PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), under the leadership of Minister Richinel Brug, is pleased to extend a warm invitation to the general public to attend an informative and interactive Small Claims Information Session hosted by the Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA) Department.

📅 Date: Monday, June 30th, 2025

🕡 Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

📍 Location: Government Building, Conference Room 1 & 2

This session will be facilitated by Caroline van Hees, Attorney at Law at HBN Law & Tax, who brings a wealth of experience in civil and legal procedures.

The public is encouraged to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about resolving minor disputes involving monetary claims, such as unpaid debts, damages, or other small-scale conflicts. This session will provide clarity on your rights, explain how to initiate a claim, and outline the processes involved in handling small claims locally.

"Access to justice and information is a cornerstone of community empowerment," said Minister Brug. "We want our residents to feel equipped and confident when navigating the legal system, even for the smallest of matters."

Light refreshments will be served. Seating is limited, so we encourage attendees to arrive early.

For more information, please get in touch with the Department of CDFHA.

By Ana Virginia Moreira Gomes, Regional Director of the ILO for Latin America and the Caribbean

Every 16 June, on International Domestic Workers Day, we remember a fundamental truth: domestic work is care work. This is affirmed in the Resolution concerning decent work and the care economy adopted by the International Labour Conference in June 2024. Care is essential for the functioning of our societies, yet it has historically been invisible and unprotected. We all give and receive care throughout our lives. That is why it is essential for care, including domestic work, to be at the heart of public policies.

This year marks the 14^th anniversary of the adoption of ILO Convention No. 189, which recognizes the fundamental rights of domestic workers. This instrument was a turning point in the pursuit of decent work in this sector.

Latin America and the Caribbean have led in ratifying^[1] this Convention, with significant legislative advances in at least eight countries^[2] that have reformed or enacted specific laws to combat discrimination against domestic workers. In other cases, labour standards have been adapted, and strategic litigation, such as in Mexico and El Salvador, has helped extend rights coverage.

A significant gap still exists between legal frameworks and the lived realities of domestic workers. Today, paid domestic work continues to be marked by great inequalities. In our region, 91 per cent of domestic workers are women. Of these, 72 per cent are in informal employment, limiting their access to social security, legal protection and basic working conditions. Moreover, over 35 per cent are migrants facing dual vulnerabilities linked to their employment situation and their migration status.

Working conditions remain precarious. In many countries of the region, informality rates in domestic work exceed 75 per cent. Many workers earn below the legal minimum wage, and a significant portion only earn the minimum.

In addition, child domestic labour remains one of the most invisible and normalized forms of child labour in Latin America and the Caribbean. Thousands of girls are forced to leave school to undertake unpaid care responsibilities, often without safety nets or adequate institutional support.

Excessive work hours are also common. Many domestic workers work up to 60 hours per week, while others are underemployed, working fewer than 20 hours, hindering their access to contributory benefits. They also face multiple risks, including violence and harassment.

In 2024, employment in paid domestic work remained below pre-pandemic levels. Average working hours have also decreased in many cases due to the increase in part-time contracts. This reduction represents an additional obstacle to formalization and social protection.

This situation is even more concerning in the context of the care crisis in our region. With rapid population ageing projected to reach 18.9 per cent of people aged over 65 years or older by 2050, demand for care will surge. This burden continues to fall disproportionately on women, both at home and in the workplace.

The ILO has proposed a concrete roadmap: “Making domestic work decent work: Investing in care”. This strategy is based on five fundamental pillars: formalization; equal rights with other wage workers; valuing domestic work; strengthening social dialogue; and promoting occupational health and safety policies adapted to this sector. It is already being implemented in countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico, and we hope more countries will soon join this commitment to change.

Ensuring decent work for domestic workers is not only a matter of social justice, but it is a development strategy. Caring for caregivers is essential to building more inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies.

As the late Luiza Batista, President of the National Council of Domestic Workers of Brazil, said:

“My dream is reclaim labour rights, for domestic workers to be respected and valued … to have policies that guarantee dignity. Dreaming doesn’t cost anything, and I believe that one day this dream can become reality.”

^[1] Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

^[2] Venezuela (2012), Ecuador (2012 and 2015), Argentina (2013), Brazil (2013 and 2015), Chile (2014 and 2020), Paraguay (2015 and 2019), Mexico (2019) and Peru (2020).

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Library is pleased to invite the community to discover a meaningful new addition to its collection: a beautifully written trilingual children’s book titled “Kuenta di Palu Kumba, Het Verhaal van Boom Kumba, The Story of Tree Kumba” by author Angliet Baidjoe.

This special donation was hand-delivered to the library by Dr. Mike Mercuur from the sister island of Bonaire, on behalf of the author.

Angliet Baidjoe continues her literary mission of creating stories that reflect the languages, cultures, and lived experiences of Caribbean children. Her latest work is written in Papiamentu, Dutch, and English—three of the most widely spoken languages across the Dutch Caribbean.

Renowned for her multicultural and multilingual storytelling, Baidjoe’s books are valuable educational tools that celebrate identity, language, and cultural heritage. They help children build a strong sense of self, pride, and belonging.

The Afro–Surinamese word “Kumba” (or “Koemba”) means “navel,” symbolizing the deep connection between the tree and Mother Earth, and its central place within the environment. In her newest publication, Baidjoe brings this symbolism to life through the story of Tree Kumba.

“The Story of Tree Kumba” follows the journey of an ancient and beloved tree named Kumba. After being uprooted by a violent storm in the Amazon Rainforest of Brazil, Tree Kumba embarks on a life-altering journey. From displacement and hardship, the story evolves into one of love, resilience, personal growth, and renewal. Ultimately, Tree Kumba finds a new home and is embraced by a welcoming community.

Librarian M. Powell graciously accepted the donation on behalf of the Sint Maarten Library and the wider community, recognizing the book as a significant contribution to the library’s expanding collection—particularly in the areas of cultural preservation and linguistic diversity.

The Story of Tree Kumba will soon be available for borrowing at the Sint Maarten Library. We encourage the public to come and explore this inspiring new addition—an enriching story for both children and adults.

The Sint Maarten Library remains committed to promoting literacy, lifelong learning, and cultural appreciation for all.

GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, congratulates recipients of awards in Caribbean Excellence in Health and Action at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) 69^th Health Research Conference (CHRC) that recently took place in Barbados.

The 69^th CHRC was held under the theme, “Mental Health: The Hidden Pandemic,” and welcomed close to 400 delegates and featured 173 oral and poster presentations, and submissions from 16 countries. Participation was from all sectors beyond health, including tourism, finance, and disaster management.

At the Award Ceremony, CARPHA recognized two distinguished individuals for their decades-long contributions and have been considered health champions: Professor Jennifer Knight-Madden, for her impactful work on paediatric care and clinical research;

Professor Ian Hambleton, for his leadership in statistical epidemiology across the Caribbean.

This year’s research awardees included Dr. Melissa Francis, who was bestowed with the David Picou Young Researcher 2025, Tonya Campbell, who received the Donald Simeon 1st Place 2025 and Julia Manderville, who earned the Donald Simeon 2nd Place (Student Prize) 2025.

Victor Ihezue and Dr Shavon Alleyne were the first and second place winners, respectively, for the poster presentations.

The next CHRC will take place in Guyana in April 2026, under the theme “Innovations in Health”.

CARPHA also plans to publish a regional repository of research with policy relevance, with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) pledging support for a special issue in its Pan American Journal.