PHILIPSBURG:---- The United People's Party (UPP) issued a press release Monday evening in which it indicated that the party stands in full support of Member of Parliament the Honourable Kevin Maingrette, who has recently withdrawn his support from the URSM/DP/PFP/NOW coalition. The UP Party sees this decision as being driven by MP Maingrette's unwavering commitment to the nation's best interests. "MP Maingrette's decision highlights his dedication to fostering a stable and effective government for St. Maarten," the release stated.
According to the release, MP Maingrette's choice to realign his political support was not made lightly. "Confronted with the coalition's persistent instability and ineffective leadership, he acted in the best interest of St. Maarten. While the rift between coalition partners was often heated and filled with name-calling and threats, the public speculation on the instability was overwhelming." The coalition, marred by delays and internal conflicts, has failed to provide the governance needed to propel the nation forward. This was after the country was finally able to experience four stable years of governance and begin to clean up ten years of disaster left by more than seven fallen governments.
Recent allegations from the URSM suggesting that MP Maingrette may have been coerced or influenced by wealthy business individuals are unfounded and defamatory. MP Maingrette has consistently demonstrated transparency, openly sharing the pressures and offers he received with the coalition. His candidness underscores his commitment to integrity and his refusal to be swayed by personal gain.
MP Maingrette's decision was driven by genuine concern for the nation's welfare and the need for a stable, effective government, and it was clear the writing was on the wall for the 2x4 coalition.
Despite the NOW Party distancing itself from MP Maingrette's decision, Maingrette maintains that the current coalition's failure to appoint key ministers, including the NOW Party leader, and its ineffective leadership, particularly under Dr Mercelina, have been significant obstacles. Despite public criticisms and evidence of mismanagement, coalition partners, including the URSM and NOW Party, remained silent. They did not address internal issues or Dr Mercelina's autocratic leadership style, which has delayed essential governance processes.
"MP Maingrette has shown remarkable courage in confronting these challenges. His actions reflect a deep sense of responsibility and a commitment to breaking the cycle of ineffective governance."
Leader of the UP Party and Member of Parliament, the Honorable Omar Ottley, said, "The UPP believes that MP Maingrette's realignment with the United People's Party and the National Alliance is a decisive step towards ensuring a stable and transparent government. His resolve to foster cooperation and prioritize the nation's interests over personal or partisan agendas is commendable. The alignment with MP Maingrette aims to restore faith in our political system and address the critical issues facing St. Maarten by aligning with a new coalition."
The release quoted MP Maingrette stating, "My actions underscore my dedication to the people of St. Maarten. At a time when unified and transparent leadership is crucial, I have chosen to act decisively and with integrity."
The United People's Party calls on all citizens and political leaders to support MP Maingrette, the UP Party, and the National Alliance in building St. Maarten's stable and prosperous future. Our courage and commitment to our nation's welfare are unwavering, and we will live up to our collective responsibility.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The leadership and board of the Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement (URSM) proudly announce the admittance of Mr. Richinel Brug as the newest incoming Member of Parliament once sworn. Mr. Brug’s appointment marks a significant milestone for URSM as a newly established political force committed to the progressive governance of St. Maarten.

Mr. Brug will join forces with URSM faction leader, MP Sjamira Roseburg, in actively representing and advocating for the interests of St. Maarten’s people. Together, they have signed the governing accord alongside current coalition members, underscoring a unified front in the pursuit of transformative governance.

The board of URSM wishes to express its profound disappointment with the tactics employed by the opposition during public meeting #16 of the Parliament of St. Maarten, which were deemed unbefitting and detrimental to the spirit of democratic discourse.

Amidst inheriting an unprecedented amount of unresolved and critical issues, the new government faces significant challenges.

URSM calls upon all members of parliament to elevate the quality of representation and dialogue within the parliamentary proceedings, aiming to foster a more dignified and effective legislative environment for the betterment of St. Maarten and our people.

URSM also extends congratulations to incoming MP Viren Kotai and the entire Democratic Party.

URSM remains steadfast in its commitment to address these challenges head-on, promoting policies that are reflective of the needs and aspirations of the people of St. Maarten.

