From the original article that started this thread:

"She added that while she understands the frustration of residents abroad wanting to come home and those in St. Maarten wanting to leave, the normalisation of commercial flights cannot commence until the airport is fully ready to service these flights. The Airport, she explained, falls under several regulations in terms of safety and operations of international flights.
“We cannot jeopardize the status of the airport and that of St. Maarten by rushing operations at the airport,” she said."

Among the things needed to be done:
"Attain critical systems needed for Air Traffic Services (ATS) to perform separation (classification D) of traffic."

i.e. to re-establish civilian air traffic control, they have no beacon or radar now; I have a feeling that is not up to international standards for commercial flights.