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SABA:--- Saba, Bonaire and the Netherlands on Wednesday, July 5, signed the Education Agenda which aims to further improve the quality of education on the two islands.
Dutch Minister of Education, Culture, and Science Robbert Dijkgraaf, Saba Commissioner of Education Eviton Heyliger, and Bonaire Commissioner of Education Jolinda Craane signed the Education Agenda on behalf of their government. For Saba, the education agenda was also signed by the Executive Director of the school board of the Sacred Heart School and Saba Comprehensive School Anton Hermans, and Expertise Center EC2 Saba Director Annelies Buurmeijer Read more

PHILIPSBURG: --- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that she took note of the apology from King Willem Alexander regarding the slave trade.
Jacobs said that she took note of the Kings apology but she did not hear anything about reparations. She said it was interesting to hear that many Dutch people were not aware of how they received the golden era that was taught in schools.
She said that those persons that demanded that the King apologized for his familys involvement and the benefits they gained through the slave trade, those persons got their apology.
Jacobs explained that the commitment from the King to ensure that all persons understand the true effects of the slave trade is important in order for the people of St Read more

Sacred Heart School students and invited guests at Sabas Emancipation Day event.

SABA--Saba marked the start of the Commemoration Year of the Slavery Past on Saturday, July 1, with a well-attended Emancipation Day event with a number of speakers and a range of performances.

The events theme, Liberation through healing, was most fitting, said Commissioner of Culture Eviton Heyliger. Although healing hundreds of years of trauma will not happen overnight, we need to start the dialogue Read more

From left: President of Parliament Sidharth Bijlani, Janique Baly, Governor of St. Maarten Ajamu Baly, ECYS Minister Rodolphe Samuel, President of French Saint Martin Louis Mussington, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and Dutch State Secretary of Kingdom Relations and Digitalisation Alexandra van Huffelen.

PHILIPSBURG--Born Free was the theme of this years Emancipation Day event, the 160th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Abolishment of Slavery in 1863, across the Dutch Caribbean islands on Saturday, July 1.

The event commenced with an ecumenical service at Saints Simon and Jude Anglican Church, Back Street, in the morning, followed by a Freedom March on Boardwalk Boulevard to the Sports Park.

The beautiful ceremony was filled with performances and renditions of song, poetry and dance by local musicians, poets, dancers, singers and storytellers.

Performance by National Institute of Arts (NIA) dancers during the ceremony.

Symbol of freedom

In his speech, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Rodolphe Samuel noted the day as a symbolic celebration of freedom Read more

SABA:--- Saba marked the start of the Commemoration Year of the Slavery Past on Saturday, July 1, with a well-attended Emancipation Day event with a number of speakers and a number of powerful performances.

The events theme, liberation through healing, was most fitting, said Commissioner of Culture Eviton Heyliger. Although healing hundreds of years of trauma will not happen overnight, we need to start the dialogue. By engaging in healing practices, as a community we can reclaim our agency, reconnect with our inner strength, and restore our sense of wholeness, he said in his speech.

Collectively, we can contribute to social transformation and liberation by dismantling oppressive systems, challenging inequities, and promoting justice Read more

ORANJESTAD, ARUBA:---  Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA) today announced it has appointed Tyson Lopez as the organizations new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), as part of the Executive Board will spearhead the implementation of FPNAs Multi-Annual Corporate Strategy 2023 2032 (MACS) to transform the organization from a traditional park management organization to a high-performing, modern conservation management organization.
Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba is an independent conservation management organization, encharged with the conservation of nature, and the management of protected areas in Aruba which as of today encompass just over 24% of Arubas natural terrain and 0.02% of Arubas territorial waters Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- History was made on Saturday, June 24, 2023, as Cloyd Ohndhae Marlin officially launched his political career, building upon the steadfast foundation of his father and numerous supporters. During this ceremony, the Hon. M.P. William Marlin passed on the baton of political leadership, as well as, his "black book" of political knowledge to his son, affectionately known as Ohndhae Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Omar Ottley, on behalf of the government of Sint Maarten, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement with the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands, Ernst Kuipers in order to structure the collaboration on how the quality and competency of medical professionals and medical specialists with a foreign diploma, who intend to establish themselves and practice their profession on Sint Maarten shall be assessed.

