June 03, 2026 No comments
Sint Maarten Launches New Disaster Reserve Fund with World Bank Support
SINT MAARTEN (GREA BAY) - The Government of Sint Maarten and the World Bank have launched a strategic framework and roadmap for the Sint Maarten Disaster Reserve Fund (DRF), marking a significant step in strengthening how the island manages its public finances to secure lives and livelihoods, should future disasters strike. In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused USD 2.7 billion in damages to Sint Maarten, destroying approximately 90 percent of the island's infrastructure and triggering a long recovery that depended heavily on external assistance. The DRF is designed to ensure Sint Maarten does not start from zero when the next event occurs. The Fund will provide a financial safety net for immediate post-disaster response, protect vulnerable households from sliding into poverty, and enable a...
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June 03, 2026 No comments
Literacy and Numeracy Training Launched in Collaboration with UNESCO and the Division of Public Education
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Division of Public Education, in collaboration with the Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO, is pleased to announce the launch of a Literacy and Numeracy Training initiative aimed at strengthening early childhood education across public schools. This professional development program is designed to equip kindergarten teachers (Cycle 1, Groups 1 & 2) with effective instructional strategies to support foundational learning in reading, writing, and mathematics, with a particular focus on kindergarten-level education. Training sessions commenced on May 20, 2026, and are being held at the University of St. Martin from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The program will run from May to June and from August to September. The six scheduled sessions will provide ongoing opportunities...
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June 03, 2026 No comments
Marines prepare for hurricane season during international exercise
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - In the run-up to the upcoming hurricane season, the Marine detachment from Sint Maarten participated in Caraïbes ‘26 last week. This is a large-scale, biennial exercise in the Caribbean. The exercise, organized by France, focuses on humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations. During the second phase of Caraïbes, the Marines from Sint Maarten actively participated. The training was based on a realistic scenario: a devastating hurricane had struck the French side of the island. In cooperation with French and Colombian troops, the Marines from Sint Maarten located the (simulated) residents and evacuated them to a safe area; both the fast FRISC boats and a French helicopter were deployed to transport the injured quickly and safely. Thanks to the good...
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June 03, 2026 No comments
Environmentalist Bervoets Presents Research on Colonial Legacies in Caribbean Environmental Governance
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The influence of colonial structures on environmental governance in the Caribbean was the focus of a presentation by Sint Maarten environmentalist Tadzio Bervoets at the recent Caribbean Studies Association Conference. Presenting on “Conservation Colonialism and the Persistence of Fortress Management in the Dutch and French Caribbean,” Bervoets argued that many conservation systems operating in the Dutch and French Caribbean remain shaped by governance models that concentrate authority outside the region. According to the presentation, these arrangements often limit local decision-making, restrict community participation, and reduce opportunities for Caribbean leadership within environmental institutions. The presentation examined how environmental policies, technical expertise, and management frameworks continue to be influenced by metropolitan governments and external institutions. While acknowledging the significant...
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June 03, 2026 No comments
J&IS Concludes Successful Foster Care Awareness Month Campaign
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Judicial & Institutional Services Foundation (J&IS), through its Foster Families Central unit, has successfully concluded Foster Care Awareness Month following a month-long campaign dedicated to raising awareness, promoting foster care, strengthening community partnerships, and encouraging greater support for children in need of safe, stable, and nurturing homes. Held under the theme “Foster the Future” and guided by the message “Be the Village, Foster a Child,” the month brought together government officials, foster families, family guardians, child protection workers, social workers, educators, volunteers, community leaders, artists, businesses, and members of the public in a collective effort to highlight the importance of foster care and the role the community plays in supporting vulnerable children. The campaign officially launched...
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