PHILIPSBURG:---  Sint Maarten has taken a concrete step to strengthen maritime safety, with Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten signing a Kingdom-wide agreement to improve how shipping accidents are investigated.

The agreement, signed on April 17, 2026, in Sint Maarten during the Four Countries Consultation with Aruba, Curaçao, and the Netherlands, ensures that maritime incidents will be investigated in a more structured, independent, and professional manner across the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

Minister Heyliger-Marten emphasized the importance of the move: “This agreement strengthens how we respond when something goes wrong at sea. It ensures that incidents are properly investigated so that lessons are learned, and risks are reduced.”

Maritime accidents, such as collisions, fires, or environmental incidents, can have serious consequences for small island states like Sint Maarten. Beyond the immediate impact, such incidents can affect seafarer and passenger safety, the marine environment, the island’s tourism product, and confidence in the country’s maritime systems.

The Minister made the connection clear: “For St. Maarten, the sea is not just part of our geography, it is part of our economy and our identity. Strengthening safety at sea is directly linked to protecting our people, our environment, and our livelihoods.”

Until now, Caribbean countries within the Kingdom have faced limitations in capacity and resources when it comes to conducting complex maritime accident investigations.

Under the new agreement, independent investigators can be engaged quickly when incidents occur. Investigations will follow established international standards, and findings can be shared across countries to help prevent similar incidents in the future.

In practical terms, this means there is now a clear system to determine what went wrong and how to prevent it from happening again.

The agreement reflects a broader commitment among the countries of the Kingdom to work more closely together on maritime safety.

By pooling expertise and aligning procedures, the countries are better equipped to respond effectively and meet international expectations.

Minister Heyliger-Marten said: “No single country can address these challenges alone. By working together, we strengthen our ability to respond, investigate, and improve.”
The Minister added that this is part of a wider effort to raise standards and accountability: “We are building a system where safety, transparency, and accountability are the norm. This is not just about responding to incidents; it is about preventing them.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams has formally written to the Prime Minister requesting full disclosure and clarification regarding the (Kingdom of) the Netherlands’ recent abstention at the United Nations General Assembly on a declaration recognizing slavery and the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.

The resolution, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, carries profound historical and contemporary significance, particularly for Caribbean countries within the Kingdom, including Sint Maarten.

In her letter, MP Wescot-Williams raises critical questions concerning whether Sint Maarten was consulted prior to the Kingdom’s vote, and if so, the nature and extent of that consultation. She further seeks clarity on whether the Government of Sint Maarten expressed a position on the resolution and whether that position aligned with the Kingdom’s eventual abstention.

The Member of Parliament also requested information on whether any representative of Sint Maarten formed part of the Kingdom delegation present at the United Nations during the deliberations, and how Sint Maarten’s perspectives are incorporated into Kingdom-level foreign policy decision-making.

Importantly, the MP has asked the Prime Minister to provide a comprehensive account of all actions undertaken by the Government of Sint Maarten regarding the Kingdom's slavery past. This includes policies, public statements, initiatives, and any formal positions or engagements on reparations,
both monetary and non-monetary at the national, regional, or international levels.

“Too many fragmented pieces of information on this topic and in some cases, no information at all.”

“Questions of this magnitude go beyond diplomacy; they touch directly on our history, identity, and the dignity of our people,” MP Wescot-Williams stated. “Sint Maarten must not be invisible in decisions that so fundamentally affect our collective memory and future.”

The MP further emphasized the importance of transparency and democratic accountability in the Kingdom framework, noting that positions taken internationally in the name of Sint Maarten must reflect the will and interests of its people.

The letter also calls on the Prime Minister to indicate what steps the Government intends to take to ensure stronger and more visible representation in future international deliberations.

MP Wescot-Williams further indicated that she looks forward to a timely response and remains committed to ensuring that Sint Maarten’s voice is clearly heard and respected on the international stage.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), the Honorable Patrice Gumbs, and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) project team met with a representative of the Dutch Quarter Community Council to provide updates on the upcoming sanitation project in the area.
Underscoring the commitment to a participative approach and community ownership, the Ministry of VROMI and UNOPS organized this informative session to brief the council on project activities. This meeting serves as the first in a series of initiatives designed to foster ongoing community involvement and engagement throughout the project’s life cycle.
The Sanitation Project, led by the Ministry of VROMI, will feature the construction of a sewage collection network, a stormwater drainage system, and household connections. It will also include the reinstatement of roads affected by these upgrades. Funded by a 5.6 million EUR investment from the European Union and implemented by UNOPS, the project will directly impact approximately 500 households. This initiative marks a significant milestone in improving public health, environmental protection, and living conditions for the local community.

Discussions during the meeting centered on the project's overview, scope, objectives, and timeline. Attendees also explored the most effective methods for communicating with the wider Dutch Quarter community, paying special attention to lessons learned from prior sanitation initiatives in the area. This community-focused approach reflects the project’s core objective: delivering infrastructure that is fit for purpose and directly benefits local residents while taking their experiences into consideration.

In line with this participative approach, including the wider population of Sint Maarten, the community is reminded that UNOPS will host a procurement informative session on April 21, 10:00 AM. The webinar is specifically tailored for construction companies with proven sanitation experience in Sint Maarten, as well as engineering and consulting firms specializing in the supervision of island-based sanitation projects. The webinar will feature an in-depth look at the project’s scope, requirements, and timelines, as well as a comprehensive walkthrough of UNOPS procurement platforms, explaining compliance standards and the specific criteria used to evaluate bids.

Interested parties should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register.

Background. Dutch Quarter, situated in the Upper Princess Quarter Region of Sint Maarten and bordering the French side, is a densely populated area with a major road network that connects five larger communities, including Madam Estate, Middle Region, Belvedere, and Belle Plaine (French St. Martin). This road network facilitates movement for residents, visitors, and businesses.
In addition to its roadways, Dutch Quarter manages stormwater runoff, directing water from elevated areas to lower regions, including the Middle Region District and much of the Defiance area, both located within the Dutch Quarter Basin. Existing water and sanitation infrastructure in the area had reached the end of its lifespan, increasing the need for a durable and sustainable solution. The project, salvaged by an agreement signed by the Government in November 2025, will finally realize the long-awaited sewage connections in the Dutch Quarter. Minister Patrice Gumbs encourages all contractors to take part in this very critical project.
The new WASH project aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), contributing to improved health outcomes and long-term environmental protection. The official launch reaffirms the Government of Sint Maarten’s commitment to delivering essential infrastructure that strengthens public services, protects communities, and promotes sustainable development across the island.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Last Thursday and Friday, President of Parliament, MP Wescot-Williams, led the Sint Maarten parliamentary delegation at a workshop hosted by Parlamericas in Grenada, focused on one of the most fundamental yet overlooked pillars of Caribbean economies: paid and unpaid care work.

Reflecting on the engagement, MP Wescot -Williams noted that the discussions brought into sharp focus a persistent reality; economies across the region are sustained not only by what is formally measured, but also by what remains largely invisible.

Care work, in all its forms, underpins the functioning of societies. It encompasses raising children, supporting the elderly, caring for the sick, and maintaining households. Despite its essential nature, such work continues to be undervalued, underpaid, and in many instances, unrecognized across the Caribbean, the MP further stated.

The workshop highlighted that unpaid care work is disproportionately carried by women. This imbalance has direct economic implications. When women dedicate significant time to unpaid caregiving, their participation in the formal economy is constrained, affecting income, career progression, pension accumulation, and long-term financial independence.

For Sint Maarten, these challenges are particularly pronounced. Limited public services, high living costs, and fragmented social support systems often result in families absorbing the burden of care privately, frequently placing that responsibility on women.

“While the concept of unpaid care work may at first seem abstract, its reality is deeply personal. Consider a family caring for an elderly parent living with dementia, in a context where institutional care is unavailable. Household help may be present, but without the specialized training required to manage such a condition. Professional care, where it exists, is often financially out of reach. In these circumstances, the responsibility falls squarely on family members, often adult children who are themselves parents, working or running small businesses. The physical, emotional, and financial strain that results is immense, and it is precisely this lived reality that underscores why recognizing and supporting care work is so critical.

MP Wescot-Williams reiterated that, in the Democratic Party’s 2024 political manifesto, the care economy is outlined as a key pillar of Sint Maarten’s future development. The discussions in Grenada reinforced the urgency and relevance of this policy direction.

The workshop also examined the conditions of paid care workers, including those in early childhood education, elder care, care for the disabled and domestic work.

The resulting paradox is clear: the work that sustains societies remains among the least valued in economic terms.

In light of the discussions, MP Wescot-Williams underscored the need for a shift in policy approach. Recognizing care as a public good will require strategic investments in childcare, eldercare, and community-based support systems. Such investments are not merely social expenditures, but critical enablers of economic participation and productivity.

Further, the importance of making unpaid care work visible was highlighted, particularly through improved data collection and the use of time-use surveys to better inform policymaking.

Improving the conditions of paid care workers must also be prioritized through fair wages, formalization of employment, access to social protection, and recognition of care work as skilled labor.

Additionally, a more equitable distribution of care responsibilities within households, communities, and through public policy was identified as essential to advancing gender equality.

As Caribbean societies confront aging populations, evolving family structures, and increasing economic pressures, the demand for care services is expected to grow significantly. Without targeted interventions, existing inequalities are likely to deepen.

Despite these challenges, the engagement in Grenada was described as constructive and forward-looking. Parliamentarians from across the region demonstrated a shared commitment to placing care at the center of policy discussions.

The focus now, the President of Parliament noted, must be on translating dialogue into concrete action.