The MOU went into effect on June 30th for a period of five years and will jointly be evaluated after two (2) years, in order to decide on the continuation of the collaboration Read more

Young Talents Caribbean Region 2023 LOral-Unesco For Women In Science.

~ Breaking barriers for women in Caribbean Science, Technology, and Innovations.~

Kingston, Jamaica:--- The world needs science and science needs women. The Young Talents Caribbean Region L'Oral-UNESCO For Women in Science programme is a joint programme between LOral Caribe, the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean, and the Caribbean Academy of Sciences all seeking to connect the dots between Caribbean development challenges, scientific research, and women empowerment.

SUPPORTING CARIBBEAN WOMEN IN SCIENCE

The Caribbeans development is intrinsically linked to science, technology, and innovation, and it is vital that women play a significant role in this arena Read more

Ncf Holds Ceremony For Second Chance Graduates

Keynote speaker Gracita R. Arrindell with the graduates

ST. EUSTATIUS--New Challenges Foundation (NCF) held a graduation ceremony for the second chance education graduates under the theme Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.

The ceremony was held at Mike van Putten Youth Centre/Lions Den on Thursday, June 22. The 10 graduates were Marley Brown, Erika Simmons, Jamile Redan, Tallijah Pers, Ashanti Carti, Shadiro Simmons, Anajah Smith, DShandra Turner, Isiah Courtar and Marques Schrewhardt.

The ceremony featured speeches by board members and invited guests, Commissioner of Education Reuben Merkman, NCF president Charles Lindo and director Francine Foe, who all congratulated the graduates on this hard-fought achievement and offered words of wisdom and encouragement.

President of the Parliament of St Read more

Global Risks To Outlook Remain.

~Economic recovery gathers pace across monetary union~

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:--- The economic recovery gathered pace across the monetary union in 2022 with real GDP expanding by 7.9% in Curaao and 9.8% in Sint Maarten, stated the President of the Centrale Bank van Curaao en Sint Maarten (CBCS), Richard Doornbosch, in CBCSs Economic Bulletin June 2023. In both countries, growth was driven primarily by an increase in net foreign demand, along with a positive contribution from domestic demand Read more

Pupils of Sr. Regina School with story reader Doris Dedier (left)

 SIMPSON BAY--Beyond Kultura Events Foundation (BKEF) recently closed off its story reading programme at Sister Regina Primary School in Simpson Bay. For ten weeks, children of groups 5 cycle 2 and 7 cycle 2, were fully engaged in comprehensive story reading by BKEFs certified reader Doris Dedier.

Per group session, Dedier read an average of two stories from author Loekie Morales childrens book Zonnesproetjes Tropisch Nestje in the Dutch language.

Last year, the English translation of these books, The Freckled Bunch Tropical Shelter, was donated to all primary schools of St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  The 160th Annual Emancipation Day celebration will take place on July 1st, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport drs Rodolphe Samuel invites all interested citizens and persons residing on Sint Maarten to join in the celebration that is scheduled to take place in Philipsburg. The celebration will begin with an Ecumenical Church Service at 5:30 am at the Anglican Church on Backstreet, followed by a Freedom March to the Boardwalk (Sports Park) for the Born Free cultural manifestation.

Emancipation Day was the first public holiday established by the Parliament of Sint Maarten since becoming a Country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands Read more

Sxmnba Says Smbf New Board Is Illegal.

PHILIPSBURG:-- The St. Maarten National Basketball Association (SXMNBA) would like to make it clear that the new board of the St. Maarten Basketball Federation (SMBF) is illegal and was formed without proper procedures being conducted based on the articles of the St Maarten Basketball Federation (SMBF). We will explain the grave errors and lack of understanding about proper procedures. For subtext the SMBF has 3 associations under it: the Soualiga Youth Basketball Association (SYBA), St Maarten National Basketball Association (SXMNBA), and Walichi Female Basketball Association.

The SXMNBA would like to make it clear that basketball has been suffering due to many reasonings one of which is due to the lack of a functioning Basketball Federation but procedures must be upheld based on the rule of law and the articles of the SMBF.

Articles of the SMBF highlighting the lack of procedurally due diligence:

MEMBERSHIP
Article 5
1 Read more

Sxmnba Says Smbf New Board Is Illegal.

