Business Hoops 2026: Bigger, Bolder, and Back on the Court!
Bringing the Business Community Together for Competition and Camaraderie

PHILIPSBURG:--- After a slam-dunk debut last year, Business Hoops is back and bigger than ever! The first meeting for the highly anticipated Business Hoops 2026 was held on Monday, September 1st, 2025 at the LB Scott Sports Auditorium, setting the tone for an even bigger and bolder tournament ahead. Business Hoops 2026 will run from January 29 to February 7, 2026.

What began in 2025 as a dynamic 8-day, 12-team tournament has now expanded into a 10-day showdown featuring 16 powerhouse teams. This year’s lineup includes returning favorites from across the business community along with exciting new challengers.

Last year’s inaugural finals electrified the community, with Port St. Maarten claiming victory in a thrilling matchup against SXM Airport. This year promises to raise the bar even higher, with teams gearing up for what’s set to be the boldest Business Hoops yet.

“This is more than just basketball, it’s about building bridges between industries, strengthening camaraderie, and showcasing the spirit of competition and collaboration that drives our community forward,” said Cleon Frederick, representative of Business Hoops. “After last year’s success, we knew we had to go bigger and bolder for 2026.”

Business Hoops 2026 will once again deliver its signature blend of athleticism, networking, and community engagement fostering connections both on and off the court. From high-energy matchups to professional bonding opportunities, the tournament embodies teamwork, corporate pride, and a shared passion for community growth.

Stay tuned for the official game schedule, team features, and behind-the-scenes coverage as the countdown to tip-off begins.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The recently generated 2023 economic indicator table report for the first half of 2023 paints an encouraging picture of St. Maarten's economic landscape, showcasing growth and resilience across key indicators.  

Real GDP Estimate  

St. Maarten's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) forecasts a growth rate of 4.6% in 2021. With an estimated value of 2.27 billion Guilders, this trajectory signifies a positive economic landscape. Over the past few years, St. Maarten’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has experienced fluctuations as demonstrated in the GDP Table. This table provides valuable insights into the dynamics that influence our Country's GDP estimates. Among these factors are natural disasters, the pandemic, and the subsequent rebuilding efforts. These factors have all played a role in shaping our economic landscape.  

Inflation  

The calculation of the half-year inflation rate 2023, which stands at 1.61%, draws upon the inflation rates recorded during the first two quarters of this year. The inflation rate sheds light on changes in the general price levels of goods and services within the country. The graphs below show St. Maarten’s Inflation versus the USA Inflation rate which displays a very similar trend. As expected, the inflation rate is closely linked to the Inflation rate of the US Economy since many of our products come from the US, especially food items. Compared to the previous 12 months there has been an increase in costs within the household expenditure items such as, Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+4.88%). There was however a double-digit decrease in transport (-11.08%) this was primarily attributed to decreases in fuel prices compared to the same time last year. 

Unemployment Trends 

The unemployment rate is a critical economic indicator that measures the percentage of people in the labor force who are currently unemployed and actively seeking employment. In 2021 the unemployment rate was 10.8%, In 2022 the employment rate decreased to 9.7%. We anticipate that the recently conducted Census will show an additional reduction in the unemployment rate.  
These results provide valuable insights into the health of the job market and the  
overall economic conditions in a country. The table below provides insight into the challenges faced and the subsequent recovery in the labor market. 

Stay-Over Arrivals and Cruise Vessels

Given that St. Maarten’s economy is mainly dependent upon Tourism, monitoring the tourism developments of both Stay-over visitors & cruise passengers are essential. St. Maarten's tourism sector is painting a promising picture, with notable growth in both stay-over arrivals and cruise passenger arrivals. The island has witnessed a commendable 9% increase in stay-over arrivals in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year. While not yet reaching the desired 2016 levels, St. Maarten remains resolute in its pursuit of progress. Leading the charge, the North American market, encompassing the United States and Canada, continues to be a driving force, contributing the highest number of visitors (76%). The South American market, though constituting a rather small portion, has exhibited a significant rise in passenger numbers compared to the preceding year.

 Cruise Industry  

The latest half-year report from the cruise industry presents impressive growth, The 2022 half-year passenger count was 419,975 while this year's half-year count has nearly doubled with 800,280 passengers. This surge showcases a bounce back from the adversities of Hurricane Irma and the far-reaching impact of the global pandemic. While celebrating this achievement, it is important to acknowledge that we currently stand 18.56% below the desired goal set in 2016 and the pre-pandemic era. This recognition fuels our determination to not only rebound but to also surpass past achievements. Naturally, it is understood that it will take some time to fully recover to the previous levels which will likely not be attainable within a short timeframe however, we are certainly on the right track to achieving such. We do anticipate reaching pre-Irma levels of Approx. 1.9 million passengers (full year) by 2025.

