GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a government department under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, is calling on the community to check their yards and businesses in search of potential mosquito breeding sites due to the recent rainfall events – standing water.

Breeding sites include anywhere that water can settle. This includes tin cans, old tires, empty paint cans, buckets, old saucers, flowerpots, cemetery urns/vase, old pet dishes, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that collect and hold water.

In addition, owners of boats whether at home or in boatyards for repair, need to make sure that they are properly covered; tire repair shops and garages also need to take preventive measures to get rid of old tires and vehicles, as these can collect rainwater and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes’. The same applies to contractors and owners of properties being repaired.

Every household and business must do its part to eliminate Aedes Aegypti mosquito breeding sites and keep the country mosquito-free.

Once again it is very important to check around your yard and your business to make sure there is no standing water after rain. Install mosquito screens in windows and doors and store rainwater in well-covered tanks.

The public is also advised to wear light-colored, loose fitting clothing during outdoor activities, as mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors. When practical, wear long-sleeves and pants when going outdoors i.o. to decrease the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes.

To report mosquito breeding sites or to request information about eliminating mosquito breeding sites, contact the Coordinator of the Vector Program by sending an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 542-1570, 542-1122 or call the hotline: 520-2874.

Keep Sint Maarten mosquito-free. Prevention is the Cure.

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - Mrs. Mary Romney-Schaab and Mr. Philip Schaab are longtime friends of the Philipsburg Jubilee Library (PJL), the PJL said in a media statement on Thursday.

“Mrs. Mary Romney-Schaab is born and raised in the United States, but her parents and ancestors are from Sint Maarten. In 2012 the couple started to donate books to the library that can fill in the gap in our collective knowledge about the African diaspora and about African diaspora people.

“Over time, the collection became so extensive that the library decided to call it the ‘Alice and Lionel Romney African diaspora collection’, named after the parents of Mrs. Mary Romney.

“Luckily, the whole collection was saved after the hurricanes Irma and Maria and is on display in the library again.

“This year, she is finalizing her own book about her father’s experiences during World War II. The book is titled: ‘An African Caribbean in the NAZI Era – From Papiamentu to German’.

“The book describes his experiences as a political prisoner of war in Italy and during the last year of the war in Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. She will present her book during the Black History month this February at the library. Once again, the library applauds its foreign ambassadors.”

SABA/ST. EUSTATIUS - Minister Arie Slob (Primary and Secondary Education & Media) visited Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire from Monday January 13^th to Wednesday January 15^th. This visit was mainly about getting acquainted with the education field on the three islands. In addition to speaking to various school managements, the minister has also had conversations with numerous students.

“I am happy with the warm welcome. It is great to see the people involved work with so much passion and effort on the education and development of children on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. All education has their basic quality in order, which is a great achievement. It is now important to hold on to this and to continue building on it," according to the Minister.

On Wednesday afternoon, Minister Slob and Commissioner Nina den Heyer signed the second educational accommodation covenant for Bonaire. Under the first covenant, signed in 2012, a number of school buildings have been radically renovated. A new accommodation has also been built for the Liseo Boneriano (mavo, havo and vwo) of the Bonaire Scholengemeenschap (SGB) and for Kolegio Papa Cornes (primary education).

The second covenant that has now been signed establishes, among other things, the agreements for new accommodation to be built for the MBO and VMBO section of the SGB, for De Pelikaan (primary school) and for renovation of the housing of Kolegio Kristu Bon Wardador (primary school). New here is that the activities on Bonaire will be executed by the Fundashon Propiedat Inmobil Bonaire, under the responsibility of the public entity Bonaire. Until recently, the Central Government Real Estate Agency (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf, RVB) was responsible for the management of the various projects on behalf of the public entities and the Ministry.

In the period of 2012 through 2019, various school buildings were renovated on Saba and St. Eustatius as well and a new school was built on St. Eustatius for the Governor de Graaff School (primary education). This was directed by the RVB. New covenants for the remaining education housing projects have also been signed with the public entities of Saba and Statia. On Saba, in addition to extensive renovations and new construction for the Sacred Heart Elementary School and the Saba Comprehensive School, a new complex will be created for pre-school and after-school care. On St. Eustatius, work is currently underway on a new school complex for the Gwendoline van Putten School and an upgrade of the outside area of the recently renovated Seventh Day Adventist School for primary education. 

Minister Slob: “I am proud of the agreements on educational accommodation that we have made with each other. This gives confidence to continue working for the future, in which we will continue our cooperation to further improve education on the islands, in the interest of all children.” (RCN Caribbean Netherlands)

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor (VSA), held a series of “Information & Registration” sessions from January 4–9, 2020 at the various Community Help Desks.

Participants at the sessions had the distinct opportunity to engage in discussions with the Honourable Minister of VSA, Mrs. Pamela Gordon-Carty.

In her remarks, the Minister addressed the multi challenges that many families are still facing, as result of the 2017 hurricanes. As such, she made use of this platform, a community-based approach, to gather relevant information and to also engage in discussions with community members, as it pertains to how far they are with the repair of their homes and to inquire about other relevant social challenges that residents are faced with and to what extent they are coping with such.

In addition, the Minister expressed her desire to see a reduction in the unemployment total, as it pertains to particularly skill workers.

A practical approach is envisioned, as local contractors are encouraged, when and where possible, to make use of skilled persons from within their own communities when a fair opportunity is granted to them in participating in the rebuilding process.

A total of 38 potential clients and nine contractors have registered, thus, far to participate in the program. Interested persons are hereby informed to register as soon as possible, at your nearest Community Help Desk, as the registration process will be halted upcoming Friday January 17, 2020.

The social and technical assessment will then resume right after the closing of the registration process and then the actual implementation of the home repair will follow.

Collaboration with other organizations will continue being sought on various level, as is the case now with NRPB and Red Cross, in order to reach a wider cross section of the community in the quest of assisting families and individuals in the ongoing recovery process.

This home repair program is financed by the Government of St. Maarten, namely the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour (VSA), and executed by the department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs.