SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Department of Youth, within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, continues to advance the development and implementation of the Early Childhood Development Curriculum Guide for Sint Maarten.

The ECD consultants were on the island conducting classroom observations at nine ECD centers. These observations are intended to provide further insight into current teaching practices, the learning environments available within the centers, and the support required to successfully implement the Curriculum Guide.

The visits also provided an opportunity for the consultants to engage directly with ECD center management and practitioners and gain a better understanding of the sector’s day-to-day realities. In addition to the online sensitization sessions held earlier in the year, a separate in-person meeting was organized with ECD practitioners to gather further feedback and discuss their experiences and needs.

Curriculum Pilot

As part of the next phase, selected daycare centers will participate in a two-week in-class pilot of sample curriculum materials. Prior to the start of the pilot, the consultants will meet virtually and in- person with the selected centers to introduce the materials, explain the purpose of the pilot, and provide guidance on their use.

During the pilot period, practitioners will use the sample materials in their classrooms and participate in ongoing discussions with the consultants. Their feedback will be used to assess the clarity, relevance, suitability, and practicality of the curriculum within the local ECD environment.

The success of the pilot will be measured by examining how effectively the materials can be used by practitioners, the level of engagement demonstrated by children, the suitability of the activities for different developmental stages, and the extent to which the materials respond to the needs of the local ECD sector.

The findings from the pilot will be used to refine the Curriculum Guide before the next phase of implementation.

Strengthening Professional Development Opportunities

The Department of Youth has also initiated outreach to local tertiary and vocational education institutions to explore opportunities for developing or adapting professional training programs specifically geared towards Early Childhood Development.

The Department looks forward to continued dialogue with the relevant educational institutions regarding the development of accessible, recognized, and sector-responsive training opportunities for ECD practitioners.

During consultations, practitioners emphasized the importance of ensuring that future professional development opportunities reflect the needs and realities of the ECD sector and provide the practical knowledge and skills required to support young children’s learning and development.

“The classroom observations and direct discussions with practitioners are essential to ensuring that the Curriculum Guide is not only developmentally sound, but also practical and responsive to the local context,” the Department of Youth stated. “The success of this initiative will depend on continued collaboration among government, daycare centers, practitioners, educational institutions, parents, and other stakeholders.”

The development of the ECD Curriculum Guide forms part of the Government of Sint Maarten’s broader commitment to strengthening the quality of early childhood services and ensuring that young children have access to stimulating, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environments.

SINT MAARTEN (CAY BAY) - NV GEBE on Saturday, August 29, 2026, experienced one of their engines at their Cay Bay Power Plant tripping, thereby to several cables being de-energized, resulting in power outages in the following areas:

* Fort Willem

* Parts of Front Street

* Parts of Back Street

* PdP

* Cole Bay Lagoon

* Belvedere

* Bishop Hill

* Parts of Dutch Quarter

* Oyster Pond

* Parts of Dawn Beach

* Parts of Cay Hill

* Parts of L.B. Scott Road

NV GEBE technical teams worked on identifying the cause of the interruption and restore power. Several communities were re-energized and shortly after the remaining affected areas were also brought back online.

During the initial outage NV GEBE informed residents, “We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as our teams work to restore normal service.” All affected areas are now back online.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Regional Rastafari leader and cannabis policy advocate Ras Iroy will be among the featured speakers at the upcoming public forum “Building the Future of Cannabis Regulation,” where he will address the relationship between Rastafari, reparatory justice and the development of a sustainable cannabis industry in the Caribbean.

The event, hosted by the Cannabis Legislative Inter-Ministerial Work Group, CLIWG, will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2026, from 6:00pm to 10:00pm at the University of St. Martin. Admission is free and members of the public are encouraged to register in advance due to limited seating.

Ras Iroy’s presentation, titled “Cannabis and Rastafari: A Reparatory Approach to a Sustainable Cannabis Industry,” will revisit decades of Rastafari advocacy surrounding cannabis, known within the faith and culture as the Holy Herb, while examining how Caribbean governments can develop cannabis legislation that is inclusive, rights-based and responsive to the history of criminalization.

His presentation will revisit the findings of the CARICOM Regional Commission on Marijuana and its report “Waiting to Exhale,” which examined the social, religious, health and legal implications of cannabis prohibition across the region.

Ras Iroy will also explore the longstanding relationship between cannabis and the Rastafari way of life, including the religious, cultural and social significance of the plant within Rastafari communities.

A central part of the presentation will focus on the Sankofa Maccabbee case and its implications for Rastafari rights and cannabis policy. Ras Iroy is expected to examine how the case contributed to the wider Caribbean conversation about religious freedom, cannabis possession and the treatment of Rastafari under existing laws.

He will also highlight legislative developments in St. Kitts and Nevis, where amendments have been introduced recognizing the rights and religious practices of the Rastafari community in relation to cannabis.