Quarter 1 Turnover Taxes (TOT) Increase for 2023  

As one of the most important economic indicators, esp. for consistency, the Turn-Over-Tax (TOT) has also seen positive developments. Quarter 1 of the country’s 2023 TOT has increased when compared to the same period in 2022.  The 2023 TOT generated Naf 42,657,933, which is a significant increase from the corresponding period in 2022 which recorded a TOT of Naf 32,386,438. This increase of over Naf 10 million, is more than anticipated even when taking the inflation rate into account. The increase in TOT is a combination of the increase in population consumption, inflation, improved compliance, and better collection.    

TOT serves as a key indicator of the improvement of the finances of the government and also the performance in the country’s business sector. The increase in Stayover arrivals, occupancy rate, and cruise vessels align with the increase reflected in the TOT figures.  

Occupancy Rate increase  

The combined (Rooms and timeshare) occupancy rate in St. Maarten has significantly increased from 35% in 2020 to 64.2%, respectively, in 2022. This underscores the country’s resilience in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Before Hurricane Irma and the global pandemic, the occupancy rate in 2016 was 69.1% with a total room count of 3,963. In 2022 the occupancy rate decreased to 61.2% with a total room count of 3,315. We have seen a post-pandemic trend of increasing VRBO and Airbnb’s. With this upward projection (or trend) and the construction of hotels, villas, and guesthouses we anticipate surpassing our 2016 figures in the upcoming quarters. Consequently, we can expect the number of rooms available, and our capacity will be able to accommodate the expected increase in visitors.   

Conclusion & Findings 

The St. Maarten Economic Indicators 2023 table Report reflects not only the country’s progress but also its resilience in the face of challenges. In particular, the pace of our rebound after major external factors such as Hurricane Irma (2017) & COVID-19 (2020). The collective commitment of businesses, workers, and stakeholders is driving St. Maarten toward sustained growth and economic vitality. These remarkable improvements in the data demonstrate St. Maarten's capacity to adapt, evolve, and continuously elevate its appeal to a diverse range of visitors. As St. Maarten's hospitality sector thrives, it is setting its position to continue being a top-notch destination in the Caribbean tourism landscape.  

PHILIPSBURG:--- Be part of the solution! Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), in collaboration with St. Maarten Pride Foundation and St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF), invites you to the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) on September 16th at Little Bay Beach and Pond from 7:00-8:30 am! Join us in our mission to protect our oceans and shorelines with this year's theme, "SEASTHECHANGE."
This is the third year of the ICC at Little Bay Beach & Pond, and your participation is vital in addressing the growing issue of littering. Last year, our dedicated volunteers collected an astounding 1480.5 pounds of trash, including 692 pounds of glass and plastic bottles along the coastline and mangrove forest. We used the Clean Swell App to record data, allowing us to track littering trends. Let's aim to collect even less trash this year!
To Join Us:
1. Register as a volunteer on Volunteer. sx and create a team of 4-5 people. (Note: You must register your team to qualify for community service hours.)
2. Download the Clean Swell App: Install the app on your smartphone to record the types of litter collected and contribute to valuable research.
3. Wear closed-toed shoes and appropriate sun-protection gear (hat, rashguard).
Prizes await the teams that collect the most trash! May the "trashiest" team win!
Help protect our coastal and wetland ecosystems by being part of the change on September 16th at Little Bay Beach and Pond! For more details, visit the Volunteer.sx event page or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

SABA:--- The new Saba Island Council 2023-2027 was installed on Wednesday, March 29. Five new members of the Island Council, Saskia Matthew, Hemmie van Xanten, Rolando Wilson, Elsa Peterson, and Vito Charles, were sworn in, as well as two new members of the Executive Council, Commissioners Bruce Zagers and Eviton Heyliger.

The new Island Council has two new faces, and both are young females. Saskia Matthew became Island Council Member for the Party for Progress, Equality, and Prosperity (PEP) and Elsa Peterson for the Windward Islands People’s Movement (WIPM). Former Island Council Member Eviton Heyliger became Commissioner and will work with Bruce Zagers, who was reappointed as Commissioner.

In the presence of many family members, friends, and supporters, the five elected Island Council Members, Matthew, Van Xanten, Zagers, Wilson, and Heyliger were sworn in whereby Island Council Registrar Akilah Levenstone read the deed of oath and the new members took either the oath or affirmation. The five sworn-in Island Council Members then voted for the new commissioners through a ballot. Five votes were cast in favor of Zagers and four in favor of Heyliger to be appointed as commissioners.

Zagers and Heyliger subsequently resigned as Island Council members, and the three remaining Island Council Members, Matthew, Wilson, and Van Xanten, examined the credentials of two new Island Council Members Charles and Peterson. After the documents were approved, Peterson and Charles were sworn in. “We are now complete,” said Chairman and Island Governor Jonathan Johnson.

Before inviting the new Island Council members and commissioners to give their inaugural speech, Chairman Johnson presented a proposal to appoint Devi van Groningen, the legal advisor of the Public Entity Saba, as acting island registrar. The appointment of Van Groningen, who will act as island registrar in case of the absence of registrar Levenstone, was unanimously approved.