The party extends its heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Brug and anticipates a period of vigorous and positive change under his and MP Roseburg’s leadership in Parliament.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- As part of the Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week Celebrations, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is hosting its Instagram Reel Competition.
Citizens of CARPHA Member States which includes Sint Maarten, aged 18 and over, are invited to take part in the competition, creatively showcasing their understanding and implementation of mosquito breeding site source reduction techniques.
Submission will be accepted from Monday May 19th, 2024, and there will be four winners of the $250USD valued amazon gift card. Visit the CMAW Instagram Reel Competition webpage for guidelines and rules: https://caribbeanmosquitoweek.carpha.org/Instagram-Reel-Competition
The Sint Maarten Collective Prevention Service (CPS) calls on 18+ to join the social media reel competition to raise awareness about mosquito-borne diseases and showcase effective ways to reduce mosquito breeding sites in your communities. Use your creativity to educate, engage, and empower viewers to take action!
To enter the competition, follow CARPHA’s Instagram Page; comment on this posts and tag two of your followers; create your reel using the slogan "Stop Disease Transmission, Start Source Reduction" and the CMAW Jingle: Mosquito 1! (CMAW Jingle) (MP3 Download) (WAV Download); post your reel on your Instagram profile and tag @carpha1 using the hashtags #CMAW #StartSourceReduction; ensure your profile is public to allow CARPHA to view and share your entry.
The objectives of the social media campaign are to raise awareness about the dangers and impact of mosquito transmitted diseases in the Caribbean Region; to emphasize messages shared during public education campaigns on mosquito awareness; to foster behaviour change among CARPHA Member States; and to increase public interest and promote engagement on CARPHA Social Media platforms.
The reel guidelines are duration: Reels should be between 30 and 90 seconds long. Format: Videos to be submitted in a vertical (9:16) format, suitable for Instagram. Content: Reels must focus on one or more of the following themes:
Source Reduction: Show a mosquito breeding site containing Aedes aegypti larvae and/or pupae and demonstrate the appropriate source reduction methods. (e.g., eliminating standing water, securely covering water storage containers and tanks).
Education: Provide educational facts about the dangers of mosquito-borne diseases.
Originality: Each entry must be an original work, not copied from others, and must not violate the intellectual property rights of any person or entity. All elements in the reels must be original and must not include copyrighted material unless you have the rights to use it.
Third party brands: Must not promote your own or third-party goods or services or include any trademarks (other than those belonging to CARPHA).
Language: Reels can be in English, Spanish, French or Dutch. Submissions that are not in English must include English subtitles.
This past week marked Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week. The theme for the week was: Small Bite Big Threat! “Stop Disease Transmission, Start Source Reduction.”
CARPHA adds that the theme, "Small bite, big threat," alongside this year’s slogan, ‘Stop disease transmission, start source reduction.’

Vote for your favorite initiative

“Adopt A Grandparent Experience (AGE)” from Hearts United Holistic Care Foundation has a chance to win an Appeltje van Oranje 2024. From May 22 it is possible to vote for one of the contenders. You can do so by voting for “Adopt A Grandparent Experience” as a favorite. There are a total of 50 projects in the race for the prestigious prizes, which are awarded annually by the Oranje Fonds to exceptional social projects. You can vote until May 31 via stem.oranjefonds.nl.

The theme of this year's Appeltjes van Oranje is Fighting loneliness together! This means that this year's awards go to initiatives that succeed in actively involving people in a society where no one is left alone. One in seven people feels lonely. Loneliness is of all ages, but is more common among young people and the very old. The Oranje Fonds has therefore chosen loneliness as the theme for 2024. Initiatives that contribute to reducing loneliness are indispensable to our society. They matter. 

Crucial

Loneliness can happen to anyone; a feeling of missing out due to a lack of contact with people with whom to do something. Emotional loneliness due to missing a close, intimate connection with another person, usually the life partner. Or loneliness manifested by feeling like you don't matter. Successful initiatives help people get active. To regain control and live a meaningful life again. The Appeltjes van Oranje 2024 put the spotlight on initiatives that combat loneliness. Because when you make an effort for someone else, it also means something for yourself.

Three Apples

Projects like “Adopt A Grandparent Experience” contribute to strengthening social networks of people who feel lonely in St. Maarten. This is a special achievement in itself, but there are only three Appeltjes van Oranje to be awarded. The number of votes the contenders receive will help determine who advances to the final ten nomination spots. The project that attracts the most votes will go through to the final ten. From these, a panel of judges will ultimately select the three winners.

Adopt A Grandparent Experience

This project was launched in December 2020 with an aim of eliminating loneliness among seniors living on St. Maarten. With the goal in mind, our foundation serves as a source of bridging the gap between the youths and the seniors. This is done through regular visits to those seniors who live alone with limited or no visit from their family members. This interaction has showed and is evident in the reports of the seniors whose lives have been impacted through these visits.

“A win for us is a win for you”. Vote Hearts United Holistic Care Foundation “Adopt A Grandparent Experience”

Queen Máxima

The awards will be presented in October by Queen Máxima, patroness of the Oranje Fonds. The three winners will receive a bronze statue, made by Princess Beatrix, and a cash prize of 25,000 euros. 

Oranje Fonds

The Oranje Fonds believes that everyone matters. That is why it is committed to a society in which everyone can participate and no one stands alone. In other words, an involved society where we care for each other, where people have equal opportunities and feel connected to others in the neighborhood. The fund does this by strengthening social initiators and connecting them wherever possible. The support of the Nationale Postcode Loterij, the Nederlandse Loterij, Friends and various other partners, among others, makes this possible. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima are the patrons of the Oranje Fund.   

More information can be found at https://www.appeltjevanoranje.nl/projecten/adopt-grandparent-experience-hearts-united-holistic-care-foundation.

For questions or additional information about our project, please contact Donna Morrison-Wilson, Executive Director at our email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via tel/whatsapp 1 721 523-0901/523-8460/586-9035