PHILIPSBURG:--- A holistic, wraparound program supporting youth and families through education, mentorship, life skills, and community engagement
Philipsburg, St. Maarten – February 2026 — RISE Foundation officially introduces the Elevate Youth & Family Program, a one-year holistic development initiative designed to provide wraparound support for young people and their families as they navigate the transition into adulthood.
Launched in September 2025 and currently in active implementation, the Elevate Youth & Family Program brings together structured support systems that extend beyond education alone. The program engages youth who benefit from consistent guidance, structure, and encouragement while developing practical skills, confidence, and personal responsibility. Participants are connected to the program through schools, community partners, and justice-related organizations and services, and are supported through an approach that emphasizes potential, resilience, and long-term growth.
The Elevate Youth & Family Program is a one-year holistic initiative made up of several interconnected components. Participants receive partial scholarships to attend educational programs such as the National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) or work toward obtaining their General Educational Development (GED), take part in life skills and work-readiness workshops, engage in volunteering opportunities within their communities, and are matched with a mentor for guidance and encouragement. The program also includes a family component, where families receive support through engagement sessions, assistance from a social worker, and guidance from a trained mediator, with the goal of strengthening the family unit alongside the development of the youth.
“Being part of the Elevate Program means a lot to me because it can help me grow,” shared Jeananena Joseph (17). “I’m studying cooking because I want to become a professional chef, but I also want to have my own business one day, which is why learning about things like entrepreneurship, budgeting, and financial literacy is important to me. I’ve also enjoyed the workshops and volunteering because they help us build confidence and give back. When I think about my future, the change I want to create is to be braver and more confident in myself.”
Throughout the program year, participants take part in approximately 20 workshops focused on communication, responsibility, financial literacy, employability skills, personal development, and overall well-being, with entrepreneurship sessions and additional topics scheduled for later in the program. These workshops are designed to provide practical tools youth can apply in everyday life, while encouraging reflection, accountability, and growth.
“Early engagement has shown that young people benefit from both support and clear expectations,” said Josiah Lamothe, Program Manager. “By setting expectations early and reinforcing them throughout the program, Elevate helps participants stay focused, accountable, and connected to the goals they set when they joined.”
In addition to workshops, participants are involved in structured, scheduled volunteering activities within their communities. Alongside these activities, participants are also encouraged to develop and carry out their own community projects, allowing them to apply what they are learning while building initiative, responsibility, teamwork, and a sense of contribution.
Community collaboration plays a central role in the Elevate Youth & Family Program. Local professionals and community members contribute their time and expertise by facilitating workshops, supporting family sessions, and assisting with volunteering initiatives. The program also relies on community involvement to build a strong network of volunteer mentors who provide guidance, encouragement, and positive role modeling for participants.
“Elevate exists because young people don’t grow in isolation,” shared Chiaira Bowers, Program Manager. “As young people transition into adulthood, they need education, practical tools, encouragement, and a strong support network around them. Elevate combines opportunity with responsibility, helping participants apply what they learn and stay focused on their goals. We see Elevate as a springboard where young people can learn, explore, build confidence, and begin creating opportunities for themselves as they continue to grow.”
As the program moves into its second half, RISE Foundation will continue delivering workshops and volunteering activities alongside educational classes, strengthen the family support component, and launch the recruitment, training, and matching of volunteer mentors to further support participants throughout the remainder of the program year.
Businesses, organizations, and community members, interested in supporting or collaborating with the Elevate Youth & Family Program, including serving as volunteer mentors, are encouraged to contact RISE Foundation at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., by phone at +1 (721) 584-7473 or +1 (721) 523-8421, or by following the foundation on Facebook (risesxm) and Instagram (rise.sxm).

PHILIPSBURG:--- The dramatic parliamentary vote on a motion of disapproval against Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina not only sent a warning shot to the current administration but also exposed a significant fracture within the Party for Progress (PFP) faction. In a move that signals a deep internal divide, PFP faction leader MP Raeyhon Peterson voted in favor of the motion, while his colleague, MP Ludmilla de Weever, voted against it, siding with the coalition to save the Prime Minister from censure.
The session, called to address the government's handling of the crisis facing fire and ambulance personnel, became a defining moment for the PFP. MP Peterson took a hardline stance, aligning with the opposition to formally disapprove of the Prime Minister’s leadership on the issue. His vote was a clear declaration of his dissatisfaction with the administration's performance and its failure to resolve the long-standing grievances of the nation's emergency responders. This move positioned him as a staunch critic of the government's current path, reflecting a belief that strong political action was immediately necessary.
In stark contrast, MP Ludmilla de Weever broke ranks with her faction leader. Despite publicly stating during the debate that she holds a "soft spot in her heart" for the firefighters, her vote ultimately helped defeat the motion. Her decision suggests a different political calculation, prioritizing government stability or perhaps disagreeing with the confrontational tactic of a disapproval motion at this time. While her words expressed empathy for the workers' struggles, her actions provided a crucial vote that protected the Prime Minister, highlighting a fundamental disagreement with her faction leader on how to hold the government accountable.
This public split reveals more than just a difference of opinion; it points to a potential ideological rift within the PFP. One member, the faction leader, saw the moment as a critical juncture requiring a formal rebuke of the government. The other saw it as a time for a different approach, even if it meant appearing to contradict her stated sympathies for the emergency personnel. This divergence in strategy raises questions about the party's unified vision and its role as a political force.
For the PFP, the implications are significant. The split vote weakens its image as a cohesive unit and could complicate its political maneuvering moving forward. As the crisis with emergency services continues to unfold, the party will need to reconcile these differing approaches to effectively advocate for solutions. The division between Peterson’s hardline opposition and de Weever’s more measured, coalition-aligned vote leaves voters and political observers questioning the PFP's internal strength and its ultimate direction in the turbulent political landscape.

