SINT MAARTEN/BELGUIM - The President of Parliament, the Hon. Sarah A. Wescot-Williams, is currently participating in the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat) meetings, taking place from December 1–3, 2025, at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.

On December 1, 2025, President Wescot-Williams, together with the Presidents of the Parliaments of Aruba and Curaçao, and other representatives of Latin America and the Caribbean, attended a preparatory meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean component of the EuroLat Assembly.

During this session, the copresidents of the EuroLat Committees provided updates ahead of the Committee meetings scheduled for December 2, 2025. The Latin American and Caribbean component also reflected on the recently held 4th EU–CELAC Summit of Heads of State and Government, which took place in Santa Marta, Colombia, on November 9, 2025, and addressed topics such as inclusive digitalization; climate financing and the protection of strategic ecosystems; cooperation on climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction; the promotion of fair and sustainable trade; human mobility; and the management of migration flows.

In the afternoon, the EuroLat meetings were formally opened with an inaugural address by Ms. Belén Martínez Carbonell, Secretary-General of the European External Action Service.

The ceremony also included opening remarks by the President of the European component of the EuroLat Assembly, the President of the Latin American component, and the Vice-President of the European Parliament. This was followed by a keynote address delivered by Mr. Jordan Schwartz, Executive Vice-President of the Inter-American Development Bank.

Collectively, the speeches underscored the need for strengthened partnerships in the current global context, the importance of and the ongoing EU cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries, the growing threats to democracy and the vital role of parliamentary work, advancements in digitalization, as well as the need to work together for greater progress of these regions.

EuroLat is a multilateral parliamentary assembly that serves as a forum for dialogue among various parliaments. It is composed of 150 members: 75 from the European Parliament and 75 from Latin American regional parliaments, including Parlatino, Parlandino, Parlacen, Parlasur, and the national Congresses of Chile and Mexico.

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - The University of St. Martin (USM) proudly hosted a special presentation this week highlighting the progress of the Caribbean Teacher as a Researcher in the 21st Century (CTR21) project, as teachers from both Sr. Magda Primary School and the John A. Gumbs Campus showcased the work completed during Phase One of their professional development journey.

CTR21 is centered on advancing 21st-century teaching competencies by supporting educators in strengthening essential skills such as critical thinking, digital literacy, collaboration, creativity, and resilience—all through a research-based approach.

Guided by USM’s faculty team, particularly Mrs. Juliana Hodge-Shipley and Mrs. Marva Sam-Arrindell, participating teachers engaged in research workshops, hands-on activities, and collaborative assignments crafted to transform instructional practice in the modern classroom.

During the presentation sessions, teachers from both schools shared their research projects, classroom reflections, proposed interventions, and demonstrated how CTR21 principles are already being integrated into daily teaching. Their presentations reflected professional growth, teamwork, and a renewed commitment to innovative, inquiry-driven education.

At the conclusion of each session, USM presented certificates of completion to the teachers of both Sr. Magda Primary School and the John A. Gumbs Campus, officially recognizing their successful completion of Phase One of the CTR21 program.

The certificates represent not only the educators’ dedication, but also the beginning of a broader journey in research-based professional development as they move forward into subsequent phases.

USM commends the teachers, school leaders, and the Catholic School Board for their outstanding participation and engagement. Their commitment to continuous learning underscores a shared mission to strengthen education across St. Maarten and equip the next generation with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. USM looks forward to continued collaboration as the CTR21 project advances.

CTR21 is a practitioner-based study aimed at cultivating an inquiry-driven mindset among primary school teachers on the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten.

Funded by the Dutch National Governing Agency for Research in Education (NRO), the project is a collaboration between Instituto Pedagogico Arubano, the University of Curaçao Dr. Moises Da Costa Gomez, the University of St. Martin, and the University of Aruba.

John A. Gumbs Teachers

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Backstreet Bonanza Organizing Team, in collaboration with the Backstreet Merchants and local vendors, is pleased to announce the 6th annual Backstreet Bonanza, taking place on Saturday, November 29, and Sunday, November 30, 2025.

