September 18, 2026 No comments
Amid global trade uncertainty and an expected decline in foreign exchange reserves CBCS adjusts monetary policy measures
SINT MAARTEN/CURACAO - On September 17, 2026, the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) decided to increase the pledging rate (The pledging rate is the interest rate commercial banks pay when borrowing from the central bank.) to 4.50%, while maintaining the reserve requirement unchanged at 18.50%. The decision was taken against the backdrop of an expected decline in the monetary union’s foreign exchange reserves in 2026, continued uncertainty surrounding international trade policies, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. It also follows the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision in September to raise its policy rate by 25 basis points. The CBCS also adjusted its Certificates of Deposit (CD) program. The changes are aimed at reducing the costs of absorbing excess liquidity in the banking...
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September 18, 2026 No comments
WYCCF Marks Alzheimer’s Awareness Month with Week of Community Activities
SINT MAARTEN (ST. JOHN’S ESTATE) - The White & Yellow Cross Care Foundation (WYCCF) will mark Alzheimer’s Awareness Month with a week of activities focused on dementia awareness, education, and support for people living with dementia, their families, and caregivers. As part of the week, WYCCF healthcare professionals will participate in specialized training on person-centered communication and dementia care. Informal caregivers from the community are also invited to attend one free workshop, which is offered twice: on Monday, September 21, and Wednesday, September 23, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at WYCCF. This workshop will provide practical tools to communicate with confidence, understand challenging behaviors, and respond calmly and compassionately to someone living with dementia. Registration is free through the QR code...
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September 18, 2026 No comments
Three Books Promote Reading, Restoration and Empowerment
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Restoration can begin with something as simple as a book ; a moment to pause, reflect, create, or discover a new way to understand ourselves and others. This message was reflected in three books generously donated by author and facilitator Amy Arrindell to the Sint Maarten Library during the Early Learners BookStart Campaign 2026. The donated titles are Your Little Recharge: Small Steps of Self-Empowerment, Confidence, and Emotional Regulation; My Compassion Superpower: Pause. Think. Choose Kindness: An Interactive Book About Empathy and Better Choices for Children and for the Adults for Them to Restore; and Restored in Color: A Therapeutic & Manifestation Coloring Book. Your Little Recharge will be included in the Early Learners BookStart gift for the...
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September 18, 2026 No comments
Marcus Pantophlet: Fighting Crime Requires an Efficient Justice System
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) — Addressing crime and strengthening public safety cannot be the responsibility of the police alone. Marcus Pantophlet believes Sint Maarten must focus on ensuring that the entire justice system functions efficiently, consistently and with the necessary sense of urgency. Drawing on his years of experience within law enforcement, Pantophlet says public discussions about crime too often concentrate on what the police are doing, while policing represents only one part of a much larger justice chain. “Our police officers can investigate, arrest and build a case, but their work must be supported by an entire system that functions,” Pantophlet stated. “The Prosecutor’s Office, courts, detention system, probation and rehabilitation services, as well as the institutions responsible for prevention, all...
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September 18, 2026 No comments
WIB and MCB Curaçao Partner with St. Maarten Baseball & Softball Federation
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Windward Islands Bank (WIB) and MCB Curaçao, in collaboration with the St. Maarten Baseball & Softball Federation (SMBSF), are partnering to host a Softball Development Clinic for girls between the ages of 10 and 18 on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2026. The two-day clinic forms part of the organizations’ commitment to supporting youth development and community well-being by creating opportunities for young people to develop their skills, confidence and potential through sport. Approximately 50 young female athletes are expected to participate in the clinic, which will be led by experienced and certified softball coaches from WIB and MCB Curaçao, including Patrick Girigorie, together with local softball stakeholders. The program will combine practical instruction, drills,...
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