SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - In a move that speaks volumes about their priorities, three coalition members, now reduced to six Parliamentarians, have opted to travel to Paraguay for ParlAmericas alongside the Secretary-General of Parliament, halting Parliament meetings in St. Maarten.

Despite the coalition repeatedly stressing the urgency of maintaining the full fifteen members in Parliament, the coalition has chosen to proceed with their trip rather than address critical affairs of Parliament. The pending affairs of Parliament include crucial meetings, such as the approval of credentials, which still lingers due to the irresponsible manner in which the Presidium handled the resignation of the two departing members of Parliament, now Ministers, and the approval of new Members of Parliament.

Earlier this week, the National Alliance and United People's Party (NA/UP) factions urgently requested a parliament meeting to approve the incoming MPs' credentials. However, despite the majority of Members of Parliament being present on the island, the coalition has yet to officially respond to this pressing request, which they claim to deeply care about.

"The decision to cripple Parliament's operations raises serious questions about the commitment of the coalition to their duties and responsibilities as elected representatives. Why cripple the operations of Parliament when a meeting could easily be convened in their absence?" MP Doran stated.

This deliberate obstruction not only undermines the democratic process but also reflects poorly on the coalition's willingness to prioritize the needs of the people of Sint Maarten and approval of their own coalition members' credentials. It is important to note that the coalition members were a no-show on Thursday, May 2, 2024, for the meeting regarding approving the incoming MPs' credentials. At least one of these missing members was on the airwaves, expressing dissatisfaction with his coalition. "How can the other Coalition members then cast blame on the opposition for not approving the credentials of their members?" It is their members that are infighting and sabotaging the operations of the coalition.

"I am extremely disappointed with the rhetoric the coalition is playing to present a different picture to the public of St. Maarten. We, the "Super 7", have submitted an urgent public meeting request to seek clarity on the legitimacy of the booked resignation letters of the two former MPs and to approve the credentials of the two incoming MPs who are members of their coalition. However, we have not received any formal reply to our meeting request dated May 7 nor our follow-up email dated May 8, despite pointing out that urgent meetings are to be held within 48 hours according to the Parliamentary rules of order. This lack of response again demonstrates their disregard for Parliament's rules of order and us as fellow Members of Parliament. This blatant disregard has left us with no choice but to retract our urgent request as most of our MPs will be travelling on Monday for a week. While the 2 x 4 coalition publicly expresses the urgency of the matter, their actions tell a different story," said MP Omar Ottley.

As the NA/UP factions continue to advocate for accountability, transparency, and effective governance, it is imperative that the coalition reevaluates its priorities and takes immediate steps to address its major internal issues so that the operations of Parliament do not continue at this level of amateurism.

MP Ottley

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the newly appointed Council of Ministers (CoM) of Sint Maarten, including the Minister Plenipotentiary and his Deputy, received an insightful presentation from Maria van der Sluis-Plantz, the current Councilor of the State for the Kingdom on behalf of Sint Maarten, as part of the Leadership Excellence through R.I.S.E. (Relationship Building, Insight, Skills and Empowerment) Onboarding Program.

This session was designed to thoroughly acquaint the new ministers with the governance structure of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, optimally preparing them for their roles.

The presentation delivered by Councilor van der Sluis-Plantz offered a detailed overview of the general structure, highlighting its various governing bodies, including the Kingdom Government, the Supreme Court (Hoge Raad der Nederlanden), and the High Councils of State, among others.

Particular emphasis was placed on the Council of State of the Kingdom, an esteemed institution in existence since 1531.

Councilor van der Sluis-Plantz’s role is instrumental in ensuring that the interests of Sint Maarten are well-represented within the Kingdom.

She actively contributes to the deliberations of the Council, advocating for the needs and priorities of Sint Maarten, as well as the other Caribbean constituents of the Kingdom.

Additionally, the presentation addressed the ongoing political dynamics within the Netherlands and its relationship with the European Union (EU).

As part of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), Sint Maarten enjoys a unique political cooperation and commercial partnership with the EU, enhancing its strategic position within the region.

