SIMPSON BAY:--- Finance Minister, Hon. Marinka Gumbs, called on the postal sector to move beyond traditional mail services and position itself as a key part of the digital economy’s infrastructure. “We must stop thinking of ourselves solely as carriers of letters and begin seeing ourselves as indispensable architects of the digital economy's physical backbone,” she said during the Strategic Meeting of Postal Service Experts held recently at the Simpson Bay Resort in St. Maarten.

Delivering remarks at the event, the Minister reflected on her own history in the postal sector. She said before taking on the portfolio of Minister of Finance, she served and led the Postal Services of St. Maarten. “That experience grounded me in the daily realities of logistics, last-mile delivery, and the critical importance of connectivity.”

Now viewing the industry through a broader financial and national development lens, Gumbs stressed that the role of the post office is far from outdated. “My new perspective only underscores a profound truth: the post office, far from being an obsolete service, is actually a strategic national asset poised for profound reinvention.”

She highlighted global trends, noting that while traditional mail volumes continue to decline, the explosion of e-commerce and logistics presents major opportunities. “This disruption isn't a threat; it is our mandate. We must stop thinking of ourselves solely as carriers of letters and begin seeing ourselves as indispensable architects of the digital economy's physical backbone.”

She said that diversification is essential for long-term financial sustainability. “Generally, our post offices possess the most extensive, trusted physical network in every jurisdiction they serve. That network is infrastructure, and infrastructure has value.”

She urged delegates to focus on three main pillars over the two-day meeting. The first is Financial Modernization. She said the post office must become a true fintech enabler and encouraged exploration of micro-lending partnerships, insurance distribution, digital identity verification, and secure financial services for underserved communities.

Another pillar is Optimized Logistics and Technology. She called for AI-driven route planning, advanced tracking systems, and shared-service partnerships because “the power is in our collective network, not in isolated systems.”

She also alluded to Sustainability and Community Impact. Gumbs pushed for greener operations and multifunctional community spaces, asking, “How can we better utilize our physical spaces to offer new services that address societal needs, such as secure package lockers, business incubators, or even governmental service kiosks?”

Positioning St. Maarten as an ideal testing ground for innovation, she said, “I urge you to look at our island not as a small, insignificant entity, but as a major player in this subregion, offering a platform where innovative postal models can be piloted, tested, and scaled. We need to leave this meeting not just with ideas, but with concrete, actionable frameworks for investment and collaboration.” She encouraged participants to analyze business cases, identify returns, and commit to long-term investment that will transform the sector into “the engine of economic growth it is destined to be.”

She commended BTP and interim managing director, Judianne Hoeve-Labega “for bringing this vital international Postal Services Strategic Business Conference to St. Maarten.”

WILLEMSTAD:--- The supervisory authorities of Curaçao — the Centrale Bank van Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), and the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) — which oversee the financial, non-financial, casino, and online gaming sectors, jointly organized a training session for their staff and respective sector representatives September 29 through October 3, 2025. The objective was to enhance awareness and understanding of Terrorist Financing (TF), Targeted Financial Sanctions (TFS), and Proliferation Financing (PF).

As part of the outreach to the regulated sectors, entities operating in and from Curaçao gained valuable insights into the mechanisms through which terrorism is being financed, how to identify and assess related risks, and how to implement these into their business risk assessment models. Participants also explored how TF, TFS, and PF risks emerging from Curaçao relate to international standards. Case studies from different jurisdictions were presented and discussed to strengthen participants’ knowledge in risk-based analysis, monitoring, and reporting.

Enhanced Collaboration and Key Outcomes
Some key takeaways from the session included strengthening practical skills and expertise among the supervisory authorities, which, in turn, fostered closer collaboration as a tangible outcome of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Participants also enhanced their ability to demonstrate effectiveness in combating terrorist financing, in line with the recent revisions to the AML/CFT/CFP legal framework.
The training contributed to measurable progress in addressing the recommendations outlined in the Mutual Evaluation Report (MER). These efforts include expanding training opportunities, conducting thematic reviews, and increasing awareness of terrorist financing risks, to report tangible progress to the CFATF in February 2026. In addition, key insights gained during the sessions will be applied to strengthen the ongoing National Risk Assessment (NRA).

