PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- Two staff members of the Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (Ministry VSA), Nurse Nirmala Vlaun and Lionel Francisca, recently attended the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) workshop, “Operationalizing an Integrated Vector-Borne Disease Early Warning System,” where they got hands-on training.

Participants came from eight CARPHA member states, bringing together public health experts and national representatives to strengthen the Caribbean’s capacity to predict, detect, and respond to vector-borne disease (VBD) threats.

The primary focus is on strengthening surveillance of VBDs such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika by improving the completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of national surveillance data. This ensures consistent, timely responses to outbreaks across the Caribbean.  

The objective of the workshop is to strengthen national and regional capacity for operationalizing an integrated Vector-Borne Disease Early Warning System (VBD EWS) by improving data quality and validation process, establishing a foundational Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), and governance frameworks.

The objective is also to apply standardized risk assessment tools to support timely verification and response. This workshop was the first to bridge the gap between health officers/epidemiologists and environmental health officers who share their experiences and challenges.

Attendees worked together and focused on identifying national workflows and high-priority SOP needed by designing a framework using flowchart tools.

Attendees also had the opportunity to access current data tools, which highlighted the need to focus on core concepts, anomaly detection, data cleaning, and imputation.

The consensus is that challenges and gaps were all common throughout the Caribbean islands, which were the lack of capacity, human resources, tools, innovation, and training.

The workshop was hosted by CARPHA under the umbrella of the Pandemic Funds Grant. CARPHA is the Executing Agency for the grant, with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) serving as the Implementing Entity.

The broader CARPHA Pandemic Fund Project supports efforts to reduce the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by strengthening early warning systems, laboratory networks, workforce capacity and regional coordination.

The workshop took place last week in Barbados. A follow-up workshop is planned for November.   

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) will host a two-day Ageing with Dignity Conference, bringing together national stakeholders, health professionals, social care experts, and older persons to address both the challenges and opportunities of Sint Maarten’s ageing population.

The conference will serve as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation, as Sint Maarten works to strengthen support systems for its seniors. Through research, expert input, and the development of an Ageing Framework Document, the Ministry of VSA aims to ensure that every senior can age with dignity while laying the foundation for a sustainable future for generations to come.

A central feature of the conference will be the presentation of results from a Baseline Study, conducted with the support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The study examines four critical areas related to ageing on Sint Maarten:

1. Social norms toward ageing
2. Community support
3. Health services for older persons
4. Access to long-term social care

Findings from the study will guide discussions and form the basis for an Ageing Framework and Roadmap for Country Sint Maarten.

“A society is often judged by how well it treats its seniors. One of the main priorities of this government, and in particular of the Ministry of VSA under my tenure as Minister, is our elderly. Too often, decision-makers and candidates speak about the challenges faced by seniors without putting forward structural solutions that truly improve their lives.

With the demographics showing a rapid increase in our ageing population, now is the right time for this conference. We owe it to our seniors not just to talk, but to act.”

In addition to the two-day conference, the Ministry of VSA will mark the Day of the Elderly on October 1, 2025, honoring the invaluable contributions of elders in our community. Events will be held throughout the last week of September and the first week of October.

Alongside these activities, the Ministry of VSA continues to implement practical initiatives to support seniors, including:

A pilot program in collaboration with the Freegan Food Foundation to provide groceries at discounted prices for seniors.

And the allocation of designated parking spaces for seniors, persons with disabilities, and expectant mothers at the APS Parking Lot in front of the Government Administration Building.

More information on the conference and related events will be announced in the coming weeks.

PHILIPSBURG:--- House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP) is honoring the memory of José H. Lake, Sr. (1925–1976) on September 5, 2025, marking the 100^th anniversary of his birth. Lake is the founder of the St. Martin media tradition to which the book publisher belongs, said Jacqueline Sample, president of HNP.

A commemorative post on HNP’s Facebook page recalls that the motto of Lake Sr.’s trailblazing Windward Islands Opinion newspaper was: “Love & Labor Conquer All Things” (https://www.facebook.com/HNPbooksauthors/).

