SINT MAARTEN/CURACAO – The Dutch naval vessel HNLMS Groningen has taken over the role of station ship in the Caribbean from HNLMS Friesland. The patrol ship docked in St. Anna Bay in Willemstad, Curacao on Thursday morning, June 4, 2026.

Over the coming months, the ship will be deployed for various safety tasks at sea, such as surveillance, enforcement, and combating illegal activities like drug smuggling.

Additionally, it stands ready to provide support during emergency situations, for example during the hurricane season that began this month.

The Royal Netherlands Navy has four Holland-class patrol ships. These OPVs (Ocean-Going Patrol Vessels) are flexibly deployable vessels for the surveillance of coastal waters.

The station ship has an NH90 maritime combat helicopter on board to support the ship with aerial operations.

For the past four months, HNLMS Friesland fulfilled the role of station ship in the Caribbean.

In addition to monitoring the security situation around the islands, the ship recently visited New Orleans, where it participated in festivities marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.

With the presence of a station ship in the region, the Dutch Ministry of Defense contributes to peace and security in the Caribbean.

SINT MAARTEN (HARBOUR VIEW) - On June 4, 2026, the Cabinet of the Governor of Sint Maarten received the draft national decree concerning the dismissal of the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Mr. Richinel S.J. Brug.

The decree was signed by the Governor of Sint Maarten, His Excellency Ajamu G. Baly, thereby formalizing the dismissal of Minister Brug.

The dismissal follows the resignation tendered by Minister Brug on June 3, 2026, subsequent to the motion of no-confidence passed by the Parliament of Sint Maarten on Friday May 29, 2026.

ARCHIVED - THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2026 - SINT MAARTEN (HARBOUR VIEW) - In an audience held on June 3, 2026, at the Cabinet of the Governor, His Excellency Governor of Sint Maarten, Mr. Ajamu G. Baly, was presented with the resignation letter of the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Mr. Richinel S.J. Brug.

The resignation was tendered by Minister Brug as a result of the current political situation. On Friday May 29th, 2026, the Parliament of Sint Maarten passed a motion of no-confidence against the minister. In accordance with article 33, second paragraph, of the Constitution of Sint Maarten, a minister who no longer has the confidence of Parliament shall make his position available. 

The Governor has forwarded the resignation letter to the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Mr. Luc F.E. Mercelina, for further handling and advice regarding the necessary follow-up actions.

SINT MAARTEN (GEAT BAY) - EmpowerU, a United States-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by St. Maartener Harsha Parchani, has opened applications for two student support funds aimed at expanding access to education, mentorship and academic opportunity for St. Maarten students.

The EmpowerU Scholars Fund is now accepting applications from St. Maarten students at the secondary and post-secondary level, while the new Rising Tide Scholars Fund will provide fully funded CXC Math tutoring for secondary school students in St. Maarten.

Applications for the EmpowerU Scholars Fund close on July 1, 2026. Applications for the Rising Tide Scholars Fund close on July 31, 2026. Students can learn more and apply at empoweru.online/funding.

Founded in 2019 by Parchani, a St. Maartener and Hardware Product Manager at Microsoft, EmpowerU was created to invest in Caribbean students, communities and emerging leaders.

The organization’s work is rooted in the belief that Caribbean excellence deserves real investment and that students from small island communities should not have to pursue major academic and professional goals alone.

Since 2021, the EmpowerU Scholars Fund has supported five scholars pursuing studies in several fields and countries. The recipients are:

Tamia Hector, MSci in Natural Sciences, Durham University, United Kingdom; Kiran Jivnani, MS in Public Policy, University of Chicago; James Brooks, BS in International Social Work, HAN University, Netherlands; Madison Solomon, BSc in Psychology, University of South Florida; and Tavania Mathew, BS in Finance, Florida State University.

The EmpowerU Scholars Fund is need-based and open to Caribbean students in any field of study, at any accredited institution, anywhere in the world.

