PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Dr. Luc Mercelina, recently met with representatives of the European Union Delegation to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS, CARICOM, and CARIFORUM to strengthen cooperation and advance ongoing and upcoming development initiatives for Sint Maarten.

The EU delegation included Ms. Chiara Tardivo (Team Leader, Economic Resilience and Trade), Mr. Laurent Bal (Head of Contract, Finance & Audit), Ms. Teodora Deaconu (Contracts and Finance Officer), and Mr. Nuno Silva (Programme Manager, Economic Resilience and Trade).

As of September 1, 2025, the portfolio for the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) has officially been transferred from the EU Delegation in Guyana to the Delegation in Barbados. The new Head of Delegation, Ms. Fiona Ramsey, and Head of Cooperation, Mr. David Mogollon, will now oversee the OCT portfolio, ensuring continued engagement and cooperation with Sint Maarten and the region.

“Sint Maarten’s relationship with the European Union continues to be one rooted in mutual respect and partnership,” stated Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina. “The transfer of the Caribbean OCT portfolio to the Barbados office reflects a strengthening of our regional engagement and will enhance coordination on critical development and infrastructure initiatives.”

During the mission, discussions also centered around the implementation of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Dutch Quarter Sewerage Project, a vital infrastructure initiative aimed at improving sanitation and quality of life in the Dutch Quarter community.

Present at this meeting were Acting Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), Ms. Melissa Gumbs, and the Secretary General of the Ministry of VROMI, Mr. Kenson Plaisimond, along with representatives from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), including Mr. Antonio Baio (Senior Project Manager) and Mr. William Squier Gonzalez (Head of Programme).

The Government of Sint Maarten has taken an inclusive approach to the implementation of major infrastructure projects, ensuring that local communities are actively engaged in the process. This includes direct participation of community representatives in high-level management and decision-making as part of the 11th EDF Steering Committee, which will convene its inaugural meeting in the coming weeks.

“Our government believes in empowering our people through participation,” said Prime Minister Mercelina. “By involving community representatives in the oversight of the 11th EDF project, we are ensuring transparency, accountability, and shared ownership of progress. This is how we build trust and deliver results that truly reflect the needs of our citizens.”

“The Dutch Quarter project has been long awaited, and I am pleased that through close collaboration with the European Union and UNOPS, we are now moving toward the implementation phase,” the Prime Minister added. “This initiative embodies our collective commitment to improving living conditions, strengthening infrastructure resilience, and ensuring that no community is left behind.”

The Government of Sint Maarten expresses its gratitude to the European Union Delegation and UNOPS for their continued partnership and technical support in advancing the island’s development priorities.

“This engagement with the EU team reaffirms Sint Maarten’s commitment to responsible governance, international cooperation, and sustainable development,” concluded Prime Minister Mercelina. “Together, we are laying the foundation for a stronger, more resilient Sint Maarten.”

