PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Finance, the honorable Marinka Gumbs, together with colleagues, family and ex-colleagues in government, proudly honored Ms. Sherry Hazel during an appreciation dinner held in recognition of her exceptional service to the Government of Sint Maarten.

Ms. Hazel retired on July 31, 2025, after an impressive 30 years and 10 months of dedicated public service, most recently serving as Head of the Tax Administration since 2014. Throughout her career, she demonstrated unwavering commitment, professionalism, and integrity, leaving a lasting impact on the country’s financial administration and governance.

Born and raised in Sint Maarten, Ms. Hazel began her government career in 1994 as a Collection Officer at the Receivers' Office. Her determination and pursuit of excellence saw her rise through the ranks, serving as Supervisor of Collections, Head of the Receivers' Office, and eventually Head of the Tax Administration. She also contributed significantly during Sint Maarten’s constitutional transition in 2010, serving as acting Directeur Middelen at a pivotal moment in the island’s history.

Over the years, she also served as Acting SG of Finance, Acting Head of Inspectorate, Acting Head of Support, and Acting Head of Audit, demonstrating her versatility and ability to step in wherever leadership was needed within the government apparatus. In every role, she brought depth of knowledge, firmness, and compassion, ensuring that operations were guided by fairness, structure, and accountability.

Minister of Finance, Hon. Marinka Gumbs, in her address, expressed deep gratitude: “Sherry’s legacy is one of excellence, mentorship, and quiet strength. She gave nearly 31 years of her life to serving the people of Sint Maarten with dignity and integrity. Her contributions will continue to shape the Ministry and the country for years to come.”

The Ministry of Finance extends its heartfelt appreciation to Ms. Hazel and wishes her a joyful and fulfilling retirement.

SIMPSON BAY:---  Aqua Mania Adventures is proud to announce the 10th anniversary of its beloved Pink Sunset Sail, set to take place on Saturday, October 4th, 2025. This milestone event will be bigger and more festive than ever, combining the magic of a Caribbean sunset with a decade-long tradition of raising awareness and funds for local breast cancer foundations, the Positive Foundation, and Elektralyets Foundation.

This year’s celebration kicks off earlier in the afternoon, with its Pink Mixer starting at 3:00 PM at the Marina at Simpson Bay Resort. Guests will enjoy an afternoon of lively entertainment and special anniversary touches, including a 360° photo booth donated by Jingle Jam to capture the fun, while sweet steelpan sounds of crowd favorite Sweet Pan Entertainment. Snacks and drinks will be provided, with possibly even more options than in previous years to get the party atmosphere going.

Following the mixer, guests will board Lambada and Tango, Aqua Mania’s spacious sailing catamarans, for a scenic cruise along St. Maarten’s stunning coastline. The sail includes an open bar, snacks, and breathtaking sunset views—with the chance to spot the famous green flash.

“The Pink Sunset Sail has become a cherished tradition for our team and our community,” said Michele Korteweg, event organizer. “Reaching the 10-year milestone is a testament to the incredible support we’ve received. This year is all about celebrating that journey together—past guests, new friends, and everyone united for the cause.”

Throughout the afternoon and evening, raffle tickets will be on sale for the chance to win exciting prizes. Several generously donated items have already been confirmed by supporters such as Domino’s Pizza, Mooi Flowers, Del Mar Boutique, Balls & Wine, K for Karakter Beach Bar, Sint Maarten Yacht Club Bar & Restaurant, Sint Maarten Yacht Club Sailing School, and the St. Maarten Carnival Foundation (yes, they donated a season pass!). With many businesses still confirming their contributions, the excitement is building.

In honor of the 10th anniversary, participants of previous Pink Sunset Sails are invited to share their favorite Pink Sunset Sail photos from past years, helping to create a visual journey through ten unforgettable events. Furthermore, the popular Best Dressed Contest returns, encouraging guests to showcase their most creative pink attire for a chance to win a ticket to the 2026 sail.

Part of the proceeds from ticket sales and raffle entries will be donated to local breast cancer awareness foundations, the Positive Foundation and Elektralyets Foundation, supporting vital education, early detection campaigns, and assistance for those affected by breast cancer.

