PHILIPSBURG:--- Newly appointed Member of the Integrity Chamber, Dr. J.E. (Johan) Datema, was sworn in by His Excellency, Governor Ajamu Baly, on Monday, December 8, 2025, to serve a three-year term. Dr. Datema’s appointment by the Government of Sint Maarten marks the addition of a highly experienced professional whose extensive background in medicine and public service will support the Chamber’s continued work in promoting integrity in Sint Maarten. He joins the Chamber as the successor to Mr. Rafael Boasman, who completed two full terms totaling six years of dedicated service to the Chamber.
Dr. Datema holds a master’s degree in medicine from Erasmus University in Rotterdam and brings over four decades of medical and public service experience to the Integrity Chamber. He has been in private practice on Sint Maarten for 38 years and has served as Treasurer of the Windward Islands Medical Association (WIMA) for 33 years. His longstanding commitment to the medical community also includes service on multiple advisory committees, including the APS Advisory Committee and the Medical Disciplinary Board. He previously served on the Advisory Council for Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA).
Dr. Datema will combine his duties as a Member of the Integrity Chamber with several management positions in the private sector. With his extensive experience in leadership, public service, and community engagement, he is expected to bring valuable perspectives to the Chamber’s ongoing efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and integrity across Sint Maarten.
For more information about the Integrity Chamber, visit www.integritychamber.sx.
CBCS Hosts 3rd Annual Fintech Conference in Sint Maarten.
~“Trust, Transparency and Technology: Regulating the Next Wave of Fintech”~
PHILIPSBURG:--- On December 4 and 5, 2025, the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) hosted its 3rd Annual Fintech Conference at Simpson Bay Resort in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. The two-day conference featured a closed roundtable session for regulators on Thursday, followed by a public conference on Friday, bringing together central bankers, innovators, and fintech experts from across the Caribbean and LatAm region, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The conference highlighted the Central Bank's vital role in shaping the future of finance.
This year’s key themes were centered around Payments Innovation & Digital Assets Regulation, Fintech as driver of financial inclusion in LatAm & the Caribbean, Stablecoins & Digital Finance, and The Future of Banking, including developments in the Neobanks space.
The conference’s central theme - Trust, transparency and technology: regulating the next wave of fintech - emphasized the important role central banks play in future-proofing financial regulation that supports innovation. While regulation is essential in protecting consumers, fostering an environment that encourages innovation is equally important.
In his keynote speech, Richard Doornbosch, president of the CBCS, stressed the great promise fintech holds to bring financial services to underserved and unbanked populations. The regulatory framework must evolve in a way that creates space while safeguarding stability and integrity.
Various fireside chat sessions and panel discussions demonstrated the need for tailored solutions to local and - where possible - regional challenges. Differences in the payment landscapes in LatAm and the Caribbean were discussed with highlighted examples and shared regional success stories of Sint Maarten, Curaçao, Aruba, and the Bahamas. In addition, conversations centered on digital payment frictions in the still highly cash-based, tourism-dependent economies of Sint Maarten & Curaçao. Moreover, the pros and cons of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) were briefly touched upon, as well as developments pertaining to the promises of tokenization and respective underlying (fractional) ownership implications. Furthermore, the role of data centers as enablers of financial inclusion was briefly discussed, through which
sovereign control over data was emphasized. Discussions were further focused on the future of banking, whereby panelists emphasized the power of co-existence and co-creation. These conversations highlighted the important role of both traditional banks and neobanks. As enablers of access to financial services for both existing and underserved communities, they can support tailor-made financial innovations.
The conference concluded with representatives from the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) & The Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (LHoFT) committing to helping advance the region in accelerating its fintech and payments ecosystem. As a first step, the gaps in the existing payments infrastructure should be identified and mapped based on the outcomes of the conference. The CBCS applauds this initiative and welcomes collaboration aimed at enhancing the financial resilience of the monetary union.
With its annual Fintech Conference, the CBCS aims to engage stakeholders, including innovators, policymakers, regulators, and the (wider) public, in critical and actual conversations centered around financial innovation development in relation to digital finance regulation within the monetary union.
Willemstad, December 11, 2025
CENTRALE BANK VAN CURAÇAO EN SINT MAARTEN
Prime Minister Dr. Luc F.E. Mercelina Reflects on Constitutional Autonomy of Sint Maarten and calls for Kingdom Summit.