PHILIPSBURG:-- The St. Maarten National Basketball Association (SXMNBA) would like to make it clear that the new board of the St. Maarten Basketball Federation (SMBF) is illegal and was formed without proper procedures being conducted based on the articles of the St Maarten Basketball Federation (SMBF). We will explain the grave errors and lack of understanding about proper procedures. For subtext the SMBF has 3 associations under it: the Soualiga Youth Basketball Association (SYBA), St Maarten National Basketball Association (SXMNBA), and Walichi Female Basketball Association.

The SXMNBA would like to make it clear that basketball has been suffering due to many reasonings one of which is due to the lack of a functioning Basketball Federation but procedures must be upheld based on the rule of law and the articles of the SMBF.

Articles of the SMBF highlighting the lack of procedurally due diligence:

MEMBERSHIP
Article 5
1 Read more

Democratic Party Announces New Raffle Date For Its Car Raffle.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Over the weekend the Democratic Party (DP) released a statement, announcing that its car raffle, which was scheduled to be drawn on June 30th will now be drawn in the month of November, on or close to St.Maarten Day celebrations on the 11th of November.

DP Leader Sarah Wescot-Williams encouraged everyone who already purchased tickets to hold on to their tickets Read more

Democratic Party Announces New Raffle Date For Its Car Raffle.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Over the weekend the Democratic Party (DP) released a statement, announcing that its car raffle, which was scheduled to be drawn on June 30th will now be drawn in the month of November, on or close to St.Maarten Day celebrations on the 11th of November.

DP Leader Sarah Wescot-Williams encouraged everyone who already purchased tickets to hold on to their tickets Read more

Dutch Quarter:--- Cloyd Ohndhae Marlin, son of political stalwart William Marlin officially launched his political career on Saturday evening at the Dutch Quarter Community Center. Marlin brings with him a lifetime of experience as he grew up in politics with his father William Marlin Read more

Tropical Storm Cindy Advisory Number 6

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL042023

1100 AM AST Fri Jun 23 2023

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LOCATION...12.5N 48.0W

ABOUT 915 MI...1470 KM E OF THE LESSER ANTILLES

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH...85 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 16 MPH...26 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1003 MB...29.62 INCHES

The St Read more

Tropical Storm Bret Intermediate Advisory Number 16A

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL032023

800 AM AST Fri Jun 23 2023

SUMMARY OF 800 AM AST...1200 UTC...INFORMATION

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LOCATION...13.4N 63.6W

ABOUT 160 MI...260 KM W OF ST. VINCENT

ABOUT 370 MI...600 KM ENE OF CURACAO

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH...95 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 270 DEGREES AT 18 MPH...30 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1001 MB...29.56 INCHES

The Meteorological Department of St Read more

...Bret Near Hurricane Strength...

...EXPECTED TO BRING STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN TO PORTIONS OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT...

Tropical Storm Bret Intermediate Advisory Number 12A

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL032023

800 AM AST Thu Jun 22 2023

SUMMARY OF 800 AM AST...1200 UTC...INFORMATION

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LOCATION...13.6N 57.0W

ABOUT 170 MI...265 KM E OF BARBADOS

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...70 MPH...110 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 280 DEGREES AT 15 MPH...24 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...996 MB...29.42 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Mr. Omar Ottley, alongside Social & Health Insurances SZV and the St. Maarten Diagnostic Center (SMDC), made history on Monday, June 19, with the contract signing of the Huisarten Post (HAP) services referred to as House Doctor Care after-hours. Present at the signing, were the honorable Minister of VSA, Mr Read more

Brug Says Reparations Can Be Very Instrumental In Eliminating Poverty On Sint Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG –In a press statement this weekend Richinel Brug made his position known on the debates surrounding Emancipation Day activities in the Kingdom, apologies by Dutch Government in 2022, reparations and poverty on Sint Maarten.

On July 1st, 2023, the Kingdom will be commemorating 150 years of abolishment of slavery in Suriname and the islands in the Caribbean side of the Kingdom Read more

Cbcs Leaves Pledging Rate Unchanged.

~Amid signals of easing of interest rate hikes on international financial markets~

Willemstad/Philipsburg:---The Centrale Bank van Curaao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) decided to pause its monetary policy tightening by leaving the pledging rate1 unchanged. This step is consistent with the recent decision of the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve to leave the Federal funds rate unchanged. Even though gross official reserves and import coverage have increased in the first six months of this year, they are still expected to decline in 2023 - although less pronounced than in 2022 Read more