SINT MARTIN (GREAT BAY) - ONESXM welcomes Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama’s call for Africa and the Caribbean to strengthen their historic relationship and cooperate to create economic prosperity.

According to an August 6 Jamaica Information Service article, President Mahama said that while Africa has largely achieved political independence, the present challenge is economic emancipation through stronger partnerships.

His message must be taken seriously throughout St. Martin—an island colonized by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the South and the Republic of France in the North—and across the remaining Dutch and French colonies in the Caribbean.

Independence is also an economic question. It concerns whether our people possess the authority to negotiate directly with major markets, access international funding, attract investment and build partnerships based on our own needs.

Africa offers opportunities in tourism, trade, education, technology, agriculture, renewable energy and the creative industries. Stronger relations could produce:

•⁠  ⁠New jobs and business opportunities.
•⁠  ⁠Investment in tourism, housing and infrastructure.
•⁠  ⁠Heritage and cultural tourism.
•⁠  ⁠Scholarships and university partnerships.
•⁠  ⁠Markets for our music, film, media and other creative products.
•⁠  ⁠Cooperation in food security, energy and climate resilience.
•⁠  ⁠Access to development and reparatory funding.

St. Martin cannot fully pursue these opportunities while its international affairs remain controlled or restricted by the Netherlands and France.

The same questions confront the people of the other Dutch and French colonies. Can we secure lasting prosperity while remaining politically dependent and internationally restricted?

Reparations must be part of the process. Reparatory justice must go beyond apologies and ceremonies to include economic repair, access to capital, land, education, technology and international markets. The Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of France must both be held accountable for colonial exploitation, Slavery, and the continuing consequences of their rule.

ONESXM calls for a St. Martin–Africa strategy focused on tourism, trade, investment, education and cultural cooperation. Africa itself was brutally conquered and exploited by the Netherlands, France, and other European colonial powers. Today, African nations are still working to disentangle their economies from the enduring systems of foreign influence and resource extraction created under colonialism. A genuine St. Martin–Africa partnership must therefore advance mutual ownership, fair trade, reparations and shared prosperity—not reproduce the exploitative relationships of the past. This must form part of a wider national discussion about independence, reparations and the authority our people need to engage the world in their own interests.

Shared history must now become shared prosperity.

If we fail to reconsider our constitutional status, St. Martin and its people risk missing major markets, funding and investment opportunities. The longevity of our island—and the destiny of our people—depends on the decisions we make today.

One island. One people. One destiny.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - “Check on the person who is always checking on everyone else.” That is the simple but powerful call from community advocate Nzinga Lake, who is hoping to spark a community movement around an often-overlooked reality, the emotional and practical weight carried by people caring for aging, ill or dependent loved ones.

Lake calls the movement “Who Checks on Us?”

“For the past two years, my siblings and I have been privately caring for our aging parents, and this journey has changed me,” Lake said. “My parents are not dying; they are aging, and I thank God that they are still here. But as our loved ones age, roles begin to change. Once, they carried us. Now, for many of us, it is our turn to help carry them.”

Lake said the experience has made her think deeply about the caregivers who quietly show up every day, often while balancing jobs, families, financial responsibilities and their own personal struggles.

“Everyone asks, ‘How is Mommy?’ ‘How is Daddy?’ ‘How is Auntie?’ And of course they should. But I started thinking: who asks the caregiver, ‘How are YOU?’”

For Lake, caregiving is not only about aging parents.

It is the niece caring for the aunt who helped raise her. The nephew caring for an uncle. A grandchild caring for a grandparent. A husband caring for his wife. A wife caring for her husband. Siblings caring for each other. Friends caring for friends. Sometimes it is a neighbor who simply saw someone in need and stepped up.

Others are caring for loved ones living with Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, Cancer, the effects of Stroke, Parkinson’s disease, disabilities, chronic illnesses and other conditions requiring ongoing support.

“Sometimes the caregiver isn't the person anyone expected to take on the responsibility,” Lake said. “They are simply the person who showed up and kept showing up. I want those people to know that we see them too.”

Lake also spoke about the emotional side of watching someone you love change.

“Sometimes you miss parts of someone who is still right there beside you,” she said. “You remember their independence, their strength and the things they once did so easily. You can grieve those changes while still being incredibly grateful that they are here.”

Lake said her own support has often come from friends who are also caregivers.

“We call each other. We ask for guidance. We pray. We vent. We cry. We laugh because sometimes you really have to laugh. And we listen. Those check-ins have helped me tremendously.”

She has even kept a journal of things she has learned along the way from cleaning and useful products to practical routines. But one lesson stands above all others.

Patience.

“Caregiving teaches you patience with the person you love, patience with the situation and sometimes, most importantly, grace and patience with yourself.”

Lake has a particular message for caregivers who may be quietly exhausted.

