SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), is urging residents to take immediate action following the heavy rainfall experienced on Tuesday, which significantly increases the risk of mosquito breeding across the island.

Health authorities warn that the combination of rainfall, warm temperatures, and urban conditions creates an ideal environment for the Aedes aegypti mosquito to breed.

This mosquito, which is commonly found in and around homes, lays eggs in stagnant water collected in everyday items such as buckets, tires, flowerpots, and clogged drains. CPS is therefore calling on the community to remain vigilant and take proactive steps to eliminate standing water.

Dengue fever can cause symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, nausea, and rash. In more severe cases, it can lead to serious complications including bleeding and organ impairment. Chikungunya, while rarely fatal, is known to cause high fever and intense joint pain that can persist for weeks or even months, affecting daily activities and overall quality of life.

Residents are advised to remain alert for increased mosquito activity following the recent rainfall. CPS emphasizes that the most effective way to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is by eliminating breeding sites.

Households are encouraged to inspect their surroundings regularly, especially after rain, and to empty or remove any containers holding water. The use of insect repellent, proper window screening, and protective clothing is also recommended to reduce exposure to mosquito bites.

CPS is calling on the Sint Maarten community to take collective responsibility in protecting public health. Simple actions taken at the household level can have a significant impact in reducing mosquito populations and preventing the spread of disease.

To report mosquito breeding concerns or to request assistance, residents can contact CPS Vector Control at +1 (721) 520-4161, 542-1222/1570, or 914. The team can also be reached via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CURACAO (WILLEMSTAD) - The Social and Economic Council (SER) of Curaçao took part on April 10 and 11 in a two-day workshop in Santo Domingo organized by the Dominican Republic’s Economic and Social Council (CES) for newly appointed council members at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Raúl Henríquez, the SER’s director and secretary general, was invited by CES President Rafael Toribio to participate in the event and to speak in its international segment on AICESIS, the international association of economic and social councils and similar institutions. Speaking alongside representatives from Guatemala and Spain, Mr. Henríquez also addressed the place of Caribbean and Latin American councils within that wider network.

In his remarks, Mr. Henríquez argued that economic and social councils matter most when uncertainty is high. “In 2026, an economic and social council is no mere accessory to a democratic system; it is part of what keeps it stable,” he said. He warned that small, open, and island economies are especially exposed to geopolitical shocks, higher energy costs, supply chain disruptions, and weakening public confidence. In such circumstances, he said, sound policy depends not only on the substance of decisions, but also on the legitimacy of the process through which they are made.

For Curaçao, one of the clearest lessons of the workshop came in the closing reflections of Mr. Toribio, who argued that a council must do more than convene dialogue. It must also strengthen its influence, monitor compliance with agreements, and make clear who is honoring commitments and who is falling short. The broader design of the workshop reflected that institutional focus, with sessions on the legal framework of the Dominican CES, policy influence, the ethics of representation and the rollout of a new quality-management system.

Curaçao’s participation fit into a broader regional trend in which questions of legitimacy, implementation capacity and social peace are becoming more urgent. For the SER of Curaçao, the invitation offered not only international visibility, but also an opportunity to sharpen its own institutional role through comparative learning. “There can be no just transition without serious social dialogue,” Mr. Henríquez said. “And there can be no lasting social peace without institutions capable of ordering differences and turning them into workable agreements.”

SINT MAARTEN (COMMENTARY - By Cdr. Bud Slabbaert) - I am the author of incisive articles, commentaries and interviews. Yet, in contrast, I also write fictional stories about fictitious people. I know the difference between both worlds and if you ask me: “Are people in a fictitious world acting more real, than people in the real world as time progresses?” Then my answer is that real life is indeed becoming increasingly artificial. Fictional worlds often feel more authentic because they preserve genuine human qualities. Fictional characters show emotional clarity and honesty, coherent motivations, and unfiltered expression, qualities that modern social life increasingly suppresses.

Fictional characters aren't necessarily appearing more realistic. It is that real people become more unnatural. They are nudged toward curated personas, algorithmic self-presentation, and risk‑managed communication. Fiction preserves the parts of humanity that in real life often is bluntly sandpapered. A fictitious person being straightforward may be accepted as taking a ‘left field’ approach and humorous. The author enjoys more freedom of expression.

How about describing an individual as a grizzled "good ol' boy" who’s got an IQ that knocks your socks off and who knows the wheat from the shaft? The made‑up “good ol’ boy” feels more authentic than the people one meets. Or how about stating that a person is stronger than an ox with about the same intelligence. But then again, in the real world some believe that the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. They might be acting along the fault line.

Fictional characters, who are written to be fully themselves, may feel like the last humans standing. They are often written about with more integrity than real people are allowed to express. That’s why they resonate, endure, and feel real. The author strips away noise, contradiction, and social posturing. The characters say what they mean. Their arcs resolve. Their choices reflect their values which real life rarely gives. Fiction gives people what they’re craving: sincerity, courage, vulnerability, consequence, meaning When real life becomes hyper-mediated, fiction becomes the last refuge of unmediated humanity.

And so invented St.Tosia, a lovingly offbeat Caribbean island‑nation where folklore, civic rituals, and gentle social satire intertwine, turning everyday island life into a living almanac of music, mischief, mythic charm, and a warm, slightly magical realism that feels both familiar yet entirely its own.

Fiction isn’t becoming more real. It’s a mirror showing us what we’ve misplaced. The solution isn’t to retreat into fiction. It’s to reclaim the parts of ourselves that fiction reminds us we can still have: clarity, courage, emotional honesty, unfiltered curiosity, and the willingness to be seen as we really are. Or else…., the only real humans left are fictional, because when real people become artificial, fiction tells the truth. Quoting essayist and humorist Mark Twain: “The only difference between reality and fiction is that fiction needs to be more credible.”

By Cdr. Bud Slabbaert

SABA/SINT EUSTATIUS - Eric van der Burg, State Secretary for the Interior and Kingdom Relations, is moving forward with strengthening the island councils by increasing the number of island council members and commissioners.

He aims to ensure the Increase Act (Verhogingswet) takes effect in time for the island council elections in March 2027. This will improve representation for residents in the island councils. Additionally, the current number of commissioners is too low for the workload. The ‘Verhogingswet’ will enhance the governance capacity of the islands.

The changes involve raising the number of island council members and commissioners on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. After completing the steps outlined in the legislative proposal, the number of council members and commissioners will be determined by population size, just as in municipalities in the European Netherlands.

Support program

In recent discussions, the State Secretary met with the island councils and executive councils of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. The conversations indicate that they are positive about the expansion.

Concerns were raised about for example support for the island register and the island councils, and housing costs, which the State Secretary acknowledges. He will continue dialogue with the island authorities on these issues.

State Secretary Van der Burg is also proceeding with support measures agreed upon in De Bilt. Soon, a new initiative by ProDemos and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) will launch on the islands to inform and encourage aspiring politicians to engage in local governance. The State Secretary is willing to address the financial impact of the bill on housing for the islands.

The State Secretary’s intention to proceed with the ‘Verhogingswet’ is outlined in the memorandum, which was sent to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Kingdom Relations on April 9 in response to the report on the ‘Verhogingswet’.