The outreach also enabled entities to understand better how to submit reports based on subjective indicators. It provided more explicit guidance and raised awareness on TF, TFS, and PF risks across small, medium, and large firms. The supervisory authorities reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to supporting the sectors in identifying, understanding, and, where necessary, reporting any suspicious or high-risk activities they may encounter.

Willemstad, November 21, 2025

~Powerful Address at Global Gender Conference in Ghana~

Accra, Ghana/PHILIPSBURG;---  President of the Parliament of St. Maarten, Sarah A. Wescot-Williams, in her role as Chair of the 3rd International Conference on Gender Equality (ICGE 2025), delivered a powerful speech in Accra, urging urgent global action to speed up gender equality in a rapidly digitalizing world.
Wescot-Williams opened by highlighting the island's unique history, deep African heritage, and long-standing commitment to unity, noting the significance of advancing gender equality in a global forum hosted on the African continent, a region whose voice and contributions are essential to advancing gender equality worldwide.
She reminded delegates that thirty years after the Beijing Declaration, its unfinished promise still demands global resolve. “Every barrier to women and girls’ equality anywhere becomes a threat to all of us, everywhere,” she said.
She welcomed the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, emphasizing its priorities, including closing the digital divide, eliminating violence, and advancing economic opportunity, climate justice, and participation in decision-making. But she warned that without financing and gender-responsive data, “commitments remain rhetorical.”
A significant portion of her address focused on the digital revolution. Wescot-Williams underscored that while technology can accelerate equality, it can also deepen disparities. Women remain less likely to access mobile internet, girls are underrepresented in STEM, and online harassment continues to silence women’s voices. “The digital divide is not only about access; it is about power, who designs technology, who controls data, and who benefits from innovation,” she stated.
She highlighted the work of technologists, policy leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, and St. Maarten women who are driving critical advances in digital transformation across the region. In particular, she noted that Ife Badejo’s AI Islands Summit is helping position small island states for AI readiness and supporting Caribbean women entrepreneurs to innovate and lead.
Wescot-Williams urged delegates to view ICGE 2025 not as a moment but a movement. “Let us be the generations that do more than diagnose inequality—let us be the generations that dismantle it,” she concluded. “Equality is the destination. Technology is the vehicle. And our responsibility begins now.”

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Windward Islands Bank is enhancing its free replacement process for damaged personal and business debit and credit cards. We recognize that the quality of the recently issued cards unfortunately does not meet the standard our customers expect, and discussions about this are being held with the manufacturer.
The replacement process applies to all customers with a personal or business credit or debit card showing signs of wear, tear or damage. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused some customers and hope that the accelerated replacement of the damaged cards will help eliminate that inconvenience.

In the coming months, clients who wish to replace their damaged card can do so in one of the following three simple ways:
• WIB Mobile Banking App: Open the app and tap the special campaign banner to submit your request.
• Email: Write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject “Request to replace defective card.” Please include your full name as it appears on the card and a contact number.
• In person: Visit your nearest WIB branch for assistance.
During the application process, customers will be able to select their preferred branch for card pickup. Once the card is ready for pickup, customers will receive an email with the pickup date. The full replacement process takes a maximum of 8 business days.

During this process, the current card remains active and usable. Once the new card is activated, we ask our customers to destroy and discard the damaged card.

Customers can have their damaged cards replaced until February 28, 2026. After this period, WIB will evaluate whether an extension is necessary.

For more information about replacing your card, you can contact us by phone at 546-2942, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or through the chat function on our website www.wib-bank.net .

With this action, WIB reaffirms its continued commitment to offering safe and accessible banking services. We appreciate the trust of our customers and will continue working to improve our products and services.
The Windward Islands Bank, your partner in progress.