Soualiga Foundation (SSF) is extremely grateful and encouraged by the support and endorsements received so far from dignitaries both on Sint Maarten and in the Netherlands.
After announcing plans to host a student forum with the primary purpose of documenting factors that affect the academic performance of Sint Maarten students in the Netherlands, SSF has received much praise from diverse government officials.
Hon. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, Hon. Vice Prime Minister, Mr. Theo Heyliger, Minister of Education, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, and Minister of Health Care, Social Development & Labor, Dr. Cornelis de Weever, have all encouraged the initiative. Three of the ministers have also indicated their desire to be present for the event, and are looking into their schedules to see if this will be feasible.
The Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten, Hon. Mathias S. Voges, has also pledged his support and made his Cabinet’s facilities available to the foundation.
“It is very encouraging to see that our goals are shared by dignitaries such as these. We are of the opinion that this is the way that we can do our bit to help build and develop Country St. Maarten. These endorsements further confirm to us that Soualiga Foundation is on the right track, and that we are contributing to the nation-building process”, said Mr. Perry Geerlings, SSF’s chairman.
“I know that this subject is close the hearts of the ministers. SSF wants to work closely together with them to better streamline our common goals and efforts, particularly where it concerns the return of our people to St. Maarten”, he continued.
The organizing committee, whose members are Carol Voges (Treasurer), Aishira Cicilia (Secretary), Maria Charles, Deshanna Richardson and Vayolette Laguerre (Public Relations/Communications), Garrick Richardson and Melissa Gumbs (Members) and Perry Geerlings (Chairman), are in full swing with regards to preparations, and has found a good cooperative partner in the S-4 Foundation.
The S-4 Foundation has enabled SSF to reach, inform and motivate students and graduates to take part in the Forum. “We are aiming at preparing the participants as much as possible prior to the date of the forum, in order to make their contribution and input to the discussions and solution-finding a comprehensive and valuable one”, Mr. Geerlings said.
During the forum, students, recent graduates and young professionals will review the following topics of discussion:
Section 1: Studying Successfully/Not Successfully
- Educational Factors
- Personal Factors
- Social Factors
- Financial Factors
Section 2: Returning Successfully
- Why is it important to return to Sint Maarten?
- What are the criteria for a successful return?
- What do you feel is the government’s role in this?
- What is your own role in this?
- Why would you not return to Sint Maarten?
Section 3: Creating Solutions
- What are possible solutions for the improvement of negative areas?
Registration for the event began earlier this week.
SSF encourages the business community to support its goals and efforts in any way they can. Interested supporters, donors and sponsors are urged to contact the foundation at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone us at 0031-70-215 60 67.
It’s Sickening to see how these students are just being used for these politicians to get their photo up.
If these students know the concerns and cries of sxm people as well as follow what has been going on in this place they would know that the power is in the people and not by political favors. It’s just sickening.
These nasty politicians know damn well that they aint care ah shit and aint going do ah shit to help create no policies for the students of St. Maarten.
They know exactly what to do and what needs to get done for the students, students been crying out for years, the same shit every year, the same shit, the same shit. I am stuck in the mess now so I know!
But they rather bring them the table to yabble on problems which students have been talking about far too long now. You want to tell me the ministries don’t know these things. B** S** photo up they want!
Talk about how the students who return home can’t find jobs after all the political promises.
The same persons who are responsible for this mess appointed the minister pleni….. how you going put the wolf to guard the sheep. These games must stop! You all think people don’t know who you are.
Talk about how these politicians who are showing their support is part of the crew that with Jules james, who is sending home the same students after they slave their selves off working for companies such as Pelican. What about the labor laws?
Bring up the labor laws so that students know exactly what to expect when they come down. I’m pretty sure these ministers know the labor laws better than anybody else, yet you want to bring students to yabble on.
Don’t forget our prime minister has the power to dissolve parliament, but still she hasn’t touched Jules james. Now she wants to talk about encouragement for students. Miss cut ribbon a lot and no care for the people!
What’s coming for this place sxm is a nasty reality check for all these nasty politicians who like getting a photo up and fooling off people that they going help dem.
Talk about how Telem, and how they firing the workers, talk about 30% unemployed youths in sxm. Talk about the real sh*t they have to deal with at home.
For you students taking part in this discussion, wake up and smell the coffee and bring the real issues to the table and demand answers since they all plan to line up and be in the audience, record this crap and post it. I can almost see this already. Sick sh*ts we have for leaders in this place.
When peoples back are against the wall…..HA
Another photo up! Lets see what the outcome will be. Time bomb ticking, people fed up.