April 23, 2026 No comments
DUO continuing to expand video calling and e-learning in the Caribbean
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Education Executive Agency (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, DUO) is continuing to expand its existing services in the Caribbean. As of this month, the service centre on Curaçao has been offering prospective students the option of video calling a DUO staff member. The e-learning programme for prospective students, which was previously rolled out on Curaçao, is now also being offered in schools on Aruba. No longer any time difference DUO has offered the option of video calling staff in the Netherlands ever since the coronavirus pandemic began. The idea was to enable current and former students to contact the organisation with questions about student finance or repaying student loans. However, the number of available time slots was limited because of...
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April 21, 2026 No comments
Minister Brug: VSA continues its course to strengthen its workforce and transform the Ministry
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Richinel Brug, continues to advance the strengthening of the Ministry of VSA in line with the Governing Program 2024–2028, guided by the Ministry’s 2025 State of Affairs assessment. The 2025 State of Affairs assessment document and 2026 management team kick off sessions, confirmed that clear direction is essential to moving the Ministry forward. The State of Affairs assessment confirmed that while VSA is a dedicated and resilient organization, it has been operating in a fragmented and reactive manner, with departments often working in silos, processes inconsistently applied, and limited alignment across the Ministry. It further highlighted that without clear structure, coordination, and strategic coherence, even strong individual efforts do...
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April 21, 2026 No comments
Our Beaches Are Not for Sale
SINT MAARTEN (COMMENTARY – By Tadzio Bervoets) - Two stories circulating recently in the local media deserve to be read together. The first: Sunresorts Ltd. N.V. is asking the Court of First Instance to declare its ownership in Mullet Bay as extending all the way to the coastline. The second: the Nature Foundation St. Maarten has again sounded the alarm over accelerating development activity around Mullet Bay, Beacon Hill, and Little Bay. Side by side, they raise a question that goes well beyond any single court case — who does this island actually belong to? The Nature Foundation has been raising these concerns consistently and with evidence for years. When they speak, the right response is to listen seriously, not manage the...
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April 21, 2026 No comments
Royal Decorations not conferred in 2026, public encouraged to submit nominations for 2027
SINT MAARTEN (HARBOUR VIEW-PHILIPSBURG) — This year on King's Day, the Governor of Sint Maarten, His Excellency Mr. Ajamu G. Baly, will not confer any royal decorations. Due to the time required to complete the nomination and assessment process, nominations could not be finalized in time for this year’s celebrations. The nomination process for a royal decoration is thorough and involves several stages of review at both the local and Kingdom levels. As part of this process, nominations are assessed and advised upon locally before being forwarded for further evaluation within the Kingdom. Persons eligible for nomination are those who have made a long-standing and meaningful contribution to society and remain actively involved. Nominations must be submitted using the standard nomination form...
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April 21, 2026 No comments
Prime Minister Calls for Urgent Review and Transparency in NV GEBE Billing System
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Honorable Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Dr. Luc F. E. Mercelina has formally addressed the Supervisory Board of NV GEBE regarding ongoing public concerns surrounding the utility company’s billing system, emphasizing the need for urgent action, transparency, and restored public trust. In a letter issued on April 20, 2026, the Prime Minister emphasized that the matter remains a significant national concern, citing persistent unease among citizens about the accuracy and reliability of their utility bills. “The issue of the billing system remains a significant point of unease among the people of Sint Maarten,” Prime Minister Mercelina stated. “Despite prior discussions and assurances, public confidence in the accuracy, reliability, and transparency of the...
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