Miami, Fla. --- Travelers across the Caribbean are demanding more authentic, locally sourced food, products, and cultural experiences. Yet new survey findings from research conducted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) with 18 of the region’s  National Hotel & Tourism Associations (NHTAs) reveal that hotels face major barriers in meeting that demand, ranging from unreliable supplies to limited government support. CHTA is drawing attention to these insights as part of its ongoing push to strengthen linkages between tourism and local industries.

According to the NHTAs, supply remains one of the toughest challenges: more than half (56%) said local producers cannot consistently provide the quantities needed, with many also citing inconsistent quality and lack of variety.

Most associations cited a need to boost support for increased local purchases by the tourism industry, helping to reduce high production costs.  Seventy-six percent (76%) said utility subsidies are non-existent or ineffective; 64% said more effective tax incentives for hotels to purchase locally would encourage greater industry purchasing, strengthening domestic producers’ ability to compete on price; and 56% said incentives to boost local production could be improved.

Saint Lucian entrepreneur Vaughn Constable, founder of Twist Saint Lucia and a participant in CHTA’s Linkages showcase, which connects tourism businesses with local suppliers, illustrates the challenge. “There’s so much pride in creating Caribbean-made products,” said Constable. “Every bag, every package carries a piece of our identity — our flavors, our culture, our craftsmanship. Travelers love that authenticity; they want to taste and experience something that’s truly from here, but the logistics, volume and costs make it difficult for small producers to compete locally and regionally, even when there’s strong demand from hotels and travelers.” 

During a recent CHTA Linkages webinar, representatives from successful efforts by the Government of Jamaica, the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association and the hotel sector pointed to their successes and echoed the concerns raised through CHTA’s research. They identified urgent priorities such as better data sharing, more efficient regional logistics, and stronger financial support for small businesses.

“CHTA’s role is to amplify the collective voice of our National Hotel & Tourism Associations,” said Nicola Madden-Greig, Linkages Task Force Chair and Immediate Past President of CHTA. “These findings reinforce what we have long advocated: travelers want authentic Caribbean experiences, but systemic barriers prevent hotels from fully meeting that demand. By working with governments and partners, we can create the policies and systems that ensure tourism delivers stronger benefits to Caribbean people and communities.”

Looking ahead, CHTA is intensifying its efforts to connect buyers and suppliers, create a more competitive pricing environment, strengthen distribution networks, and help entrepreneurs scale their businesses. Strengthening local and regional cooperation on logistics and financing also remains a top priority, making it easier for hotels to source Caribbean first.

“The Caribbean has many of the ingredients to succeed, with talented entrepreneurs, agricultural and manufacturing capabilities, rich cultural traditions, and an unmatched tourism product,” added Madden-Greig. “If we break down the barriers and strengthen these linkages, we can ensure more visitor spend stays in our economies, supporting livelihoods and building a stronger, more sustainable future for the region.”

To further drive collaboration, CHTA will host a dedicated Linkages Showcase at the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), November 16-18 in Barbados, spotlighting regional producers and suppliers that support the hospitality sector. The association is also undertaking a detailed assessment of regionally sourced product lines which are available to the hospitality sector.

PHILIPSBURG:---  On the occasion of his official retirement, the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA),  Richinel Brug, extends heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Mr. Glen A. Carty for his service as Director of the Social & Health Insurances (SZV) over the past 15 years.

Mr. Carty, who officially retires from his post tomorrow, has been a steadfast figure in the development of SZV, steering the institution through a period of growth, transformation, and modernization.

“On behalf of the Ministry of VSA and the people of Sint Maarten, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Carty for his many years of dedicated service, leadership, and commitment to the mission of SZV,” said Minister Brug.

During his tenure, Mr. Carty led numerous initiatives that enhanced customer service, strengthened operational efficiency, and introduced digital innovations that have made SZV more accessible and responsive to the public.

“We thank him for his service and wish him nothing but success, fulfillment, and good health in this new chapter of his life.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- Fifteen years after Sint Maarten proudly became a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the island nation continues to wrestle with a complex question: Has autonomy truly been achieved — or has the country been taken back to a form of financial and political dependence reminiscent of colonial days?

The milestone date of October 10, 2010 (10/10/10) marked a historic moment. Sint Maarten gained self-government after decades as part of the Netherlands Antilles. The new status promised empowerment — a national parliament, a council of ministers, and control over domestic affairs from education and health to tourism and taxation.

But while the flag changed and a constitution was adopted, many residents argue that real power remains in Dutch hands.

Higher Supervision and the Strings of “Autonomy”

As part of the 2010 restructuring, the Netherlands granted Sint Maarten and Curaçao significant debt relief, but attached strict conditions through the Rijkswet financieel toezicht (Rft) — the Kingdom Act on Financial Supervision.

The Rft created the College financieel toezicht (Cft), a supervisory board that oversees both countries’ public finances. The Cft reviews budgets, borrowing, and expenditures, and can demand corrections or delays in government spending if it deems the fiscal framework unsound.

Although originally intended as a temporary measure, financial supervision has now been extended until at least 2027. The extension underscores the Kingdom’s continued belief that Sint Maarten has not yet demonstrated the fiscal discipline required for full self-management.

