~The Wathey family will organize memorial events~

PHILIPSBURG:--- This year marks the 100th birthday of the late Claude Wathey. Born Albert Claudius Wathey on the 24th of July, 1926, in St. Maarten, he is known by most as the Father of Modern St. Maarten. Affectionately called the “Ole Man” by the people on both sides of the island, Claude had an enduring vision for St. Maarten and actively led the island away from isolation and limited opportunities toward greater prosperity and higher living standards for its people during his lifetime. The Ole Man transformed St. Maarten from a forgotten place where many left to seek work elsewhere into a thriving economy that many wanted to come back to. It is often taken for granted now, but Claude’s vision was pioneering and far-reaching, setting the standard for many others in the region to follow. Many stand today on the shoulders of this giant.

To commemorate this historic milestone and celebrate his remarkable and lasting legacy, the Wathey family will organize curated events leading up to his birthday on July 24th that will tell his story to new generations of St. Maarteners and continue his spirit of civic duty. As an authentic St. Maarten icon, the family will not limit events along political lines. Claude’s legacy and story now belong to St. Maarten’s wider national heritage and history.

More information will follow in the days and weeks ahead.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Member of Parliament Francisco Lacroes is asking the government: What is the plan? New freight surcharges will push food prices higher and expose St. Maarten’s economic vulnerability, like the Guyanese say: We get ketch wid we bukta down!

The people of St. Maarten should pay close attention to a recent notice issued by King Ocean Services regarding substantial increases in bunker surcharges on cargo shipments between United States ports and the Caribbean, effective April 12, 2026.

At first glance, this may appear to be a technical adjustment in shipping rates. In reality, it translates directly into higher prices for food and essential goods across our island, a significant rise in the cost of living. A standard 20-foot container surcharge will rise from approximately 200 US dollars to 700 US dollars. A 40-foot container will increase from 400 US dollars to 1,400 US dollars. Refrigerated containers used to transport perishable goods such as meat, dairy products, vegetables, and other food items will also face steep increases.

For St. Maarten, these increases are particularly concerning because of our heavy reliance on imports. Due to limited agricultural capacity and land availability, the island imports the vast majority of its food supply. Studies and economic assessments indicate that between 90 and 95 percent of the food consumed in St. Maarten is imported, much of it shipped through distribution hubs in the United States.

Trade figures further illustrate this dependency. In 2022, the value of goods imported into St. Maarten was estimated at approximately 1.1 billion US dollars. More than 77 percent of these imports originated from the United States. These numbers demonstrate how closely our cost of living is tied to shipping and freight costs. When shipping costs increase, prices across the economy tend to follow. Importers must pay higher freight charges. Retailers face increased wholesale costs. Ultimately, consumers feel the impact at the supermarket and in everyday household expenses. Many families in St. Maarten are already struggling with the high cost of living. Groceries, utilities, and housing continue to place pressure on household budgets. Any additional increase in food prices will disproportionately affect working families, seniors, and vulnerable members of our community. This situation requires attention and transparency from our government. The Ministry of TEATT is responsible for our economic affairs, and the Ministry of Finance should assess the impact of these shipping increases on local prices and supply chains.

In particular, several important questions arise. What monitoring mechanisms are in place to track how shipping costs increase and the effect on retail food prices? What measures exist to ensure that increases in freight charges do not lead to excessive markups along the supply chain. And what strategies are being considered to strengthen St. Maarten’s long term food security.

Our island economy depends heavily on external trade and transportation links. That reality makes it essential for policymakers to anticipate developments that could place additional pressure on our people. The announcement of higher shipping surcharges should therefore not be ignored. It is an signal of price increases that will affect households across the island. The people of St. Maarten deserve clarity on how these developments will affect their daily lives and what actions government intends to take in response. When changes in international trade threaten to raise the cost of basic necessities proactive leadership and informed policy discussions are essential.

“Shipping costs may originate far beyond our shores but their consequences are felt here at home. Ensuring that those consequences do not place an unfair burden on the people of St. Maarten must remain a priority” MP Lacroes stated.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Democratic Party (DP) faction, together with several other Members of Parliament, has formally requested that the Chair of Parliament convene an urgent meeting of the Central Committee to address growing concerns about the future of the monetary union between Curaçao and Sint Maarten and the role of the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS).

The request follows recent public statements regarding the meeting of the “shareholders” of the CBCS, as communicated by the Minister of Finance of Sint Maarten, as well as subsequent remarks by the Prime Minister of Curaçao announcing an upcoming parliamentary debate in Curaçao on the sustainability of the monetary union.

The Members of Parliament believe that Sint Maarten must proactively prepare for all possible outcomes of this debate, including the possibility that Curaçao may determine that the current monetary union arrangement is no longer viable. The decision taken some fifteen years ago to maintain the union on the basis of parity and shared economic interests now appears to be facing renewed scrutiny.

Given the potential implications for Sint Maarten’s monetary and financial stability, the Members stress that Parliament must be fully informed and actively engaged. A comprehensive national assessment of the monetary union and careful consideration of the options available to Sint Maarten are viewed as essential steps to safeguard the country’s economic future.

The requesting Members look forward to an early engagement with the Minister of Finance to ensure clarity on the Government’s analysis, level of preparedness, and policy direction regarding the future of the monetary union and the CBCS.

Concordia, Saint-Martin (French side):--- A group of students from the French side of the island had the opportunity this week to take part in the St. Maarten National Science Fair, marking a small but meaningful example of cross-island educational exchange in the fields of science and technology.
The visit was organized as part of a program led by ANIS ST MARTIN (Association Numérique et Innovation Sociale), a nonprofit organization based in Saint-Martin (French side) that has been working since November with students from Collège Mont des Accords in Concordia. The initiative focuses on supporting school engagement and perseverance through digital discovery, introducing students to areas such as esports, coding, robotics, artificial intelligence, and digital culture.
Around ten students in the final years of the French middle school system (4e and 3e) have participated in weekly workshops designed to spark interest in technology and applied sciences. The program aims not only to strengthen academic motivation but also to expose young people to the kinds of skills increasingly shaping the modern economy.

The program's closing activity took the students to the St. Maarten National Science Fair, following an invitation from the event’s president, Dr. Rolinda Carter. For visiting students from the French side, the fair offered a chance to experience the scale and diversity of science initiatives on the Dutch side of the island, with exhibitions and demonstrations showcasing projects in science, engineering, and innovation.
Beyond the educational experience itself, the visit also highlights the potential for stronger cross-border collaboration in STEM education on the island. While students on both sides share the same geographic space, opportunities for structured interaction around science and technology remain relatively limited. Events such as the St. Maarten National Science Fair can serve as a platform to bridge that gap by connecting young learners, educators, and organizations from both education systems.
According to organizers, this first participation could lead to future exchanges involving robotics, digital innovation, and applied science projects, allowing students from both sides of the island to collaborate and learn from each other.

ANIS ST MARTIN expressed its appreciation to the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation and its president, Dr. Rolinda Carter, for extending the invitation, as well as to Ms. Noreskal and Collège Mont des Accords for supporting the initiative.
For ANIS ST MARTIN, initiatives like this demonstrate how digital technology and science education can also become tools for strengthening connections between the two sides of the island while encouraging youth engagement and opportunity.