SIMPSON BAY:---  Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), heaped praise on the staff and employees of the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM Airport) for what she called their “resilience, hard work, and unwavering dedication, especially through the toughest of times.”
Speaking at the official reopening of the airport on Thursday, November 14, 2024, Heyliger-Marten acknowledged that the completion of the reconstruction of the airport which was severely damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017, may have taken long, however, the wait “has been worth every second.”
For the minister, the “real beauty (of the airport) doesn’t come from its sleek design or modern finishes, but from the dedication and commitment of its people—the ones who breathe life into this structure each and every day.”
“Princess Juliana International Airport cannot thrive without you, its employees. You are the heart and soul of this airport, the true architects behind its success,” the Minister said.
Heyliger-Marten continued: “This airport is more than just flights and schedules. It represents the spirit of the St. Martin people—their resilience, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to excellence and unity.”
“We just celebrated St. Martin Day with pomp and pageantry a few days ago,” she noted. “There is perhaps no other government-owned entity that embodies that spirit of oneness like this airport. If you doubt me, check the workforce, not just today but throughout its history.
“The vast majority of its staff and employees are not only locals but are drawn from both sides of the island – from French Quarter to Dutch Quarter; from Galis Bay to Great Bay and from Marigot to Middle Region. They have worked together, toiled together, shared lunch together, gone through Hurricane Irma together, and experienced the COVID-19 pandemic together as one people. That is what living without borders looks like and feels like on St. Martin.
“This airport is a true reflection of that togetherness, that oneness that is the foundation of our existence on this island.”
According to the TEATT Minister, “The way the airport goes is the way the island goes. In other words, whatever happens to the airport, or at the airport, impacts the whole island.”
Turning to what she called the next level for the airport, Heyliger-Marten said: “For me, there is absolutely no doubt that we need to regain the hub function we once had in the subregion. That would mean establishing US Pre-Clearance at the airport as soon as possible.”
She continued: “The next level for me also means prioritizing the welfare of the staff, offering them training that would aid in their professional growth, and enhancing service to all users of the facility in a way that would solidify our reputation as the Friendly Island.”
In conclusion, Heyliger Marten said: “May I suggest that we also use this opportunity to re-affirm our belief in the enormous possibilities this occasion offers for us to re-set, re-group and re-dedicate ourselves to the future of this airport. A future that is bright and prosperous. A future that places our people at the center of all decisions we make. A future we can all be proud of.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- Following the heavy rains this past week, the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI) Patrice Gumbs wishes to thank all first responders, including the fire department, police, and especially the workers of VROMI-Yard for their steadfast efforts over the past week; and to the general population for their patience which, as the Ministry continues to clean and work towards improving our infrastructure, is much appreciated.

The island experienced the effects of a cold front, which normally doesn’t come this far south. This, mixed with an area of moisture, led to substantial rainfall. The Minister indicated that the impact of this rain was amplified by the general lack of drainage, something that he has been very vocal about since taking office.
“The current infrastructure has not grown at the same rate as development has; current drainage is not designed for the high density of buildings or the manner in which we build into the hills, often times relying on water to just run down the roads, whereas it would naturally soak into the ground," stated Gumbs. Similar sentiments have been expressed for years by the various environmental organizations on the island, as well as the Meteorological Office, as it relates to the infrastructure being able to keep up with changes in climate and weather patterns.

