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Supervisory Board emphasizes diligent handling of former Executive Director’s resignation.

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:---  The Supervisory Board (the Board) of the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) has taken note that the contents of a letter dated July 8, 2025, from the Minister of Finance of Curaçao to the Board, concerning the departure of the former Financial and Economic Director of the CBCS, have been shared with the local media. The Supervisory Board wishes to emphasize that, despite the absence of provisions in the Central Bank Statute or other legal provisions to regulate such transfers, the necessary safeguards were applied in handling the director's resignation and transition to a supervised institution. First, the Supervisory Board wishes to emphasize its full endorsement of the concerns raised by the Minister in his letter. The Board has accordingly taken all these concerns into account in the handling of the Executive Director’s departure, while adhering to the legal framework within which it must act. Given the importance of trust in our financial sector, both nationally and internationally, as emphasized by the Minister in his letter, the Supervisory Board has since responded to the Minister, indicating its willingness to meet on this matter.

Furthermore, the Board wishes to stress that, unfortunately, the current Bank Statute does not include any provisions regulating transfers to or from another position outside the CBCS, either before, during, or after an appointment to an executive position at the CBCS, nor any standardized procedure for the dismissal decision under the Bank Statute. Any resignation from an executive position at the CBCS requires only formal ratification by the Ministers of Finance of both countries. The Board, despite the absence of provisions in the Bank Statute or other relevant laws and regulations, has made specific arrangements where necessary to ensure appropriate safeguards in the process of resignation and transition to a supervised institution. In this particular case, the appointment of a candidate policymaker also required the approval of De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). DNB's assessment took place in parallel with, but entirely independently of, that of the CBCS. Finally, the Board also notes that the draft revision of the Bank Statute includes provisions for a cooling-off period applicable to CBCS executive board members. The draft Bank Statute is being prepared in close coordination with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and is expected to be submitted to the governments of Curaçao and Sint Maarten later this year.

 

 

Willemstad, July 13, 2025 CENTRALE BANK VAN CURAÇAO EN SINT MAARTEN


Les Fruits de Mer and Fondation Air France Bring Local Education to 10,000 Students on Both Sides of St. Martin.

fruitsdemer13072025Grand Case, St. Martin:--- Over the past year, the all-volunteer association Les Fruits de Mer and Fondation Air France have collaborated on Island of Discovery, an education project that spans both sides of the island. Since July of 2024, the project has distributed over 9,900 books to students on St. Martin and hosted over 500 students at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House.

“The Island of Discovery project has had a huge reach and impact, and we’re thrilled to celebrate its successful completion!” said Les Fruits de Mer president Jenn Yerkes. “In fact, we were able to distribute even more books and host more class visits to Amuseum Naturalis than we had planned. It’s the biggest transboundary education project that we know of on this island. We are so grateful that Fondation Air France funded this amazing project for the students of St. Martin!”

The goal of the project was to boost education about local nature, heritage, and culture for students on both sides of the island. Books were distributed to every student at all public and subsidized primary and secondary schools on the South side of the island. Over 2,000 books were also distributed to students on the North side in partnership with many associations. 32 school classes from both sides visited Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. Over 100 educational banners were distributed to schools.

“In addition to giving books and hosting class visits, we published three books about local nature as part of this project,” added project manager Mark Yokoyama. “We produced the bilingual Wild Things! Activity Book, which we give to students when they visit the Amuseum. We also released new English and French editions of the full-color Wild Things! companion book.”

The Les Fruits de Mer association has distributed books to students on the North side of St. Martin for several years. 2024-2025 was the first school year the association has done wide-scale book distribution on the South side of the island, made possible by this funding from Fondation Air France. The program has received very positive feedback from teachers, students, and parents on both sides of the island.

The association has published over 50 books about St. Martin's nature, heritage, and culture. They include oral histories and works created in partnership with Lasana M. Sekou, Lady Ruby Bute, and the Soualiwomen Kultural Association. Over the last few years, the Les Fruits de Mer association has distributed over 50,000 of these books for free. It has also offered free class visits to Amuseum Naturalis since 2016.

Since 1992, Fondation Air France has funded close to 1680 projects in 80 countries served by the airline company. It partners with associations on projects that impact children and youth, with a focus on educational, environmental, and humanitarian projects. The foundation funded the Les Fruits de Mer project Island of Discovery on St. Martin.

Youth Take the Lead in Groundbreaking Research on Youth Participation in Sint Maarten.

youthparticipation11072025PHILIPSBURG:--- A youth-led research initiative has been launched in Sint Maarten, aiming to explore how young people experience participation in society, from voicing opinions and receiving feedback to understanding their rights and roles as active citizens.

The project brings together a team of passionate young researchers, ages 15 to 20, who are currently enrolled in the Business Outreach and Placement Program (BOPP), which offers summer employment opportunities for students. With guidance from consultant Mr. van der Meijden, as well as the Department of Youth, under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, these young minds are taking the lead in designing and executing the research from the ground up.

Before heading into the field, all youth researchers will receive hands-on training in research methodology through a series of interactive workshops. They will learn essential skills such as formulating clear, unbiased questions, avoiding common errors like sampling bias, and managing data responsibly. Three sessions have already been successfully completed last week.

What sets this project apart is its foundation in youth ownership. It’s not just about young people; young people are doing it. The young researchers are directly shaping every stage of the process, from refining the research question and defining key terms to developing surveys and interview tools that reflect their lived experiences and priorities.

In the coming weeks, the youth researchers will engage their peers across different communities and backgrounds through anonymous, voluntary surveys. The goal is to confidentially collect insights from youth between the ages of 15 and 24, ensuring diverse voices are heard and represented.

