SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa will host the 18th edition of the St. Maarten / St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow (SMART), scheduled for June 22–26, 2026.

This was announced today by the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) on behalf of the binational organizing committee, which includes the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB), the Office du Tourisme (OdT), and the Club du Tourisme (CdT), in conjunction with the resort.

It will be the first time the event is held at the 200-room luxury resort, which opened in 2024. Dan Szydlowski, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the resort on Dawn Beach, stated:
“We are elated to host this prestigious and regionally renowned tradeshow for its 18th edition. We are confident that our location—surrounded by lush greenery and soft white sands—together with our convention center, will provide an inspiring setting for tourism professionals from across the northeastern Caribbean. We also believe it will be a voyage of discovery for travel agents, tour operators, and journalists, encouraging them and their clients to return for both business and leisure. Our team cannot wait for June and invites the global travel industry to join us!”

As of today, attendees can book their stay at JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa on the SMART 2026 website at shta.com/smart

The St. Maarten / St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow (SMART) is the largest tourism tradeshow in the northeastern Caribbean. It is organized by the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) in close cooperation with the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB), l’Office du Tourisme (OdT), and Club du Tourisme (CdT). The binational tourism industry event has been held for over 25 years, with the 2025 edition marking its 17th occurrence. The tradeshow provides opportunities for both formal and informal business interactions, showcases tourism and related industries of the island, and allows visiting tourism partners to experience the island’s culinary and cultural offerings.

Ms. May-Ling Chun of key partner the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau stated: “Given the variety of new routes and recent airlift growth, we believe SMART 2026 can be one of the most successful and productive editions in its history for all partners involved. We look forward to collaborating with the professional meetings team at JW Marriott and encourage travel agents, tour operators, and airlines to book their spots starting today!”

SMART 2026 will feature an expanded program and has already received early support from several key industry partners, to be announced later this fall. The 2025 event welcomed visitors from 29 countries and destinations.

The “Early Bird Season” for SMART began on October 1, offering suppliers and vendors reduced prices. Forty-two booths were reserved during the first week of October alone. Although the event is still nine months away, organizers recommend that interested companies reserve their booths early. The new “Chirp First Early Bird” campaign, running until December 1, allows participants to secure their preferred booth at the discounted rate. Booths for the past three editions have sold out consistently. Companies can reserve an “early bird” ticket for the 2026 event by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Program updates and event news are available at shta.com/SMART.

CURACAO (WILLEMSTAD) - During a military ceremony on Monday morning, November 3, 2025, Company Rotation 49 handed over its tasks to the next unit, Rotation 50. The new commander, Captain Roderik Willems from Schaarsbergen, took over command from his predecessor, Major Marco Kamphorst, during a traditional handover ceremony.

After more than four intensive months in the Caribbean, Major Marco Kamphorst looks back with pride on the collaboration and training of the 43rd Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron (BVE) from Havelte.

For this deployment, 43rd BVE was reinforced with an engineer reconnaissance platoon from Wezep and two medical evacuation groups from Havelte. “For the unit, it was a unique opportunity to train in this tropical climate and collaborate with CZMCARIB and local security partners. We learned a great deal about operating in the challenging conditions of the Caribbean as part of the CZMCARIB joint headquarters.

“Curaçao, Bonaire, and Aruba provided the reconnaissance platoons with the opportunity to enhance their general military skills, as well as more specialized training such as tactical and technical reconnaissance and surveillance tasks, close quarters combat, and the deployment of unmanned systems and drones.

“Besides working on increasing our own operational readiness, we also collaborated and trained with the Curaçaoan military, CZMCARIB units, and local security partners. It was remarkable to see how, despite differences in background and working methods, we could jointly contribute to security and stability.

Although we sometimes had to adjust our ambitions, this period not only increased our knowledge and skills, but also strengthened our situational awareness and ties with our partners in the Caribbean.” 

The Charlie "Tiger" Company is beginning its fifth rotation in the Caribbean. Captain Roderik is looking forward to working and training with his unit in the region.

As part of the 11th Infantry Battalion, the Grenadiers and Hunters Guards Regiment, they are normally deployed from helicopters or by parachute, within the three main missions of the armed forces.

The company delivers high-quality combat power on the ground and from the air. As a company in the West, the emphasis is primarily on foot operations. Over the next four months, the unit will be reinforced with medical capacity from the 11th Medical Company and a UAS group with drones.

In addition to being ready to carry out missions for CZMCARIB, the focus will be on its own training program.

The climate and environment provide an excellent opportunity to work on physical and mental development, leadership, and determination within the unit. Captain Roderik is looking forward to collaborating with local security partners and expects this to be an enjoyable and productive period.

The Royal Netherlands Army has a permanent company in the Caribbean. This unit, commanded by CZMCARIB, can be deployed for a variety of tasks. Over the next four months, the company will be training in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.

SINT EUSTATIUS (ORANJESTAD) - All educators on Statia were honored on Friday 31st October with a unique gesture of appreciation: a fruit or flowering tree, presented together with a gift card, care instructions, and words of thanks.

A total of 121 teachers and education staff across the island received these living gifts, offered through a joint initiative of STENAPA and the Statia Government. The gesture celebrated the dedication of educators while linking appreciation to the island’s ongoing reforestation and food sovereignty efforts.

By placing trees directly in the hands of those who nurture young minds, the initiative symbolised the connection between education, sustainability, and community wellbeing. The varieties of guava, mango, sugar apple, moringa, passionfruit, and flowering species such as July tree, Pride of Barbados, and Yellow Trumpet flower, will provide both nourishment and natural beauty. Over time, they will contribute to healthier diets, stronger ecosystems, and a greener island landscape.

