PHILIPSBURG:---  The Permanent Committee of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs (CECYSA) of Parliament will meet on April 4, 2025.

The committee meeting, which was adjourned on February 13, 2025, will reconvene on Friday at 14.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:
1. State of Education Report 2020-2022 (IS/886/2023-2024 dated June 28, 2024)

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 TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet, www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament and www.pearlfmradio.sx

~Minister Gumbs Expresses Need for Sustainability in Education~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Melissa Gumbs expressed her satisfaction and gratitude to her Department of Education, her Cabinet, her Ministry colleagues, stakeholders, and the members of Parliament after the unanimous acceptance of the National Ordinance containing Rules on Higher Education & Research on Thursday, 3 April 2025.
“This law has been coming for some time,” Gumbs said in her closing remarks to Parliament. “In fact, it is a law that should have been established BEFORE the existence of even USM and AUC because to handle such things after the establishment of an institution, private or public, is putting the cart before the horse. However, by reflecting on the past, we can identify the way forward, and that is what the Ministry is now aiming to do.”
The law indeed had a long journey to Thursday’s historic passing, with extensive consultations taking place between the Ministry of ECYS and stakeholders such as the American University of the Caribbean and the University of St. Martin. Its handling began in the Central Committee in 2023 and went through several rounds of discussion with former Minister Samuel. Public handling of the law began in September 2024, restarting in March 2025 due to the changed composition of Parliament, and concluding today.
Minister Gumbs outlined the law’s provisions for funding higher education, standards for the quality of education, financial reporting expectations and rules, and the pending Accreditation Framework, which will ensure good governance, transparency, and adherence to international accreditation standards.
“The Accreditation Framework will provide safety for both institutions and students,” Gumbs states. “For institutions, it provides them the guidance to ensure that they maintain accreditation status, which secures funding and their overall reputation. For students, it mitigates any risk of their degrees and diplomas losing value, as well as ensures that they have academic and professional mobility regionally and internationally. Once this framework is finalized, its components will be shared with the public so that all are aware of what is expected moving forward.”
With regards to the funding of higher education, provisions were made for the fixed costs of institutions to be accounted for, and variable costs are taken into consideration as well, along with the number of students enrolled. A third component, contract funding, is also included, which allows for growth based on innovative activities, institutional goals, and national priorities. Contract Funding additionally enables Private/Public Partnerships to be enacted, a point that Minister Gumbs stressed in her remarks.
“It’s my intention to continue to ensure that institutions can become self-sustainable,” Gumbs said, “as it is my general experience during my time in the United States that those entities that do not incorporate alternative avenues of funding and development into their business model do not survive the harsh landscape of education, and I do not want to see any locally based institution, state-owned or otherwise, suffer such a fate.”
Following today’s Parliament meeting, the National Ordinance Higher Education will continue in the legislative trajectory towards ratification and implementation. Minister Gumbs informed Parliament that she would communicate when the Accreditation Framework is finalized and expressed her gratitude for their participation once again.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Kadaster St. Maarten has sponsored the 3x3 basketball team representing St. Maarten at the upcoming tournament in Guyana. This initiative underscores Kadaster's commitment to community development through sports, education, and cultural preservation.
Kadaster Surveyor Alexander Marlin, a sports enthusiast, played a pivotal role in championing this sponsorship. His passion for athletics and belief in empowering local talent were instrumental in bringing this partnership to fruition.
The One Guyana 3x3 Quest will take place from April 5 – 6 in Georgetown, Guyana, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, featuring a wood floor court. As the 3x3 basketball team prepares to compete in Guyana, Kadaster extends its best wishes for their success and eagerly anticipates their success at the games.
Kadaster's Community Support Programme allocates an annual budget to support and sponsor innovative initiatives that align with its core values of education, cultural preservation, and sports.
In addition to supporting the 3x3 basketball team, Kadaster is a Gold Sponsor of the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation's Science Week.
Kadaster encourages the youth and the broader community to actively support initiatives that promote education, culture, and sports. These endeavors are vital in nurturing talent and fostering community pride.
About Kadaster St. Maarten
Established in 1999, Kadaster St. Maarten serves as the official registrar of immovable property ownership in St. Maarten, ensuring legal certainty in property transactions and facilitating sustainable development. The organization is dedicated to collecting and providing accurate land surveying, spatial data, and mapping services, as well as legally recording ownership of property, vessels, aircraft, and telecommunication networks, to accurately determine property value. Kadaster's commitment to transparency, operational excellence, and technological innovation has established it as a cornerstone of St. Maarten's economic landscape.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) and Kooyman BV have announced a new public-private initiative aimed at enhancing the visual experience and cultural atmosphere of Carnival 2025 along the Pondfill Strip.

As part of its broader commitment to supporting St. Maarten Carnival, Kooyman has partnered with the Ministry to assist booth holders who are building their structures in line with newly implemented construction guidelines. As part of this initiative, the 27 booth holders received Beautification Packages from Kooyman consisting of paint, lighting, and sunlight coverings to help improve the aesthetic, ambiance, and comfort of their booths, in keeping with the Ministry’s vision for a more cohesive and vibrant Carnival strip.

Kooyman will introduce the “Kooyman Link-Up Cornuh”, a dedicated seating and relaxation area on the Pondfill Strip. The space will feature picnic table seating, shaded areas, and an art activation for the whole family to enjoy. This initiative is part of Kooyman’s continued effort to give back to the community and enhance the overall Carnival experience for visitors and families.

“This initiative is more than beautification—it’s about celebrating the people and culture that make St. Maarten Carnival so special,” said the Minister of TEATT. “By supporting our booth holders and uplifting the aesthetic of the Pondfill Strip, we’re creating an atmosphere worthy of our rich traditions. We thank Kooyman for believing in this vision and look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.”

Planning for the initiative began in the second quarter of 2024, with support from key stakeholders, including the Ministry of VROMI, KPSM, the Ministry of VSA, and the Fire Department. Booth holders received guidance throughout the process—from application to execution—to ensure compliance with updated safety and design standards.

Kooyman’s involvement in Carnival 2025 marks its first formal collaboration with the Ministry. Both parties have expressed interest in continuing the partnership in future editions of Carnival. Booths will also be judged this year, with the best-designed booth earning a complimentary spot for Carnival 2026.