The onboarding session also served as a preparatory step for the courtesy visit by the delegation of the Permanent Committee of Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament, that took place in the same morning of Wednesday, May 8, ensuring that the ministers were well-prepared to engage in informed discussions.

The Council of Ministers remains committed to equip its leaders with the necessary skillset and knowledge to effectively govern.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina and members of the Council of Ministers convened with members of the Permanent Committee Kingdom Relations (KOREL) from the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament during a courtesy visit.

The delegation comprised of: Wieke Paulusma, Acting Chair of the Committee, Delegation Leader (D66), Peter van Haasen (PVV), Raoul White (GroenLinks-PvdA), Ingrid Michon-Derkzen (VVD), Faith Bruyning (NSC), Edson Hato (VN ACS - Representative of the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten) and Chris Johnson (Head VNP- Representative of the Netherlands in Philipsburg).

The delegation, led by Wieke Paulusma, Acting Chair of the Committee, included representatives from various Dutch political parties along with officials representing the Kingdom's interests in the Caribbean region.

The members of the Permanent Committee Kingdom Relations (KOREL) from the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament acknowledged the diverse contexts and distinct administrative structures of the territories and the Netherlands, emphasizing the importance of tailoring approaches to address specific matters. Despite the Dutch Government being in a caretaker status, the insights gained from these discussions will be disseminated.

The forthcoming Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultations (IPKO) meeting, scheduled for the beginning of June 2024, will delve further into the establishment of the Dispute Committee ('Geschillencommissie'), a crucial entity for effectively addressing and resolving disputes within the Kingdom, which is still pending establishment.

The meeting highlighted the critical necessity for continuous training to bolster capacity building in Sint Maarten. It was stressed that individuals receiving training in the Netherlands should return to their respective territories to contribute. Furthermore, exploring job exchange opportunities between the Netherlands and Sint Maarten was recognized as a means to enhance the island's workforce in the short and medium term.

Additionally, avenues for securing funding through the European Union for various initiatives will be further investigated.

Members commended the country for its adeptness in transforming challenges into unique opportunities for growth and development, particularly in combating climate change. The effective collaboration observed among the islands within the Kingdom was praised. The Second Chamber delegation noted the strong willingness among the islands to collaborate in addressing regional issues.

Renewable energy projects were identified as crucial opportunities for sustainable development. Regarding healthcare for the islands of Saba and St. Eustatius, it is imperative to connect all stakeholders within the Dutch Government and the Kingdom. Sint Maarten expressed its readiness to assist the Netherlands in this endeavor.

Prime Minister Mercelina emphasized the priorities he seeks support for in the Netherlands during the visit, focusing on key issues vital to the advancement of St. Maarten.

"Today's discussions were instrumental in conveying the urgent needs and aspirations of St. Maarten to our Dutch counterparts," stated Prime Minister Mercelina. "We emphasized the importance of establishing a Dispute Regulation for the Kingdom, a crucial step towards ensuring fair and just governance within our shared entity."

Highlighting the challenges faced by St. Maarten, Prime Minister Mercelina drew attention to the significant debt burden hindering the island's progress. "We discussed the pressing issue of St. Maarten's crippling debt, which poses a significant obstacle to our development trajectory," remarked Prime Minister Mercelina. "Addressing this challenge is paramount to realizing a promising future for our nation."

Prime Minister Mercelina also underscored the need for a stronger collaboration between educational institutions, particularly in expanding opportunities within key sectors such as tourism. "We seek to forge a closer working relationship with educational institutions to bolster our workforce, particularly in vital sectors like tourism," emphasized Prime Minister Mercelina. "By investing in education and skills development, we can drive sustainable growth and prosperity for St. Maarten."

Proposing a vision for a more inclusive Kingdom, Prime Minister Mercelina advocated for honoring the unique identities and differences among the constituent countries. "We believe in enriching the concept of an inclusive Kingdom by celebrating the diversity and distinctiveness of each member," expressed Prime Minister Mercelina. "Our shared future lies in recognizing and embracing our differences, fostering a more cohesive and resilient Kingdom."