Lake Sr.’s meaning to the island, its people, and press freedom in St. Martin could well go beyond his connection to HNP.

“In the 1960s and 1970s, he faced an economic boycott for reporting on government corruption and the mistreatment of dock, Landsradio, and hotel workers; and his support for unions. In the 1960s, he was declared persona non grata for exposing poor school conditions on one side of his island, and he was spat on at political rallies for speaking out against government practices on the other side of St. Martin,” said Sample.

“Lake, Sr. endured threats to his life, harassment by British forces in Anguilla, and the burning of his newspaper office in Great Bay,” Sample added. His life and struggles are documented in For Love of St. Maarten by Will Johnson (1987); National Symbols of St. Martin (HNP, 1997); and “The Late Great Joseph H. Lake Sr. (1925–1976)” online at The Saba Islander (2014) https://tinyurl.com/5n8bhvay.

“I would also like to thank everyone who has visited, or may yet visit, House of Nehesi Publishers’ social media pages, and who are supporting our book writers during our 45^th Anniversary Year, 2025, as an indie press,” said Sample. (In accompanying memoriam post: Portrait of José H. Lake, Sr. by Bruce Clarke. Private collection.)

PHILIPSBURG:--- Today marks an exciting milestone for Sint Maarten’s digital economy with the official launch of AnyKey.sx, a locally based tech company offering fully automated.SX domain registration and comprehensive web hosting services. Likened to the “GoDaddy of Sint Maarten,” AnyKey.sx aims to enhance the island’s online visibility and accelerate the growth of e-commerce and digital businesses across the Caribbean.

“Any idea, any vision, AnyKey.”

Founded with a clear mission to make .SX domain names — the digital identity exclusive to Sint Maarten — both accessible and meaningful, AnyKey.sx provides a user-friendly website and dashboard for fully automated domain names registration, transfers, DNS and domain management, WHOIS privacy, and reliable human-centered support.

Empowering Local Businesses & Entrepreneurs

Based right here in Sint Maarten, AnyKey.sx understands local businesses' needs—from solo entrepreneurs to established enterprises. With modern, secure infrastructure and transparent pricing, AnyKey.sx is committed to helping its clients establish, manage, and expand their digital identities online effectively and affordably.

“Our goal is simple yet ambitious,” says the AnyKey.sx founding team. “We want to put Sint Maarten’s .SX top-level domain (TLD) firmly on the digital world map—and support a thriving local economy by making domain ownership and hosting effortless.”

A Year in the Making: Overcoming Technical Hurdles

AnyKey.sx’s launch follows over a year of diligent planning and development. The team worked closely with international technology partners to fully automate the domain registration process—from availability searches and purchases to DNS configuration—all while ensuring robust reliability and user-friendly experience online.

The result is an end-to-end digital service that allows customers to:

1. Search for available .SX domain names via a powerful, easy-to-use search tool;
2. Register or transfer domains swiftly;
3. Select from a range of hosting options (Shared, WordPress, VPS, Cloud, Ecommerce);
4. Connect and launch their online presence securely with features like SSL, DDoS protection, CDN, backups, and developer tools.

Quick, seamless, and secure — the full process rolls out in just a few clicks.

Driving E-Commerce and Digital Identity on the Island

AnyKey.sx’s vision extends beyond registrations and hosting: it is a catalyst for local digital entrepreneurship. By fostering a preference for .SX domains, AnyKey.sx reinforces brand trust, island identity, and visibility in global searches.

Blog content such as “How .SX Domains Empower St. Maarten Entrepreneurs” and “10 Reasons Online Businesses Should Use a .SX Domain” showcase how the TLD can enhance credibility and market reach.

Community-Centric Support & Vision

Unlike faceless global registrars, AnyKey.sx offers real human support—right here in the Caribbean. Whether via sales, tech assistance, or billing inquiries, the team is ready and local.

In line with its broader vision, AnyKey.sx aspires to become the Caribbean’s go-to platform for domain services that honor local identity and inspire digital progress.