PHILIPSBURG:--- During the 36th InterExpo Kingdom Relations Congress, held under the theme “Fifteen Years After 10/10/10,” the Honorable Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Dr. Luc F.E. Mercelina, delivered a landmark presentation titled “15 years of Constitutional Autonomy.”
Speaking before Kingdom officials, scholars, and regional leaders, the Prime Minister urged participants to look beyond the last fifteen years and instead examine 170 years of constitutional interventions, restructuring, and negotiation that shaped the Kingdom of the Netherlands and, critically, shaped Sint Maarten’s present-day reality.
“The real question we must ask ourselves is not what the past fifteen years have done to Sint Maarten and our Kingdom partners, but rather: how has our long and complex history shaped these past fifteen years of autonomy within the Kingdom? Prime Minister Mercelina asked in the opening of his address
He connected this history to personal lineage, stating, “For me, this timeline speaks of the story of my great-grandfather, my grandfather, my father, and myself each living through a different stage of our island’s constitutional journey.”
He walked the audience through the major constitutional developments beginning in 1828, including the administrative merger with Suriname, the abolition of slavery in 1863, the creation of the Netherlands Antilles in 1951, the establishment of the Kingdom Charter in 1954, Suriname’s independence in 1975, Aruba’s status aparte in 1986, and the referenda of 1994 and 2000 that culminated in Sint Maarten’s attainment of country status in 2010.
The Prime Minister emphasized the reality that followed the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, explaining, “Sint Maarten was and remains a constituent state instead of a full autonomous country. Let me repeat — Sint Maarten is not a full autonomous country, and that is the constitutional reality we live in today.”
He noted that only five generations of Sint Maarteners have lived through these seismic shifts in governance arrangements. Turning to the period after 10-10-10, the Prime Minister spoke candidly about the political mindset that emerged.
“We became hypnotized by the idea of independence. From the moment we achieved country status, we were carried away on an emotional journey, constantly trying to prove to our Mother Land that we could stand on our own.”
He added that this fixation came at a significant cost, “We were so focused on proving ourselves that we forgot something essential — to build constructive and sustainable alliances with other Caribbean countries within and outside the Kingdom.”
He emphasized that realities such as the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic disruptions revealed how vulnerable small island states are when isolated. These experiences led to several key lessons.
The Prime Minister stressed that independence pursued in isolation is neither viable nor responsible. The major pillars of any society, such as health care and education, must be strengthened to support a viable path for St. Maarten to pursue full autonomy and ultimately independence.
“Sint Maarten must literally look across our own border and at our own horizon. We must embrace our closest neighbors — French Saint Martin, Anguilla, Saba, Statia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Barths, Montserrat — who face the same challenges we do.”
He further stated that nation-building requires adequate financing: “We must be honest: nation-building is expensive.”
The Prime Minister emphasized the inherent costliness of the constitutional structure inherited after 10-10-10, noting that small countries carry disproportionately heavy administrative and institutional burdens.
He then turned toward the future of Kingdom cooperation, calling for a model that reflects contemporary realities. He emphasized the need for direct relationships between countries, a Kingdom structure grounded in respect for differences rather than forced similarities, and a shift toward treating each country as a co-owner of the Kingdom rather than a stakeholder. He also called for closer collaboration and shared responsibilities in areas such as defense, healthcare, and education, and proposed the establishment of a Kingdom Political Dialogue Platform.
In his words, “If the Kingdom is to remain relevant for the next generation, it must become more flexible, more equitable, and more aligned with the realities of Caribbean societies.”
Later in the afternoon, Prime Minister Mercelina participated in the high-level panel moderated by Prof. Dr. Ernst Hirsch Ballin, alongside former Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Deputy Prime Minister of Curacao Charles Cooper During the discussion, he reiterated that constitutional evolution is a living process. “The constitutional structure we inherited is not sacred; it is adjustable.”
“A modern Kingdom must be based on equality, trust and mutual respect, and the recognition that each country brings strengths shaped by its own history.”
Closing his remarks, Prime Minister Mercelina reaffirmed his commitment to the people of Sint Maarten, stating, “Our autonomy means nothing unless it improves the lives of our people.
