PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  With the kick-off of the new school year, the Collective Prevention Services (CPS) would like to share some information related to healthy eating and healthy lifestyles for school-aged children.

Healthy meals are essential for students to perform their best in school. A well-balanced breakfast and school snacks throughout the day provide the necessary nutrients—like complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats—that support brain function, energy levels, and concentration.

Studies consistently show that children who eat nutritious meals are better able to focus in class, retain information, and maintain consistent energy throughout the day.

Skipping meals or consuming high-sugar, low-nutrient foods can lead to fatigue, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating, all of which impact learning outcomes.

Back-to-school season is a perfect opportunity to reinforce healthy eating habits. By introducing a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into daily meals, parents and caregivers help children develop positive relationships with food that extend into adulthood. 

Packing lunches or guiding kids in making balanced choices empowers them to understand the value of nutrition and take ownership of their health.

Here are some tips for children and adolescents: provide healthy breakfast before each school day; don’t leave home without breakfast; serve healthy school snacks to children (whole-grain, vegetables, fruits); promote and encourage the intake of fruits and vegetables. Introduce the children to local fruits e.g., soursop, guava, passion fruit, mango, etc.

Restrict intake of energy-dense, micronutrient-poor foods (e.g., packaged snacks); restrict intake of sugar-sweetened soft drinks; ensure an opportunity for family meals; provide information and skills to make healthy food choices.

Beyond academics, healthy meals play a key role in emotional well-being and physical development. Proper nutrition helps regulate mood, supports the immune system, and promotes growth during critical developmental years.

In contrast, poor nutrition has been linked to increased absenteeism, behavioral issues, and chronic health conditions like obesity and diabetes.  Ensuring that every child has access to wholesome, balanced meals is a vital step toward creating a supportive, equitable, and healthy learning environment for all students.

CPS encourages parents and guardians to pack healthy snacks for their children, promote water as the drink of choice and encourage regular physical activity throughout the new school year.  

CPS calls on everyone to continue to work together to build a healthier and enriched community by making positive health choices, because healthy choices lead to healthy children and healthy smiles!

For more information, contact CPS at 542-1122, 542-1222 or 542-3003 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PHILIPSBURG: --- While the Council of Ministers, led by Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, and the 15 Members of Parliament engage in political posturing, the very fabric of public safety in St Maarten is fraying. The men and women of the Fire and Ambulance Departments, whose jobs are to save lives, have been forced into a "go-slow" action, not out of malice, but out of sheer desperation. Their cries for basic respect, fair compensation, and functional working conditions have been met with a deafening silence and bureaucratic indifference from a government that seems to value protocol over people.

On a  live stream on Sunday with WICSU/PSU President Sharon Cannegieter, the raw frustration of these essential workers was laid bare for all to see. They detailed a pattern of neglect, broken promises, and profound disrespect that has pushed them to this breaking point. This isn't a new fight; it's a continuation of a battle that spans multiple administrations, but the current leadership is now being held accountable for its inaction.

Ambulance worker Jean Illidge spoke of the constant risk and emotional toll of the job, a reality that seems lost on officials ensconced in their air-conditioned offices. He described a harrowing experience where his life was directly threatened on a call. "A guy across the road start shooting after the lady that was standing right next to me," Illidge recalled, highlighting the daily dangers they face. "And this is just an example that if something happened to me, what would happen?"

This question hangs heavily in the air, especially when considering the government's failure to address critical issues like insurance and mental health support. Workers are expected to confront trauma, violence, and death, then simply move on to the next call without any institutional support. "Not only play with you physically but also mentally as well," Illidge added, a stark reminder of the human cost of this governmental failure.

Fire Department representative Shanela Jeffrey, who has been on the job for nearly six years, painted a bleak picture of stagnation and disregard. Despite performing the same dangerous tasks as her senior colleagues—from fighting fires to recovering deceased individuals— her career has gone nowhere. She still holds the entry-level rank of "aspirant" and receives a salary equivalent to that of a cleaner.

"I make 2,000 guilders," Jeffrey stated bluntly. "So I have to live life, try to create a future, put food on the table, all the above with 2,000 guilders." Her situation is not unique; it is a systemic issue affecting an entire generation of incoming essential workers who see no future, no path for advancement, and no reason to believe their service is valued. As Jeffrey put it, "I need to see a future. I don't see any future."