PHILIPSBURG – A contentious parliamentary session on Wednesday exposed deep fractures within the government, culminating in a failed motion of disapproval against Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina. While the Prime Minister narrowly survived the vote, the heated debate laid bare the administration's chaotic handling of a mounting crisis involving the nation's fire and ambulance personnel, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and bitter accusations.
The meeting, ostensibly called to address the escalating situation with emergency services, quickly devolved into a political battlefield. Opposition members, fed up with what they see as inaction and disrespect, launched a full-scale assault on the Prime Minister's leadership.
The tension was palpable as Member of Parliament Lyndon Lewis took the floor and directly challenged the Prime Minister's integrity. He pointedly referenced a recent press release from the Prime Minister, stating that such behavior from an MP "is a disgrace." The comment highlighted growing animosity between the executive and legislative branches, suggesting a government at war with itself while critical services remain in jeopardy.
The disarray within the Council of Ministers was further exposed by MP Omar Ottley, who questioned the "apparent disconnect" between the Minister of VSA's supposed willingness to negotiate with unions and a hardline letter from the Prime Minister. This contradiction suggests a disjointed administration where one hand does not know what the other is doing. MP Francisco Lacroes echoed this sentiment, asking whether the Minister of VSA was part of the decision-making process, casting further doubt on the government's coherence.
In his defense, Prime Minister Mercelina dismissed the entire affair as a political stunt. He claimed the motion was "not substantiated by facts and gives the impression of being politically motivated," arguing that it was drafted before his answers were even considered. This defense, however, did little to quell the outrage from those who feel the government has abandoned its civil servants.
MP Lacroes back, clarifying that the motion had "nothing to do with the civil servants themselves but the support that the civil servants have received and are getting." The message was clear: this is a crisis of leadership, not a critique of the dedicated first responders.
Though the motion ultimately failed to carry, the victory for the Prime Minister is hollow. The proceedings have placed an intense spotlight on his administration's inability to provide tangible solutions for the very people tasked with ensuring public safety. The session ended not with a resolution, but with a weak proposal for yet another explanation from a "technical team." For the firefighters and ambulance personnel, this offers little more than continued delays and political theater. The pressure is now immense, and the public is left wondering whether this government is capable of leading or will continue to crumble under the weight of its own dysfunction.

PHILIPSBURG: --- A motion of disapproval tabled in Parliament today failed to secure a majority, but the political maneuvering behind the vote has sent an unmistakable signal to the government. While Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina survived the challenge, the debate underscored growing frustration over unresolved issues plaguing the country’s emergency services.

The final tally saw five Members of Parliament voting in favor of the motion, seven voting against, and three MPs absent from the proceedings.

Coalition Unity Holds, But Pressure Mounts

The seven MPs supporting the current coalition government stood united, voting en bloc against the motion. This solidarity effectively shielded the Prime Minister from a formal reprimand. However, political observers note that this victory is largely symbolic. The heated debate preceding the vote made it clear that patience is wearing thin regarding the working conditions of firefighters and ambulance personnel.

The message delivered to Dr. Mercelina was direct: get your act together. The issues facing emergency responders—ranging from equipment shortages to operational concerns—can no longer be sidelined. While the coalition protected its leader today, the underlying grievances remain a potent political liability.

A House Divided: The PFP Split

One of the most notable developments of the session was the visible rift within the Party for Progress (PFP) faction. PFP faction leader MP Peterson cast his vote in favor of the motion, signaling a hardline stance against the government's handling of the crisis.

In a surprising turn, fellow PFP member MP Ludmilla de Weever broke with her leader to vote against the motion. This decision came despite her public proclamation during the debate that she holds a "soft spot in her heart" for the firefighters. Her vote against the disapproval motion suggests a preference for giving the government more time or perhaps a disagreement with the mechanism of a disapproval motion itself, even while acknowledging the validity of the workers' struggles.

Implications for Emergency Services

The failure of the motion does not close the book on the crisis facing St. Maarten’s first responders. If anything, it places a brighter spotlight on the Prime Minister's office. With the political opposition demonstrating their willingness to escalate matters to a vote of disapproval, the pressure is now squarely on the executive branch to deliver tangible solutions.

For the firefighters and ambulance workers watching from the sidelines, the political drama offers little immediate relief. However, the parliamentary session has forced their plight to the top of the national agenda. The seven coalition votes may have saved the Prime Minister today, but they came with an implicit condition: the situation must improve quickly.

As the dust settles on today's vote, the focus shifts back to the government administration building. The ball is now in Dr. Mercelina's court to prove that the confidence shown by the seven coalition MPs was well-placed and to resolve the critical issues threatening the safety and stability of the island's emergency services.