PHILIPSBURG(DCOMM):--- Thursday, November 20th, is World Children’s Day. The 2025 theme is, “Listen to children, stand up for the rights of every child, every day.”

Around the world, children are standing up and talking about their lives, their hopes, and their rights.

World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improve children's welfare.

November 20th is an important date as it is the date in 1959 when the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Since 1990, World Children's Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the Declaration and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

World Children's Day offers each of us an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children's rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.

The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) says health is an area that every child has a right too, to survive and thrive.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says that my day my rights, “from the moment the sun rises, children wake up to a world shaped by choices they didn't make. But every child, everywhere, also wakes with rights. Including the right to be protected, to learn, and to have their voice heard.

“It’s time to listen to children. To understand what their lives are like and how their rights are present, missing, or pursued every day.”

UNICEF says children and young people are powerful agents of change, bringing new ideas and perspectives that can help shape a better world for all of us.

World Children’s Day is UNICEF’s Global Day of Action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Child rights are human rights. They are non-negotiable and universal. Upholding children’s rights is the compass to a better world – today, tomorrow and into the future.

By listening to children, we can fulfil their right to self-expression, understand their ideas for a better world and include their priorities in our actions today.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Finance, Marinka Gumbs, thanks the public for their enthusiastic participation in Financial Literacy Month. The sessions held so far have been well attended, highlighting the community’s strong interest in gaining financial knowledge.
The Ministry invites residents to register for the remaining sessions:
Nov 19 – Understanding Your Pension | APS
Nov 20 – Understanding Your Income Tax Assessment | Emauro Schoop
Nov 25 – Taxation on Real Estate Income | Stephan van Riemen
Nov 26 – Financially Strong St. Maarten | Rachel Lo-Fo-Wong
Nov 30 – Banking on St. Maarten | Bankers Association
These sessions give residents the chance to learn from experts, ask questions, and improve personal finance skills.
Residents can register online at www.finlitsxm.com.
The Minister emphasizes: knowledge is power, and the Ministry remains committed to empowering all residents of St. Maarten through financial literacy.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Mr. Richinel S.J. Brug, joins the global community in recognizing International Men’s Day 2025, underscoring the vital role men play in families, workplaces, and communities across Sint Maarten.
Minister Brug emphasized that this day is not only about appreciation but about acknowledging the unique pressures men face, particularly regarding mental health, emotional well-being, and societal expectations.
“Our men carry a tremendous amount on their shoulders. They are fathers, partners, leaders, protectors, providers, and community builders,” Minister Brug stated.
“Yet many of our men struggle in silence. Today, and every day, we must remind them that their mental health matters, their feelings matter, and seeking help is a sign of strength—not weakness.”
Throughout 2025, the Ministry of VSA has implemented programs and campaigns focused on supporting men’s health, such as:
• Expanding mental health awareness efforts targeted at men and boys
• Encouraging healthier lifestyles and preventive care
• Promoting responsible and engaged fatherhood
• Creating safer spaces for men to speak openly about stress, grief, and emotional challenges
• Strengthening community-based support networks for men and young fathers
These initiatives reflect the Ministry’s commitment to reducing stigma, improving access to support, and fostering a culture where men feel empowered to take care of their physical and emotional well-being.
Minister Brug also expressed deep appreciation for the men of Sint Maarten:
“To all the men in our communities: thank you. You are valued, you are appreciated, and you play an irreplaceable role in shaping a stronger, safer, and more compassionate Sint Maarten.”
The Ministry encourages the public to use International Men’s Day as an opportunity to check in on the men in their lives, celebrate their contributions, and continue building a society where every man feels supported and seen.

WILLEMSTAD:---  The Economic and Social Council (SER) of Curaçao today submitted its advisory opinion to Minister Charetti America-Francisca of Social Development, Labour and Welfare (SOAW) on the draft national decree, containing general measures, which formalizes a measure already implemented on August 1, 2023. The initiative strengthens the purchasing power of older people by raising the supplementary allowance for beneficiaries of the General Old-Age Insurance (AOV) and broadening the eligibility criteria.

As of 1 August 2023, the monthly supplementary allowance was raised from Cg 130 to Cg 169. Henceforth, all Curaçao-resident AOV-beneficiaries whose total income is equal to or less than the full-pension benchmark of Cg 862 per month (applicable to a fully built-up 50-year insurance record) qualify under the new scheme. The draft national decree, containing general measures, places this arrangement within Curaçao’s legislative framework, establishing a definitive legal basis.

The estimated additional annual financial burden is approximately Cg 6 million, to be covered from the existing SOAW budget line ‘Social Relief Benefit and Emergency Provisions’. While the measure offers immediate relief to thousands of older people who are reliant exclusively on AOV income, the SER underlines that this remains an interim step: automatic indexation of the AOV benefit, a transparent multi-year financing plan and recognition of the long-term pressures posed by demographic ageing and erosion of older citizen purchasing power are essential.