Over the course of the week, VROMI civil servants have been busy managing the water levels of the Great Salt Pond and the Fresh Water Pond. Clean-up efforts began in earnest around midnight on November 11th with the lowering of the levels of the pond. The VROMI team, including the Secretary General and the Minister, were on hand well up until 7 AM, before proceeding to the official Saint Martin Day events at 8 AM. The teams were busy assisting people trapped in their cars, compiling preliminary assessments, and removing debris from roads. In many areas including Ebenezer, Cay Hill, Cole Bay, Pelican/Simpsonbay, and Beacon Hill, the Ministry arranged septic trucks to pump water out, noting that this was more to mitigate the impact of the rains, and can no longer be the way in which flood prone areas are managed. A long-term solution is needed. Residents of these areas have been complaining for years about issues including erosion and drainage. In the Great Bay basin which experiences particularly bad flooding.
Contrary to circulating misinformation, the floodgates, allowing water to flow from the fresh pond into the Great Salt Pond, were in fact opened on November 11. The stormwater pumps, which pump water from the Great Salt Pond into Great Bay via a canal and which was out of service since Hurricane Irma, was epaired in July of this year and unfortunately broke down late Wednesday evening. They were quickly repaired and put back into service on Friday afternoon. During this period, the Great Bay Channel was opened to allow the outflow of water towards the sea. The Ministry will soon receive a subsidy for the purchase of a new storm pump and is in the process of upgrading the site with new sheet piles. It was discovered in August 2024 that the sheet piles are at the end of their lifespan, meaning that running the pumps for prolonged periods could mean the country runs the risk of losing the pumps, in the event of a platform collapse. This aging infrastructure means that the pumps, while working, aren’t able to efficiently pump water out, underscoring the need for structured maintenance of critical infrastructure.

Gumbs condemned statements made throughout the week on the lack of cleaning of drains and waterways as a cause of the severe flooding. “This is a played out, old school, and rather unfortunate attempt by some politicians and their mouthpieces alike to take advantage of a crisis, to the detriment of the population. The awarding of the trench contracts, a decision that I took in August of this year, allowed for a comprehensive cleaning of all waterways for the first time in over 3 years which further mitigated the impact that this past week’s flooding could’ve had. Within two months we’ve managed to tackle many of the larger drains and work is continuing."

Furthermore, Gumbs has been critical of the hard surfacing project, a good initiative to concrete all side roads, but one which lacked drainage plans and proper outlets, and only sends the problem (dirt, water and debris) further down the road. This can be seen especially in Cole Bay, where connections onto and off of Union Road have moved flooding from the main into people's yards and homes.

Minister Gumbs stated, "we often speak of resilience but have yet to institutionalize it. The potholes didn’t appear this week, nor did our drainage issues and concerns about how we build and the impact on natural waterways and potential increase for erosion and landslides, as we saw in many areas this week. While rains are ongoing, the Ministry and other first responders are unable to assist as they risk putting their lives in danger and potentially making a situation worse.

Gumbs asked the population to exercise caution especially in the use of roadways. “We are all very aware of the state of roads, noting that new potholes emerged with the passing of the rain and many others, already present, have increased in size. A large number of these are on roads earmarked for repair but the amount of rain over the past three weeks has slowed down the rate at which this work is undertaken."

The Ministry of VROMI will be making very drastic changes in what will be allowed going forward where it pertains to development. While this may mean that in cases of both private and public land people won’t be able to build as they wish, the limitation and potential increased costs of building are outweighed by the safety, quality, and peace of mind it will bring to the population as a whole. The impact of this rain on homes, infrastructure, and the economy is testament to the fact that tough choices have to be made.

"These won’t be popular decisions, but they will be the right ones”. Gumbs stated.

