PHILIPSBURG:---  The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on November 4, 2025.

The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 10.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. Representatives of the Social Economic Council (SER) will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:

Presentation Annual Report 2024 – Social Economic Council (IS/206/2025-2026 dated October 21, 2025) 

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. 

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament 

by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert

With age comes wisdom, unfortunately sometimes age just comes alone. Talking about wisdom. Did you know that the Sargassum seaweed offers a rich, underutilized source of compounds. Its cosmeceutical potential is gaining traction, especially for marine-based anti-aging and regenerative skincare innovations. It contains several potent anti-aging compounds like terpenoids that support skin health reduces signs of aging. Fucoxanthin has skin-brightening properties and supports skin elasticity.

Whatte yuh know? And you thought it was only a brown stinking nuisance that spoils the fun at the beach and the coastal livelihood. Yet, another marine-based innovation. First, hydrogen fuel generated from seawater. Now this. Sargassum is rich in unique bioactive compounds with proven applications in cosmetics, medicine, and wellness.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Caribbean will face the challenging massive influxes of sargassum seaweed again next season. It threatens tourism. All may seem quiet now. Thus, it is a good time to do some thinking and being prepared to turn an upcoming smelly crisis into a transformative opportunity. Does “When life gives you a lemon, make lemonade,” ring a bell? How about turning Caribbean seaweed into global skincare gold.

Think about it this way; we’re not just cleaning beaches from seaweed, we’re building a legacy of prosperity, wellness, and scientific excellence. Combining marine science and sustainable health tourism to position the Caribbean as a leader in marine-based anti-aging innovation.

Just think about taglines like “From Sea to Skin: Nature’s Anti-Aging Secret” or “Caribbean Gold, Where Wellness Meets the Waves”.

Economic diversification comes to mind. The global anti-aging skincare market is projected to reach US$ 88 billion by 2030. Marine-based and sustainable beauty is one of the fastest-growing segments. The potential revenue streams are product sales (imagine a Caribbean Gold Skincare line), licensing of extraction IP (Intellectual Property), cosmeceutical partnerships, and wellness tourism experiences. It supports Caribbean development as it creates jobs, cleans beaches, builds scientific capacity, and can empower youth. It’s a model for climate resilience and economic diversification.

Marine-based innovation in the Caribbean is often hindered by fragmented governance, limited R&D infrastructure, and weak collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers. The solution lies in building regional innovation ecosystems, investing in marine science capacity, and adopting a “triple helix” model of cooperation fostering partnerships between universities, businesses, and government.

Let’s not forget brain drain of scientific talent to North America and Europe as a common barrier for development and innovation. There are hardly any youth programs in marine science or biotech in the region, let alone on individual islands. “Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late” - Benjamin Franklin. He should know. Franklin began inventing as a child and continued innovating throughout his life, creating many famous inventions between the ages of 11 and 78. So, let youth not age without gaining wisdom and perspective.

The Dominican Republic began exporting Sargassum to Finland in 2022, with an initial shipment of 100 truckloads. The algae are processed in Finland for use in cosmetics and the food industry. Regarding cosmetics, again amongst other for extracting anti-aging compounds. Barbados, St.Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago are actively collecting Sargassum, with exports primarily going to Europe and North America for, once again, amongst other cosmetic ingredients like anti-aging compounds and marine collagen. When something is repeated often it should become a lesson to be learned that the export potential is the emerging interest abroad for cosmetic and wellness applications.

What is all this diddle um diddle ay about ‘anti-aging’? Some people think: “We only have so many years to play hard to get. Time is running out!” Others believe that aging gracefully is just a polite way of saying you’re slowly falling apart with dignity. Either way, it creates a demand for solutions. In other words, there is a market for youth, beauty, and anti-wrinkling, powered in the Caribbean.     

Create products locally. Extracts can be used in serums, creams, masks, and emulsions.

Sargassum-derived compounds are generally biocompatible, non-toxic and well-tolerated. Flagship products could be branded with global appeal. ‘Ocean Renewal Serum’, a concentrated anti-aging elixir or ‘Marine Radiance Cream’, a daily moisturizer or purifying mask. The Caribbean harnesses the anti-aging power of Sargassum to create high-value skincare and regenerative health products. “Our formulations are rooted in Caribbean biodiversity and backed by green extraction science.” List as the blend of ingredients: Fucoidan, Fucoxanthin, Phlorotannin, Marine Terpenoids, and Alginate & Sterols.