“You are seen. You are valued. You are loved. What you do matters. Being tired does not mean you love the person less. Feeling overwhelmed does not make you ungrateful. Sometimes you need advice. Sometimes you need prayer. Sometimes you need to cry, laugh or vent. And sometimes you simply need a hug.”

She is also calling on siblings and extended family members to share the care.

“Please don't let the person who always steps up become the person everyone simply expects to carry everything,” Lake said. “If someone in your family is carrying most of the responsibility, ask what you can do. Take an appointment. Bring a meal. Run an errand. Give them a few hours to breathe. Even if you live abroad, there may be something you can take responsibility for.”

Lake acknowledged the important work already being done by healthcare professionals, Government, churches, foundations and community organizations, stressing that Who Checks on Us? is intended to complement not compete with existing efforts.

“This isn't Government's responsibility alone. This belongs to all of us,” Lake said. “Families, friends, neighbors, employers, businesses, churches, organizations and Government all have a role. But checking in doesn't require a programme or a budget.”

Sometimes it is a telephone call. Sometimes it is a listening ear. Sometimes it is prayer. Sometimes it is an hour of help. And sometimes it is simply a hug.

“A hug doesn't take away what the caregiver has to face when they go back through the door,” Lake said. “But sometimes it says, ‘I see you. You don't have to explain.’ And that can give someone enough strength to keep going.”

Nzinga hopes Who Checks on Us? will grow into a community culture rather than simply another campaign.

“This is my calling to encourage us to check in. Caregivers checking on caregivers. Families checking on each other. Friends checking on friends. A community remembering the people quietly carrying the care.”

My first goal is remarkably simple. “If one person reads this today, thinks of a caregiver they haven't checked on in a while, picks up the phone and asks, ‘How are YOU?’, I will feel that we have already moved something toward change.”

“Because change doesn't always begin with hundreds of people. Sometimes it begins with one person checking on one person. “Once, they carried us. Now, many of us are helping to carry them. While we carry them, let us carry each other.

“WHO CHECKS ON US? WE DO” said Lake

A young Nzinga Lake in the arms of her father Mr. Joseph. Lake Jr. an image Lake says represents the circle of care: once they carried us; today, many of us are helping to carry them. 

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - St. Maarten--Kadaster St. Maarten is helping to move drone technology from occasional use to a more coordinated tool for mapping, planning and disaster preparedness.

Kadaster, together with the Bureau of Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten, recently convened a cross-agency technical working session on the use of drones for mapping, data collection, professional training and public-sector planning.

The discussion focused on how government and public entities can make better use of drone-generated information, while ensuring that each agency’s role remains clear. For Kadaster, the work is directly connected to its core responsibilities: accurate mapping, reliable land and infrastructure information, and the careful management of spatial data used for planning and decision-making.

Kadaster operates a fleet of large, LiDAR-capable drones flown by European-certified pilots, supported by an established legal framework for government data collection and mapping. Recent applications include 3D mapping of the St. Maarten hospital complex, volume calculations related to waste management and soon to be executed, airport mapping and other public-sector assignments.

The Bureau of Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten contributed from the perspective of telecommunications, radio communications, pilot licensing and coordination related to drone registration and certification. This combination of mapping expertise and regulatory knowledge was central to the discussion.

Participants explored how drone mapping can support national priorities such as land-use planning, infrastructure development, disaster preparedness and public works. One practical area under consideration is the use of aerial before-and-after imagery following storms or other major events. Such documentation can assist with damage assessments, recovery planning and more accurate reporting after an emergency.

The session also considered the development of a professional drone training framework for agencies that operate drones or rely on drone-generated information. The proposed training would cover legal requirements, aviation standards, communications procedures, privacy considerations, operational safety and proper use of collected data.

Kadaster would contribute guidance on mapping standards, data accuracy and the appropriate use of spatial information, while the Bureau of Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten would support areas related to licensing, communications and regulatory requirements.

The possibility of future public drone awareness or training was also discussed. Participants noted that any public-facing initiative would need to clearly explain safety rules, legal responsibilities, privacy standards and liability concerns linked to recreational drone use.

This collaboration is part of a broader effort to modernise land, mapping and infrastructure information services. By making better use of drone technology and working more closely with relevant partners, Kadaster aims to support better planning, safer development and stronger disaster readiness for St. Maarten.

Kadaster will continue consultations with the Bureau of Telecommunications and Aviation Affairs department and other relevant public-sector partners to further develop the proposed areas of cooperation, including professional training, mapping standards, disaster documentation and the careful use of drone-generated information.

About Kadaster St. Maarten

Kadaster St. Maarten is the national authority responsible for land registration, surveying, the maintenance of geospatial and cadastral information. In support of sustainable development and transparent governance, Kadaster provides essential services that ensure legal certainty, facilitate responsible land use, and strengthen the island’s digital and spatial planning capabilities. 

