PHILIPSBURG:---  The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on May 20, 2024.

The Public meeting, which was adjourned on May 6, 2024, will be reconvened on Monday at 9.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point is:
Examination of credentials and admission of Members of Parliament

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament

~90 Young Sint Maarten Leaders Participate~

PHILIPSBURG:---  On Saturday, May 18, 2024, the Rotary Clubs of Sint Maarten joined together to host an intensive day of youth leadership training at the University of St. Martin. According to the area Assistant Governor, Elisa L. Lake, "This type of leadership training is known in the world of Rotary as the 'Rotary Youth Leadership Awards' or simply RYLA. More than 90 young Sint Maarten leaders participated from various schools and school-based and community-based service clubs, like Interact Clubs and Leo Clubs. Training and exercises were delivered by local Rotarians and local leaders in the areas of leadership, building self-esteem, conflict resolution, mental well-being, community service, budgeting, public speaking, creating a resume, and interview skills".

At the end of the day-long event, each participant received a RYLA Certificate of Participation and each participant was pinned with a Rotary RYLA pin after attesting to uphold all the responsibilities of being a young community leader with the new skills they acquired during the training sessions. The new RYLA graduates were pinned by Past Rotary District Governor Louis Wever, Past Assistant Governor Marcellia Henry, Past Assistant Governor James Ferris, Assistant Governor Elisa L. Lake, President of the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten, Jeffrey "Dr. Soc" Sochrin, President of the Rotary Club St. Maarten Mid-Isle, Yvette Hart, President of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise, Valda Hazel and President of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset, Kimberley Duzong.

Speakers for the day included the President of Parliament, the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams, Marcellia Henry, Semona Morton, Rolando Tobias, Jaida Nisbett, Jeffrey "Dr. Soc" Sochrin, Jean-Thierry Arnell, Franklyn Salomons, Malcom Jacques, Adelena Chandler and Dr. Tameka Lambert. This RYLA event was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten, the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Mid-Isle, the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise, the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset, Computech, Domino's St. Maarten, Carl's & Sons with numerous volunteers all contributing to make the day a success.

For more information about the Rotary Clubs of St. Maarten, please contact the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Press Officer at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG:---  Stuart Johnson recently announced to the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) his official resignation from his position as Third Vice President, effective immediately. Mr. Johnson has accepted a new role within the Government of St. Maarten, leading to his departure from the CUT.
In his resignation letter, Mr. Johnson conveyed the difficulty of his decision, emphasizing the considerable thought and deliberation involved. "It is with a heavy heart that I tender my resignation from my position as the Third Vice President of the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT)," Johnson stated. "This decision was not made lightly, and I have deliberated over it for quite some time."
Johnson expressed profound gratitude for his time with the CUT, describing it as an incredibly rewarding experience. "Serving as the Third Vice President has allowed me to collaborate with passionate educators and advocates, and together, we have made significant strides in advancing sports, culture, and the rights and well-being of teachers and students alike in the Caribbean region," he said.
He also conveyed his sincere appreciation to the members of the CUT for their unwavering support, dedication, and commitment to their shared mission. Johnson affirmed that his decision to resign is not a reflection of any dissatisfaction with the organization or its members, but rather due to his new responsibilities within the government of St.Maarten. He expressed his ongoing respect and admiration for the CUT's work and pledged to support its efforts even from outside his official capacity.
Johnson concluded his letter with a message of confidence in the CUT's future success and a heartfelt thanks for the privilege of serving as Third Vice President. "I am confident that the Caribbean Union of Teachers will continue to thrive and make a positive impact under the leadership of our dedicated team of officers and members," he said.
Johnson once again thanked all the members of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) for the confidence bestowed in him during his WITU presidency enabling this historic first for St. Maarten serving on the CUT executive board.
“I was your president without a facade leadership enabling proper representation both locally and aboard. WITU having over decades of membership with CUT and finally holding an executive role on the CUT spoke volumes,” Johnson stated.
Johnson became the third vice president of the CUT in February 2022 in St. Kitts and was re-elected overwhelmingly in July 2023 in Jamaica at the CUT biennial Conference.
Johnson concluded by stating, “I would like to express deep gratitude for the overwhelming messages received from members and officers of the CUT for my service and contributions made during my tenure at the CUT.”

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  The Department of Interior and Kingdom Relations (BAK) presented a thorough overview to the Council of Ministers, Secretaries General, and ministers' chiefs of staff on Friday, May 17, 2024.
The session delved into various key aspects, elucidating their respective roles, interactions with Kingdom entities, donor engagements, and European Development Fund (EDF) initiatives.
Furthermore, insights were shared on the evolution of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), originally stemming from the Millennium Development Goals, along with highlighting the alignment between the National Development Vision (NDV) and the SDGs.
In a subsequent presentation, BAK provided an update on Country Packages in the presence of members from the Temporary Work Organization (TWO). This segment detailed operational methodologies, reporting procedures, and the integration with the NDV.
Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina commented, "This briefing underscores our commitment to effective governance and sustainable development. The collaboration between BAK and relevant stakeholders exemplifies our dedication to advancing our nation's agenda in alignment with global goals.
“Our current needs in addressing poverty, education, and welfare are critical, but we need all pillars to work together. Collaboration on every level to overcome these challenges is essential.
“Our starting position is one unbalanced due to existing social disparities among our people, and these current issues must be addressed to achieve our national vision.
“Through united efforts, we can create a more equitable and prosperous future for all."