From October 4th to 8th, 2025, the PSA Athletics Association proudly hosted the second annual Paradise Showdown 15U Basketball Tournament, a five-day event featuring over 90 young athletes competing at the highest level. The tournament officially kicked off on Saturday, October 4th, with an inspiring opening address by the Honorable Ms. Melissa Gumbs, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport (ECYS). Over 1,700 viewers tuned in via the Association’s YouTube livestream, in addition to the audience present at the venue. Founder and tournament organizer Mr. Omar Beauperthuy also delivered remarks, introduced each participating country, and their national anthem or song was played, setting a spirited and respectful tone for the event. The first match of the tournament featured host country Sint Maarten taking on Grenada, with Sint Maarten securing the win. From October 5th to 7th, training sessions were held for each participating team and was led-by invited coaches from the United States. These sessions focused on conditioning and technical skill development. In addition, referee workshops were conducted by a FIBA-certified official from the Netherlands Basketball Bond (NBB), providing morning and post-game sessions to improve officiating standards. Over the past eight months, three coaches two from Sint Maarten and one female coach from Saba, participated in an online Level 3 Coaching Certification program. During the tournament, they successfully completed the practical portion of their final assessment, marking a significant milestone in their coaching development. Based on feedback from several countries, this year’s event also included training sessions for girls. These sessions, held for 1.5 hours each day over four days, allowed the girls to train exclusively with the coaches visiting, taking an important step toward expanding inclusivity in the tournament. The final day of the tournament featured the third-place match between Sint Maarten and Aruba, with Sint Maarten emerging victorious. Prior to the championship game, a new feature was introduced: the All-Star Game. Twenty-four standout players excluding those in the finals were selected and presented with commemorative jerseys. The teams, named Sunrise and Sunset, battled it out, with Sunset claiming the win. In the championship match, reigning champions Saint Martin delivered a dominant performance against Curaçao, winning 92–55 and successfully defending their title. Under the leadership of Coach Hyman and Coach Mataly, the team extended its undefeated streak for a second consecutive year. This year's tournament provided even greater exposure and opportunities for young players, and anticipation is already being built for next year. The dates for Paradise Showdown 3 have been officially announced: October 3rd–7th, 2026. Interested countries are encouraged to reach out via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., for more information or to express interest in participating. But the year isn’t over yet! PSA Athletics Association continues its mission to develop youth sports with the ongoing High School Basketball League. The season will conclude with the High School Basketball League Championship Week, taking place from November 4th to 6th, 2025, at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium. Admission is just $2, and food and drinks will be available for purchase. Come out and support your favorite school! Current team rankings can be found on our social media platforms.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) convened the 8th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (COM:FA) on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting, held against the backdrop of global geopolitical volatility, economic uncertainty, and climate crises, brought together OECS Foreign Ministers to chart a unified course on matters critical to the resilience and survival of small island developing states.

The Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules, underscored the urgency of the Council’s work, emphasizing that the challenges facing the region demand swift, coordinated, and sustained action. He highlighted that the Council’s deliberations are not just procedural, but vital to shaping policies and programmes that directly impact the resilience, sustainability, and prosperity of OECS Member States. He said: 

“In the face of turbulence, our mandate is clear: to safeguard resilience, defend sovereignty, and chart a sustainable future for our people. The complexity of today’s environment reinforces one central truth: our strength lies in solidarity and strategy. We cannot influence global outcomes alone, but together we can ensure our voices are heard and our interests are defended.”

Looking ahead to his tenure as incoming Chair of the COM:FA, Hon. Frederick Stephenson, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, emphasised:

“Our states, though modest in size, are indispensable voices in the global community, and we must continue to advocate for the relevance of small states. The seas are rising, but so too is our steadfastness. The challenges gather, but so too does our unity. And in this eighth meeting of COM:FA, may we craft not only a record of proceedings, but a roadmap worthy of our peoples’ hopes and history’s demands ”

The session commenced with the handover of the Chairmanship from the Hon. Alva Baptiste, Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs of Saint Lucia, to the Hon. Frederick Stephenson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Consumer Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. 

Ministers deliberated on a wide range of issues and agreed on decisive steps to safeguard and advance the OECS interests, including:

The meeting brought together Ministers of Foreign Affairs from OECS Member States, who convened to deliberate on shared priorities and advance a unified regional agenda, including Hon. E.P. Chet Greene - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Joseph Andall - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export Development, Grenada and Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Economic Development, International Trade, Investments and Industry and Commerce, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The Council closed the meeting with a renewed sense of purpose, emphasizing that the decisions taken were not just administrative outcomes but concrete steps to protect livelihoods, strengthen regional unity, and amplify the Caribbean voice on the global stage. Ministers agreed that the coming months will be critical for advancing key priorities, including climate advocacy ahead of COP30, safeguarding the region’s economic interests, and strengthening the OECS’ joint diplomatic presence worldwide. To this end, a special virtual meeting will be convened before November 2025 to accelerate work on joint mission restructuring and to consolidate progress on the Council’s commitments.

