PHILIPSBURG/THE HAGUE – The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Bert Koenders will visit the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom and three Latin American countries in the region from May 4 till the following Monday. He will be successively visiting Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten, Cuba, Guatemala and Mexico.

During the Minister’s visit he will pay much attention to developments in Latin America and the Caribbean. This region is of strategic importance for the Kingdom, including through cooperation on political issues and in multilateral fora. Latin America also offers many economic opportunities for the Netherlands and the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, with large export from and to the Netherlands and investment in the region. Visits to these countries also provide opportunities to strengthen political relations with the region and determine joint course and opportunities.

As Minister of Foreign Affairs for the whole Kingdom, Koenders, along with the other countries, interprets foreign relations. In addition to bilateral visit to the three islands he will also have a consultation with the three Prime Ministers, the Kingdom Consultations Foreign Relations. On each island he will talk separately with, among others, the governor and the Prime Minister. Topics that will be discussed include regional developments, the UN Security Council candidacy and economic cooperation.

Minister Koenders continues his trip to Cuba, where he will visit his Cuban counterpart Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parilla, who has visited The Hague for the first time last Friday. The Netherlands acts as a bridge towards Cuba.

The countries concluded earlier agreements in which both countries want more decisions to work together. The Netherlands and Cuba have the intention to cooperate in the fields of trade, agriculture, water management, biotechnology, strengthen regional cooperation and multilateral cooperation in the field of human rights and human rights instruments. Recent international developments offer new opportunities for investments, even for Dutch businesses.

Then, the Minister will visit Guatemala, with which the Netherlands, in general, and Minister Koenders, in particular, has a long relationship. In recent years the relationship with Guatemala has changed economically and politically. The Netherlands has, in its relationship with Guatemala, greater attention to safety, access to justice and human rights, specifically the Commission against Impunity (CICIG) and the position of human rights defenders. Guatemala is also an emerging economy. These are important conditions for good economic development and cooperation. Opportunities are also being investigated on how to increase cooperation in a multilateral context.

The Minister will conclude his trip in Mexico, with which the Netherlands wants to work together more closely economically and in terms of security. The visit provides excellent opportunity for intensification of relations in the light of the bilateral trade interests and opportunities for cooperation on security grounds, for example on issues such as international drug control and peacekeeping missions.

The Netherlands and Mexico are natural partners that reinforce each other’s efforts in a multilateral framework. Mexico is next year’s chairman of the CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), while the Netherlands, at the same time, will hold the EU presidency in the first half of 2016.

WASHINGTON D.C./SINT MAARTEN - The Metropolitan AME Church honored Visionary and Founder, Nicole C. De Weever and Ari Sutton, Project Manager and Secretary, both of Art Saves Lives Foundation with the 2015 Carolyn Mc Clain Spirit Award for their competing work in the Creative Arts in the Diaspora on Sunday April 26^th in Washington D.C. 

Ms. Sutton and Ms. De Weever were present to receive their awards which was preceded by a performance by Art Saves Lives Foundation Students: Ray-Angel Boasman, Lian Borsje, Marine Caillet, Mariska Carty, Jeanille Gibs, Jasmine Grannum, Otmar Martina, Leann Richardson, and Zoë van Zadelhoff. Zakiya Reiph of Generation New Status-STM rounded out the student performances with a drum solo.

Ray-Angel performed an original piece “Feel the Rhythm” and the remaining students performed “Community” a piece choreographed especially for the occasion by Ms. Peggy Oulerich of Peggy ö Company. Several persons from Anguilla and St. Maarten residing in the Washington Metropolitan area were on the hand to celebrate this occasion. MP Cornelius De Weever was also present and joined in congratulating both ladies. Other honorees were State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby of Baltimore and Rev. Dr. Marie P. Braxton. All honorees were commended for their service to their communities and encouraged to “continue the work” by Rev. Shively J.T. Smith whose sermon “Familiar, yet unexpected”, reminded all present that it is the unexpected that reminds us that what is done in the church and the world is what matters.

Founded in 2013, Art Saves Lives continues to use art as a bridge to education. Their annual Summer Intensive will be held from June 27^th-July 4^th in St. Maarten. 

THE HAGUE, the Netherlands - Minister Plenipotentiary, Hon. Josianne Fleming–Artsen recently joined her colleagues from Curacao and Aruba at the Aruba House to meet with representatives from the Dutch National Committee 4 and 5 May.

Ministers Plenipotentiary in The Hague, the Netherlands representing their respective countries in the Kingdom, Minister J.A. (Alfonso) Boekhoudt (Aruba), Minister Hon. Marvelyne Wiels (Curacao) and Minister Hon. Fleming-Artsen (Sint Maarten), were informed by the National Committee about the ceremony for Remembrance Day on May 4 and Liberation Day on May 5.

Representing the National Committee in the meeting was its President Joan Leemhuis-Stout, Member K. Wawoe, and Justa Bezemer, Secretary.

“This meeting reflected on the importance of remembrance and liberation. Many questions were posed for reflection. Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten should tell their own stories about those from the islands who also gave their life while serving the Kingdom.

“What does World War II mean to the Antilles? What are the stories to be told?  Sint Eustatius, Saba, and Bonaire also have stories to tell and these should also be told.

“With respect to the educational system, we should think about producing materials about World War II and the role that our people played. The history of World War II should be taught in the schools as it relates to world history.

“Organizing a World War II exhibition with stories from our countries would be a great idea to make our students and citizens aware, and at the same time enlightening the European Dutch citizen about the roles of these islands during the war.

“We can present it in combination with a music festival but with a message. A committee was established including members of the three Plenipotentiary houses which would continue to work out the ideas that were brought forward in the meeting.

“On May 4 all three ministers are expected to participate in the remembrance of those who died in World War II, and will also attend a classical concert in Amsterdam,” Minister Plenipotentiary Hon. Josianne Fleming-Artsen said on Sunday.

The commemoration of Remembrance Day on May 4 will be televised at 18.00 hours in the Netherlands or at midnight Sint Maarten time.

PHILIPSBURG - Minister Hon. Rita Bourne-Gumbs met with the two recipients of study grants for capacity building from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Secretary General for the St. Maarten National Commission for UNESCO, Marcellia Henry indicated that the study grants recipients, Donne Darroux and Nkomo Lake will be participating in the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) Specialized Courses Programmein Paris, France in May, 2015.

The International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) is an education policy research and professional training institution of the UNESCO created in 1963.  The Institute’s research and training programmes are geared to strengthening national capacities to analyze and formulate sound education policies, realistic education plans, and manage effectively education resources such as personnel and finance.

Donne Darroux, who is a policy and research worker at the Department of Education has been admitted into theUNESCO/IIEP Specialized Course:Micro-planning and school mapping course, which will be held from May 11 to May 22, 2015.  While Nkomo Lake, who is a financial officer at the Department of Education has been admitted into theUNESCO/IIEP Specialized Course: Education Budgets and Financial Management, which will be held from May 25 to June 5, 2015.

The study grant request was submitted to the Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO by the Head of the Department of Education, Sidonia Lacorbiniere-Hodge in her effort to ensure her staff receives the necessary capacity building needed for them to effectively execute their tasks.  

During the meet and greet, Minister Bourne- Gumbs extended well wishes to Darroux and Lake and wished them successful completion of their courses at IIEP.  Minister Bourne-Gumbs also looks forward to them sharing theknowledge gained from the training amongst the rest of the staff at the department and within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports.

Minister Bourne- Gumbs also commended Lacorbiniere-Hodge for taking advantage of this opportunity to obtain funding and professional development for the staff in her department via UNESCO.