Critics, however, view the arrangement as a leash disguised as a lifeline.

“It’s not real freedom if every budget still needs Dutch approval,” one local commentator wrote recently on social media, echoing a sentiment widely shared among citizens.

Crisis, Aid, and Conditionality

Economic shocks have deepened this dependence.
The destruction wrought by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the collapse of tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic forced Sint Maarten to seek emergency financial support from the Netherlands.

Billions of guilders in aid and loans flowed to the island — but with strict conditions. The Netherlands required administrative reforms, spending oversight, and structural governance changes before releasing funds. Dutch representatives were installed to monitor progress, effectively making local autonomy conditional on compliance.

While these measures aimed to protect public money, they reinforced the perception that Sint Maarten’s self-government exists only “on paper.”

Political Instability and Governance Struggles

Adding to the challenge is chronic political instability. Since 2010, Sint Maarten has seen more than a dozen governments, numerous snap elections, and frequent cases of “ship-jumping,” where Members of Parliament switch allegiances mid-term.

This instability has slowed reforms, strained budgets, and often triggered warnings from the Cft. In 2025, the financial supervisor again questioned the viability of Sint Maarten’s draft budget, citing incomplete documentation and unsustainable spending patterns.

Observers note that weak governance gives the Kingdom justification to keep the supervision in place — a cycle that perpetuates the very dependence Sint Maarten wants to escape.

“Back to Slavery” Sentiment: A Symbol of Frustration

Across social media and local discussions, some Sint Maarteners have used strong language to describe their frustration, saying the island has been “taken back to the days of slavery.”

This comparison, though symbolic, reflects deep-seated post-colonial frustration. Residents argue that Dutch-imposed conditions and oversight mimic old colonial hierarchies, where decisions are made abroad and locals must “ask permission” to act.

“The chains may look different,” one community activist posted on Facebook, “but the control feels the same.”

Historians note that such expressions are part of a wider Caribbean narrative where economic dependency and conditional aid replace direct colonial rule — a system often referred to as “neo-colonialism.”

Dutch Justification: Oversight as Obligation

Dutch officials maintain that financial supervision is a legal duty, not a political power play.
Under Article 43(2) of the Kingdom Charter, the Netherlands has the right — and responsibility — to safeguard “good governance” within the Kingdom.

They argue that the supervision ensures stability, prevents corruption, and protects both local citizens and Dutch taxpayers.

“Autonomy requires responsibility,” Dutch authorities often say — emphasizing that oversight will end only when Sint Maarten demonstrates lasting fiscal stability.

The Path Forward: Balancing Freedom and Accountability

Experts agree that Sint Maarten’s challenge lies not only in resisting external control, but also in strengthening internal capacity.

To achieve true autonomy, analysts and reform advocates suggest:

• Building robust local institutions in budgeting, auditing, and procurement.
• Diversifying the economy beyond tourism to reduce vulnerability.
• Reforming parliamentary rules to ensure political stability and continuity.
• Engaging the Kingdom in redefining supervision into partnership-based cooperation rather than top-down control.

Until such steps are realized, the Kingdom’s oversight will likely remain — and with it, the debate over whether Sint Maarten’s autonomy is real or rhetorical.

A Promise Yet Unfulfilled

Fifteen years after 10/10/10, Sint Maarten’s journey toward self-governance remains unfinished.
The country has its own constitution, parliament, and ministers — but its financial destiny still passes through the approval channels of The Hague.

For many, this contradiction defines the island’s modern identity: autonomous in name, constrained in practice.

“Autonomy wasn’t supposed to mean supervision,” a young Sint Maartener said during a recent community forum. “We didn’t ask for freedom that comes with conditions — we asked for the right to make our own choices, and our own mistakes.”

Until that balance is found, Sint Maarten’s autonomy will remain a promise — powerful in symbolism, but still waiting to be fully lived.

Advisory examines proposal to restore automatic cost-of-living adjustments for retirees.

WILLEMSTAD;--- Today, the Social and Economic Council (SER) issued an advisory opinion on a proposal from the MAN-PIN lawmakers in Parliament that would automatically adjust public pensions and survivor benefits to inflation each year, restoring a safeguard that has been absent for more than a decade.

The draft law, submitted by legislators Giselle McWilliam and Susanne Camelia-Römer, would tie payments under the General Old-Age Insurance (AOV) and the General Widows’ and Orphans’ Insurance (AWW) to the consumer price index (CPI) as measured each August. Beginning January 1 of each year, benefits would rise in step with inflation; if prices were stable or declined, payments would remain unchanged.

The proposal would mark a return to Curaçao’s pre-2013 system, replacing a growth-based formula that proved impossible to implement because of missing economic data. It keeps both the retirement age and contribution rates unchanged but seeks to preserve retirees’ purchasing power amid higher living costs.

In its advisory, the Council said it evaluated the plan within a wider legal, policy, and socioeconomic framework, considering international standards and the reform objectives of the government’s Country Package — a program aimed at strengthening Curaçao’s public finances and social safety net.