https://cdn.assets.prezly.com/6a087819-1d4d-40e9-aceb-7e7d599a2eeb/-/preview/1000x1000/-/resize/800/PHOTO-2025-09-22-16-50-56.JPG 800w, https://cdn.assets.prezly.com/6a087819-1d4d-40e9-aceb-7e7d599a2eeb/-/preview/1000x1000/-/resize/400/PHOTO-2025-09-22-16-50-56.JPG 400w, https://cdn.assets.prezly.com/6a087819-1d4d-40e9-aceb-7e7d599a2eeb/-/preview/1000x1000/-/resize/800/PHOTO-2025-09-22-16-50-56.JPG 800w" sizes="(max-width: 992px) 800px, (max-width: 576px) 400px, 1200px" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; max-width: 100%; height: 249.312px; position: relative; width: 332.422px; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 2px;" />

Miami, Fla. --- Travelers across the Caribbean are demanding more authentic, locally sourced food, products, and cultural experiences. Yet new survey findings from research conducted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) with 18 of the region’s  National Hotel & Tourism Associations (NHTAs) reveal that hotels face major barriers in meeting that demand, ranging from unreliable supplies to limited government support. CHTA is drawing attention to these insights as part of its ongoing push to strengthen linkages between tourism and local industries.

According to the NHTAs, supply remains one of the toughest challenges: more than half (56%) said local producers cannot consistently provide the quantities needed, with many also citing inconsistent quality and lack of variety.

Most associations cited a need to boost support for increased local purchases by the tourism industry, helping to reduce high production costs.  Seventy-six percent (76%) said utility subsidies are non-existent or ineffective; 64% said more effective tax incentives for hotels to purchase locally would encourage greater industry purchasing, strengthening domestic producers’ ability to compete on price; and 56% said incentives to boost local production could be improved.

Saint Lucian entrepreneur Vaughn Constable, founder of Twist Saint Lucia and a participant in CHTA’s Linkages showcase, which connects tourism businesses with local suppliers, illustrates the challenge. “There’s so much pride in creating Caribbean-made products,” said Constable. “Every bag, every package carries a piece of our identity — our flavors, our culture, our craftsmanship. Travelers love that authenticity; they want to taste and experience something that’s truly from here, but the logistics, volume and costs make it difficult for small producers to compete locally and regionally, even when there’s strong demand from hotels and travelers.” 

During a recent CHTA Linkages webinar, representatives from successful efforts by the Government of Jamaica, the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association and the hotel sector pointed to their successes and echoed the concerns raised through CHTA’s research. They identified urgent priorities such as better data sharing, more efficient regional logistics, and stronger financial support for small businesses.

“CHTA’s role is to amplify the collective voice of our National Hotel & Tourism Associations,” said Nicola Madden-Greig, Linkages Task Force Chair and Immediate Past President of CHTA. “These findings reinforce what we have long advocated: travelers want authentic Caribbean experiences, but systemic barriers prevent hotels from fully meeting that demand. By working with governments and partners, we can create the policies and systems that ensure tourism delivers stronger benefits to Caribbean people and communities.”

Looking ahead, CHTA is intensifying its efforts to connect buyers and suppliers, create a more competitive pricing environment, strengthen distribution networks, and help entrepreneurs scale their businesses. Strengthening local and regional cooperation on logistics and financing also remains a top priority, making it easier for hotels to source Caribbean first.

“The Caribbean has many of the ingredients to succeed, with talented entrepreneurs, agricultural and manufacturing capabilities, rich cultural traditions, and an unmatched tourism product,” added Madden-Greig. “If we break down the barriers and strengthen these linkages, we can ensure more visitor spend stays in our economies, supporting livelihoods and building a stronger, more sustainable future for the region.”

To further drive collaboration, CHTA will host a dedicated Linkages Showcase at the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), November 16-18 in Barbados, spotlighting regional producers and suppliers that support the hospitality sector. The association is also undertaking a detailed assessment of regionally sourced product lines which are available to the hospitality sector.