This highly anticipated two-day event will once again transform Backstreet into a vibrant hub of extended Black Friday deals, early Christmas shopping, live entertainment, and a variety of local vendors showcasing their products.   

The event will run from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Saturday and from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, offering residents and visitors ample time to enjoy the festivities.

The public is encouraged to come out on both days, as some vendors will only be present for one of the two days, and you won’t want to miss the full experience.   

Road Closure:

Backstreet will be closed to through-traffic from 7:00 PM on Friday, November 28, and will reopen on Sunday, November 30 at 6:00 PM. Motorists are strongly advised not to park on Backstreet during this period, as any vehicle found parked in the restricted area will be towed.  

A special highlight of the weekend will take place on Sunday at 2:00 p.m., when Santa Claus comes to town to spread holiday cheer and distribute gifts to children aged 0–12. Families are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy this festive moment.   

The Backstreet Bonanza Organizing Team extends its appreciation to FLOW, the main sponsor of this year’s event, for their generous support, as well as to the Ministry of TEATT for their continued collaboration.

The Laser 101.1 FM radio team will provide an on-site live broadcast, keeping the community engaged with updates and entertainment.   

The community is invited to come out and enjoy two days of safe, family-friendly fun, exciting deals, and vibrant holiday spirit. 

Join us on Saturday, November 29, and Sunday, November 30, as we celebrate the 6th anniversary of Backstreet Bonanza, bigger, brighter, and better than ever.  

SABA/SINT EUSTATIUS – As of 1 January 2026, the Equal Treatment Legislation will come into effect on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Consequently, the National Institute for Human Rights will take on additional tasks on the islands.

Residents of the Caribbean Netherlands will be able to file a complaint with the independent Institute if they believe they have been discriminated against, just like in the European Netherlands.

The Institute will assess whether discrimination has occurred. In some cases, mediation may be more appropriate. If so, the Institute will offer this. To support these new tasks, Solange Christiaan and Gerald Simmons-de Jong have been appointed as Deputy Board Members.

They will handle discrimination cases on the Caribbean Netherlands. This week, Rick Lawson, the new president of the Institute, is visiting all three islands with colleagues, to meet with important organisations and visit the Institute’s locations on the islands.

Lokèt Hurídiko and Legal Desks on the islands 

Everyone deserves equal treatment and access to justice. A Lokèt Hurídiko will therefore be established on Bonaire, as well as Legal Desks on Sint Eustatius and Saba. From the first half of 2026, residents can go there for free assistance with questions about their rights and about experiences with discrimination.

This includes questions about housing, work, debts or benefits. But also about situations where people feel they have been treated unequally, for instance because of their nationality, pregnancy or disability.  

Regarding discrimination or unequal treatment, the Lokèt Hurídiko or Legal Desk can also help residents with submitting a complaint to the Institute. Together, these organizations will ensure that people in the Caribbean Netherlands are better protected and can find the right help more easily. Residents may also file a request directly with the Institute from 1 January 2026 onwards.  

Presence of the Institute in the Caribbean Netherlands 

Solange Christiaan and Gerald Simmons-de Jong have been appointed to assess discrimination cases on the islands. They bring along broad legal knowledge and extensive experience in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

Solange Christiaan has served for eleven years as a judge at the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Gerald Simmons-de Jong is the founder of law firm DEJONG, with offices on Saba and Sint Maarten and, soon, on Bonaire. In addition, Moramay Koomen has been appointed as a legal advisor at the Institute, and will handle incoming discrimination complaints.  

“It is great to see that Equal Treatment Legislation will also apply on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. We all live in small communities here, where everyone knows each other. This can make it difficult to speak up when you feel discriminated against. We hope that the Institute’s presence will empower residents to address unequal treatment,” said Deputy Board Member Simmons-de Jong.  

With these new additions, the Institute is expanding its activities and expertise in the Caribbean Netherlands. For hearings, the Institute will make use of the facilities of the Joint Court of Justice on all three islands. Alongside handling discrimination complaints, the Institute’s tasks on the Caribbean Netherlands also include advising, researching and raising awareness on human rights.