PHILIPSBURG:--- The ongoing discussions between the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) and the Windward Islands Healthcare Union and Associates (WIHCUA) have been a key topic this week. From the outset, Minister Brug maintained open communication with both parties to stay informed on the developments at SMMC.

After receiving an initial update, Minister Brug determined that it would be best to allow both parties to engage in discussions independently before any intervention. Upon following up, he was informed that SMMC and WIHCUA had met, addressed concerns, and reached a consensus. Both parties also confirmed that they will continue working towards the agreed-upon outcomes.

While Minister Brug’s intervention was not required, both SMMC and WIHCUA expressed appreciation for his concern and willingness to assist. The Minister recognizes the expertise and competence of both the WIHCUA and SMMC management and trusts that all matters will continue to progress in an orderly and constructive manner.

For any further developments, the public will be updated accordingly.

BES ISLANDS:--- On March 25th, the delegation of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba continued their efforts to seek dialogue and inclusion in the process of amending the WOLBES and FINBES laws.
The common delegation was welcomed by the members of the Kingdom relations committee (Korel) of the First Chamber. During the meeting, it was emphasized, as in the other meetings, that the island’s delegation was present to address concerns about the decision-making process and to advocate for open dialogue, not conflict. The islands’ delegation reiterated that they were present as a collective unit. Given the State Secretary’s stance that there will be no dialogue with the island councils, it was crucial for the delegation to engage with the committee of the First Chamber on the importance of consultation.
A common delegation member opened with a statement referencing the WOLBES law and it’s memorandum of explanation. This law affirms that an evaluation of the law should be conducted collectively and with consent of all three islands.
The constitutional advisor, who accompanied the islands, provided insight on the supranational norm of the right of self-determination, anchored in treaties and human rights charters. Reference was also made to article 132a from the Constitution of the Netherlands, in which the formal legislator created the basis for the unique structure of the islands and positive differentiation.
The Senators of the First Chamber raised questions, including inquiries about objections to the proposed changes. A delegation representative clarified that the primary concern is not the content of the amendments but the lack of an inclusive process. The agreement list, which was established in collaboration with the former state secretary, is now subject to changes by the new State Secretary without consultation with those who created it.
The delegation clarified that the WOLBES and FINBES cannot be compared to any regular law, as these laws are the constitutional DNA of the islands. It is the democratic principle upheld by the Kingdom of the Netherlands that changes to the constitution of one of its countries, be it the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao or St. Maarten, require approval of the democratic elected bodies. The island councils therefore do not agree to the constitutional framework of the three islands being amended without including the voices of all the representatives of the people.
The delegation reaffirmed their commitment to constructive dialogue and urged decision-makers to uphold the principles of transparency and collaboration in shaping the future governance of the islands. The plea was and remains to include us, not inform us.
The meeting was conducted in a spirit of collaboration, mutual respect, and fairness. The islands’ delegation looks back on a fruitful dialogue and remains committed to continuing their efforts to have the voices of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba heard.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Dr. Thomas-Maccow, Director of Turning Point, addressed an urgent and growing issue in a roundtable discussion held by the Committee of Justice at the Parliament of St. Maarten on March 27 and 28, 2025. The focus of the discussion was suicide prevention and mental health, emphasizing the critical need for community-driven solutions.

Dr. Thomas-Maccow highlighted suicide as a global crisis, noting that over 700,000 people die by suicide each year, with alarming increases among young people. In Sint Maarten, suicide rates have also risen in recent years, exacerbated by social issues and mental health challenges. Dr. Thomas emphasized that the underlying causes of suicide often include depression, substance abuse, financial distress, and interpersonal struggles, urging immediate community intervention.

Dr. Thomas-Maccow proposed several strategies for addressing mental health concerns and preventing suicide, including:
• Teaching coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills in schools and workplaces
• Strengthening social-emotional education and resilience programs
• Promoting family support and parenting skills
• Creating programs to foster community wellness
• Encouraging open dialogues within families about mental health
She also stressed that preventing suicide requires collective effort, not just from professionals but from all members of society. Paying attention to warning signs, offering support, and creating a culture of care can be life-saving.

When discussing the intersection of mental health and substance misuse, Dr. Thomas noted that alcohol and drug use disorders are strongly linked to suicide risk. Substance abuse can lead to violent behavior, which increases the likelihood of suicidal actions. She emphasized the need for comprehensive treatment that addresses both mental health and substance misuse issues concurrently.

Dr. Thomas also emphasized a key point during the discussion: “While we can bring in experts to improve our mental health care, addressing our social issues must come first. Without tackling these underlying problems, we’re only addressing the symptoms, not the root causes. Returning individuals to the same environments after treatment often leads to relapse.” She further noted that this issue is not limited to mental health care but also extends to substance misuse treatment, where both must be addressed to break the cycle of recurring challenges.

In response to questions from Members of Parliament (MPs), Dr. Thomas elaborated on the impact of mental health issues on criminal behavior. She noted that individuals with untreated mental health disorders, especially when combined with substance abuse, are more likely to engage in criminal activity, including violent crimes. Early intervention, she argued, is key in preventing these individuals from committing crimes and instead guiding them toward treatment and recovery.

Dr. Thomas concluded by urging the government and community to address the root causes of mental health issues, particularly the social challenges that contribute to the crisis. Without addressing these fundamental issues, any efforts to improve mental health care and substance misuse treatment will only treat the symptoms, not the cause.

The panel discussions continue today, March 28, with MPs expressing strong support for initiatives to combat the growing mental health crisis in Sint Maarten.

Pond Island:---  TelEm Group technicians are actively working to restore the company’s mobile voice and data networks following a system crash early Thursday afternoon.
At approximately 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, 2025, an alarm was raised when a node located in the Smitcoms building, Harbour View, stopped operating. The issue was traced to a faulty card, causing service interruptions for business customers and mobile radio users.
To restore services as quickly as possible, TelEm Group engineers and technicians to an alternative network path.
As of 7:00 PM, LTE voice and data services have been restored, and technicians are diligently working to restore all remaining networks fully. Full service is expected to be restored by midnight, March 27, 2025.
TelEm Group sincerely apologizes to our business and residential customers for any inconvenience caused by today’s outage and service interruption.
We are actively working on both short-term and long-term solutions to address these issues and improve overall service reliability.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to enhance our network infrastructure.
For further updates, please stay tuned to our official communication channels.
TelEm Group Management