PHILIPSBURG:--- Parliament has unanimously approved the appointment of Member of Parliament Francisco A. Lacroes as First Vice Chairman of the Committee on Economic Affairs, Social Debt and Regional Development of the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (Parlatino).

The appointment follows a decision by Parlatino’s Board of Directors, which approved Sint Maarten's appointment to the First Vice Presidency of the committee. Parliament was informed of the decision through official correspondence from Parlatino President Rolando González Patricio, dated November 26 of last year.

According to discussions held within Parliament’s Committee on Parlatino Matters, the proposal was reviewed during a meeting on March 4, 2026. The committee subsequently forwarded its recommendations to the Central Committee, which considered the matter on April 22 and issued advice for final approval by the public meeting of Parliament.

During the parliamentary debate, MP Lacroes expressed gratitude for the nomination and highlighted its significance.

“It is an honor to actually be nominated for this position,” Lacroes stated. He emphasized that the appointment reflects Parlatino’s recognition of Sint Maarten Parliament’s dedication, participation, and contributions to regional parliamentary affairs.

La Cruz noted that the achievement demonstrates the work Parliament has invested in strengthening its role within Parlatino and advancing legislative cooperation across the region.

The MP also referenced ongoing collaboration between Parliament and government ministries on legislative initiatives originating from Parlatino, underscoring the importance of all members' continued participation in the regional organization.

Following the brief discussion, no further intervention was requested by Members of Parliament. The proposal was then put forward for approval and was accepted unanimously.

With the decision, Parliament will formally notify Parlatino of Lacroes’s appointment as First Vice Chairman, further strengthening Sint Maarten’s representation within the regional parliamentary body.

Parlatino, the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament, is a permanent regional institution that promotes integration, cooperation, and legislative dialogue among member states across Latin America and the Caribbean.

From May 17 to June 4, 2026, the French Forces in the West Indies (FAA) will organize an exercise in the Antilles region called CARAÏBES-26.
The natural disasters that threaten and regularly strike the West Indies transcend borders and require a rapid response from the affected states, as well as coordinated action from regional actors.
To prepare for these situations, the FAA organizes an inter-service, inter-ministerial, and allied exercise in the West Indies region called CARAÏBES every two years.
CARAÏBES-26 is based on a scenario of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), involving the participation of French armed forces stationed in the West Indies and French Guiana, armed forces from Caribbean countries, as well as regional and non-governmental organizations: prefectures of Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Saint-Martin through their inter-ministerial defense and civil protection service (SIDPC) and the inter-service zone headquarters for the West Indies (EMIZA), departmental fire and rescue services (SDIS) of Guadeloupe and Saint-Martin, National Gendarmerie, Red Cross, and the inter-regional platform for the Americas and the Caribbean (PIRAC).
A real-condition exercise, CARAÏBES-26 simulates the intervention of French sovereignty forces during an emergency operation to respond to the arrival of a major Category 4 cyclone, which strikes the southern and then the northern West Indies in the days following its passage. It also includes a security operation on a foreign territory that was simulated on the island of Marie-Galante from May 17 to 22, with the participation of the embarked tactical group (GTE) and the aeromaritime means of the JEANNE D’ARC mission, which would have arrived as reinforcements from France following the outbreak of the climatic crisis and the resulting insecurity.
Divided into three sequences, each of which allows working on a typical phase of a natural disaster crisis in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Saint-Martin.
CARAÏBES-26 consolidates inter-administration collaboration between the FAA and state services in the context of crisis management in the region.
It also strengthens cooperation with allied and partner countries of the FAA in population assistance missions through the integration of troops and/or observers from Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026: media sequence in Saint-Martin
• 10:30 AM: sequence at the Belle Créole site: presentation of the exercise and interviews in the presence of Mr. Cyrille Le Vély, Prefect of Saint-Martin, Rear Admiral Jean-Baptiste Souberie, Commander-in-Chief of the French Forces in the West Indies, Mr. Luc F. E. Mercelina, Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, and Mrs. Julia Crouch, Governor of Anguilla;
• 11:00 AM: presentation of the exercise's setup by a military personnel, a member of the Saint-Martin territorial fire and rescue service (STIS), and a member of the Guadeloupe military adapted service regiment (RSMA), along with the intervention actions of civilian and military entities, French and foreign, following the (fictional) passage of the cyclone;
• 11:45 AM: departure from the Belle Créole site to the Happy Bay site by road;
• 12:15 PM: presentation of the military device and military and civilian means of aid to victims deployed on the Happy Bay site: triage area for the wounded, supplies of first necessities...
• 1:00 PM: end of the media sequence.
Special arrangements for the press
Media wishing to cover this exercise are invited to make themselves known by email to:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
before Monday, June 1, 2026.
The following must be specified:
• the number of participating individuals;
• first and last name of each participant;
• the name of the media outlet and its contact details (email + phone);
• attach to the accreditation request a scanned copy of a valid ID (front/back) (national ID or passport) as well as press cards associated with each participant.