Responsible autonomy — supported by strong institutions, regional partnerships, and a modernized Kingdom framework — is the only path forward. I think that this will require high-level discussions with the incoming Government of the Netherlands on a new positive agenda for the Kingdom. Moreover, I will seek the support of the Council of Ministers and Parliament of Sint Maarten to formally invite the Netherlands, Aruba and Curacao for a Kingdom summit to walk the talk”.
CHTA HIGHLIGHTS THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM CHIEF 2025, SIGNALING A NEW ERA FOR CARIBBEAN HOSPITALITY.
~Climate resilience, smart sourcing, digital innovation and workforce evolution emerge as top priorities; CHIEF 2026 scheduled for November 16–19, 2026~
Barbados:--- The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) today shared the leading insights emerging from the 2025 Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), which recently took place in Barbados. CHTA also announced that CHIEF 2026 will be held November 16–18, 2026, running concurrently with Taste of the Caribbean. The annual event brought together hotel executives, policy makers and tourism partners from across the region to examine the strategies reshaping Caribbean hospitality and the operational shifts required for long-term resilience and competitiveness.
CHTA President Sanovnik Destang opened the program by acknowledging the region’s achievements while urging greater focus on innovation, resilience and preparedness for Small Island Developing States.
“CHIEF 2025 underscored that Caribbean tourism is entering a new era – one where innovation, resilience and people-first leadership are no longer optional, but essential. Our region is navigating a disrupted world with purpose, strengthening our linkages, accelerating digital adoption and preparing our workforce for the future. Even as we confront the realities of the climate emergency, the Caribbean continues to lead with action, collaboration and the unshakeable spirit that defines who we are,” said Destang.
Building on forum discussions, several clear themes emerged as priorities for the industry.
Top Takeaways From CHIEF 2025
The Climate Emergency Has Become a Business Priority
Climate resilience emerged as one of the region’s most urgent priorities, with a key takeaway that inaction carries mounting economic costs. Leaders stressed the vulnerabilities Caribbean destinations face and highlighted the importance of sustainability frameworks that protect both communities and the tourism workforce. The broader insight: resilience planning is no longer just an environmental imperative, it is a critical business strategy for long-term continuity.
Smart Sourcing Could Significantly Reduce Regional Costs
Smart sourcing and regional linkages emerged as a major theme, highlighting a clear takeaway: diversifying supply sources and strengthening local manufacturing can significantly reduce operating costs across the Caribbean. Expanding agri-based industries, exploring alternative sourcing models and boosting intra-regional production also helps reduce shipping dependence and stabilize hotel operations. CHTA’s linkages work supports this shift by connecting members with regional suppliers and service partners, helping keep more tourism spend within the Caribbean while strengthening operational resilience and economic impact across member destinations.
Digital Transformation Is Accelerating Across Caribbean Hospitality
Technology emerged as a key driver of competitiveness, with digital tools rapidly transforming hotel operations across the Caribbean. The takeaway: AI, automation and integrated data platforms can streamline both guest-facing services and back-of-house operations, reducing labor strain, improving service delivery and boosting profitability. CHTA continues to support members on this journey through resources such as its partnership with GAIN, the second edition of its Artificial Intelligence Transformation Guide for Caribbean Tourism, and educational tools made available through its collaboration with the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), all designed to help hotels adopt technology effectively and responsibly.
Cybersecurity also stood out as a critical concern. Industry leaders emphasized that increased digital dependence creates real vulnerabilities, with high-profile breaches – such as the 2023 Las Vegas MGM ransomware attack, which cost nearly $100 million – illustrating the stakes. The broader message: investing in robust technology strategies and safeguards is now essential for operational resilience and long-term success.
Direct Bookings and Digital Marketing Continue to Play a Meaningful Role in the Business Funnel
CHIEF referenced direct booking strategy as an important channel for driving business, with digital marketing and revenue leaders emphasizing the importance of optimizing websites, sharpening SEO and leveraging content-driven storytelling to strengthen hotel-owned channels. The clear takeaway: the region’s digital sophistication is accelerating, and properties that invest in smarter online strategies are seeing meaningful returns. Across the board, CHIEF reinforced that storytelling, community-driven media and consistent digital engagement are now essential pillars of the Caribbean hotel playbook.
