Cay Hill / St. Maarten:--- The Soualiga Action Movement (SAM) successfully held its first official congress on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at Paradise Hall in Cayhill, marking a significant milestone for the young political movement. The congress brought together party members, invited guests, and community stakeholders for an afternoon focused on vision, leadership, accountability, and action—core principles that define SAM’s mission for St. Maarten.
The congress program featured reflections on SAM’s vision and mission, addresses from party leadership, and a keynote contribution by Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling, who provided insight into the state of affairs within the Ministry of Justice. Party President Ernest Sams also addressed the gathering, while Deputy Leader Cecil Nicholas and Leader MP Franklin Meyers reaffirmed SAM’s responsibility to serve the people of St. Maarten with integrity, purpose, and principled leadership.
In a powerful demonstration of SAM in Action, the party—through Karis N.V.—donated five powered motorized wheelchairs to persons with disabilities, underscoring its commitment to inclusion and community care. MP Franklin Meyers emphasized that “leadership requires stepping up when needs are identified, noting that service to the community must extend beyond words into meaningful, tangible action that improves quality of life.”
The congress also honored two exceptional community stalwarts for their lasting contributions to St. Maarten. Monique Gumbs, affectionately known as “Nanny Nursy,” and Ashton Lake, widely recognized as “Coach Blade,” were named SAM Honorees for 2026. Both honorees were celebrated for decades of service rooted in care, mentorship, discipline, and community responsibility, receiving standing ovations from those in attendance.
Concluding the congress, party members participated in leadership elections, with MP Franklin Meyers and Cecil Nicholas re-elected by acclamation as Leader and Deputy Leader, respectively. The announcement of the newly elected board was followed by a cocktail meet-and-greet, closing a historic gathering that set the tone for SAM’s future. As the movement looks ahead, SAM reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside government and citizens alike to build a stronger, more inclusive, and responsible Soualiga.

 PHILIPSBURG:---Member of Parliament Sarah A. Wescot-Williams has submitted a proposal to the Parliament Committee on District Councils calling for the exploration and piloting of a Community-Driven District Development Fund , a Parliament-initiated approach aimed at strengthening resident participation in small-scale district improvements across Sint Maarten.

The proposal responds to long-standing calls from communities for greater involvement in shaping their immediate environments, particularly through practical projects such as beautification, improved lighting, playground upgrades, and safer public spaces.

“Communities know what their districts need,” MP Wescot-Williams said. “When residents are given structured opportunities to identify priorities and contribute to solutions, supported by transparency and proper oversight, the results are more visible, trusted, and sustainable.”

MP Wescot-Williams explained that the initiative forms part of a broader effort to encourage a more independently functioning and proactive Parliament.

“I am trying in every which way to make things happen by focusing on what Parliament itself can advance,” she stated. “I no longer limit my work to asking questions and awaiting answers. Too often, by the time responses are provided, there are already new developments competing for attention.”

She acknowledged that this challenge is shared across the parliamentary benches.

“I have said publicly that I feel the pain of my colleagues,” Wescot-Williams added. “But as representatives of the people, we must continue to look for solutions that allow us to act, even within the constraints we face.”

Drawing on past experience, she noted that she previously proposed a Smart City pilot to the government, a concept that was embraced but never pursued beyond that. 

“That experience underscored the importance of institutional follow-through,” she said. “The committee structure of Parliament gives us an opportunity to move beyond endorsement and actively shepherd initiatives that can deliver tangible results.”

The proposed community fund would focus on micro-projects with high community impact, identified by district residents and councils, and transparently costed. Funding could be secured through a combination of public contributions, private-sector involvement, community organizations, and diaspora members.

Under the proposal, the Sint Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) or another appropriate public instrument could serve as fiduciary and administrative manager, ensuring sound financial management, compliance, and transparent implementation.

Key elements of the proposal include:

Community identification of district priorities

Clearly costed, small-scale projects

Public-private and community co-financing

Independent financial and administrative oversight

Simple public reporting on project progress and  outcomes

In parallel, the proposal calls on the Committee to formally invite the SMDF to brief Parliament on any existing or planned community-driven or participatory development initiatives. This would allow for alignment, collaboration, or scaling, while reinforcing the role of District Councils as facilitators of participatory governance.

“This initiative is not about replacing any current development efforts,” Wescot-Williams emphasized. “It is about complementing them, strengthening civic ownership, and translating community engagement into visible district-level improvements.”

The MP’s proposal recommends:

1.

Committee endorsement of the community concept as a pilot initiative;

2.

A formal invitation to the SMDF to brief Parliament;

3.

Development of a practical framework in collaboration with relevant ministries and stakeholders;

4.

Selection of one or two districts for pilot implementation in 2026.

“If we want renewed trust and visible progress, we must use the tools already at our disposal,” Wescot-Williams concluded. “This proposal reflects parliament taking responsibility for enabling solutions that people can see and feel in their own communities. 

ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA:---  In a historic shift for Caribbean drug policy, Grenada’s Parliament has approved comprehensive legislation to decriminalize cannabis for adult use and establish a framework for a medicinal cannabis industry. The new measures represent a significant modernization of the island nation's laws, balancing personal liberties with strict public health regulations.

The legislation, passed this week, officially decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of cannabis for adults and acknowledges the religious rights of the Rastafari community, while simultaneously launching a regulated therapeutic sector.

New Possession and Cultivation Limits

Under the new law, adults aged 21 and older are now permitted to possess up to 56 grams of cannabis and 15 grams of cannabis resin. The legislation also introduces home cultivation rights, allowing households to register to grow up to four plants for private use.

