~approximately 70 persons in attendance ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- C’z Exclusive Business Services, in collaboration with the National Employment Services Centre (NESC), proudly hosted its second Job Fair at the Government Administration Building. The event welcomed many job seekers who participated in on-the-spot interviews conducted by attending companies, and several candidates were hired later that same day.

The initiative aimed to explore innovative recruitment opportunities and strengthen connections between employers and talented job seekers across various sectors.

C’z Exclusive Business Services is a trusted job placement agency that connects qualified candidates with reputable organizations. Beyond recruitment, the company provides a variety of professional services including outsourcing, payroll, courier operations, accounting, and banking support, among others.

Founded in 2018, the National Employment Services Centre (NESC) is dedicated to supporting local employment through training, digital matchmaking, and strategic partnerships with the private sector. Its mission is to create sustainable job opportunities and enhance employability within the community.

Throughout the event, C’z Exclusive Business Services representatives and participating employers conducted first-round interviews. Candidates who were not immediately placed will have their résumés forwarded to potential clients for review and possible second-round interviews. Follow-up emails will be sent to inform applicants of their status, while all submissions will remain on file for future vacancies.

According to Ms. Hook, CEO of C’z Exclusive Business Services, this successful partnership between C’z Exclusive Business Services and NESC highlights their ongoing commitment to empowering job seekers, supporting local businesses, and strengthening St. Maarten’s workforce.

As C’z Exclusive and NESC look ahead, both organizations remain committed to building stronger partnerships, creating meaningful opportunities, and helping every candidate take the next step toward a brighter professional future.

 Kralendijk, Bonaire:--- The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) invites all primary schools across Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten to participate in the Big Live Nature Quiz, Kids Edition 2025!

The event will take place on Friday, November 7th, 2025, from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. (AST), via Zoom. The Big Live Nature Quiz is a free, fun, and interactive online quiz designed to bring students together from across the six islands to learn about and celebrate nature in an exciting competition. The event aims to educate and inspire young people about the unique biodiversity of the Dutch Caribbean while encouraging pride in their natural heritage.

Open to students in grades 5 and 6 (Dutch school system “groep 7 en 8”), the quiz features multiple-choice trivia questions based on the latest issue of BioNews Kids magazine, available in English, Dutch, and Papiamentu/o. Participating schools can obtain printed copies of BioNews Kids ahead of the event, available for pickup at their local park management organization. 

This year’s theme is “Becoming an Underwater Explorer.” Students will dive into the fascinating marine habitats of the Dutch Caribbean, from coral reefs and seagrass meadows to mangroves, bays, lagoons, sandy and rocky shores, intertidal zones, and even the deep ocean. The quiz teaches kids why these habitats are important, how they’re connected, and what they can do to help protect them. 

Registration is required to participate and can be done at www.BigLiveNatureQuiz.org. Schools can register as many teams as they want! 

Exciting Prize

The winning team will receive a sailing and snorkel trip for the students and their teacher, a day of adventure and celebration on their home waters. Each island winner will also receive fun local prizes!

The Big Live Nature Quiz is part of DCNA’s ongoing efforts to make nature education engaging and accessible for young audiences across the region. 

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Positive Foundation and the Elektralyets Foundation proudly close another powerful Breast Cancer Awareness Month under the theme “Love the Tatas, Check ’Em!”

Throughout October, the community came together in solidarity, support, and celebration of survivorship and early detection. From the Play for the Cure Softball Tournament and the vibrant Pink Parade to the serene Pink Sunset Sail and symbolic Princess Walk at PJIA Airport, every event reflected the island’s strength and unity in the fight against breast cancer.

A special thanksgiving service at the Colebay Methodist Church gave the community a moment to reflect, give thanks to survivors and honor those who have lost their battles. The service, filled with prayers, testimonies and uplifting songs, brought together participants, survivors, families, and supporters for a powerful moment of unity.

The Foundations proudly hosted various vital educational workshops in collaboration with the MBC Travelers from the United States. The workshop featured key presentations: “Know Your Lemons”, an informative and interactive breast health session early detection, an informational lecture by Dr. McKensie, Breast Medical Oncologist from Natera, highlighting the importance of early detection and testing and “Empower Yourself, Empower Others” by Yolanda-Jackson Martina, a breast cancer survivor, who shared her powerful journey of resilience and empowerment.

