September 23, 2026 No comments
Third Reading Festival Sint Maarten Edition Kicks Off This Week
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – The Third Reading Festival: Sint Maarten Edition officially gets underway, with activities taking place this week leading up to the two-day festival on September 25 and 26, 2026. Stichting Biblionef Netherlands, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, the Library of Sint Maarten, Help Our Children Foundation, and the University of St. Martin (USM), is once again bringing together students, educators, authors, families and community partners to celebrate the joy of reading and learning. Now in its third year, the Reading Festival continues to grow, with this year’s program introducing new and interactive experiences alongside popular activities such as storytelling, author visits, creative workshops, educational games and book giveaways. Students will also have opportunities...
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September 22, 2026 No comments
Minister Connor Attends Global Coalition on Aging UNGA Side Event in New York
SINT MAARTEN/NEW YORK — The Honorable Claret Connor, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, attended a high-level side event hosted by the Global Coalition on Aging this afternoon in New York during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The event brought together international leaders, health experts and policymakers to explore innovations in disease prevention and early detection, financial preparedness for healthy aging, and the role of storytelling in reshaping society’s perceptions of aging. Discussions emphasized the importance of moving beyond treatment-focused healthcare systems by investing more deliberately in prevention, early intervention and policies that help people remain healthy, active and independent throughout their lives. “Healthy aging begins long before a person reaches an advanced age. It requires sustained...
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September 22, 2026 No comments
Early Learners BookStart Campaign Ends on a High Note
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Early Learners BookStart Campaign 2026 came to a joyful close on Saturday, September 19, with a Grand Celebration at Emilio Wilson Park. Approximately 100 children, parents, caregivers, and community members joined the Sint Maarten Library for an afternoon filled with stories, music, movement, and imagination. The celebration began with the Generation New Status Drumband leading the young readers in a lively parade, followed by story time with the Honourable Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Melissa Gumbs. The Minister, who recently became a library member, selected Two Squabbling Squirrels as her book. American Medical University of the Caribbean (AUC), a major supporter of the event, engaged the children with an entertaining puppet show that brought...
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September 22, 2026 No comments
Mullet Bay: Public Access and Public Accountability
SINT MAARTEN (COMMENTARY – By Tadzio Bervoets) - For generations, Mullet Bay has been part of everyday life in St. Maarten. We go there with our families, swim, fish and spend time with friends. People earn their living there. As discussions about the property’s future continue, we need to know how our access to the beach and the environment around it will be protected. The July 7, 2026, Court of First Instance ruling confirmed that the beach is public property and was never acquired by Sun Resorts. The land behind the beach is privately owned. Government now needs to establish and publish those boundaries and legally secure reasonable access to the beach. People should not have to rely on a private...
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September 22, 2026 No comments
A criminological perspective on crime in Sint Maarten: Part 1
SINT MAARTEN (COMMENTARY – By Marcus Pantophlet) - After more than 15 years of experience in law enforcement, combined with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology, I believe Sint Maarten's current crime situation requires us to look beyond individual criminal incidents and examine the broader social and socioeconomic conditions that contribute to crime. The recent series of robberies reported across Sint Maarten in September 2026 should concern all of us. While official monthly statistics are necessary before declaring a statistically confirmed increase in the crime rate, the frequency and nature of the reported robberies are a clear reason to examine what is happening beneath the surface. One of the most important factors is socioeconomic pressure. Sint Maarten can have economic activity and tourism...
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