September 14, 2026 No comments
Who Showed Up? Annual Report Reveals Sharp Attendance Gaps Among Sint Maarten MPs
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY – PARLIAMENT WATCH) - With 40 public meetings on the books, two Members of Parliament (MPs) were present for 95% of sessions — while one missed four in every ten. The Sint Maarten Parliament held 40 public (plenary) meetings during the 2025–2026 parliamentary year — and not every Member of Parliament (MP) made it a priority to show up for all of them. Attendance records published in the official Parliament Annual Report 2025–2026 reveal a wide gap between the most committed attendees and those who missed meetings most often. Two lawmakers tied at the top with near-perfect records. Veronica Jansen-Webster and Dimar Labega each attended 38 of 40 public sessions, achieving a 95% presence rate — the highest...
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September 14, 2026 No comments
Sint Maarten Parliament 2025–2026: A Year of Digital Ambition, Seven Committees, and a House Stretched Thin
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - President Sarah Wescot-Williams opened the Parliamentary Year with a bold theme and an honest admission. Fifteen members, seventeen committees, seven factions — and a secretariat running on short staff. Here is what the annual report says about how Sint Maarten's Parliament is structured, who sits in it, and what it set out to do. The Parliament of Sint Maarten entered its 2025–2026 Parliamentary Year with an ambitious declaration. Under the theme "Building Digital Trust: Exploring a National AI Strategy and Further Development of an Open Parliament," the institution committed itself to a year of technological modernization, regional engagement, and renewed public accountability. What the annual report also reveals, between the lines of the official foreword and the dry organizational charts,...
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September 14, 2026 No comments
USM Lit Night Celebrates Creativity, Connection and Hope
SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - The University of St. Martin (USM) hosted Lit Night @ USM on Thursday, September 10, bringing students, faculty, staff and members of the wider community together for an evening of poetry, spoken word, storytelling and creative expression. The event was held in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day under the theme “Changing the Narrative on Suicide.” Many attendees wore yellow as a symbol of hope, support and solidarity, while every visitor received a yellow ribbon upon entering the campus. Before the performances began, USM Counselor Dr. Carole Joseph shared warm words of encouragement and reflected on the importance of checking in on others, speaking openly about mental health and reminding those who may be struggling that they...
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September 14, 2026 No comments
FREEGAN Foundation Featured on National Dutch Television
SINT MAARTEN/NETHERLANDS - The work of FREEGAN foundation on Sint Maarten has received national attention in the Netherlands. On Monday, August 31, the organization was featured in Expeditie Nederland, broadcast by Omroep MAX on NPO 2 at 6:30 PM. The episode focused on social cooking initiatives and the powerful role food can play in bringing people together, reducing loneliness and supporting healthier eating. Reporter Raydaniël Petroudis visited FREEGAN foundation to offer viewers in the Netherlands a behind-the-scenes look at the volunteers who help provide groceries and meals to more than 100 families on Sint Maarten every week. At the heart of the report was beloved FREEGAN volunteer Signita Martin, who recently celebrated her 80th birthday. For Signita, volunteering...
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September 14, 2026 No comments
AUC, Ministry VSA & Positive Foundation Hosts Free Breast and Health Screenings for Women
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – Women ages 18 years and older across Sint Maarten are being reminded to register by September 30th for the free breast and health screening taking place on Saturday, October 3rd. The screenings will be hosted by the American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine and are scheduled for October 3rd and November 28th from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. The deadline to register is three (3) days before the scheduled event. The health screening will be conducted by AUC medical students. They will be checking height, weight, vision, blood sugar, blood pressure and total cholesterol while the breast exam will be performed by board-certified AUC physician, oncologist Dr. Naira Chobanyan. AUC is conducting these screenings,...
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