“We are proud to stand alongside Aqua Mania Adventures, a committed partner in this journey, in celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Pink Sunset Sail,” said Shelly Alphonso, President of the Positive Foundation, and Mercedes “Elektra” van der Waals-Wyatt, founder of the Elektralyets Foundation. “ This event is more than a celebration – it’s a powerful reminder of what we can achieve together in the fight against breast cancer.  Every ticket purchased and every raffle prize donated directly support lifesaving education, early detection initiatives, and help fund 100 mammograms for uninsured women right here on St. Maarten.  We invite you to join us on October 4, bring your energy, and sail with a purpose.”

Event Details:
📅 Date: Saturday, October 4th, 2025
🕒 3:00 PM Pink Mixer | Boarding from 5:00 PM | Sail: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Departure: Aqua Mania Adventures, Marina at Simpson Bay Resort
🎟 Price: $50 per person (includes Pink Anniversary T-shirt, open bar, snacks, and sunset sail)
🔗 Book online: www.stmaarten-activities.com/tours/pink-sunset-sail

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on August 21, 2025.  

The Public meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 14.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:

Deliberations on the pressing matters related to GEBE: 

1. Update on the status, timelines and disbursement of the long-awaited promised relief measures;

1. Update on GEBE Supervisory Board for clarity on the current composition, mandate, and operational status of the Supervisory Board as well as any recent or pending decisions impacting corporate governance; 

1. Update on unrest by middle management to remove the CEO by a specific date, in particular a detailed briefing on the government’s position, planned interventions, and anticipated implications for the company’s stability. (IS/1317/2024-2025 dated August 13, 2025).

This meeting was requested by MP O.E.C. Ottley, MP F.A. Lacroes, MP L.C.J. Lewis, MP D.T.J. York, MP E.J. Doran, and MP A.M.R. Irion

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.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament and www.pearlfmradio.sx

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission convened the inaugural meeting of the Regional Working Group on the proposed Customs Union and Free Circulation of Goods (CU-FCG) regime, bringing together senior government officials, private sector representatives, and other regional stakeholders in a hybrid format in Castries and via videoconference.

The two-day meeting, held July 30–31, 2025, follows decisions taken by the OECS Economic Affairs Council and the Council of Ministers: Trade, earlier this year, which reaffirmed the commitment of Protocol Member States to operationalise the CU-FCG in accordance with the Revised Treaty of Basseterre.

The purpose of the meeting was to update the Roadmap and Implementation Timelines for the Customs Union, and to develop a conceptual framework for an early pilot implementation for the free circulation of goods. The goal is to advance the policy, legislative, regulatory, and institutional frameworks needed for a fully functional CU-FCG regime, creating a single customs territory for the OECS Economic Union.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Joel Richards, Officer-in-Charge of the Economic Affairs and Regional Integration Division of the OECS Commission, underscored the urgency and economic potential of the initiative:

​

"A customs union regime will foster free trade among our members, enhance competitiveness of our firms and our economies more broadly, and create jobs because we expect that there will be more economic benefits coming from the creation of a customs union regime. Such a regime would also be beneficial to the private sector since it would allow firms to expand their own economic activities, which would likely ​ create those economies of scale which are critical to the competitiveness of the private sector. Certainly, increased ​ trade volumes, expected from a CU-FCG regime, would hopefully lead to higher gross domestic product for our member states and create greater overall wealth for the collective."

Mr. Ricardo James, Head of Trade Policy Development, emphasized that the Regional Working Group will be instrumental in monitoring and reporting on the progress of implementation of the CU-FCG regime, while providing advice on the technical assistance and capacity-building needs that may arise. Participants included senior officials from Ministries of Trade and Finance, customs administrations, standards and quality agencies, plant and animal health and food safety authorities, port management bodies, the OECS Business Council, and observers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) Directorate. 

The participants received a detailed overview and status of the implementation of the Customs Union and Free Circulation of Goods. ​ They considered and provided feedback on the draft updated roadmap, implementation plan and timelines for completing the Customs Union and discussed proposals for the conceptual framework for a pilot phase for free circulation goods. The meeting agreed to continue and finalize the discussions at a second meeting planned for September. Recommendations from that meeting will be taken to the Council of Ministers, the Economic Affairs Council, and the OECS Authority, ensuring the necessary decisions are made for the timely implementation of the Customs Union and Free Circulation of Goods regime.