The government's neglect extends beyond personnel to the very tools these workers need to protect the community. Firefighter Eric Chase revealed a shocking state of disrepair. "We have a ladder truck that is down waiting [for] tools… that is our access to those high-rising buildings," he explained. With no other vehicle capable of reaching these heights, the government is gambling with public safety. "We have two fire trucks that are down that could assist with the rotation… waiting on payment from government."

This is not just mismanagement; it is a dereliction of duty. How can Prime Minister Mercelina, Minister of VSA Richinel Brug, and the entire Parliament justify prioritizing anything else when the equipment needed to save lives sits idle, awaiting payment? The workers are not asking for luxuries; they are pleading for the basics required to do their jobs.

The current go-slow action, which suspends non-emergency services, is a direct consequence of this systemic failure. It affects everything from fire safety inspections and building permits to non-critical ambulance transport. The workers are painfully aware of the impact on the public. "We know that their protest actions are affecting the community," Cannegieter acknowledged, "but they are also fighting for their rights and the rights of their colleagues that already left on pension without being recognized and compensated."

The government's response has been a predictable mix of deflection and inaction. Promises are made, meetings are postponed, and agreements are broken. The workers are told to follow "processes and procedures" while their lives and the lives of the public hang in the balance. This fiasco is an indictment of leadership that has lost its connection to the people it serves. The time for excuses is over. It is time for the Council of Ministers and Parliament to stop treating these essential workers as disposable and give them the respect, resources, and recognition they have earned. Sint Maarten's safety depends on it.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The National Alliance Party proudly extends congratulations to Mr. Emile Levons on his appointment as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V.

Born and raised in St. Maarten, Mr. Levons has dedicated more than two decades of service to the airport, rising through the ranks with professionalism, perseverance, and proven leadership. His journey from Operations Coordinator to COO stands as a shining example of the talent and capability that exists right here within our community.

Too often, much is said when such positions are not filled by locals. Today, we want to ensure equal attention is given when one of our own achieves this level of recognition. Mr. Levons’ appointment is a source of pride for St. Maarten, and we trust that his leadership will contribute greatly to the continued growth and resilience of Princess Juliana International Airport.

On behalf of the National Alliance, we commend Mr. Levons on this well-deserved achievement and wish him every success in his new role.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The One St. Martin Association (One SXM) has been invited by the Caribbean Reparations Committee (CRC) to participate in the Caribbean Festival of Arts, CARIFESTA XV, in Barbados, from August 22 to 31, 2025.

The CRC will participate in panel discussions on issues such as Reparations and decolonization. The revised CARICOM 10-Point Plan on Reparations is also slated to be presented during the festival.

According to One SXM, the association’s president, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, will deliver St. Martin perspectives on Reparations and decolonization during the panel titled “Freedom Isn’t Finished—Reflections on the Caribbean’s Unfinished Historical Mission: The Total Decolonization and Unification of the Region.”

Arrindell’s co-panelists include representatives from the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago. The discussion is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27, at the Marcus Garvey Amphitheatre in St. Michael. Arrindell is a leading St. Martin Reparations activist and author of the book Language, Culture and Identity in St. Martin.

“Freedom Isn’t Finished” is one of several panels of the “Big Conversations” program, which, along with the Symposia of CARIFESTA XV, is coordinated by Dr. Marielle Barrow-Maignan.

“At Big Conversations… we are bringing the issues that matter into the spotlight and shaping the ideas that will drive Caribbean culture and the arts industries forward,” CARIFESTA stated Thursday on its Facebook page.

As for the CARIFESTA XV Symposia, the festival’s conference agenda is enhanced by sessions that bring together thought leaders, artists, scholars, and cultural practitioners to explore key issues related to the festival’s theme, along with broader, interconnected topics.

Arrindell, a Howard University lecturer, said she is also “excited to attend performances in dance, music, and other art forms, and is looking forward to discussions on Caribbean spirituality, climate justice, decolonization, and Reparations—as well as seeing St. Martin artists perform.”

The aim of CARIFESTA is “To foster a vision of Caribbean unity and possibility by facilitating the documenting and disseminating of artworks as highlights of the ongoing historical and cultural development of our people,” according to CARICOM.

As the region’s premier arts festival, CARIFESTA is held periodically in different Caribbean locations. The 2025 edition began last Friday with a Parade of Nations, an address by host country Prime Minister Mia Mottley, and a high-energy concert featuring musical stars. With the theme “Caribbean Roots … Global Excellence,” this year’s festival focuses on the global influence of Caribbean culture.