PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Ministry (VROMI), in partnership with the World Bank and the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB), officially launched a two-day sanitation workshop focused on enhancing the Sint Maarten Wastewater Management Project (SWMP), a transformative initiative to initiate the modernization of the island’s wastewater infrastructure towards safeguarding its marine environment and the overall health and quality of life of the people.

The Minister of VROMI, Honorable Patrice Gumbs, opened the session with a strong call to action: “We meet at the interface of sanitation and the sea. “When wastewater is safely managed, both public health and our blue economy flourish; when it is not, both are threatened.

The workshop brings together a range of stakeholders, including local NGOs, community leaders, technical experts, and representatives from key ministries, the World Bank and the NRPB, united by a shared mission to deliver sustainable sanitation solutions and build climate-resilient infrastructure.

The SWMP will contribute directly to Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and represents a concrete step toward implementing global commitments at the local level. Last September, the project secured US $25 million in financing, combining a $10 million grant from the Sint Maarten Recovery and Resilience Trust Fund and $15 million from the Government of Sint Maarten.

Progress is already underway:

• A water quality baseline assessment is underway.
• The design-and-supervision consortium for the wastewater treatment plant and sewerage network expansion is contracted. This group will also carry out the technical, social and environmental assessments needed to ensure a robust and sustainable solution can be tailored for the central part of St. Maarten.

Still, the Minister acknowledged the challenges ahead, including supply chain volatility, high bid costs, and the complexities of connecting individual households to the upgraded sewer network.

“Let’s be practical,” the Minister urged. “Flattening protocols and limiting bureaucracy is key. Our ability to be agile and efficient will determine how far we go.”

The workshop is guided by four core principles:

• ⁠Inclusivity – every household matters.
• Climate resilience – infrastructure must withstand future shocks.
• Evidence-based action – guided by science and field data.
• ⁠Collaboration – breaking down silos across sectors.

In closing, the Minister shared a hopeful vision for the island’s future:

“Picture a child diving off the jetty at Great Bay in 2030, clear goggles, clearer water. That future is the dividend of the choices we make in this very room.”

VROMI reaffirms its full commitment to leading this effort, supported by a dedicated team of wastewater experts.

The President of the Bonaire Human Rights Organization and member of Muhernan Fuerte Bonaire, Davika Bissessar Shaw, accompanied by the leader of Pueblo Progresivo Unido, Mr. James Finies, participates in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW) meeting on May 15, 2025. Her attendance marks a critical moment in amplifying the voices of women and girls from Bonaire on the global stage.

This initiative by the Bonaire Human Rights Organization represents a significant step toward advancing the goals of the UN CSW, guided by the 2024 Pact for the Future where Mrs Bissessar Shaw attended last year and the Beijing Declaration’s legacy, particularly in promoting gender equality and the empowerment and rights of women and girls across all sectors of Bonairean society. BHRO wants to bring global attention to the specific challenges and human rights violations that women and children are facing in Bonaire.

President Bissessar Shaw will join leaders from UN Women and civil society organizations to advocate for the rights of women, children, and indigenous peoples. Bissessar Shaw's participation underscores the urgent need for communities from small islands to be represented in global discussions on gender equality, human rights, and sustainable development. Bringing Bonaire’s perspective to the forefront will help shape more inclusive and equitable policies that reflect the lived realities of vulnerable and marginalized populations.

The Bonaire Human Rights Organization remains steadfast in its mission to defend the rights and dignity of all people of Bonaire, with a special focus on those most at risk of exclusion from international discourse.

Her presence at this high-level meeting serves not only as a voice for Bonairean women and girls but also as a powerful reminder that no community—no matter how small—should be left behind. The Bonaire Human Rights Organization calls on the international community to listen, engage, and take meaningful action to uphold the rights of Bonairian women. This moment is not just about participation—it is about transformation.

President of Bonaire Human Rights Organization     

     Davika Bissessar Shaw, Kaya Libertador Simon Bolivar

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) which falls under the Fire Department (Ministry of General Affairs) headed by Fire Chief/Disaster Coordinator Clive Richardson, appeals to all residents and businesses to plan ahead and let’s ‘Be Prepared’ for a forecasted above-normal active 2025 Atlantic hurricane season which begins on Sunday, June 1 and runs through November 30.