The presentation is expected to argue that the development of a cannabis industry should not be viewed only through the lens of commercial opportunity, but should also take into account the communities that advocated for cannabis reform long before legalization and regulation became mainstream policy discussions.

Ras Iroy will outline an inclusive Rastafari perspective on building a sustainable industry and will offer recommendations on how governments can incorporate social justice, cultural recognition, reparatory considerations and meaningful participation into future cannabis frameworks.

The discussion is particularly relevant as St. Maarten considers the development of its own legislative framework for cannabis. The August 14 forum is designed to bring together government representatives, healthcare professionals, academics, researchers, businesses, legal specialists and members of the community to examine evidence-based approaches to regulation, public health, science and economic development.

Ras Iroy currently serves as Chairman of the Caribbean Rastafari Organisation Inc., CRO Inc., and Chairman of the Organisation of Rastafari in Unity, ORU, the umbrella Rastafari organization in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Through those roles, he has worked to strengthen cooperation among Rastafari communities across the Caribbean while advancing cultural preservation, food security, environmental sustainability, youth empowerment and greater unity within the movement nationally, regionally and internationally.

He also serves as a Community Development Officer within the Nevis Island Administration, supporting community-based initiatives, civic participation and programs aimed at improving social wellbeing and sustainable community development.

His involvement in cannabis policy extends to his membership on the National Cannabis Authority, where he contributes to policy development and public education surrounding the responsible development of the cannabis sector.

Ras Iroy is also Co-Chairperson of the National Reparations Committee, contributing to advocacy and policy discussions surrounding reparatory justice for people of African descent.

His participation in the St. Maarten forum will bring a regional perspective to discussions about how cannabis regulation can balance public health, economic development, legal reform, social justice and cultural rights.

Other featured speakers at the event include medical cannabis physician Dr. Joseph Rosado, senior lecturer and researcher Dr. Machel A. Emanuel, and legal and policy expert Leandra Leslie-Cijntje.

The forum forms part of the Cannabis Legislative Inter-Ministerial Work Group’s broader effort to support the development of St. Maarten’s cannabis legislative framework through evidence, education and public engagement.

The event will provide members of the public with an opportunity to hear from specialists, ask questions and participate in the wider discussion about the direction of cannabis policy in St. Maarten.

SINT MAARTEN (MULLET BAY) - “Sun Resorts”, announces the commencement of the Mullet Bay masterplan process, an important step toward providing the people of St. Maarten with clearer information, better understanding, and a more structured view of what the future of this significant area could look like.

Management recognizes that Mullet Bay means a great deal to the community of St. Maarten. Sun Resorts recognizes that the area carries strong emotions and many unanswered questions. It is a place connected to memory, recreation, tourism, public interest, and many emotions.

For that reason, it is imperative that the next phase must be approached with care, and respect for everyone who feels connected to it and its future must be approached with openness, and responsibility.

The masterplan process is an important step in helping us better understand where we are, where we are going, and what a responsible vision for the area could look like.

“Our goal is to work toward a balanced and constructive outcome that can create the best possible results and a win-win situation, one that considers the interests of the owner of the Mullet Bay property, while also respecting the long-term value, concerns, and aspirations of the people of St. Maarten,” said a representative of Sun Resorts.

The intention is to help explain the possibilities, principles, and considerations that may guide the future of Mullet Bay. It is not a final development announcement, but a planning, communication, and educational framework designed to bring together technical insight, environmental awareness, spatial planning, accessibility, heritage value, and long-term benefit for St. Maarten

To support this process, Sun Resorts has engaged Lyongo Architecture, an architecture and urban design firm with a strong presence in the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean. The firm’s involvement brings both professional expertise and a meaningful understanding of the local context.

Architect Lyongo has lived in St. Maarten for several years and has been part of developments such as The Sister Borgia Elementary School, Vocational Training School, Halley’s dental Clinic, in addition to these, he has also supported with residential developments. He is familiar with the Mullet Bay property, and understands the sensitivity, history, and public interest connected to the area. This connection is important in helping translate the complexity of Mullet Bay into a visual and strategic framework that can support public education, stakeholder discussions, and a better understanding of how responsible planning is shaped.

A key objective of this process is to move the conversation from uncertainty and speculation toward information, education, and constructive dialogue. By presenting Mullet Bay through a more organized planning lens, Sun Resorts aims to help the community better understand what is being explored, what factors must be considered, and what steps are needed before any future decisions can be made.

Once the masterplan development advances, it will also create a basis for engagement with relevant authorities, environmental and technical advisors, community stakeholders, and other parties whose input is important.

As this process continues, Sun Resorts will provide updates that explain the masterplan framework, the planning principles involved, and the next steps. The intention is to support a more informed public conversation rooted in education, responsible planning, environmental and cultural awareness, and long-term value for St. Maarten.