The global wellness market is a US$ 5.6 trillion industry, with anti-aging and wellness tourism among its fastest-growing sectors. A new Eco-Tourism concept could integrate anti-aging: “Rejuvenate Naturally – The Caribbean’s First Anti-Aging Eco-Tourism Sanctuary”. Welcome to a new frontier in wellness travel, where longevity meets sustainability. Our Anti-Aging Eco-Tourism Sanctuary is a regenerative retreat nestled in the Caribbean, offering immersive experiences that harness the healing power of locally produced sargassum cosmetics and marine bio actives. This is not just a vacation; it’s a cellular reset. After tourists having visited the Caribbean and enjoyed the anti-aging wellness tourism concept, they should say “I’m not aging; I’m just becoming a classic vintage model.”

Let’s make the Caribbean the world’s destination for longevity and healing. A groundbreaking initiative can transform the region into a newly launched Sargassum Biocosmetics & Medicinal Innovation Hub where an environmental challenge is turned into a cosmetics formulation and regenerative resource. Where anti-aging power is a marine age-defense. Question is, who is going to break the ground?

Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean:--- In the afternoon of Wednesday, 5 November 2025, the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), in partnership with Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI) Foundation, will host the “Healthy Waters. Thriving Nature. Vibrant Communities” symposium on Curaçao. This event brings together scientists, decision-makers, community representatives, and conservation practitioners from across the Caribbean to spotlight the vital links between water quality, human health, and ecosystem resilience.
The symposium will also mark two significant milestones:
● The launch of DCNA’s Conservation and Restoration of Key Habitats Program, a multi-year initiative to strengthen habitat protection and restoration across the Dutch Caribbean.

● A celebration of 70 years of CARMABI’s contributions to research and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean.

Why this matters
Water is the lifeblood of coastal ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. In the Dutch Caribbean and beyond, changes in nutrient levels, chemical loads, microbial activity, wastewater inputs, and other stressors are increasingly affecting coral reefs, mangroves, fisheries, and human well-being. This symposium aims to raise awareness, share best practices, and influence the science-to-policy pipeline for water quality protection.
Key themes and presentations
Attendees will hear keynote presentations from leading experts such as:
● Mark Vermeij (University of Amsterdam - CARMABI) on the status of coral reefs in the Dutch Caribbean.
● Andreas Haas (NIOZ) on microbial and chemical perspectives of coastal water quality around Curaçao.

● Andy Estep (Waitt Institute) on moving from science to policy in water quality protection.

● Jos Hill (The Nature Conservancy) on wastewater solutions and climate resilience.

● Marko Tosic (IOC Caribe, UN Oceans Decade) on coastal pollution science and regional policy.

Additional talks will cover DCNA Key Habitats Program (Arno Verhoeven) and reflections on 70 years of CARMABI research (Manfred van Veghel).

Who should attend
This symposium is relevant for marine scientists, environmental managers, government policy makers, NGO staff, private sector actors with coastal interests, community groups, and anyone working in or caring about coastal water quality, ecosystem health and community resilience in the Caribbean and beyond.
Format & registration
The event will take place on 5 November 2025 in Curaçao, and will also be available online via Zoom. Online Registration is free and open to all.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Orco Bank proudly supported the St. Maarten Netball Association’s “Battle of the Saints 2025” tournament, held from October 22 to 26, 2025. The event brought together teams from across the Caribbean — including St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, and the UK — to compete in a celebration of athleticism, teamwork, and community.

As part of its ongoing commitment to community development and youth empowerment, Orco Bank proudly extended its support to the St. Maarten Netball Association, helping make the tournament a success and reinforcing the Bank’s dedication to local sports and positive community impact.

“At Orco Bank, we believe in uplifting our communities through meaningful initiatives that encourage growth, connection, and empowerment,” said Mrs. Judy King-Richardson, Country Manager for Orco Bank St. Maarten. “The ‘Battle of the Saints’ tournament perfectly reflects the spirit of teamwork and resilience we value at Orco Bank.”

The tournament was a tremendous success, showcasing the dedication and talent of athletes across the region and reinforcing Orco Bank’s commitment to supporting local sports and community initiatives.