PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Library joined the other libraries of the Dutch Caribbean—the CAS islands (Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten) and the BES islands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba)—in taking an important step in the further development of their shared network during a week-long conference in El Salvador. Together, they signed their joint network plan, setting out how they will collaborate on shared ambitions. While in El Salvador, the Sint Maarten Library and its Dutch Caribbean partners also exchanged knowledge and experience with local library professionals as part of an international exchange, separate from the network itself.

The National Library of the Netherlands (KB) and Rijnbrink attended the conference as network partners. 
The conference marked an important turning point in building a strong and sustainable network among the libraries of the Dutch Caribbean. By getting to know one another better, sharing knowledge and experience, and formulating shared ambitions, the libraries are laying a solid
foundation for long-term collaboration among themselves. In doing so, they can strengthen one another and collectively make a greater impact on their organizations and communities.

Joint network plan signed

The Sint Maarten Library, together with the other libraries of the Dutch Caribbean, is building a strong and sustainable network guided by Common Eye and rooted in their needs, experience, and ambitions. Signing the network plan is a significant milestone. Among other things, the shared ambitions focus on strengthening the positioning of the Dutch Caribbean libraries and on developing future-proof libraries. With their signatures, the libraries—including the Sint Maarten Library—confirmed the ambitions and agreements they have formulated together.
The KB, the national library of the Netherlands, the BES islands, and Rijnbrink are partners of the network. As a knowledge and expertise partner, Rijnbrink contributes to the organizational and substantive development of the Dutch Caribbean libraries. The KB and Rijnbrink support the libraries in advancing the ambitions set out in the network plan.

Learning with and from libraries in El Salvador
Alongside the further development of the Dutch Caribbean network, the week also included an international knowledge exchange with local libraries, a separate part of the program, not an expansion of the network itself. The Sint Maarten Library, together with the other Dutch Caribbean libraries, Rijnbrink, and the KB, visited several libraries in El Salvador and gained insight into their working methods, activities, and experiences.
Library professionals from Sint Maarten, the wider Dutch Caribbean, and El Salvador shared their knowledge and practical experience during these visits. The exchange provided space to explore similarities and differences and to draw inspiration from one another.
Connection as the foundation for further collaboration: The combination of joint network development among the Dutch Caribbean libraries and the
international exchange with El Salvador made the conference particularly valuable. The Sint Maarten Library and its Dutch Caribbean partners look back on a successful week in which connection, encounter, and mutual learning were central. In the period ahead, they will work on the shared ambitions set out in the network plan and continue to shape collaboration between the islands.

MARIGOT: --- The Collectivité of Saint-Martin and the Centre des Finances Publiques are informing taxpayers that income-tax notices covering revenue earned during 2025 are currently being distributed.

Taxpayers have until October 2, 2026, to pay their 2025 income tax without incurring an additional charge.

Anyone who has not received an assessment notice by September 15, 2026, must request a duplicate exclusively by email from the Centre des Finances Publiques of Saint-Martin. A copy of an identification document must be attached to the request.

Requests should be sent to:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The subject line must state: “Demande de duplicata d’avis impôt sur le revenu + ISMIR tax number + surname and first name.”

The income-tax assessment is prepared using the taxpayer’s income declaration. It provides official confirmation of the income declared to the tax authorities.

The notice includes:

• The income declared;
• The number of family-quotient shares;
• The reference taxable income;
• The person’s tax status as a tax resident, equivalent resident, or non-resident;
• The tax collection date of August 18, 2026;
• The payment deadline of October 2, 2026;
• The amount of tax calculated; and
• Any remaining balance due or refund after accounting for previously paid provisional installments.

Taxpayers are strongly advised to keep their assessment notices because they are often required when conducting business with public and private institutions, including social-service agencies, family-allowance offices, the Préfecture, banks, and notaries. Provide a copy whenever proof of income or tax status is requested.