Change

Matthew was the first new Island Council member to give her inaugural speech. She said that the journey to becoming an Island Council member was not about financial gain, wanting status, power or control. “Because I come from humbleness and vow to remain so. This journey has been about being the change I wanted to see on Saba and within the local government. Here we are today holding two seats in the Island Council and being sworn in, creating history and the legacy of a new political party,” she said.

Matthew said that even though people living on Saba were blessed, some of them still fell through in a system with many gaps and cracks. “Sometimes all it takes is listening to people’s actual needs as opposed to giving what you think they need. Listening and being pointed in the right direction goes a long way, and by doing so we can close these systemic gaps and seal those cracks together,” she said.

“I pledge before you to contribute to a cooperative and collaborative Island Council where two political parties can and will work together in your interest, where we will hold each other accountable and where we as PEP promise to work with respect and consideration, but also ask for the same in return,” said Matthew.

Van Xanten said it was a special day in Saba’s political history.” The entrance of a new political party in government with two seats has shown that there is indeed a need for change. Change with two Island Council Members who will be operating as opposition. With the elections behind us, it is time to start to act and work. Being in the opposition seat does not mean that with two seats your voice cannot be heard. It is our duty to hold government accountable for their functioning and challenge them for alternative solutions,” he said.

Leadership

Peterson spoke about her campaign slogan, leadership matters in government. “As the decisions made by our leaders affect the lives of everyone, it is important that those decisions are made with integrity, compassion, and a deep commitment to the common good. It requires leaders to prioritize the needs of their constituents above their own interests, to listen to the diverse perspectives of their community, and to make decisions that will benefit the many rather than the few,” she said.

“During the campaign, I urged voters to choose inclusivity and elect a woman as we lacked female representation. Today I am proud that we now have two women in the Island Council. I also urged voters to consider voting for young, educated people. We have unique perspectives and fresh ideas. We have been trained to think critically, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively, which are all essential skills for effective leadership. I stand here as an educated woman and the new youngest Island Council member under the age of 30. I am very aware of the significance of this moment. I represent the next generation of leaders,” said Peterson.

Charles lauded the fact that there are now two women in the Island Council. “Coming from a legacy of strong and determined women, I believe in and advocated for doing what is necessary to ensure that women can be represented in places where decisions are made that affect them too.”

Resilient

Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, Charles mentioned the responsibility of the government to ensure working towards making the community resilient and to make families and individuals stronger so they can be prepared to respond to events in their lives when they occur. “This must be our primary mission as we move forward.” He promised to continue his professionalism and passion on the floor of the Island Council. “Over the years, I have learned that the community values having representatives that are informed and can also inform them. We must work hard to ensure that this is also felt in our community.” 

 Wilson expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Saba people for the past seven years as commissioner. “I am filled with gratitude for being able to work with the men and women of the different departments. My deepest appreciation to you all for the trust and confidence you have placed in me. It has been an honor and privilege to represent your interests and to work towards a better future for our island,” he said.

Important strides

“I am proud of what we have accomplished together. We have made important strides. Progress has been made and more will be accomplished. Our island will be facing challenges that will require collective effort and commitment from both sides. As I step down as commissioner, I want to remind you all that you were chosen to promote values and principles that make our island unique and great,” said Wilson.

Heyliger mentioned the “immense responsibilities” that come with the position of commissioner. “I understand that my actions and decisions will have a profound impact on the lives of every person on Saba, and I don’t take that responsibility lightly. I believe that we can achieve great things. By working together, listening to each other, and staying focused on our common goals, we can make progress on the issues that matter most to the Saba people,” he said.

“From today on, it is about working together with and for the people. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Island Council and Executive Council so we can build a better future for ourselves and the generations to come. Commissioner Heyliger is here to serve the community,” said Heyliger.

Zagers was the last to give his inaugural speech as he starts his fifth consecutive term as commissioner. He said that after almost 16 years in office and five elections, he was always humbled by the opportunity to serve Saba and its people. He remarked that the improvements on Saba have been impressive and that he was proud of the accomplishments under the WIPM leadership. He mentioned the many projects and ambitions that were in the process of being executed and said he was eager and motivated to get back to work to achieve even more positive results that will have a positive impact on the people, Saba, and its economy.

Great responsibility

Zagers spoke about the great responsibility that comes with governing. “As elected politicians, we have the responsibility to serve our people, but we must also demonstrate maturity and be role models for our community. It is time for us to get to work. As elected members of government, we now have a duty to work for our people in a fair, transparent, and dignified way. Our roles and our successes should not be measured by who can shout the loudest, or who can be the most difficult or even the most critical. Reality is that we all have one goal, regardless of our political color, and that is a better Saba.”

Zagers said that opposition is important for democracy, but that it is imperative to prove political maturity by working together constructively and respectfully. “Collectively, we will have different opinions at times, but our goal of a better Saba must be the focal point today, tomorrow, and for the coming four years.”

Prior to the first meeting of the new Island Council, a session of the Electoral College took place where Zagers, Wilson, Peterson, Charles, and Heyliger were installed as the new Electoral College. On May 30, the Electoral College will vote for the members of the First Chamber.