SABA:--- On the morning of October 15th, 2024, HRH Princess Beatrix landed on Saba, greeted by Island Governor Jonathan Johnson and a welcome song from a group of primary school children. The Princess’ visit focused on nature education and conservation, and youth recreation.
The first stop was at the Saba Research Center of Saba Conservation Foundation where various institutions conduct marine research. A tour of the laboratory was given by Arno Verhoeven of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), for which the Princess is a patroness of, and Director of SCF, Kai Wulf. A description of the work being carried out at the research center was given, focusing on the active restoration of the reef grazers needed to make the coral reef more resilient. The Princess also viewed the sea urchins and the Caribbean spiny lobster, caught locally in the famous and biodiverse Saba bank.
Following this, Princess Beatrix visited the recently renewed Queen Wilhelmina Park, named after her grandmother. Upon her entrance, a group of children performed a song and a walk through the park was hosted by Mascha van Werven, Director of Jantje Beton. The Princess is also patroness of Jantje Beton, with their aim being to create more access to safe yet challenging play areas for children to keep them engaged and healthy. Other representatives of PES also shared a brief narration of the remodeled, historic stone oven located at the front of the park and presented the future plans for the park. Princess Beatrix also held conversations with several young children, learning more about what outdoor play means for them while sharing her own experiences as a child. At the end of the tour, Princess Beatrix unveiled the nameplate of the Queen Wilhelmina park, marking its official reopening.
In the afternoon, Princess Beatrix listened to an engaging presentation given by SCF’s Junior Rangers while at the Botanical Gardens. The children informed the Princess on reforestation efforts, using seed-bombs, which encourages growth of new plants and trees. In tandem with the children, Princess Beatrix threw a seed bomb into the Botanical Garden, symbolizing the many efforts being taken towards nature conservation. Following the presentation, James ‘Crocodile’ Johnson received a lifetime achievement award, in the presence of the Princess, for his more than 30 years of service to Saba Conservation Foundation.
The Princess’ last visit of the day was to The Spot, the youth center in The Bottom. She was greeted by Suzanne Laszlo, the director of UNICEF Netherlands, as Saba has recently taken steps into officially signing on to be a Child Friendly City. Princess Beatrix also held insightful conversations with a group of young people, centering on their experiences related to growing up on Saba, the practice of positive parenting, and emphasizing the power of one’s imagination.
Princess Beatrix left Saba in the afternoon, with many residents present at the airport to see her off, as she continues her journey back to the Netherlands.

Today, H.R.H. Princess Beatrix, patron of Jantje Beton, visited the partially renovated play and meeting area in Queen Wilhelmina Park on Saba. She engaged in a conversation with children about outdoor play on Saba.

Lack of Attention to Outdoor Play
Jantje Beton has found that in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, there is insufficient attention to adequate play areas, quality playgrounds, and optimal play opportunities for children. This is also true on Saba, the smallest inhabited island, where playgrounds are scarce due to the island's structure, and childhood obesity rates are high. Research by the Public Health Department of Saba (2023) even shows that 1 in 3 primary school children suffer from being overweight or obesity (19% and 14%, respectively).

Together with the local government, the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport (VWS), and the National Postcode Lottery, Jantje Beton is renovating two playgrounds on Saba. Work has already begun in Queen Wilhelmina Park.

Queen Wilhelmina Park: Play and Meeting Space on Saba
Queen Wilhelmina Park is a centrally located park in The Bottom, the capital of Saba, serving as a green meeting space on the island. Jantje Beton, along with children and residents, created a new design for the park that considers various needs related to play, socializing, and nature. Construction has already started, and Mascha van Werven, Director-Executive of Jantje Beton, and Jonathan Johnson, governor of Saba, guided Princess Beatrix through the park. Together, they spoke with children about the importance of outdoor play and quality playgrounds on Saba. The Princess then unveiled the new name sign for Queen Wilhelmina Park.

Mascha van Werven, Director-Executive of Jantje Beton: "We are honored that H.R.H. Princess Beatrix has come to visit our work on Saba. Thanks in part to the support of the Ministry of VWS and the National Postcode Lottery we can renovate multiple playgrounds on the islands in collaboration with the local government, encouraging children in the Caribbean part of our Kingdom to play outside. Playing and being active are crucial and contribute to growing up happily and healthily. Jantje Beton believes that ‘Every child should be able to play outside, every day!’”

Jantine Homan, MT Member of Care and Youth Caribbean Netherlands VWS: "We have found a great partner in Jantje Beton for the development of playgrounds in the Caribbean part of our Kingdom. By actively involving children, the playgrounds are frequently used. Together, we developed a playground in Bonaire with positive results, and several others are underway. On Saba, we also want to provide more play opportunities for children.”
Island Governor Jonathan Johnson: “The value of outdoor play for our children cannot be overstated, as it offers multiple benefits for both physical and socio-emotional growth. Having HRH Princess Beatrix present to open the revamped park has been an honor, and we extend our gratitude to HRH Princess Beatrix, the Ministry of VWS, and Jantje Beton for their continuing dedication to the children of Saba. We also thank our Department of Public Health and Sport for their work on this project and the community for contributing their feedback.”