PHILIPSBURG:--- In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (MECYS), the Milton Peters College will be hosting its first “Dutch Summer Camp”. The aim of this summer camp is to help students improve their proficiency in the Dutch language, in a fun and creative way.
The first summer camp will be held between June 30, 2025, and July 11, 2025, for the current group of 8 students registered for either the TKL or HAVO/VWO department for the academic year 2025-2026. The camp will be organized at Milton Peters College, and the morning sessions (8:30 am until 11:30 am) will focus on improving Dutch in a fun and playful way through drama, songs, games, scavenger hunts, reading, and with the focus on the specific language needs of each child and study skills needed for a successful start in high school. The afternoon sessions will be centered around arts, technical science, sports, and excursions.
The second summer camp will take place between August 11 - 15 and is meant for TKL graduates who will be continuing their high school career at the HAVO/VWO department. This camp will focus on their specific needs to succeed in HAVO when it pertains to the required level of Dutch, study skills and research skills. They will also participate in recreational activities in the afternoons. Both camps will end with a showcase to the parents.
Despite Dutch being one of the two official languages of Sint Maarten, it remains foreign to many individuals, including our youngsters. Many students therefore struggle to obtain an adequate level in the language, which is needed for nationalization, working in government, the judicial system and for studying in the Netherlands. With specific Dutch as a foreign language strategies, the Milton Peters College wants to show the students that learning the language can be effective and enjoyable.
The Dutch Summer Camps are financed through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (MECYS) and are therefore completely free of charge. The participants will be provided with a snack, lunch and beverages.
The deadline to register is Thursday, May 1st 2025. For questions, please call 548-3511/548-3190 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Permanent Committee meeting no. 02, which was to be held today,y Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 14.00 hrs. with as agenda points:
1. Incoming documents
2. Update by the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication regarding agriculture on Sint Maarten
has been postponed until further notice upon the request of the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The University of St. Martin (USM) is strengthening its commitment to college readiness with its Caribbean Academic Foundation Year (CAFY) Program, designed to equip post-secondary students from St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius with the academic, social, and life skills necessary to excel in tertiary education.

CAFY is an initiative of the kingdom-wide program of the Strategic Education Alliance (SEA). The program is also a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports in St. Maarten, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in the Netherlands, Instituto Pedagogico Arubano (IPA), University of Curacao, and the University of Aruba. Students desirous of attending the CAFY will receive full sponsorship funding from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports of the Government of St. Maarten.

The CAFY program connects secondary school and university, providing students with a structured environment to develop academic proficiency, time management skills, and career readiness. Participants will gain exposure to university-level education while receiving guidance and mentorship.

Students from Saba and St. Eustatius who meet the eligibility requirements will receive the same level of support as those in St. Maarten, ensuring access to this new transformative program.

Starting August 2025, the program will last for a duration of ten (10) months, which reflects two (2) semesters. If you are between the ages of 16 to 23 years old or have graduated within the last two years you are eligible for the CAFY program. Another requirement includes the completion of secondary education with a HAVO, CXC, or CSEC diploma. The CAFY Program is a testament to USM’s 35 years of dedication to nurturing future leaders and professionals in our community and the region.

As part of an ongoing public outreach campaign, the USM team will be visiting the neighboring islands of Saba and St. Eustatius over the next two weeks to promote the CAFY program. The delegation includes Mrs. Marva Sam of the University of St. Martin and Deputy Program Manager of Strategic Education Alliance (SEA) who will interact with students (and parents), to provide key information about the benefits of enrolling.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Member of Parliament (MP) and Leader of the United People’s Faction (UPF), Honorable Omar E.C. Ottley, is questioning the recent announcement of Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure (VROMI), Hon. Patrice Gumbs, to introduce an entrance fee at the Landfill. While MP Ottley acknowledges the importance of sustainable waste management practices, he is questioning the legal basis of this decision without the involvement of Parliament. He argues that this proposal's timing, manner, and lack of added value will likely have negative consequences.
"I am fully in favor of sustainable waste management practices and supporting measures that promote environmental responsibility. However, I strongly believe that introducing an entrance fee at the Landfill without any accompanying programs or incentives, such as recycling initiatives, will only deter people from using the official channels for waste disposal," said MP Ottley. "Instead of encouraging proper waste management, it will likely push individuals to dump their waste illegally in other areas, worsening the problem."
MP Ottley also questioned the proposed fee's legal foundation. According to his research, the National Ordinance, which governs the collection and disposal of household waste, bulky waste, liquid waste, commercial waste, and other waste categories, does not grant the Minister of VROMI the authority to establish such a fee without amending the ordinance through Parliament. The MP raised concerns over the lack of transparency and the manner in which this matter has been handled.
"I have sent a formal letter to Minister Gumbs requesting clarification on the legal basis for this proposed fee. It is essential that any such measures are in line with the laws of Sint Maarten and that they are introduced through the proper channels in Parliament. As it stands, it appears the Minister is stepping outside of his authority in this matter," MP Ottley emphasized. The MP is committed to ensuring that any policy aimed at improving waste management is both legally sound and effective in promoting sustainable practices without unintended negative consequences.