St Augustine. The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, on Tuesday, marked the successful harvest of the Black-Eyed Peas Pilot Project in Warrenville, Trinidad, demonstrating the crop’s strong commercial potential and its possible role in strengthening national food security and supporting school feeding programmes.
The pilot initiative, implemented with support from the Ministry of Education, the National School Dietary Services Limited (NSDSL), FAO Caribbean and IICA, showcased the successful adaptation of black-eyed peas under local growing conditions, with CARDI reporting germination rates exceeding 96 percent and harvest achieved within approximately 56 to 60 days.
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ravi Ratiram, described the initiative as a practical step toward transforming discussions on food security into measurable action.
“Today is about moving from discussion to action on food security,” the Minister said. “The information gathered from these trial plots allows us to confidently advise farmers on the production potential, suitability, and profitability of crops like black-eyed peas under local conditions.”
Ratiram noted that reducing dependence on imported food and agricultural inputs remains a major national priority and commended the collaboration among CARDI, farmers, technical officers, and institutional stakeholders.
Speaking during the harvest exercise, Executive Director of CARDI, Ansari Hosein, said the initiative demonstrated how local production could help reduce food imports while creating new economic opportunities for farmers.
“We have heard that there is over 300,000 kilograms of black-eyed beans being used in the school feeding programme,” Hosein explained. “This is an opportunity where, once we demonstrate profitability and farmers adopt the technology package, we can satisfy that local requirement instead of importing the product.”
He added that the project could support employment generation, reduce foreign exchange outflows, and promote a more circular local economy.
“Everything is grown locally, produced locally, and used locally. Black-eyed beans are also a healthy commodity to consume, which contributes positively to nutrition and reducing non-communicable diseases,” Hosein said.
CARDI Technical Manager, Fayaz Shah, highlighted several important lessons learned during the pilot phase, including the importance of early soil treatment, irrigation scheduling, preventative pest and disease management, and timely fertilizer application.

According to Shah, approximately two acres of black-eyed peas were cultivated as part of the broader six-acre demonstration area, alongside corn and soybean plots. The pilot also demonstrated that local production timelines could outperform some international benchmarks.
“Based on guidance from our counterparts abroad, we expected harvest around 90 days, but under local conditions we achieved harvest readiness in approximately 56 to 60 days,” Shah said. “That tells us the production potential here in Trinidad and Tobago is extremely promising.”
CARDI representatives also conducted technical presentations and live harvest demonstrations for farmers, ministry officials, educators, and other stakeholders attending the event.
The project forms part of broader regional efforts to improve agricultural resilience, strengthen local food systems, reduce the Caribbean’s high food import bill, and support sustainable nutrition initiatives within schools and communities.
Stakeholders noted that locally produced black-eyed peas could eventually contribute to institutional feeding programmes while creating new market opportunities for farmers and agribusiness operators across Trinidad and Tobago.

~“A Dozen Years of ‘DOETing’”~

PHILIPSBURG:---  On May 15 and May 16, 2026, communities across Sint Maarten came alive as SXM DOET 2026 successfully hosted its 12th impactful year of a weekend of volunteerism, community engagement, and positive change. Celebrating a dozen years of DOETing, this year’s edition proved to be large and inspiring.

Under this year’s theme, “From Jump Up to Step Up,” SXM DOET 2026 encouraged individuals and organizations not only to celebrate community spirit at this year’s three-week-long carnival celebration but also to actively step forward and make a meaningful contribution toward the betterment of Sint Maarten.

More than 1,300 volunteers came together island-wide to participate in 83 community projects organized by foundations, schools, non-profit organizations, and community groups. Of the 83 registered projects, 32 took place on Friday, May 15, while 51 took place on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

This year’s projects covered a wide range of areas, including social outreach initiatives with vulnerable, differently abled, and senior groups, gardening, painting, upkeep and maintenance, building improvements, clean-up activities, and community enhancement projects. Volunteers dedicated their time and effort to improving spaces and supporting organizations that continue to make a meaningful impact within the community.

In addition to the diverse range of projects that took place this year, SXM DOET was also pleased to welcome several new organizations to the initiative. Their participation highlights the continued growth of SXM DOET and demonstrates that each year the program reaches and inspires new individuals, groups, and organizations to engage in volunteerism and community service.

The success of SXM DOET 2026 once again showcases the power of collective action and community spirit. Individuals, families, businesses, schools, and organizations were all united with a shared goal of giving back and strengthening Sint Maarten through volunteer service.

The SXM DOET coordinating team extends sincere appreciation to every volunteer, project leader, volunteer coach, sponsor, donor, and partner who contributed to the success of this year’s event. Their continued dedication and support have remained the driving force behind the growth and impact of SXM DOET over the past twelve years.

Community members are encouraged to stay connected with SXM DOET by subscribing to the newsletter for updates, volunteer opportunities, announcements, and information about future initiatives and events.

For more information about SXM DOET, future initiatives, or to join the newsletter mailing list, visit www.sxmdoet.com, visit our socials on Facebook or Instagram (@SXMDOET) or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Photo Caption: APS members at Fort Amsterdam for EPIC SXM’s Fort Amsterdam Invasive Weed Initiative Project on Friday May 15. Photo by Alexandra Schaede.