When an assessment notice shows an outstanding balance, bank transfer is the preferred payment method. The Treasury’s banking information appears on the assessment notice.

To ensure that the payment is correctly identified, the bank-transfer description must include the taxpayer’s ISMIR tax number, “IR 2026,” surname and first name.

The Collectivité reminded residents that income tax helps finance local public policies and contributes directly to the development of Saint-Martin. Taxpayers are therefore urged to meet the October 2 deadline.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Student Support Services Division of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport is once again hosting its workshop, “Applying to Schools in the Netherlands,” on September 17, 2026,  at the University of St. Martin from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

This workshop is geared toward exam-class and pre-exam-class secondary school students, as well as recent graduates, who are interested in continuing their studies in the Netherlands.

The “Applying to Schools in the Netherlands”workshop will focus on the main tertiary education systems in the Netherlands, including MBO, HBO, and WO. During the workshop, the focus will be on both academic and vocational tracks and on schools offering Dutch and English instruction in the Netherlands. SSSD officials added that they will also discuss costs, since many students and parents believe studying in the Netherlands is less expensive than in the United States or Canada.  

As far as applications are concerned, officials indicated that for some students, applying to schools is not straightforward, and it is important for them to know how their education from St. Maarten aligns with that in the Netherlands. They added that changes occur frequently in the educational field in the Netherlands and our students should be aware of such.

Parents are urged to encourage their children to participate in this workshop. Students are encouraged to register in advance by calling the Student Support Services Division at tel: 543-1235 or by visiting SSSD’s Facebook page and scanning the QR code on the flyer.  If parents or students have questions about this workshop, they can also call the number above or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for more information.

Interested persons can also visit the SSSD office, which is in the Gatsby’s Building across from the Police Station and next to WIB. 

The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) provides services to students referred by the schools, such as psychological services, counseling services, social work services, educational diagnostic services, and speech-language pathology services. SSSD also provides general services, including career services, parent sessions, and crisis response.

Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin:---  Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin are gearing up for the 2026 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), the largest annual cleanup on the island. Volunteers can register at www.volunteer.sx and will help with cleanups and data collection.

The cleanup will take place this weekend on both sides of the island:

• Saturday, September 19, 2026
  Little Bay Beach & Pond, Sint Maarten
  7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
• Sunday, September 20, 2026
  Anse de Sable, La Belle Creole area, Saint-Martin
  7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
  
  

The International Coastal Cleanup is a worldwide initiative led by Ocean Conservancy. Each September, volunteers in more than 120 countries come together to remove trash from beaches, oceans, and waterways. The cleanup coordinators Tim Roosens and Juste Manuel are calling on volunteers throughout Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin to participate on one or both days. Volunteers are asked to register via www.volunteer.sx and are reminded to wear closed shoes, apply sunscreen and download the Clean Swell app.

Students who need to complete community-service hours are encouraged to join. Businesses are also invited to participate with teams of employees wearing their company T-shirts, an excellent way to demonstrate corporate responsibility while contributing to the protection of the island’s beaches and marine environment.

Participants will work in small teams, with one team member recording the collected items on a special data card or through Ocean Conservancy’s Clean Swell app. This information helps identify the types and possible sources of debris found along coastlines. Governments, nonprofit organizations, and environmental groups can use this important data to support anti-littering legislation and education, solid-waste management, marine conservation, and recycling programs.

The 2026 International Coastal Cleanup is a collaboration by Sint Maarten Pride Foundation, Clean St. Martin Association, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), Sint Maarten Nature Foundation, St. Maarten Development Fund, Saint Martin Trails and Les Sauveteurs en Mer (SNSM).

Organizers are still looking for breakfast items for participating volunteers. Businesses interested in donating breakfast items can contact coordinator Mr. Tim Roosens via WhatsApp at +590 690 30 7999.

Come out, bring your family, friends, colleagues, clubs, etc., and help keep the coastlines of Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin clean. Every volunteer makes a difference!