Findings from this study will inform decision-makers and contribute to the development of more inclusive, responsive, and youth-centered policies and programs.

This initiative is coordinated by the Department of Youth in collaboration with the BOPP youth researchers and is supported by organizations committed to advancing youth engagement and civic empowerment. It forms part of a larger youth mainstreaming agenda—a long-term strategy to integrate youth perspectives into public policy—from 2025 through 2030.

Your voice matters. Your participation counts. Help shape the future of Sint Maarten.

Milton Peters College and Sundial School Reflect on Progress and Commitment Following 2025 Final Exam Results.

mpcvaledictorians11072025PHILIPSBURG:--- Milton Peters College (MPC) and Sundial School are pleased to announce the final examination results for the 2024–2025 academic year. These outcomes, following the completion of the second examination period, reflect measurable academic progress, as well as areas for continued focus and improvement. Milton Peters College The final results at Milton Peters College show a notable improvement compared to the earlier examination period: • Total Students: 186 • Pass Rate: 65% • Fail Rate: 32% • No Show/Sick: 3% This marks a significant increase from the first examination period, where the pass rate stood at 52%, the fail rate at 17.5%, and 26.5% of students were eligible for re-sits. The rise in pass rates underscores the positive impact of the school’s targeted support strategies and the perseverance of our motivated students. Sundial School Sundial School also demonstrated commendable progress in its final results: • Total Students: 50 • Pass Rate: 78% • Fail Rate: 22% • No Show/Sick: 0% These figures show improvement from the initial results of 72% pass, 10% fail, and 18% re-sit eligibility. The enhanced performance reflects the combined efforts of dedicated staff and motivated students. Best sector Awards & Valedictorians The following students have been recognized as our best-performing graduates and valedictorians for their outstanding academic achievements:

Looking Ahead: Commitment to Excellence

“As we reflect on this academic year, we are proud of our students’ accomplishments and recognize the ongoing need for growth,” stated Mr. Blomont, Education Director for SVOBE Schools. “Both Milton Peters College and Sundial School are committed to evaluating these results and implementing further strategies to strengthen academic outcomes in the years ahead.” The SVOBE Schools’ administration expresses sincere appreciation to the students, teachers, staff, and parents for their continued support and dedication. Together, we look forward to building on this year’s progress and further enhancing the quality of education in the coming academic year. Have a wonderful summer vacation!

Arrogance and Greed: The Rotten Core of St. Maarten’s Politics.

Public office is supposed to be a sacred trust—a commitment to serve with humility, respect, and honesty. But in St. Maarten, it has become a playground for the arrogant, the greedy, and the self-serving. The very people elected to represent the public have turned their backs on their constituents, trading integrity for luxury and service for self-interest.

Over the years, we’ve seen a parade of politicians who enter office with one goal: to enrich themselves. Their selfishness and greed are so blatant that many of them eventually end up behind bars. But not before they’ve drained the public coffers, leaving the people to suffer the consequences of their corruption.

Elected to Serve, But Serving Themselves

The arrogance of these so-called leaders is staggering. During election season, they’re everywhere—knocking on doors, shaking hands, and making empty promises. But once they’re elected, they disappear. Constituents are ignored, their needs dismissed, and their voices silenced. These politicians only remember the people when it’s time to beg oh buy  votes again.

Recently, we’ve seen Ministers who openly flaunt their disdain for the very taxpayers who fund their extravagant lifestyles. These are the same taxpayers who pay for their $10,000 monthly salaries, $400 daily travel allowances, and hefty pensions. Yet, these politicians have the audacity to tell their constituents they have “nothing to say” to them because, hey, it’s not election time. This level of arrogance is not just insulting—it’s a slap in the face to every hardworking citizen.

15 Years of Failure

Since St. Maarten became a country within the Kingdom on October 10, 2010, what have the people gained? Absolutely nothing. In nearly 15 years, we’ve had six elections and 11 cabinets. The political merry-go-round has done nothing but enrich a select few while the rest of the country suffers. Many of these so-called leaders wouldn’t recognize their own names if they saw them on a sidewalk, yet they somehow end up in office. How? By exploiting a broken system where political slates are filled with names backed by business donations and vote-buying schemes.

Once in office, these politicians enjoy lavish perks while their friends and family members are handed high-paying positions they are completely unqualified for. Meanwhile, teachers and civil servants are left to scrape by on the crumbs that fall from the politicians’ tables. It’s a disgrace.

Government-Owned Companies: A Feeding Frenzy

The greed doesn’t stop at government offices. Almost every government-owned company is on the brink of bankruptcy, thanks to politicians who treat these entities as their personal piggy banks. They raid the coffers under the guise of “dividends,” leaving these companies saddled with massive loans and unable to function.

Take SZV, for example. The rush to appoint a politically connected director—someone who will do the bidding of Ministers—has left the organization in chaos. The OZR funds are empty, and bankruptcy is looming. When the inevitable collapse happens, the excuses will come pouring in: “Government didn’t pay its dues,” or “The NHI wasn’t implemented.” But the real reason is clear: constant political interference and cronyism.

The arrogance and greed of these politicians are an insult to every citizen of St. Maarten. They have forgotten that public office is a privilege, not a right. It’s time for the people to demand better. Demand leaders who are humble, respectful, and honest. Demand accountability for the corruption and mismanagement that have plagued our government for far too long.

The people of St. Maarten deserve leaders who serve, not exploit. Until we hold these arrogant politicians accountable, the cycle of greed and neglect will continue, and the people will continue to pay the price.


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