Kingston, Jamaica:--- For the period 2020 – 2024, roughly 168 Jamaican children were murdered, while from 2019 – 2023, 619 women were killed. Statistics from 2023 show that over 80% of Jamaica’s murder victims were men.

For singer Aaron Silk, enough is enough, and his new song and video, "Painful Birth," signal his call to action for all Jamaicans to take a stand against violence.

“Painful Birth for me is more than just an ordinary song—it's a tribute, a protest, and a prayer. It struck a chord deep inside me, and I knew I had to liberate it to serve its purpose,” said Silk.

The just-released single was written by Michael Orrett and produced by Tru-Frequency Music based in Canada. A very poignant song, it gives a heartfelt lament echoing the grief, resilience, and hope of mothers who have lost their children to the harsh realities of life - especially in inner-city communities. Through vivid imagery, spiritual references, and emotional rawness, the lyrics convey a deep sense of sorrow, questioning, and ultimately, strength.

“I wrote the song, but Aaron owned it. He made it his and delivered an exceptional rendition with his captivating voice,” said Orrett, explaining that for him, it was a modern-day ballad of resistance and remembrance, giving voice to the voiceless and offering solace to grieving hearts.

The song has been released on all major platforms such as Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, Pandora, Boomplay, Amazon Music, the iTunes Store, Spotify, etc. (Mike to add where else it is available).  The accompanying music video, which was set in Jamaica, features noted Jamaican Actress Audrey Reid as the grieving mother and several other local talents. It was shot by Fareye Productions and is slated for release on X.

“This one hit deep. We want to call on everyone, men, women, boys, politicians, churches, all of us to come forward and take action to stop violence. In the video, the mother transformed her pain into purpose and made sure that her son’s death was not in vain. We want to ensure that other mothers don’t have to go through her experience, and our sons and daughters don’t die before fulfilling their dreams and mission,” said Silk.

French Quarter, St. Martin:--- Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House will host three free activities on the morning of Saturday, September 20th. The Les Fruits de Mer association will lead a guided tour of the Amuseum at 10 am. The Société d'Histoire de Saint-Martin will present exhibits about St. Martiners in World War I, World War II, and the Algerian War in two sessions, at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The Soualiwomen Kultural Association (SKA) will give two demonstrations of traditional Johnny Cake baking at 9 am and 10:30 am.

All of the activities are free. They are part of the celebration of Heritage Days organized by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the Collectivity of St. Martin. Limited spaces are available for each activity. A signup link is posted on the social media accounts of the Collectivity of St. Martin.

“We are excited to host three activities showcasing St. Martin's history and culture,” said Les Fruits de Mer president Jenn Yerkes. “Sign up, come out, and enjoy the Amuseum and the great work of our partners SKA and the Société d’Histoire!”

Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House will be open to the public on Saturday, September 20th from 9 am-noon. Those who are unable to attend one of the scheduled activities are still welcome to stop by to visit.

PHILIPSBURG:--- NV GEBE officially commenced utility installation works for the second phase of its Water and Electricity Underground Infrastructure Project on Monday, August 18, 2025.

The kickoff took place on Waterfront Road in Cole Bay, with work progressing to Wellington Road and expected to conclude on Well Road. This marks another milestone in NV GEBE’s ongoing effort to modernize the island’s utility infrastructure by transitioning critical services underground, thereby reducing storm-related disruptions and improving infrastructure resilience.

As noted in previous press releases, this comprehensive initiative, financed by the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB), also includes upcoming work in South Reward, Point Blanche, Lower and Upper Princess Quarter, the final major districts targeted for underground water and electricity cabling.

“The project is progressing according to plan, and we aim to complete the Cole Bay segment within the soonest timeframe,” said Project Manager Angelo Meyers. “Our team remains focused on executing the works efficiently and with as little disruption to the public as possible. Meyers further stated that “abandoned and/or wrecked vehicles along the project route, however, are causing a slowdown.”

NV GEBE thanks the public for their continued patience and cooperation and urges residents in the designated areas to read the information being distributed and for owners of wrecked vehicles to remove them from the work zones or contact 546-1184 for assistance.

PHILIPSBURG:--- At a recent international gathering of scholars and innovators in Lisbon, Portugal, Dr. Delroy Pierre, an organizational and educational change researcher based on Sint Maarten, unveiled a provocative new chapter examining how colonial legacies continue to shape classrooms across the Caribbean.

His work, “Educational Change, Creativity and Sensemaking in a Caribbean Colonial Context,” appears in the newly released volume The Power of Creative Thinking: Identifying and Solving Problems in Business, Education, and Society, edited by Dr. Fredricka K. Reisman, Emerita Professor at Drexel University and founder of its School of Education.

The book was launched at the Knowledge, Innovation and Enterprise (KIE) Conference in Lisbon, bringing together academics and practitioners from around the globe to discuss the role of creativity in tackling society’s most pressing problems.

In his chapter, Dr. Pierre argues that education reform in the Caribbean is inseparable from the region’s colonial past. Drawing on Sint Maarten as a case study, he shows how educators’ capacity for creative problem-solving, essential for improving schools and advancing educational equity, depends heavily on how they interpret their environment, or what scholars call “sensemaking.”

“Educational change in the Caribbean cannot be separated from its colonial history, as that history forms part of the current context that provides meaning” Dr. Pierre said. “By fostering creativity and deepening educators’ sensemaking, we can challenge restrictive structures and build pathways toward more just, inclusive, and context-sensitive educational futures.”

The broader book features contributions from international experts who examine creative thinking in fields as varied as business, education and social policy. Dr. Reisman, the editor, is also Director of the Freddie Reisman Center for Translational Research in Creativity and Motivation and the Drexel/Torrance Center for Creativity and Innovation.

For Dr. Pierre, who works at the Creative Leadership and Innovation Management Bureau (CLIMB) on Sint Maarten, the publication represents a critical step in the development of his Caribbeanized educational change model that places participatory approaches and the Caribbean’s unmatched creativity at the center of educational change.  By placing Caribbean realities at the center of global debates about creativity and reform, he hopes to inspire educators and leaders to rethink how schools can break free from inherited structures and better serve their communities.

The book, The Power of Creative Thinking, is now available through academic publishers and can be downloaded for free at https://kiecon.org/creativity-books/.