January 09, 2026 No comments
USM shared preliminary results concerning social protection in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - On Wednesday, 7 January, the University of St. Martin (USM) hosted an information session in which USM Research Coordinator Drs. Raymond Jessurun presented preliminary findings on the working conditions of workers and seniors, with particular attention to social protection measures effective 1 January 2026, including developments related to the minimum wage and the maximum old-age pension. The findings form part of the Shared Research Chair on Slavery and its Consequences, Work Package 1: Slavery, Labor, Migration and Identity, which examines historical and contemporary labor conditions at USM. The research traces how wealth was produced through unfree and unpaid labor during slavery and how, following abolition, labor systems evolved into unequal forms of (migrant) labor that persist today. A...
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January 09, 2026 No comments
Strengthening families by strengthening organizations around them
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Fourteen social organizations from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and Sint Maarten have commenced the second year of the ‘Strengthening Families Together’ program with renewed focus and shared commitment. During a two-day regional conference on Sint Maarten in November 2025, participants engaged in keynote sessions, technical workshops and field visits, aimed at enhancing organizational capacity and strengthening their collective contribution to improving the wellbeing of families living in vulnerable circumstances. For Strengthening Families Together, Netherlands-based funders ‘Kinderpostzegels’ and ‘Oranje Fonds’, in collaboration with local advisors, selected 14 organizations committed to promoting equal opportunities for children and young people, supporting parents and caregivers in vulnerable situations, and addressing the urgent issue of poverty across the islands. Alongside project implementation, participants take part in...
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January 09, 2026 No comments
Local fishermen receive new gear after completing environmental workshops
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - A handful of local fishermen on Sint Maarten are starting the new year in 2026 with new boat equipment and fishing gear. The non-profit Nature Foundation Sint Maarten is pleased to announce that four fishermen recently completed a workshop series designed to support efforts towards sustainable local fishing. As thanks for their time and commitment, each graduate received a one-time purchase order for equipment or services of their choice. The compensation program began in August 2025 with a welcome dinner, followed by three workshops, gear training, and ongoing collaboration throughout the year. Developed jointly by the Nature Foundation and local fishers, the sessions focused on practical tools and knowledge exchange. Topics included sustainable fishing practices, responsible...
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January 08, 2026 No comments
MP Lewis: When will Justice be served to the Fire and Ambulance personnel
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) Member of Parliament, (MP) Lyndon Lewis is calling on the Government of Sint Maarten, particularly the Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Dr. Luc Mercelina and Minister of Public Health, Social development, and Labor, Richinel Brug for an update on the mediation and overall process or progress regarding the longstanding and unresolved issues affecting the Fire and Ambulance departments, following concerns raised by the Windward Islands Civil Servants Union–Private Sector Union (WICSU-PSU) in parliament last year and most recent, the MP said in a press statement on Thursday evening, January 8, 2026. The union, led by its President, Sharon Cangieter, recently highlighted delays in finalizing a mediation agreement intended to bring...
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January 08, 2026 No comments
MP Ottley Calls for Maturity: A Divided Government Can Never Lead a Country
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Member of Parliament (MP) and Leader of the United People’s Party (UPP), Honorable Omar Ottley, is expressing concern over the obvious disconnection within the current Government. First, we saw the obvious issues made public between the Minister of TEATT and Minister of Finance, during the Soul Beach saga, whereby the Minister of Finance removed herself from the position of Acting Minister of TEATT. Now the public is witnessing the ministers of the United Resilient St. Maarten Movement (URSM), one of the largest parties within the current coalition government go at each other with the Minister of VSA siding with his Subject Specialist/Chief of Staff. “The people of St. Maarten expect leadership and maturity, from those entrusted with governing...
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