had already been taken.
The van driver gave an interview to 24ora.com, in which he took full responsibility. That interview was extensively discussed on social media on Friday. The police asked the public to pray for the child.
Historic artefacts from Statia to Philadelphia
The government of Sint Eustatius announced on Friday that artefacts from the Heritage House on the island will be temporarily displayed at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. The objects are part of the exhibition 'The First Salute: An Untold Story of the American Revolution', which is linked to the 250th anniversary of the United States. The exhibition highlights Statia's role in the American Revolution, including Jewish life and trade history in the Caribbean. Among the objects is a cannon.
On 16 November 2026, Sint Eustatius will commemorate the historic 'First Salute' from 250 years ago. On that date in 1776, Fort Orange fired a salute as the first international recognition of American independence. After the exhibition closes, the artefacts will be returned to the island.
Double murder in Sint Maarten: man and woman shot in overturned SUV
In the early morning of Monday 2 March, police in Sint Maarten received reports of an overturned SUV on Arlet Peters Road, also known as Old Cake House Road. Around 3:30 a.m., officers found two victims in the car: a man and a woman, both shot. The man was known to police, residing in Sint Maarten but originally from Trinidad & Tobago. The woman was an American tourist.
Police initially described the incident as a "serious car accident, which turned out to be a double murder." No further details about the background of the incident have been released. The public has been asked to provide tips.
Six islands join forces for weapon surrender operation
The police forces of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, together with the police chiefs of Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten, announced on Monday a joint operation for the surrender of illegal firearms. According to the participating forces, this is the first time that all islands are participating in such an operation simultaneously.
Individuals with an illegal firearm are given the opportunity to voluntarily surrender it during a set period, without criminal prosecution. Based on the results, targeted checks and searches may follow. Illegal weapons possession is an increasing problem on all islands, according to police.
New appointed ministers for Aruba and Curaçao
On Wednesday, new representatives were appointed for their respective offices in The Hague on both Curaçao and Aruba. On Curaçao, Errold Bishop was appointed as acting appointed minister, appointed by the MFK and accountable to MFK Prime Minister Gilmar 'Pik' Pisas. Bishop was a trade unionist for utility company Aqualectra for many years.
On Aruba, Mildred 'Milly' Schwengle was nominated by the AVP as new appointed minister. She reports to Minister of Kingdom Relations Gerlien Croes (Futuro). Schwengle, formerly a member of the Kingdom's Council of State on behalf of Aruba, takes over leadership of the Aruba house in The Hague, which currently operates without a minister and without a director. The director is suspended due to a disciplinary investigation. At the Curaçao house, the director was placed on leave this week pending an investigation into "financial and personnel mismanagement."
Curaçao's World Cup dream clashes with school schedule
Curaçao's morning newspaper Extra reported on Thursday that Curaçao's participation in the football world championship in the United States — with matches against Germany, Ecuador and Côte d'Ivoire — risks clashing with the school year. Many fans have already booked flight tickets and match tickets for the games. The newspaper points to a possible organisational clash between the education sector and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (OWCS).
Source: Google News AW — Crime