SINT MAARTEN (COMMENTARY - By Cdr. Bud Slabbaert) - Residents of Coral Cay have reported the sighting of Old Man Bramble on Christmas Eve. Bramble’s appearance is rare and deeply meaningful. He arrived without fanfare and vanished again, leaving behind a sense of that even the smallest light can guide a community forward.

On this Christmas Eve morning, while mist lingered above the sea and the sun's gentle golden light peeked over the horizon, Old Man Bramble appeared. His beard was as white as sea foam, and he held a lantern that glowed with the warmth of a promise.

Jerry, a boy on the beach, was the first to spot him. He'd heard the stories but never expected to see the man in person. Bramble opened his arms wide.

“Come, boy,” he said. “The sea brought me home”

Jerry stepped forward. He reached out, not for Bramble’s hand…but for the lantern. Bramble smiled and said softly. “Ah, you understand.”

As Jerry touched the handle, the flame flared and flame danced. In that moment, the boy and the legend were no longer strangers. They were connected as guardians of its light.

The path from the beach to the village was covered in sand. Palm fronds moved gently above. Old Man Bramble proceeded at a slow, deliberate pace, while Jerry walked proudly beside him. The lantern between them glowed, not just with flame, but with something deeper. The boy’s heart was full of something brighter, the quiet thrill of being the first to walk beside a legend.

As they reached the first houses, one by one, doors opened and quiet smiles welcomed Bramble. He tipped his hat to each doorway; his eyes crinkled with warmth. Elders watched from porches with a mix of nostalgia and gratitude. Villagers greeting them with smiles. It was like an island exhaled. A welcome not just for a man…, but for a returned legend. Bramble's gentle lantern glow reassured everyone that kindness still matters, and Christmas brings people back together.

Just after sunset on this Christmas Eve, families gathered in the old boathouse on the western inlet of the port to hear Old Man Bramble’s tales of resilience and joy. The boathouse had never held so many hearts at once. Children sat cross-legged on the floor, elders leaning on crates and beams, their hands folded, their faces soft with memory. Bramble’s lantern’s glow added emotional warmth and symbolic power. He was seated on a wooden chair like he’d never left. His eyes crinkled with joy. He spoke softly:

“I came on the mist, quiet as a memory, and you welcomed me like family. I thank you. But legends don’t stay long. We are like the tide. We come when needed, and we go we’re done. So, hear me now, before the mist carries me back to the ‘Quiet Place’.”

During the powerful meeting, he explains the symbolism of the lantern, the significance of light, and how it reflects the nature of the human heart.

“Light Is like the heart,” he said, tapping his chest, “Because the heart is the first lantern we ever carry. It glows when we love. It dims when we’re afraid. It brightens when we’re kind. And when we share it, we let our heart-light touch someone else. Everyone has an inner light, a spark. Keep your inner light alive by sharing, showing kindness and courage. When you shine with generosity, honesty, and humility, you help others find their way. When you see someone standing alone, be the first to walk over. Let others borrow your light when their own flickers.

“This lantern isn’t just flame and glass; it’s a reminder. Some lose or hide theirs. Some let the world blow it out. but the wise protect and share it.”

Bramble turned toward the sea. “You see that lighthouse on the far point? It doesn’t shout or move, but its steady brightness helps sailors find their way home.”

He raised the lantern. “This little light is the same. A steady person becomes a beacon for others, not through force or noise but by simply being themselves. Even one small light can change everything and offer hope in the darkest times.”

My dear people…, all of you, every soul on this island. The world is heavy enough. Don’t add weight where you can add kindness. When you shine, the island grows softer. When you do these things, Christmas will never leave you. Not even in the hardest seasons of your life.”

When Bramble finished his story, the boathouse felt full of something soft and glowing. The lanterns above them flickered gently. The place was still humming with warmth long after the story ended. Bramble had grown quiet. He stood near the back door that opened toward the sea. The night breeze slipped in, carrying something that called him.

Young Jerry looked up. “Bramble? Where are you going?”

Bramble smiled soft. “For a little walk, my boy. Christmas night is when the island speaks the clearest.”

Jerry opened his mouth to follow, but Bramble shook his head gently. “Stay with your people.”

He touched Jerry’s shoulder lightly and stepped outside, walking slowly, the lantern in his hand, its glow flickering.

Old Man Bramble slipped away to the quiet shoreline which was lit by the moonlight. The stars shimmered like old friends. And as quietly as he arrived that morning, he returned to the ‘Quiet Place’ as the legend leaving behind a renewed sense of togetherness.

The next morning Jerry went to the beach. The morning sky was pale and soft, like it hadn’t decided on its colors yet. He realized that Bramble left. In the sand were footprints leading toward the water. Jerry knelt, touching the last print. “You’ll come back,” he whispered with a tear in his eyes. “I know you will.”

By Cdr. Bud Slabbaert