The Colorado State University (CSU) Department of Atmospheric Science released its first seasonal hurricane forecast for the 2025 Atlantic season early April, and they anticipate that the 2025 Atlantic basin season will have above-normal activity.

CSU forecast 17-named storms, of which nine (9) are forecasted to become a hurricane, and four (4) of these would be upgraded to major hurricanes of more than 111 miles per hour in wind speed.

ODM calls on residents to review the content of their Disaster Kit and to start restocking it with the essentials that are necessary to ride out the hurricane season. 

Every household’s Disaster Kit should be able to support members of the household for a minimum of seven days after the hurricane has passed. 

The Disaster Kit should contain non-perishable food, water and medicine (fill prescriptions before the storm); non-electric can opener; first-aid kit; extra cash (ATM machines and credit cards won’t work if there is no electricity); a battery powered radio and flashlights as well as extra batteries; make sure cell phones are all charged prior to the arrival of the hurricane; fill up your car/truck with gas; check if your home and automobile insurance are up to date; put ID cards, passports and driver’s license, insurance papers in a waterproof bag along with other important documents.

If you are a parent with an infant or young child (ren), you also need to have essential items as part of your disaster supply kit: baby formula; diapers; bottles; powdered milk; medications; moist towels; and diaper rash ointment. 

Your Disaster Kit must also include hand sanitizer, a soap bar or liquid soap; two cloth face coverings for each person; disinfecting wipes, or general household cleaning supplies to disinfect surfaces.

Now is the time to trim back tree branches from your home; cut all dead or weak branches on any trees on your property; clean-up your yard and put away items that could blow away during the passing of a hurricane; check your roof and storm shutters to make sure they are secure, and the latter are in good working condition. 

For those whose homes are not yet storm/hurricane ready, you should make alternative housing arrangements to stay with family or friends. 

The community is urged to learn more about hurricane hazards and how to prepare for a storm/hurricane strike by visiting the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your “Hurricane Season Readiness Guide’ and “Hurricane Tracking Chart.”

Listen to the Government Radio station – SXMGOV 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane. You can also follow weather related news and information as well as national addresses by the Prime Minister, chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) by going to @SXMGOV Facebook Page.

For official weather-related information, check out the website of the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/

Remember, it only takes one hurricane to make it a bad season.  Be prepared and ready to take action in the event of a hurricane threat to the country!

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA), Richinel Brug, hereby informs the public of several open tender opportunities across various departments. Interested and qualified individuals or organizations are invited to apply before the respective deadlines.

The following tenders are currently open:

1. Medical Advisor

• Department: Ambulance
• Deadline: Monday, May 19, 2025

2. Legislative Draftsman – IVSA

• Department: Inspectorate of Public Health, Social Services and Labor
• Deadline: Friday, May 23, 2025

3. Organizational Development Specialist

• Department: Office of the Minister of VSA
• Deadline: Friday, May 23, 2025

4. Interim Head of IVSA

• Department: Office of the Minister of VSA
• Deadline: Friday, May 23, 2025

5. Project Leader/Expert – IVSA

• Department: Inspectorate of Public Health, Social Services and Labor
• Deadline: Friday, May 23, 2025

6. IT Systems Specialist

• Department: Office of the Minister of VSA
• Deadline: Friday, May 23, 2025

7. Legislative Draftsman

• Department: Office of the Minister of VSA
• Deadline: Friday, May 23, 2025

8. Project Manager/Expert

• Department: Office of the Minister of VSA
• Deadline: Friday, May 23, 2025

For full details on these tenders, including scope of work and eligibility criteria, please visit the official Government of St. Maarten website at www.sintmaartengov.org. Scroll down to the Public Tenders section and click "Read More." Once there, navigate to the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labor tab. You will find a list of the tenders mentioned above. Click “Download PDF” next to each listing for full information.

The Ministry encourages all interested parties to submit their applications within the specified deadlines.