SINT MAARTEN (ST. PETERS) - “The mental health effects of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic might be profound and there are suggestions that suicide rates will rise, although this is not inevitable,” stated a recent article published in The Lancet Psychiatry, Volume 7, Issue 6.

The authors further state: “Suicide is likely to become a more pressing concern as the pandemic spreads and has longer-term effects on the general population, the economy, and vulnerable groups. Preventing suicide therefore needs urgent consideration.”

To proactively address these trends, the Counselling degree program offered at Grace Hill Bible University, St. Maarten Campus dedicated the spring semester 2020 in equipping its students to address the growing suicidal ideation among our local and international populations.

The Master’s level counselling degree program, designed and developed by counselling veteran Dr. Erna Mae Francis Cotton, the visionary of Victorious Living Foundation, further enhanced its Suicide Assessment and Prevention Course by assigning students the task of surveying a sample of our local population to gain insight as to the current mental health of our local population. The results of the surveys conducted were insightful and revealing.

As a result of the surveys, the students were alerted to the fact that greater awareness and information dissemination are necessary to address growing suicidal ideation and to prevent persons from taking their lives. Consequently, the students were assigned the task to conduct a free Suicide Prevention and Awareness webinar for the local, regional and international public, towards their final grade for this semester.

GHBU student, Minister Rosanna Simone Ageday stated: “Suicide prevention is everybody's business. The more you are enlightened, the more equipped you are to help yourself and others to overcome life’s stressors and find your purpose to live. 

“People don't kill themselves because they are weak but because they lose hope; and when hope is lost purpose dies. Understanding the many different reasons why a person may want to die gives you the ability to help that person to live.”

Minister Rosanna Simone Ageday declares, “It is the will of our Creator for us to live purposeful lives full of joy and peace of mind.  We are to teach ourselves and others how to live that abundant life through Christ.”

She further emphasized: “This semester has been a wonderful experience. I have gained wealth that money can't buy. Suicide Assessment and Prevention is for all of us. Once we have it then we can give it; especially in this time of the pandemic.”

The students have set August 24^th, 2020 at 8 p.m. for the Zoom webinar: Suicide Assessment & Prevention. Canadian Bestselling author, elderly caregiver, grief counselor, Mental Health Advocate, and social entrepreneur, Dave Rogers is the invited guest speaker. The general public is invited to register for the webinar to become better aware of the signs to detect if someone’s contemplating suicide; how to better take care of themselves to avoid burn out; and how to be more aware as to how they can protect and save lives.

Enrolment for GHBU’s fall semester has also begun for the counselling program with focus on the fundamentals of grief counselling. Interested persons may inquire at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 1-721-524-8731 to register.   

SINT EUSTATIUS (ORANJESTAD) - Political parties that registered to participate in the elections of the new Island Council of the Public Entity of St. Eustatius on October 21^st, 2020, must submit their list of candidates on Monday, September 7^th, 2020, between 09.00 am and 5.00 pm.

The political parties have received a letter on Friday, July 31^st, from the Deputy Government Commissioner Ms. Alida Francis, with all the details concerning the submission of their list of candidates.

The date of September 7^th, 2020 is the deadline. Lists that are presented outside these times, will be declared invalid. A blank list may not be accepted.

Only parties that have submitted a valid list of candidates on the day of the postulation of candidates may participate in the election. The list of candidates must be submitted by a person who is entitled to vote in the elections. The assigned member of the Main Voting Bureau will be at the Unit Klantenloket/Census Office on September 7^th, 2020.

Validity of the list

The Main Voting Bureau will decide on the validity of the lists of candidates on Friday, September 11^th, 2020. A public meeting will be held in the Ernest van Putten Youth Centre (a.k.a. Lions Den), at 4.00 PM.

Elections

The elections of the new Island Council of the Public Entity of St. Eustatius will take place on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.  On this day, residents in St. Eustatius with the Dutch nationality can cast their vote on members for the Island Council on St. Eustatius.

Non-Dutch nationals who are legally residents of St. Eustatius for an uninterrupted period of at least five years, may also vote. (Statia GIS)

BONAIRE - On Thursday the 6th of August 2020, a 36-year-old Dutch man was arrested at Bonaire International Airport (BIA) on suspicion of possession or smuggling of narcotics, according to a press release from RCN.

This is punishable according to the Opium Act 1960 BES.

The arrest was made by Douane Caribisch Nederland (Customs CN). During a regular check-up they found approximately 1000 grams of soft drugs. The suspect was then arrested and handed over to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (KMar). The soft drugs have been confiscated.

At BIA airport, the KMar and Customs CN are working together to identify and stop cross-border crime. The KMar carries out the further investigation as commissioned by the Public Prosecution Service. (RCN Caribbean Netherlands)

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - On Saturday morning August 8^th, 2020, around 11.00 am, a Flamboyant tree was dedicated to Sergeant Gamali Benjamin in the Emilio Wilson Park on the L.B. Scott road, the police said in a statement on Monday morning.

Officer Benjamin was injured on the 5^th August 2015 while responding to a call for service. He succumbed to his injuries three days later on August 8^th. He was the first officer to die in the line of duty on Sint Maarten.

Members of police force and the son (Keenan J. Benjamin) and wife (Nicole Benjamin) of the late Officer G. Benjamin were represented at the ceremony on Saturday morning.

The Sint Maarten Police Force KPSM would like to thank the management of GEBE and the Emilio Wilson Park for the opportunity to honor the life, strength, and bravery of Officer Benjamin with the Flamboyant tree planted in his memory. (KPSM)