“This fund exists because Caribbean students do not need rescuing, they need resources,” EmpowerU stated. “They belong in every classroom, every field and every space where their talent can grow.”

This fall, EmpowerU will also launch the Rising Tide Scholars Fund, a fully funded tutoring program for secondary school students in St. Maarten who are currently preparing for CXC Math. The program will provide 25 students with free online tutoring delivered by educator Mariska Carty.

Eligible students must attend St. Maarten Academy, Charlotte Brookson Academy, St. Dominic High School, or MAC High School.

The program is designed to help students strengthen their preparation for CXC Math, which remains a key gateway subject for continued education and future opportunities. EmpowerU said the initiative is meant to ensure that no student has to face the exam without proper support.

The Rising Tide Scholars Fund is being built and delivered in partnership with SIVLL Society Foundation, a St. Maarten-based organization led by President and Founder Sahar Thomson. Through this partnership, EmpowerU said it is deepening its connection to local community work and ensuring that the program is rooted in the realities of students on the island.

“Our partnership with SIVLL Society Foundation is what that bridge looks like in practice,” said Parchani. “SIVLL is on the ground in St. Maarten, embedded in the community, trusted by families, and doing the kind of relationship-driven work that no program can replicate from a distance. EmpowerU brings structure, funding, and diaspora connection. SIVLL brings presence, accountability, and deep community roots. Together, we are not building programs for St. Maarten. We are building them with St. Maarten.

“That distinction matters. Caribbean communities have been the subject of enough well-meaning outside interventions. EmpowerU is something different, an organization founded by one of us, partnered with people from here, accountable to the community it serves. The diaspora is not separate from the island. We are the island, extended. And it is time we acted like it,” Parchani said.

Students selected for the Rising Tide Scholars Fund will be notified in August. Fall tutoring sessions are scheduled to begin on September 5, 2026.

EmpowerU said both funds reflect its wider mission to serve as a bridge between the Caribbean and the diaspora, between potential and opportunity, and between students who are ready to move forward and the support systems needed to help them succeed.

For more information or to apply, visit empoweru.online/funding.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Marking World Environment Day on June 5, 2026, and in line with this year’s theme, “Climate action starts with us,” Windward Islands Bank (WIB) is launching its Green Energy Loans, a financing solution designed to support residents and businesses in St. Maarten in investing in solar and renewable energy systems, and taking practical steps toward more efficient energy use.

The product will be available to both personal and business customers, offering accessible financing terms for the purchase and installation of qualifying green energy equipment, including solar panels, inverter systems, and related infrastructure.

Energy costs represent one of the most consistent financial pressures on households and businesses in St. Maarten of late. Against this backdrop, WIB’s Green Energy Loans will be introduced to address that pressure by providing customers with a practical financing option to invest in energy solutions.

“Energy costs affect every household and every business on this island. The Green Energy Loans therefore provides our customers with an accessible avenue to invest in solutions that can help ease that burden over time. As a financial institution, we are committed to supporting the transition toward more sustainable choices that are also financially sound for our customers.” Mrs. Daisy Tyrol-Carolus, Country Head of WIB.

The loan is structured to be financially accessible, with repayment terms designed to support affordability over time. Customers can assess their own circumstances to better understand what the investment may mean for their household or business finances. WIB’s lending team remains available to explain the product features and support customers through the application process.

The launch of the Green Energy Loans coincides with WIB’s “Keep it Clean, Keep it Green” initiative taking place this week across primary schools on St. Maarten, reflecting the bank’s broader commitment to a greener island for the next generation, as well as for today’s households and businesses. The Green Energy Loans extends that commitment into the financial lives of adults, giving the community a practical way to act on those same values.

The Green Energy Loans also reflects WIB’s ongoing focus on offering products that address the evolving financial needs of St. Maarten. This launch highlights WIB’s dedication to serving its customers while remaining firmly part of the community and committed to evolving with it since 1960.

For more information please visit: www.wib-bank.net/greenloans