PHILIPSBURG:---  Orco Bank proudly participated in Banking on St. Maarten, a public financial literacy event hosted by the St. Maarten Bankers Association in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance. The community conversation formed part of Financial Literacy Month, creating a space for residents to engage directly with banking leaders and ask practical questions about money, banking services, savings, and financing.
Orco Bank joined fellow banks in reinforcing a shared commitment to open dialogue, transparency, and empowering the Sint Maarten community through better financial understanding.
“Financial literacy builds confidence and helps families make stronger decisions for their future,” said Merle Richardson, representing Orco Bank. “We were grateful to connect with residents, listen to their concerns, and answer questions openly. Orco Bank remains closer to the community and Closer to Your Goals.”
Orco Bank thanks the organizers and everyone who attended and reaffirms its ongoing commitment to supporting financial education initiatives that strengthen households and contribute to a more resilient Sint Maarten economy.
For more information about Orco Bank, please visit https://www.orcobank.com. Stay connected and follow us for daily updates on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OrcoBank and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/orco-bank.

PHILIPSBURG:--- With the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially coming to a close, Prime Minister, the Honorable Dr. Luc Mercelina, extends his sincere appreciation and gratitude for Sint Maarten and St. Martin being spared from destructive storms this year.

“This season has ended without national distress, and for that, we give thanks to God,” said Prime Minister Mercelina. “But equally important, I acknowledge the people across St. Maarten, who stayed alert, prepared responsibly, and looked out for one another. Our safety is something we experienced together as an island.”

The Prime Minister noted that for many residents, relief this season carries added meaning, as the effects of past hurricanes, particularly Irma, remain part of the island’s collective memory.

“When storms pass us by, we don’t just take a breath, we take stock,” he continued. “Because peace means families avoided displacement, businesses avoided shutdown, and our community routines stayed intact. For a small island, stability is protection too.”

Prime Minister Mercelina also conveyed appreciation to emergency responders and community disaster partners for their continuous readiness throughout the season.

“To our Police Force, Fire Department, ambulance department, Coast Guard, VROMI teams, the Red Cross, volunteers, and every resident who took action to secure their surroundings, thank you for helping to safeguard this country. Your vigilance strengthened national preparedness and eased public concern.”

The Prime Minister emphasized, "We close this season in gratitude, but we stay prepared.”

COLE BAY:--- Motorworld, the exclusive regional distributor for GAC in the Caribbean, announced the continued expansion of the brand with the official media launch of GAC in Jamaica. The introduction is being carried out through Fidelity Motors Limited, supported by the extensive automotive framework of Goddard Enterprises Limited (GEL) Auto. With St. Maarten serving as the central hub for GAC’s Caribbean operations, the Jamaica launch marks another major step in the brand’s rapidly advancing regional growth strategy.
Motorworld has now successfully launched GAC in 17 Caribbean territories, with Jamaica becoming the newest addition. By the end of Q1, the company expects to expand the brand into 21 territories, reinforcing GAC’s position as the fastest growing automotive brand in the Caribbean.
According to Tariq Amjad, Chairman of Motorworld, this expansion reflects the brand’s rising reputation across island markets. “The launch of GAC in Jamaica is an important milestone for the Caribbean. Jamaican consumers, like those in St. Maarten and our other territories, are increasingly demanding high-quality, technologically advanced vehicles at an attractive price with a strong warranty,” said Amjad. “We are confident that Jamaican customers will embrace these exceptionally engineered vehicles and the technology that has been so well received throughout the Caribbean.”
The Jamaica lineup includes five models already performing strongly across the region:
● Emkoo – a bold, futuristic SUV

● GS3 Emzoom – China’s Highest Quality Compact SUV

● GS8 – a premium full-size SUV

● Empow – a sporty and tech-forward performance sedan

● Aion V – a high-quality, fully electric, technologically advanced SUV

Several additional models are scheduled to follow, including the highly anticipated Aion UT, as well as an all-new tough and rugged pickup truck, further expanding GAC’s offering for Jamaicans seeking advanced mobility solutions.
A key factor behind GAC’s rapid rise is its robust after-sales infrastructure. GAC remains the only Chinese automaker with a dedicated regional parts warehouse in the Americas, located in Panama, enabling delivery of parts to Caribbean territories, including Jamaica, in as little as two weeks. This capability is essential to maintaining high service standards and supporting the brand’s fast-growing popularity across the region.
The Jamaica launch also showcased the GAC Smartwatch, an advanced Android-powered device that allows users to remotely start their vehicle, lock and unlock doors, control windows, locate their car, and access apps. This technology has already been well received in St. Maarten and throughout the Caribbean, demonstrating GAC’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge innovation at accessible price points.
Alan Bayne, CEO of GEL Auto, emphasized the organization’s confidence in the Jamaican market. “Our long-term commitment to the region, together with Motorworld’s leadership in distribution, training, and after-sales support, positions GAC for sustained success,” Bayne noted. “Our automotive network spans Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Grenada, and Jamaica’s inclusion in the GAC network reinforces our belief in its economic strength and in the growing demand for high-quality global automotive brands.”
With strong regional support, expanding model offerings, and rapidly growing brand momentum, GAC is set to make a meaningful and lasting impact in Jamaica’s automotive landscape.

French Quarter:--- The Les Fruits de Mer association invites the public to see the new snail exhibit at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. The free launch event for the panels will be held on Saturday, December 6th, from 9 am to noon. Guests can see the new snail panels and visit the Amuseum. There will also be free coloring pages featuring local snails. The panels were created with the support of Stibeman and Stichting ANEMOON.

“Snails are some of St. Martin’s most interesting animals,” said exhibit designer Mark Yokoyama. “We have snails that live in the trees, on the ground and in the soil. We have snails that are hunters, some that are scavengers, and others that are plant eaters. We even have rare snails that are only found in a few places on the planet!”

The Les Fruits de Mer association has been researching snails with the help of Tello Neckheim, a snail expert and frequent visitor to St. Martin. One of the new panels includes native snails, and the other features snails that were brought to St. Martin by people. The association plans to develop more snail panels, a coloring book and a field guide to local snails. There are about 50 species of land and freshwater snails on St. Martin.

Funding for the panels was provided by two foundations based in the Netherlands. Stibeman (Stichting tot Behartiging van de Belangen van de Malacologie in Nederland) is a foundation dedicated to the study of snails. Stichting ANEMOON is a foundation dedicated to the study of marine life.

The exhibit launch will be held on Saturday, December 6th, from 9 am to noon at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House on the hill above Coconut Grove. The free event is also a great chance to visit the museum. There will be a coloring station with a variety of snail coloring pages for attendees to enjoy.