CAY HILL:--- St. Maarten Medical Center and the Public Health division of the Ministry of VSA recently signed a protocol to streamline the submission and assessment of applications for the establishment of medical professionals. The protocol provides a clear framework for medical establishment applications, including the outlining of requirements for Dutch-trained and non-Dutch-trained doctors for long-term, short-term, rotating, and substitution roles within healthcare in St. Maarten.
Speaking on the signing of the protocol, SMMC’s CEO Dr. Felix Holiday remarked “This protocol is expected to enhance the efficiency of the establishment process for medical professionals to ensure that the people of St. Maarten have consistent, continuous access to high-quality healthcare supplied by qualified professionals. We thank VSA and Public Health for their commitment to our community”.
Head of Public Health Drs. Fenna Arnell added, “The signing of this protocol highlights the importance of inter-organizational cooperation in providing quality healthcare on our island. We look forward to continuing to work together to ensure that the process of establishing medical professionals is streamlined and efficient”.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- Prevent accidental drowning by not being caught off guard. One of the biggest risks is when people become too relaxed or get distracted.

The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) Section Youth Health Care from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) is calling on parents, guardians and all others who take benefit of our beaches, and those making use of swimming pools, to remain vigilant for the summer holiday season as drowning is entirely preventable.

Globally, the highest drowning rates occur among children aged 1-4 years, followed by children aged 5-9 years.

Always ensure children are constantly supervised by a responsible adult when around water: whether near a beach, swimming pool or bathtub, adult supervision is necessary to ensure that children can enjoy water safely. It is critical for supervising adults to remain vigilant and avoid distractions so that they can respond quickly if a child needs help.

The six interventions are: train bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation; install barriers controlling access to water; provide safe places away from water for pre-school children, with capable childcare; and teach school-age children basic swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills.

Learning basic swimming and water safety skills greatly reduces the risk of drowning. This is particularly important for children aged six (6) years and above. Not only is swimming a skill for life, but it is also a great way to stay fit and active.

The Dutch Caribbean Police Force (KPCN) recently hosted a visit from INTERPOL. During this meeting, Head of Information and Expertise, Mr. Melvin Sint Jago, was accompanied by representatives from the Dutch Police (NP) / NCB The Hague and INTERPOL. This significant two-day gathering marks a crucial step in enhancing collaboration among the involved parties in combating transnational crime.

Several key issues were discussed during the meeting, and concrete agreements were reached to strengthen cooperation and action in critical areas:

1. Tracking Financial Flows and Illegally Acquired Assets
   Emphasis was placed on the importance of tracing and seizing financial flows and illicit profits generated by organized crime. This requires a coordinated effort to address the sources of illegal income, thereby weakening the foundations of criminal organizations.
2. Collaboration with the Royal Marechaussee (KMar), Public Prosecutors Officec(OM), and the Island Governor of Bonaire
   It was agreed to intensify interactions with KMar, OM, and the Island Governor. This is essential to effectively combat crimes such as drug trafficking, arms trafficking, and the trade in stolen or lost travel documents. Closer cooperation will lead to better information exchange and more effective operations against these forms of crime.
3. Use of INTERPOL Databases and Tools
   The importance of expanding the use of INTERPOL databases and tools was underscored, particularly the Notices system during border controls. This system helps in identifying and locating suspects, fugitives, and stolen or lost travel documents, thereby enhancing border security.

Enhancing Cooperation
The two-day meeting resulted in a renewed commitment to joint actions and initiatives. The exchange of knowledge, expertise, and best practices among the different agencies will significantly improve the effectiveness of detecting and preventing criminal activities. With strengthened cooperation and agreements made, KPCN will focus on implementing the discussed strategies and actions. This includes developing data exchange systems, enhancing operational capabilities, and intensifying joint training programs for personnel.

By leveraging advanced data analysis and information sharing, police services can more effectively anticipate criminal activities, enabling preventive measures to be taken and enhancing regional security. This approach ensures a more efficient use of resources and a targeted approach to combating crime. KPCN is fully committed to strengthening cooperation with INTERPOL, which is vital in the ongoing fight against increasing transnational crime.

Through collaboration with INTERPOL and other international partners, we continue to work towards a safer and more stable Dutch Caribbean.

~ SZV receives a clean audit report for the third consecutive year ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- For the third consecutive year, Social & Health Insurances SZV received a clean audit report for its financial statements. The clean audit report was issued by the government audit bureau, Stichting Overheids Accountants Bureau (SOAB). A clean audit report, also termed an 'Approved Control,' means that the auditors found that the financial reporting by SZV was accurate and transparent. Moreover, SZV finalized its 2023 audited Annual Report within the guidelines stipulated in its National Ordinance.

“Embracing one of SZV's core values, Collaboration, where the power of internal and external collaboration, dedication and determination, and an improved approach to our audit process contributed to our success in finalizing the 2023 Annual Report within the legal timeframe.” – Elton Felisie, SZV Chief Financial Officer

This milestone was achieved through continual efforts to improve the quality of the financial reporting and related processes. While there has been much progress with the quality and content of the financial reporting, the auditors gave an adverse opinion regarding the financial compliance aspects of healthcare funds, as this remains a point of attention and concern.
The concern for financial compliance is primarily due to coverage executed by SZV that falls outside the legal scope of the respective ordinances. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Medical referrals: Only expenses of treatments on Sint Maarten are to be covered by the ZV fund. Therefore, the expenses of medical referrals abroad are incompatible with the applicable laws and regulations.
- Insured elderly residents: Certain elderly residents are being provided health insurance via the ZV fund, although they are above the pension age stipulated in the ZV law and regulations.
- Legal reserves: The legal reserves of the ZV/OV funds are currently lower than 50% of the average expenses of the last five years of these funds. The reserves are currently in deficit.

“The ZV, OV, and FZOG funds continue to function under financial pressure due to the medical demands of the community for which health financing reform is being emphasized. The ability of SZV to improve its financial compliance has been hampered by longstanding pending legislative changes. Nevertheless, we continue to work closely with our government partners to address these points of concern and the need for improvement.” – Glen A. Carty, SZV Director

The condensed financial statements are available on SZV’s website, www.szv.sx. The 2023 condensed financial statements will be online within the coming weeks.