This activity forms part of STENAPA’s “ReforeStatia” programme, supported through the Nature and Environmental Policy Plan (NEPP) of the Statia Government. The programme has already led to the planting of thousands of trees to restore biodiversity, protect soils, and enhance local food options.

By linking teacher appreciation to environmental action, the initiative reflects a shared vision of resilience, gratitude, and sustainable growth. As these trees take root across school grounds and home gardens, they will stand as living reminders of the vital role educators play in shaping Statia’s future.

The Statia Government and STENAPA extend heartfelt thanks to every educator for their continued dedication, guidance, and inspiration to the island’s next generation.

BONAIRE (KRALENDIJK) - Following the successful establishment of its office on Saba in 2023 and the opening of its St. Maarten branch on Front Street, Philipsburg, in 2024, DEJONG has now officially also landed on Bonaire.

During a personal and private ceremony held on Friday evening, October 31st, the establishment of the new Bonaire office was celebrated in the presence of family, friends, and professional network partners. Glasses were raised to celebrate the next step in DEJONG’s growing regional presence. Notable guests included His Excellency John Soliano, Island Governor of Bonaire; Clark Abraham, Commissioner overseeing Spatial Planning and Development and Supervision & Enforcement; Judge Jacques Keltjens; and Etienne van der Horst, former Minister of Government, Planning and Service of Curaçao and former Director of Spatial Planning on Bonaire, together with family, friends, and network partners from across the different islands and the Netherlands.

Among the attendees was also former Island Governor of Bonaire, the Honorable Mr. Herbert F. Domacassé, who served as the keynote speaker of the evening.

A journey of growth and community | opening remarks by Ms. Angeline Laurence

The evening began with a heartfelt speech by Ms. Angeline Laurence, who reflected on DEJONG’s journey from its founding in 2023 to becoming a reliable and trusted partner for both legal and business-support services across the islands. She shared her personal perspective on what it means to serve small island communities:

“This law office, like those before it (Saba and St. Maarten) is more than just a space. It represents a promise, a promise of fairness, of advocacy, and of commitment to the people we serve.” 

Finding meaning in words and perspective | reflections by Mr. Amir Schuitemaker

Mr. Amir Schuitemaker, legal professional at DEJONG, delivered an eloquent and reflective speech on language, law, and his own professional evolution. Drawing on his experiences from Amsterdam, Leiden, and Bonaire, he emphasized how the meaning of words, and justice itself, can shift with perspective.

“Where I once spoke on behalf of government, I now also speak to government,” he said. “Law is not only about conflict, but about dialogue. Whoever listens to someone who says the same thing differently, hears not just words but growth, connection, and the law itself speaking.” 

His remarks resonated deeply with guests, capturing the essence of DEJONG’s philosophy: professionalism anchored in humanity.

A vision of harmony and access to justice | keynote by the Hon. Mr. Herbert F. Domacassé

In his keynote address, the Honorable Mr. Herbert F. Domacassé, former Island Governor of Bonaire, spoke about the enduring importance of access to justice and harmonious dispute resolution within small island societies. He highlighted how DEJONG’s physical presence across all three BES islands provides a very special and unique perspective, taking into consideration the special status of these islands within the constitutional structure of the Netherlands:

“When dialogue replaces distance, and understanding replaces division, even the smallest islands become part of something greater. That is the value of being present on all three BES islands.”

“We are all each other’s brothers and sisters” | closing remarks by Mr. Gerald Simmons-de Jong

The ceremony concluded with an inspiring and personal speech by Mr. Gerald Simmons-de Jong, attorney and business-development partner at DEJONG.

Speaking partly in Papiamentu and English, he shared his own journey from a childhood in a semi-immigrant household in the Netherlands, raised by a strong Indonesian mother who taught him to always strive for excellence.

‘’Mi ta sinti mi berdaderamente bendishona I mi ta gradisi Dios tur dia. DEJONG ta un bufete di abogao local konstrui riba konekshonnan regional Fuerte. Nos lema ta ku nos ta wordu forma pa relashonnan personal I impulse pa resultadonan.

E apertura aki, riba Boneiru, ta marka un momentu hopi special, komo ku nos ta kapas pa kubri un perspektiva uniko, esta esun di tur e tres islanan BES; Bonairu, Statia I Saba - said Gerald’’

He concluded with a moving story from a recent trip to Indonesia, where a local guide affectionately addressed him as ‘Mas’, a Javanese word meaning older brother. Looking out over Mount Batur and its neighboring peaks, Gerald reflected on the deeper meaning of that word: “Are we not all each other’s brothers and sisters? And aren’t we all responsible to care for each other and to guide the younger ones around us?”

The Bonaire office will be spearheaded by the branch manager of Bonaire, Statia, and Saba, Ms. Lisandra Figaroa, who will function as first point of contact for all clients and matters in Bonaire, Statia and Saba.

All DEJONG team members from St. Maarten, Saba and Bonaire are ready to serve Bonaire, and to provide professional legal services and guidance to clients on the island.

‘‘Our core motto remains: focused on relationships, driven by results, said business development partner attorney Mr. Gerald Simmons – de Jong.

We will also be here now for Bonaire, for its people, and for its stakeholders. We strive to be your trusted legal partner and are ready to serve you.’’ 

About DEJONG:

Founded in June 2023, DEJONG is a full-service law firm rooted in the Dutch Caribbean, with offices in Saba, Sint Maarten and Bonaire.

The firm blends professionalism with a personal, approachable style, placing strong emphasis on relationships and results. DEJONG specializes in government administrative law and commercial law and also offers legislation and policy services across the region. With a dynamic, diverse and community-driven team, the firm is committed to delivering modern, ethical, and client-focused legal solutions.