The discussions concluded on a positive note, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to dialogue and cooperation for the mutual benefit of St. Maarten and the Kingdom at large.

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina introducing members of the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament to the Council of Ministers. 

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Nature Foundation has completed its first comprehensive analysis of the health of Sint Maarten’s coral reefs. Utilizing data collected by the organization since 2016, a tropical marine ecologist at the Nature Foundation found that Sint Maarten’s coral reefs are in poor condition but have not appeared to worsen significantly in health within the last seven years. The analysis was made possible through a grant facilitated by the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Infrastructure and Environment (VROMI).

Every year, Nature Foundation staff survey four sites within the Man of War Shoal Marine Park and three outside that Marine Protected Area (MPA), ­according to guidelines set by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN). However, advanced statistical analysis of the data has not been possible until the recent hiring of Dr. Laëtitia Mathon, Science Officer for the COastal REsilience Needs Assessment (CORENA) project at the Nature Foundation.

The report indicates that Sint Maarten’s coral reefs — an attraction for scuba divers, source of income for local fishers and critical ecosystem for marine life — are suffering, with increased rates of coral bleaching following sustained high temperatures in 2023. The report also confirmed that the marine protected area off the coast of Philipsburg hosts significantly higher levels of corals, gorgonians, and sponges, as well as healthier rates of coral reproduction.

Some key findings provide a glimpse into the health of Sint Maarten’s coral reefs:

• From August to November 2023, coral bleaching frequency rose 230%, or was over 3x more, than in all years prior due to sustained high summer temperatures.
• Over 85% of reefs indicated critically low levels of live coral cover in 2023, meaning that most surveyed reefs did not have enough coral to sustain a healthy ecosystem.
• The biomass (total weight) of predator fish such as sharks, groupers, and snappers was 231% higher, or over 3x more, inside the protected area than outside of it for all years. However, very few groupers were found throughout all years.
• Despite being the most frequently counted fish, the population of herbivorous fish, such as algae-eating parrotfish and surgeonfish, is at critically low levels.
• Macroalgae cover was 76% higher outside the protected area than within it during all years, likely impacted by the insufficient population of herbivorous fish.
• Rates of coral disease such as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) have remained stable since first reported on Sint Maarten in 2018.

“The results from the baseline report are really concerning, especially when it comes to the effects of climate change, but they also show that some of these issues can be addressed locally,” said Dr. Mathon. “Size restrictions on harvesting snappers and groupers are necessary to make sure individuals are reaching maturity and reproducing. Parrotfish are essential to maintain healthy reefs, as they make space for corals to grow and prevent macroalgae overgrowth. Thankfully, many people refuse to eat parrotfish, and some fishers don’t harvest them, but we are worried they will be eaten more in the absence of commercial fish species. Traditional fishing is important but threatened by declining reef health, so awareness and regulations are needed to ensure it can continue sustainably.”

The Nature Foundation will continue to monitor these sites annually to assess changes in reef health and implement necessary management strategies. The results of the study will be used in collaboration with government officials to lobby policymakers for stronger and more expansive legislation for marine protected areas, fishing and harvesting regulations, and vulnerable marine species.

The world is currently in its fourth global bleaching event, posing a further threat to marine ecosystems. On Sint Maarten, irresponsible coastal development and improper waste disposal pose direct threats, as sediment from the hillsides and sewage from homes or boats runs off into the water can weaken or kill corals.

The full baseline biodiversity assessment, which will be used as a comparison for future monitoring, will be published in the near future. The report was developed as part of project CORENA, which contracted three staff and two interns to analyze the Nature Foundation’s existing data, as well as train core employees in higher-level analysis.

The COastal REsilience Needs Assessment (CORENA) project is focused on advancing the sustainable management of Sint Maarten’s marine and coastal environment through biodiversity research, planning recommendations, and educational initiatives. The RESEMBID-supported project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI) and the non-profit Nature Foundation. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

This project receives funding from The Caribbean OCTs Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity Programme (RESEMBID), a €40M programme financed by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France, the development cooperation agency of France.

This reef health status map shows the condition of seven surveyed reefs.

During coral reef monitoring, researchers collect data along transect lines.