PHILIPSBURG;---  In a continued effort to strengthen the transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability of the Social & Health Insurances (SZV), Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Richinel Brug, has outlined a clear set of directives and reforms to guide the institution into a new phase of responsible governance. The recently appointed Adjunct Director, Mr. Felisie, who will serve as Temporary Director as of October 15, 2025, has been formally instructed to carry out several key assignments aimed at improving financial oversight, strengthening strategic planning, and rebuilding public trust in SZV.

Among the immediate priorities:

Mr. Felisie has been instructed in accordance with Article 21, Subsection 8 of the SZV Ordinance, to conduct an independent financial assessment with the aim of providing a clear and objective overview of SZV’s current financial position. This report will be submitted in accordance with the law to Parliament. “Records show that the last time this legal requirement was fulfilled was under Minister Emil Lee,” Minister Brug noted. To ensure proper oversight and value for money, all ongoing and planned capital projects under SZV’s responsibility will undergo a full technical assessment. These include, but are not limited to: the construction of the new General Hospital, any proposal for financing through SZV & the proposed SZV headquarters.

“As Minister of VSA, I will not succumb to pressures to approve the construction of a new SZV building that is multiple times above market value,” said Minister Brug. “We must act responsibly with public funds.” The Temporary Director has also been instructed to present a 3- to 6-month financial plan that identifies cost-cutting measures and efficiency strategies to safeguard SZV’s service delivery in the short term. With major legislative reforms such as the 1B law, the Health Levy, and the General Health Insurance not expected to take effect before January 1, 2027, the Ministry and SZV are actively exploring interim solutions to manage this transition responsibly. These include: Identifying additional cost-saving mechanisms, exploring revenue-generating opportunities, and engaging in strategic dialogue with relevant financial stakeholders. 

“The people of Sint Maarten — SZV staff, our workers, our seniors, and our families — rely on SZV for vital services, from healthcare to pensions,” said Minister Brug. “That responsibility is not taken lightly. These steps are about ensuring SZV is stable, transparent, and positioned to meet the needs of the population both today and tomorrow.” “As Minister, I remain committed to good governance, accountability, and long-term planning. We are not only looking at the present; we are laying the groundwork for the future of social protection on Sint Maarten.”

MARIGOT:--- The Collectivity of Saint-Martin has issued a detailed statement addressing recent media coverage regarding the handling of sargassum seaweed along the island's northern coastline, particularly at Orient Bay Beach.

Record Volumes Challenge Collection Efforts

According to the Wednesday press release, this year has seen exceptionally large volumes of sargassum seaweed washing ashore on the northern section of Orient Bay Beach. The frequency of these strandings has significantly exceeded the authorities' capacity for collection and evacuation to the Grandes Cayes eco-site.

Access restrictions to Orient Bay Beach further complicated the situation. The Collectivity reported being unable to secure necessary permissions to use passages through private properties, citing legitimate concerns that repeated heavy truck traffic could compromise underground utility networks on these parcels.

Alternative Storage and Treatment Methods

In response to these challenges, Saint-Martin authorities identified a temporary storage site for the sargassum seaweed, positioned at a safe distance from residential areas. The treatment of these accumulated volumes is currently underway using newly established protocols.

Officials noted that successive operations involving collection, transport, handling, and rerouting have significantly increased the sand content mixed with the sargassum. To address dual concerns about coastal erosion and treatment costs calculated per ton, authorities decided to implement a controlled immersion process in nearby coastal waters to separate the sand before transferring the seaweed to the Grandes Cayes facility.

Environmental Considerations and Coordination

The Collectivity acknowledged that this immersion process contributes organic matter and creates a brown plume in the water. Following consultations with the Saint-Martin Nature Reserve, officials agreed to adjust the frequency of these operations to minimize potential impacts on nearby coastal environments.

The statement emphasized that all sargassum removal and treatment operations initiated by the Collectivity of Saint-Martin have been analyzed, coordinated, and scheduled in partnership with relevant agencies, with the territory's and residents' best interests in mind.

Ongoing Environmental Challenge

Sargassum seaweed has become an increasingly problematic issue for Caribbean islands in recent years, with massive blooms affecting tourism, fishing, and coastal ecosystems. Brown algae can produce hydrogen sulfide gas during decomposition, posing health concerns and creating unpleasant odors for coastal communities.

Saint-Martin's approach reflects the complex balance authorities must strike between efficient removal, environmental protection, and cost management when dealing with this recurring natural phenomenon.

The Collectivity of Saint-Martin continues to work with environmental partners to refine sargassum management strategies as the island faces ongoing challenges posed by these seasonal seaweed influxes.

PHILIPSBURG:---  On Thursday, October 9, 2025, the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Hon. Richinel Brug, met with representatives of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as part of ongoing preparations for the construction of the new Sint Maarten Detention Center. During the meeting, UNOPS representatives sought guidance on the legal framework surrounding the employment of foreign labor. Minister Brug provided clarification on local labor laws and procedures, and was assured by UNOPS that local regulations would be respected. As Minister of Labor, Minister Brug emphasized that strict adherence to local labor laws is essential, particularly in relation to subcontracting opportunities and ensuring tangible benefits for the local labor market. “While we welcome international partnerships, our top priority remains protecting and strengthening opportunities for our local workforce,” said Minister Brug. The Ministry of VSA will continue to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the project is carried out in full compliance with Sint Maarten’s labor legislation, and with a clear focus on local economic participation.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  World Food Day (WFD) will be marked around the globe on Thursday, October 16 under the theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.” 

According to the United Nations (UN) Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), is calling for global collaboration in creating a peaceful, sustainable, prosperous, and food-secure future.

“By working together, across governments, organizations, sectors, and communities, we can transform agrifood systems to ensure that everyone has access to a healthy diet, living in harmony with the planet,” the FAO says.

FAO adds, Agrifood systems are facing unprecedented challenges. “Conflict, the impacts of extreme weather and climate events, economic shocks, and rising inequality are placing mounting pressure on the land we farm, the water we depend on, and the biodiversity that supports life. Supply chains remain fragile, and the effects of disruption are being felt in homes, markets, and fields around the world.”

In some places, the severity of food insecurity is overwhelming. An estimated 673 million people world-wide are living with hunger. Elsewhere, rising levels of obesity and widespread food waste point to a system out of balance—where abundance and absence coexist, often side by side, the FAO pointed out.

Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, as part of its annual public health calendar of observances, in connection with World Food Day, households are reminded to consume a diversity of nutritious foods on a daily basis.

CPS reminds the community that healthy diets are diverse, balanced in energy, and adequate to meet nutrient needs, along with wasting less, and helping to protect the soil, water, and biodiversity that make food possible.

CPS adds that there is a critical link between sustainability, healthy eating and national public health resilience. Unhealthy diets are one of the leading preventable risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Prevention is paramount.

CPS appeals to every resident and every institution—from schools to supermarkets—to actively choose and promote nutritious food systems. A sustainable diet is not just about what is available, but what we consume daily. It’s about eating more locally sourced produce, choosing whole grains over processed foods, and limiting excess sugar and sodium.

CPS advises consumers to read the label and to actively check food labels for sugar, salt, and fat content to make informed purchasing decisions.

Promote the establishment of community and backyard gardens to increase access to fresh, affordable produce and reduce reliance on imported goods.

The choices we make every day shape the world we live in. #Nourishing Our Future