As part of the ongoing commitment to women’s health, a special Women’s Health Day was also held at the St. Maarten Medical Center, offering a range of free health services. Participants received clinical breast exams, mammogram vouchers for uninsured individuals, as well as blood pressure, blood sugar, and HIV screenings. The event successfully served over 150 participants, reinforcing the Foundations’ dedication to promoting early detection, awareness, and accessible healthcare for all.

In partnership with multiple medical clinics across the island, from Philipsburg to Dutch Quarter to Maho and Colebay, the Breast Cancer Screening Program 2025 made early detection more accessible than ever, offering free clinical breast examinations, mammograms vouchers for uninsured individuals who may need a mammogram.

The foundations facilitated presentations by survivors to corporate organizations, educational institutions, and faith-based groups to raise awareness and promote education. These presentations offered powerful firsthand perspectives that inspired our community to act early, increasing the availability of diverse treatment options.

Representatives of the Positive and Elektralyets Foundations, Shelly Alphonso and Mercedes van der Waals Wyatt, extend heartfelt gratitude to all volunteers, healthcare professionals, partners, sponsors, and participants who made this month a grand success.

Donations and funds raised throughout the month will continue to fuel the Foundation’s unwavering mission to educate and empower. These contributions directly support impactful initiatives such as billboards campaigns, dynamic social media outreach, public service announcements, free mammograms for uninsured individuals and distribution of educational materials. Through innovative and engaging efforts, the foundations aim to reach not only the local community but also inspire awareness and action far beyond our shores.

“Every event, every conversation, every small step makes an enormous impact,” added Shelly Alphonso. “Our community continues to show up with love, courage, and purpose. Every walk, every screening, every conversation helps save lives.”

“Our community’s spirit is our greatest strength,” said Mercedes Van der Waals Wyatt. “It is this sense of unity and determination that makes all the difference in raising awareness and saving lives.”

As the month concludes, the foundations remind everyone that breast health is a year-round commitment. Women — and men — are encouraged to perform monthly self-checks, schedule annual mammograms in consultation with their doctor, and continue to share the message that early detection saves lives.

The Positive Foundation and Elektralyets Foundation remain committed to empowering the community through education, support, and advocacy — ensuring that the message of hope and early detection continues far beyond October.

Together, we are stronger. Together, we save lives.

For more information, follow the Positive Foundation and Elektralyets Foundation on social media or contact
Shelly Alphonso – +1-721-580-9658 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mercedes van der Waals Wyatt – +1-721-523-7418 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Miami, Florida:---  Liberty Caribbean, operators of Flow Jamaica and Liberty Business is committed to playing its part to ensure that Jamaica recovers quickly from inevitable damage following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

As a trusted ally to the government and people of Jamaica, Flow Jamaica will utilize spectrum approved via the Spectrum Management Authority and the Ministry of Energy, Transport, and Telecommunications to collaborate with Starlink Direct to Cell to provide emergency connectivity for Liberty Caribbean customers in the likely eventuality that its terrestrial networks are severely affected.

‘We truly understand having the ability to communicate in the aftermath of the Hurricane is a matter of life and death. Our FLOW Essential service will provide basic connectivity immediately’ says Inge Smidts CEO Liberty Caribbean. This innovation will provide emergency mobile connectivity via satellite and facilitates SMS and text communications to areas affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

This partnership, the first of its kind in Jamaica, sees a traditional telecommunications operator collaborating with a satellite communications provider to deliver connectivity seamlessly direct to mobile customers to send text and essential messaging to their family and friends when local mobile network infrastructure is unavailable. “We believe our collaboration with Starlink and their Direct to Cell business reflects a deep commitment to the Caribbean and to protecting Jamaicans, the economy, and our shared future,’ Smidts added.

By implementing this redundancy into its island-wide mobile network, Liberty Caribbean together with Starlink will ensure that emergency services, businesses and families can remain connected.