PSA Athletics Association Presents the 2nd Annual U15 Paradise Showdown

atlethes30092025PHILIPSBURG:--- The Performance Sports Academy (PSA) Athletics Association is excited to announce the return of the U15 Paradise Showdown, taking place October 4th–8th at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium in Sint Maarten. This year’s tournament promises five action-packed days of competition. The first three days will feature four thrilling games each day, followed by two days of intense matchups, crossovers, semi-finals, and the grand finals. Over 90 individuals will be flying in or via ferry and will arrive in Sint Maarten starting October 3rd and the morning hours of October 4th. These numbers exclude families and other supporters who will also be traveling with the groups. We are excited for the countries to visit our shores and enjoy what Sint Maarten has to offer while they are on the island. Two hotels will accommodate these groups of individuals, along with any other accommodations that may have been booked for the families and supporters. A new highlight for 2025 is the All-Star Game, showcasing 24 of the tournament’s most outstanding players (excluding finalists). This special event will give rising stars more time on the court to display their skills and entertain the crowd. Beyond the competition, Paradise Showdown is designed to develop youth basketball at the grassroots level. Morning training sessions will be led by esteemed coaches from the USA, working closely with student-athletes and their coaches from each participating country. This year also introduces a girls-only training session featuring players from Curaçao, Saba, Saint Martin, and Sint Maarten, an important step in encouraging young female athletes to develop their talents in a supportive environment.

Additionally, the tournament will focus on the growth of referees, both local and international, ensuring that the officiating standards rise alongside the game itself. PSA in collaboration with NBB (The Netherlands Basketball Bond). “As passionate proponents of youth sports development, we are committed to offering young athletes opportunities to excel and compete at the highest level,” said Omar Beauperthuy, founder of PSA. Participating countries include Sint Maarten, St. Martin, Saba, Curaçao, Aruba, Anguilla, and Grenada. The Sint Maarten team has been preparing for the event, and the players are excited to play and show off their skills. Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, PSA aims to make this year’s tournament even bigger and better. We invite the people of Sint Maarten to come out, support the teams, and extend the island’s famous warmth and hospitality to our visiting athletes and fans. Entry cost is $2.00 for children under 18 and $3.00 for adults. The game schedules are available on our social media: Instagram (@performance_sports_academy_sxm) and Facebook (@Performance Sports Academy – PSA). Come out and support, and we hope to see you there.

Households and businesses requested to stay vigilant to prevent mosquito breeding.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) is calling on households and businesses to stay vigilant and continue to take measures after every rainfall event to eliminate mosquito breeding sites that would minimize mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue. 

Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a half-inch of water.  Source reduction is the key to decreasing the mosquito population. Due to the tropical nature of our climate, breeding habitats are in abundance, and many of them are unfortunately man-made.

Breeding sites include tin cans, old tires, empty paint cans, buckets, old saucers, flowerpots, cemetery urns/vases, old pet dishes, unused plastic swimming pools, boats on dry dock, used food containers, plastic drinking cups, plastic shopping bags, or other containers or plants that collect and hold water.

Source reduction starts by covering, removing, or turning over containers, artificial artifacts,and  unused boats, which can be potential breeding sites, and properly maintaining the yard and surrounding area by trimming overgrown vegetation. Every resident on the island should participate in source reduction efforts to have an impact on mosquitoes in the community.

A few tips and reminders: Dispose of any unused pots or bins by turning them upside down, so they don’t collect water; keep trash bins covered. If you can, try drilling drain holes into the bottom of unused containers; conduct a weekly assessment in and around your home and workplace; keep a fine-mesh screen over rain barrels, water tanks, and cistern outlets.; clean your rain spouts regularly so water can flow and not become stagnant; and properly remove old, unused tires.

Dengue can become a life-threatening illness, and it is crucial for everyone to be aware of the symptoms and take the necessary precautions to prevent further mosquito breeding and transmission.

People become infected with the dengue virus when an infected Aedes aegyptus or Aedes albopictus mosquito feeds on or bites them. Typically, between four and seven days (4-7) after a bite from an infected mosquito, people begin to show symptoms.

Persons with dengue may present with a fever, nausea/vomiting, rash, muscle/joint pain (myalgia/arthralgia), headache, retro-orbital pain (pain behind the eyes), and petechiae (red/purple spots on skin).  If you have a fever and two or more of these symptoms, you may be suspected of having dengue.  You should visit your house doctor and be tested for dengue.

In addition to eliminating mosquito breeding sites, use mosquito repellent to prevent the mosquitoes from feeding. Follow the instructions on the product label. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are attracted to dark spaces and clothing at dusk and dawn. It is recommended to wear light coloured clothing during those times.

To report any concerns with mosquito breeding or for any assistance, contact CPS’s vector control team by phone +1(721) 520-4161, 542-1222/1570, or 914.

Vector control can also be contacted by email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SOAB Annual Report 2024: Collaboration as the Foundation for Public Accountability.

soabcursxm29092025Willemstad/Philipsburg:--- In its 30th anniversary year, SOAB presents the 2024 annual report with the theme ‘Collaboration’. In an era of increasing societal complexity, collaboration is not just desirable but essential. SOAB emphasizes its role as a reliable partner in the public sector, with a clear mission: to contribute to transparency, good governance, and responsible use of public funds.

In 2024, SOAB delivered over 108,500 productive hours to clients, with the majority (79,500 hours) going to the governments of Curaçao and Sint-Maarten. An additional 21,000 hours were dedicated to assignments outside the annual Audit Plans. In total, approximately 260 assignments were completed, ranging from assurance and advisory services to IT support and HR services.

SOAB aims not only to support its clients but also to empower them. Empowerment and self-reliance are central to its services, made possible by a diverse team of highly qualified professionals working in a hybrid environment that prioritizes trust, output-driven work, and personal development.

The organization continues to grow, with increasing demand from the Dutch Caribbean Plus. Recruiting new talent and strengthening the flexible workforce are key to sustaining this growth.

Beyond its core tasks, SOAB actively invests in social responsibility through the CSR project ‘We know – We serve – We care’. In 2024, various initiatives were realized, including donations to local institutions, workshops for civil servants, and school presentations on topics such as cybersecurity, AI, and constitutional structure.

SOAB proudly reflects on three decades of expertise, independence, and engagement. Collaboration remains the key to lasting societal value.

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