The Workforce of the Future Requires Bold Thinking
Labor emerged as a major theme, with conversations pushing leaders to rethink traditional work structures and explore forward-looking models, including options like a four-day work week that could help attract and retain talent. The key takeaway: hotels willing to experiment with flexibility and modern workplace design may gain a competitive edge in morale, retention and productivity.
Another strong message centered on long-term talent investment. Across multiple discussions, industry leaders underscored the importance of turning staff into true stakeholders through ongoing training, leadership development and intentional culture building. The overarching takeaway was clear: people strategy is now as critical as revenue strategy in shaping a resilient, future-ready workforce.
Strengthening Community and Cultural Alignment
CHIEF reinforced a rising industry priority: delivering more authentic, locally rooted guest experiences. A key takeaway was that hotels can differentiate themselves by integrating culture in meaningful ways — from partnering with local artisans and farmers to supporting community initiatives that reflect each island’s identity.
Leaders emphasized that purpose-driven, community-aligned tourism isn’t just a feel-good strategy; it deepens guest connection, strengthens local economies, and helps ensure that the Caribbean’s distinct cultural heritage remains central to its global appeal.
Personalization Is Becoming Even More Critical in the Age of AI
CHIEF discussions underscored a crucial industry tension: as AI and automation reshape hotel operations, travelers are simultaneously seeking more personalized, human-centered experiences. The key takeaway was clear — technology should streamline processes behind the scenes while empowering staff to deliver the warm, authentic service that distinguishes Caribbean hospitality.
Leaders emphasized that the real competitive advantage lies in striking the right balance: using digital tools to enhance guest engagement, not replace the personal touch guests value most.
CHIEF Partners
CHIEF 2025 was made possible thanks to the following partners, Platinum: ABA Global Marketing, GAIN Advisor Hovr, Inter-American Development Bank, Interval International, Lubeco, Mastercard and Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle All-Inclusive Resort; Gold Partners: My Booking Rewards, taConnect; Supporting Partners: Maestro and the Anything Group; Baseline Partners: Alliants, P+O Cruises; Media Partner: Breaking Travel News. Partnerships for CHIEF 2026 are also open to those interested here.
For more information and highlights from the event, visit www.CHTACHIEF.com.
MP Ottley writes letter urging government and NV GEBE to consider suspending disconnections for holiday season.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament and Leader of the United People’s Party (UPP), Omar E.C. Ottley, has officially written to the Government of St. Maarten and the management of NV GEBE, urging them to suspend all electricity disconnections and to reconnect households for the Christmas holiday season, and to reconnect households currently without service.
In his formal communication, MP Ottley highlighted that the Christmas season represents a time of unity, generosity, and compassion, values he believes must guide national decision-making during a period of unprecedented hardship for many families on the island. The MP referenced the approach taken by the Government of Curaçao in 2024, where authorities suspended disconnections to ensure that no resident was left without electricity during the festive season.
According to Ottley, St. Maarten has endured two extremely challenging years marked by rising food prices, increased energy costs, and ongoing economic pressures that have tested the resilience of households across the island. “Many families are simply struggling to stay afloat,” the MP emphasized. “This is a time when loved ones gather together, when children look forward to the joy of the holidays, and when our community should be a source of comfort, not additional stress.”
MP Ottley stressed that electricity is no longer a luxury, but an essential service tied to health, safety, and dignity. He stated that leaving families in darkness during the Christmas holidays would compound emotional and financial burdens already weighing heavily on residents. “No mother should have to worry about preparing Christmas dinner without power. No child should go to bed on Christmas Eve in the dark. No elder should have to endure the season without the basic comfort of electricity,” the MP wrote. The letter urges the authorities to consider the collective moral responsibility to protect the most vulnerable during the island’s most cherished time of year
“This is not about politics,” MP Ottley stated. “This is about humanity. It is about ensuring that our people can experience the warmth of Christmas despite the global and local economic challenges. I am asking the Government and NV GEBE to stand with the people, to recognize their struggles, and to give them the gift of dignity and comfort this holiday season.”
MP Ottley said the true spirit of Christmas lies in compassion and expressed hope that the Government and NV GEBE will respond promptly and positively to the request, ensuring that no family enters Christmas, or the New Year, without light.
“Let us choose empathy. Let us choose community. Let us choose to light up every home on St. Maarten this Christmas,” stated MP Ottley.