PHILIPSBURG:---  Following the resounding success of Pazzazz SXM 2023, the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB) has embarked on a collaborative endeavor with All Access Promotion Global, LLC and The Captain’s Rib Shack, fully committed to elevating the Pazzazz SXM 2024 experience. This initiative also has the goal of fostering increased awareness of the island and event attendees to drive revenue for all stakeholders involved.

The main event is scheduled to kick off this Friday, May 10, 2024, along the Simpson Bay strip, featuring local entertainment. With an anticipated influx of over 150 visitors, this Mother's Day weekend promises to be an unforgettable celebration.

As part of the festivities, a day in Anguilla is slated for Mother’s Day 2024, offering attendees a distinctive experience that showcases St. Maarten's accessibility and its proximity to neighboring islands. The weekend extravaganza will also feature activities on the French side, highlighting the cultural duality of the island. With an array of unique features and attractions, St. Maarten will once again shine as the signature destination, making the Pazzazz event truly exceptional.

STB Project Leader Lisa Coffi stated, “The overarching objective is to establish St. Maarten as the perennial location for Pazzazz Mother’s Day Weekend, a vision that is being realized through this strategic partnership.”

Given the distinct characteristics and offerings of St. Maarten, an extraordinary and impactful event not only benefits Pazzazz SXM but also contributes to the island's growth and sustainability. Pazzazz SXM has the potential to stimulate the local economy by attracting visitors, creating job opportunities, and bolstering local businesses, all while delivering an unforgettable experience for attendees.

Furthermore, Pazzazz SXM values both its international patrons and the local community of St. Maarten. The events are designed to be inclusive, enriching experiences that forge stronger connections between Pazzazz SXM and the island, with promotion efforts targeting both visitors and locals alike.

Please refer to the attached Pazzazz schedule for further details.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the newly appointed Council of Ministers (CoM) of Sint Maarten, including the Minister Plenipotentiary and his Deputy, received an insightful presentation from Maria van der Sluis-Plantz, the current Councilor of the State for the Kingdom on behalf of Sint Maarten, as part of the Leadership Excellence through R.I.S.E. (Relationship Building, Insight, Skills and Empowerment) Onboarding Program.
This session was designed to thoroughly acquaint the new ministers with the governance structure of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, optimally preparing them for their roles.
Councilor van der Sluis-Plantz's presentation offered a detailed overview of the general structure, highlighting its various governing bodies, including the Kingdom Government, the Supreme Court (Hoge Raad der Nederlanden), and the High Councils of State.
Particular emphasis was placed on the Council of State of the Kingdom, an esteemed institution since 1531.
Councilor van der Sluis-Plantz’s role is instrumental in ensuring that Sint Maarten's interests are well-represented within the Kingdom.
She actively contributes to the Council's deliberations, advocating for the needs and priorities of Sint Maarten and the other Caribbean constituents of the Kingdom.
Additionally, the presentation addressed the ongoing political dynamics within the Netherlands and its relationship with the European Union (EU).
As part of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), Sint Maarten enjoys a unique political cooperation and commercial partnership with the EU, enhancing its strategic position within the region.
The onboarding session also served as a preparatory step for the courtesy visit by the delegation of the Permanent Committee of Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament, that took place in the same morning of Wednesday, May 8, ensuring that the ministers were well-prepared to engage in informed discussions.
The Council of Ministers remains committed to equip its leaders with the necessary skillset and knowledge to effectively govern.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Nature Foundation has completed its first comprehensive analysis of the health of Sint Maarten’s coral reefs. Utilizing data collected by the organization since 2016, a tropical marine ecologist at the Nature Foundation found that Sint Maarten’s coral reefs are in poor condition but have not appeared to worsen significantly in health within the last seven years. The analysis was made possible through a grant facilitated by the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Infrastructure and Environment (VROMI).
Every year, Nature Foundation staff survey four sites within the Man of War Shoal Marine Park and three outside that Marine Protected Area (MPA), according to guidelines set by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN). However, advanced statistical analysis of the data was not possible until the recent hiring of Dr. Laëtitia Mathon, Science Officer for the Coastal Resilience Needs Assessment (CORENA) project at the Nature Foundation.
The report indicates that Sint Maarten’s coral reefs — an attraction for scuba divers, a source of income for local fishers, and a critical ecosystem for marine life — are suffering, with increased rates of coral bleaching following sustained high temperatures in 2023. The report also confirmed that the marine protected area off the coast of Philipsburg hosts significantly higher levels of corals, gorgonians, and sponges, as well as healthier rates of coral reproduction.
Some key findings provide a glimpse into the health of Sint Maarten’s coral reefs:
• From August to November 2023, coral bleaching frequency rose 230%, or was over 3x more than in all years prior due to sustained high summer temperatures.
• In 2023, over 85% of reefs indicated critically low levels of live coral cover, meaning that most surveyed reefs did not have enough coral to sustain a healthy ecosystem.
• The biomass (total weight) of predator fish such as sharks, groupers, and snappers was 231% higher, or over 3x more, inside the protected area than outside of it for all years. However, very few groupers were found throughout all the years.
• Despite being the most frequently counted fish, the population of herbivorous fish, such as algae-eating parrotfish and surgeonfish, is at critically low levels.
• Macroalgae cover was 76% higher outside the protected area than within it during all years, likely impacted by the insufficient population of herbivorous fish.
• Rates of coral diseases such as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) have remained stable since first reported on Sint Maarten in 2018.
Image 2: This reef health status map shows the condition of 7 surveyed reefs.
“The results from the baseline report are concerning, especially when it comes to the effects of climate change, but they also show that some of these issues can be addressed locally,” said Dr. Mathon. “Size restrictions on harvesting snappers and groupers are necessary to make sure individuals are reaching maturity and reproducing. Parrotfish are essential to maintain healthy reefs, as they make space for corals to grow and prevent macroalgae overgrowth. Thankfully, many people refuse to eat parrotfish, and some fishers don’t harvest them, but we are worried they will be eaten more in the absence of commercial fish species. Traditional fishing is important but threatened by declining reef health, so awareness and regulations are needed to ensure it can continue sustainably.”
The Nature Foundation will continue to monitor these sites annually to assess changes in reef health and implement necessary management strategies. The results of the study will be used in collaboration with government officials to lobby policymakers for stronger and more expansive legislation for marine protected areas, fishing and harvesting regulations, and vulnerable marine species.
Image 3: During coral reef monitoring, researchers collect data along transect lines.
The world is currently in its fourth global bleaching event, posing a further threat to marine ecosystems. On Sint Maarten, irresponsible coastal development and improper waste disposal pose direct threats, as sediment from the hillsides and sewage from homes or boats run off into the water can weaken or kill corals.
The full baseline biodiversity assessment, which will be used as a comparison for future monitoring, will be published in the near future. The report was developed as part of project CORENA, which contracted three staff and two interns to analyze the Nature Foundation’s existing data, as well as train core employees in higher-level analysis.

The Coastal Resilience Needs Assessment (CORENA) project is focused on advancing the sustainable management of Sint Maarten’s marine and coastal environment through biodiversity research, planning recommendations, and educational initiatives. The RESEMBID-supported project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI), and the non-profit Nature Foundation. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
This project receives funding from The Caribbean OCTs Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity Programme (RESEMBID), a €40M programme financed by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France, the development cooperation agency of France.