These changes are designed to move users out of the criminal justice system. A major component of the bill is a retroactive amnesty program. The legislation mandates the automatic expungement of criminal records for minor cannabis offenses and the immediate discontinuation of pending legal proceedings for specified small amounts.

Religious Freedom and Rastafari Rights

A key social justice element of the bill affirms the constitutional rights of the Rastafari community. For decades, Rastafarians across the Caribbean have advocated for the right to use cannabis as a sacrament. Grenada's new law formally recognizes this right, permitting the use of cannabis within registered places of worship and at special events. Specific allowances for cultivation by the community are also included in the legislative package.

Foundation for a Medicinal Industry

Beyond personal use, the government is laying the groundwork for an economic sector focused on wellness. The legislation sets the stage for a "regulated medicinal and therapeutic cannabis industry."

According to government officials, a comprehensive national cannabis policy framework is currently in development. This forthcoming framework will detail strict protocols for cultivation, processing, research, and medicinal distribution.

Attorney General Senator Claudette Joseph acknowledged the region's shifting landscape during the proceedings. "Grenada is one of the last jurisdictions to now move in the direction of the decriminalization of cannabis and ultimately the establishment of a medical cannabis industry," she stated, noting the country is now aligning itself with broader global and regional trends in drug policy reform.

Public Safety and Health Remain Priorities

Despite the liberalization of possession laws, officials have stressed that this is not a free-for-all. Public consumption of cannabis remains strictly prohibited. Furthermore, the government has instituted severe criminal penalties for anyone found supplying cannabis to minors.

Health Minister Phillip Telesford emphasized that the government's primary focus remains public well-being rather than immediate profit.

"Our policy of decriminalization will be peered with strict regulations to protect the youths and accompanied by a robust public education campaign," Telesford said. He added that there would be strong enforcement against driving while intoxicated. "The Government prioritizes health and safety over short-term economic gains."

Telesford also clarified that while the bill allows for decriminalized possession, it does not legalize a commercial recreational market at this stage. Recreational sales remain prohibited, with the commercial focus strictly limited to the controlled medical and therapeutic sectors.

This legislative milestone places Grenada alongside other Caribbean nations that have recently moved to reform outdated cannabis laws, acknowledging the plant's cultural significance and potential therapeutic value while maintaining a cautious approach to public safety.

The Hague,NETHERLANDS:---  In a world first, a Dutch court today ruled that the Netherlands breached the European Convention on Human Rights by not protecting and discriminating against citizens living in the Dutch-Caribbean special municipality of Bonaire from the impacts of the climate crisis, and ordered the State to set new, fair climate targets.
Onnie Emerenciana, plaintiff in the Bonaire Climate Case, said:
“I am very happy. Today, we are making history. Finally, The Hague can no longer ignore us. The court is drawing a line in the sand. Our lives, our culture, and our country are being taken seriously. The State can no longer look the other way. The next step is to free up funding and expertise for concrete action plans to protect our island. We truly have to do this together; Bonaire cannot solve this alone.”
Marieke Vellekoop, Director of Greenpeace Netherlands, said:
“This is truly a historic victory. People on Bonaire are finally getting recognition that the government is discriminating against them and must protect them from extreme heat and rising sea levels. The State must also contribute its fair share to staying below 1.5 degrees of warming by implementing new climate targets. This means that the reduction of Dutch greenhouse gas emissions must be accelerated significantly. This is a huge breakthrough. The current climate policy is insufficient, and the cabinet can no longer get away with failing climate policy. With this ruling in hand, communities have a powerful new asset to hold governments to account.”
In a historic ruling, the Hague District Court found in favour of the residents of Bonaire and Greenpeace Netherlands, observing that the Netherlands is doing too little to protect Bonaire residents from the impacts of the climate crisis.
The Court found the Dutch State in violation of multiple provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights (Art 8 and 14 and Article 1 of Protocol No. 12), citing discriminatory treatment of citizens of Bonaire and a failure by the Dutch State to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect people against the current impacts of climate change.[1]
The Dutch court is the first court in the world to rule that the State is discriminating against its own people by failing to develop and adopt a climate adaptation plan.
The court agreed that Bonaire residents are already experiencing climate impacts, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather, and dying coral reefs. It noted that these impacts will intensify under current policies, providing even greater urgency for a coherent and integrated climate adaptation policy for Bonaire than for the European Netherlands.
This case sets a precedent with global relevance. It is the first time that a European court has ruled that a country must take concrete adaptation and mitigation measures to protect all of its citizens, no matter where they live, from the impacts of climate change.
Michael Bacon, lawyer at Kennedy Van der Laan, said:
“With this ruling the court has done precisely what an independent court in a democratic society must do: determine whether national policy complies with national and international law, and specifically with human rights. The court correctly ruled that Dutch climate policy does not comply with international law. It is now up to the State to improve its climate policy.”

Notes:
[1] The Court Judgement
[2] On January 11, 2024, residents of Bonaire and Greenpeace went to court to demand fair climate policy from the State, after earlier research commissioned by Greenpeace Netherlands confirmed that the climate crisis is already affecting daily life on Bonaire and showed how, under current policies, climate change would continue to intensify risks for the island and its residents in the future. The hearings took place on October 7 and 8, 2025, and were attended by the eight plaintiffs. Greenpeace was assisted in this case by lawyers from Kennedy van der Laan.
Previously, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that states must keep global warming below 1.5 degrees and that their climate plans must demonstrate maximum ambition, taking into account historical emissions and economical and technological capacity of the State. This is the first climate case in Europe, in which these international recommendations have been applied.